Language Center

2024 LATE SUMMER 5-WEEKJAPANESE COURSES
During this 5-week semester, the Language Center offers select levels of the core curriculum of Japanese
Courses (the full range of 13 levels is offered in the 10-week semesters).
If you are unsure of which level is right for you, please take a look at the Level Guide (Numbered Levels).
For once-a-week classes or the full range of levels, see the Late Summer Conversational Japanese courses
or the upcoming 10-week semester.
These courses are designed for adults aged 18 and above.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Courses are listed by increasing difficulty/level. Please note that the letter designates a different time/date, but all
sections of a level cover the same material (e.g., 1-A and 1-B cover the same material).

Please note that some courses are online via Zoom, and others are in-person at Japan Society in NYC.
All times listed are New York time (ET).
ONLINE COURSES: To participate fully, you will need access to a device with internet, microphone, andcamera (such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet).
IN-PERSON COURSES: In the event of inclement weather or other circumstances, a class session may need
to be conducted online or on another date. By signing up for a course, you assume this risk and understandthat circumstances may change. Please see full details under “How to Register.”JAPANESE LEVEL 1 (for beginning students with no previous background in Japanese)
The course is designed to introduce elementary Japanese to students with no previous background in thelanguage. Basic vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures will be taught in romaji (Japanese written
phonetically in the Roman alphabet) so students can carry on a simple conversation. Hiragana and someintroductory kanji will be introduced.
This course will introduce students to the following:
●●●
●
●
●

X wa Y desu.
Question sentences
This/that/whichHere/there/over there/where
Verb conjugation (present tense)
Sentence particles

Required Textbook: Genki I, 3rd Edition (Ch. 1, 2 & 3)

Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

1-A

Tues. & Thurs., 8/13 - 9/10

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

Nakamura

ONLINE

1-B

Mon. & Wed., 8/12 - 9/11
(no class 9/2)

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

9 classesFujieONLINE

1-C

Mon. & Wed., 8/12 - 9/11
(no class 9/2)

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

9 classes

Nakanishi

IN-PERSON

1-D

Tues. & Thurs., 8/13 - 9/10

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

9 classes

Nakanishi

IN-PERSON

1-E

Tues. & Thurs., 8/13 - 9/10

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

9 classes

Nakanishi

IN-PERSON

JAPANESE LEVEL 2 (Prerequisite: Japanese 1 or equivalent; most importantly, students must understandhow to use the particles wa, o, de, ni, and e, and be able to make sentences such as, “I eat a sandwich at arestaurant at 1 o’clock.” For a full list of grammar patterns covered in Level 1, see Level Guide (NumberedLevels). Recognition of hiragana is also expected.)
Students will continue to develop their beginners’ level language skills in basic Japanese as they begin to
apply the past tense and are introduced to new words, grammar, and expressions. Recognition of hiragana isexpected as less romaji will be used. Katakana and a few more kanji will be introduced.
Students will be introduced to the following:●●●●●X ga arimasu/imasu.
Location descriptionAdjectives (present and past tense)
Suki (na)/ Kirai (na)-shimashou ka

Required Textbook: Genki I, 3rd Edition (Ch. 4 & 5)
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

2-A

Tues. & Thurs., 8/13 - 9/10

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

KitauraONLINE

2-B

Tues. & Thurs., 8/13 - 9/10

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

9 classes

Shio

ONLINE

2-C

Mon. & Wed., 8/12 - 9/11

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

9 classes

Ogino

IN-PERSON(no class 9/2)

JAPANESE LEVEL 10 (Prerequisite: level 9 or equivalent)This class follows level 9 in the progression from the Genki II textbook, continuing a formal study of Japanesegrammar. More advanced grammar, vocabulary and kanji will be introduced over several semesters. Aparticular emphasis will be placed on speaking practice. This course is designed to provide students with thenecessary tools to move up to Level 11. (See note about Level 10 progression below)

