Language Center

2024 LATE SUMMER 5-WEEK

CONVERSATIONAL JAPANESE
These Conversational Japanese courses are structured to supplement our core curriculum Japanese Courses(Levels 1-13) of the 10-week semester. Courses are conversation-intensive, with the aim of strengthening thestudent’s ability to communicate effectively. The course materials emphasize vocabulary and grammar thatare useful in everyday activities. Using the Marugoto textbooks, the priority is to practice language used inreal-life situations, and grammar is taught through meaningful context rather than targeted study. At the moreadvanced levels, these courses utilize authentic materials to engage students in more fluid discussion anddialogue.
Students with no previous background in Japanese should complete core curriculum Level 1 before
enrolling in a Conversational course. If you have previous background in Japanese and are unsure of which
Conversational level is right for you, please take a look at the sample materials for each class linked in thecourse descriptions, or the Level Guide (Conversational Levels).
More course options at all levels will be offered in 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., Conv1, Section A and Conv1, Section 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.”Conversation 1 (Conv1)
For students who have finished Level 1 of our Japanese Courses, or equivalent; most importantly, students
must understand how to use the particles wa, o, de, ni, and e, and be able to make sentences such as, “I eat
a sandwich at a restaurant at 1 o’clock.” For a full list of grammar patterns covered in Level 1, see Level
Guide (Numbered Levels). Recognition of hiragana is also expected.
Elementary social/situational conversation skills will be introduced.

This course covers the first portion of the textbook (Topics 1-6).
Required Textbook: Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture, Starter (A1) Katsudoo. See Table ofContents and Sample.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv1, Section A

Wed., 8/14 - 9/11

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

5 classes

Date

ONLINE

Conv1, Section B

Thurs., 8/15 - 9/12

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

5 classes

Kakutani

ONLINE

Conv1, Section C

Tues., 8/13 - 9/10

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

5 classes

Kobuchi

IN-PERSON

Conv1, Section D

Tues., 8/13 - 9/10

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

5 classes

Kakutani

IN-PERSON

Conversation 2 (Conv2)
For students who have finished Level 2 of our Japanese Courses, or equivalent.
Students will learn more social/situational conversation skills.
This course covers the second portion of the textbook (Topics 7-9).
Required Textbook: Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture, Starter (A1) Katsudoo. See Table ofContents and Sample.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv2, Section A

Wed., 8/14 - 9/11

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

5 classes

Shio

ONLINE

Conv2, Section B

Tues., 8/13 - 9/10

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

5 classes

MurataIN-PERSON

Conversation 3-4 (Conv3-4)
For students who have finished Level 3 or 4 of our Japanese Courses, or equivalent, and feel confident
with Level 3 content/grammar. This class will be a nice challenge for the student who has just finished Level3, and more comfortable for those who have finished Level 4. If you are not confident in Level 3 patterns,
Conv 2 may be a better conversational course for you.
The course will focus on skills needed to survive in Japan. Frequently used expressions will be practiced incontext.
The course is taught in two parts (odd lessons and even lessons); the even lessons of the textbook will becovered this Late Summer semester.
Required Textbook: Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture, Elementary 1 (A2) Katsudoo. See Table ofContents and Sample.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv3-4,

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

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

KitauraONLINE

Section A(no class 9/2)

Conv3-4,

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

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

9 classes

Kakutani

IN-PERSON

Section B

Conversation 5-6 (Conv5-6)
For students who have finished Level 5 or 6 of our Japanese Courses, or equivalent, and feel confident
with Level 5 content/grammar. This class will be a nice challenge for the student who has just finished Level5, and more comfortable for those who have finished Level 6. If you are not confident in Level 5 patterns,
Conv 3-4 may be a better conversational course for you.
The course will focus on strengthening speaking skills by having students engage in various exercises.
The course is taught in two parts (odd lessons and even lessons); the even lessons of the textbook will becovered this Late Summer semester.
Required Textbook: Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture, Elementary 2 (A2) Katsudoo. See Table ofContents and Sample.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv5-6,

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

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

Kurahara

ONLINE

Section A

Conversation 7-8 (Conv7-8)
For students who have finished Level 7 or 8 of our Japanese Courses, or equivalent, and feel confident
with Level 7 content/grammar. This class will be a nice challenge for the student who has just finished Level7, and more comfortable for those who have finished Level 8. If you are not confident in Level 7 patterns,
Conv 5-6 may be a better conversational course for you.
The course will focus on activities in various situations and language structures (e.g. sentence patterns) which