Required Text: An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese (Revised Edition), (Part 4: Lessons 1315). See Sample here.
Please note: Level 10 is offered in 4 Parts: they can be taken in any order and each Part is separate andself-contained, e.g. taking Part 1 is not necessary before Part 2. All Parts are recommended at least once
before moving to Level 11. Click here to see schedule of Level 10 Parts. If you have not taken a Level 10 course
before and are hoping to work through the 4-part progression, we recommend starting during the 10-weeksemester and NOT this 5-week semester. (Starting during a 10-week semester will provide an easier path throughthis level.)
SectionDatesTime# of Classes

Instructor

Location

10-A (Part 4)

Mon. & Wed., 8/12 - 9/11
(no class 9/2)

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

NakamuraONLINETUITION
Non-members $330
Inclusive of fees, where applicable.

Japan Society members $290

To purchase or renew a membership, please visit the Membership page and pay online. Or, call 212-7151270.

HOW TO REGISTERClasses fill up quickly! We recommend registering as soon as possible to secure your first choice.
Please register by Thurs., August 8, if possible. Seats may not be available after this date; please contact
the office for up-to-date availability.
New students with no previous background in Japanese should enroll in a Level 1 course. Students withsome background should refer to the Level Guide (Numbered Levels) or course textbooks to determine themost appropriate class. There is no placement exam. If you are still not sure of your level, it may bepossible to schedule a level assessment by phone with the Senior Director. Please email
language@japansociety.org to schedule.
Registration is accepted online (preferred), by phone at (212) 715-1269 or (212) 715-1293, or in-person(please inquire for hours).

Registrants will receive a Welcome Email and Zoom link from language_inquiries@japansociety.org on
the afternoon of Friday, August 9, 2024 (for classes beginning on Monday, August 12)
the afternoon of Monday, August 12, 2024 (for classes beginning on Tuesday, August 13)
For more information, please email us at language@japansociety.org, or call at (212) 715-1269 or (212)715-1293.

ABOUT ONLINE COURSES:
Please follow your course schedule as much as possible. If you miss a class, please review any
material you missed so that you do not fall behind in the course. Regular practice is important whenlearning a new language.
In addition, if you will miss a class, it may also be possible to arrange a make-up class in a different
online or in-person section in the same semester. Ideally, this should be scheduled for the samematerial/class as your missed class, but please note that options may be limited. When possible, pleasereach out to schedule these in advance as slots are first come, first served. More information on how toschedule a make-up class will be provided in the Welcome Email.
Our classes are structured to be interactive and participatory, and you will get the most out of your classes
if you can participate by both microphone and video whenever possible. We hope you will participate towhatever degree that you can, even when full engagement is not possible. Please communicate with yourinstructor about any needs/changes to your attendance and degree of participation (mic/video use ability,missing class, etc.).

ABOUT IN-PERSON COURSES:Japan Society strongly encourages everyone entering the building to be up to date on COVID-19
vaccines, including any boosters for which they are eligible. In-person students do not need to provide proofof vaccination and booster.
Masks, particularly respirator-style (KN95, N95, KF94, etc.), are strongly recommended but are no longer
required. A mask can be provided at the Welcome Desk upon request.
Japan Society retains the right to cancel a class at its discretion due to inclement weather or othercircumstances. In such circumstances the office will determine the best option for replacementclass(es), which may be online or on another date. By signing up for this course, you assume this risk andunderstand that circumstances may change.
Please follow your course schedule as much as possible. If you miss a class, please review any material
you missed so that you do not fall behind in the course. Regular practice is important when learning a newlanguage.
In addition, if you will miss a class, it may also be possible to arrange a make-up class in a different online
or in-person section in the same semester. Ideally, this should be scheduled for the same material/class as
your missed class, but please note that options may be limited. When possible, please reach out to schedulethese in advance as slots are first come, first served. More information on how to schedule a make-up classwill be provided in the Welcome Email.
Our classes are structured to be interactive and participatory. Please communicate with your instructor about
any needs/changes to your attendance and degree of participation.

PLEASE NOTE
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations are accepted until 12 pm ET on the business day before the course
begins (for Shodo, until 12 pm ET on the business day before coursework begins). The Language
Center’s business days are Monday – Friday, except for most federal holidays. After this deadline,
cancellations are not accepted and tuition is not refundable or transferable for any reason (including forcredit). Upon cancellation, the tuition paid minus a service charge ($20 for courses) will be refunded.
Cancellations are only accepted via phone.
Japan Society also reserves the right to cancel any course if sufficient enrollment is not obtained. In suchcases, students already enrolled will receive full refunds (no service charge).
By registering for a course, you accept and agree to the above terms of the cancellation policy.
We do not record these classes, and recording of these classes is prohibited. If a student misses aclass, it may be possible to arrange a make-up class in the same semester, if available. More information will
be provided in the Welcome Email.
If you need to switch to a different level or section after your course has begun, it may be possible pending
availability and is only possible within the same semester (e.g., within the same 10-week semester, 5-weeksemester, weekend intensive, etc.). Please contact the office.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Please do your best to have your textbook by the first day of the course.
The following textbooks are required. A limited supply of textbooks is available for purchase at theLanguage Center on select days, as well as on the first day of in-person courses. Please contact the office
to arrange purchase and pick-up.
You may also purchase your book in advance from an outside vendor. Either a digital or print textbook isfine.

Level 1 and 2 students:
GENKI I (An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese) 3rd Edition
published by The Japan Times
Price at Japan Society: $45

ISBN: 978-4789017305

We strongly recommend purchasing the 3rd Edition. Please note that the 2nd Edition has
some differences, including page numbers, examples, etc., and is not recommendedfor this reason.

Level 10 students:
An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese (Revised Edition)
published by The Japan Times
Price at Japan Society: $42

ISBN: 9784789013079

INSTRUCTORSAll of the Language Center’s instructors are native Japanese speakers with extensive teaching experience.
Nagi Fujie holds a BA from Waseda University and an MA in Applied Linguistics as well as a Graduate
Certificate in Second Language Studies/ESL from Purdue University. She has been teaching Japaneselanguage and culture courses at universities in the U.S since 2016, both in physical classrooms and on online
platforms. She is also the owner of Musubi Learning, LLC, in which she supports Japanese sojourner families
in the U.S through language and culture education.
Momoyo Kitaura has a BA from Tokyo Woman’s Christian University. She has been a certified Oral
Proficiency Interview (OPI) tester for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
She passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency test and has over 15 years of experience working
at a Japanese language school in Japan. Since 2018, she has been teaching at the Language Center. She isalso a co-researcher of the National Institute of Language and Linguistics.
Mari Nakamura has an MA in Linguistics from The Ohio State University and has taught Japanese for 25years at universities including CUNY, Harvard, Indiana University, and the University of Maryland. She has
also taught at several Fortune 500 Corporations. She has been teaching at Japan Society since 2015.
Mami Nakanishi has a BA in Literature from Sophia University in Tokyo. She is a graduate of Japan Society’sTeacher Training Program and has been on Japan Society’s teaching staff since the summer of 2010. She
has taught Japanese privately and in schools including Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School and Tribeca
Language.
Kenko Ogino holds a BA in English Literature from Atomi Gakuen Women’s University, an MA in Educationfrom New York University, and an MA in Japanese Pedagogy from Columbia University. She has beenteaching Japanese privately for individual students, companies, and the Center for International Foreign
Language Teacher Education (CIFLTE) Module Course at Teachers College, Columbia University and New
York University.
Atsuko Shio has a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Hoshi University in Tokyo. She has over 12 years ofexperience working in Product Management and in Sales at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. She is a
graduate of Japan Society’s Teacher Training Program and has been teaching at the Language Center since
September 2016.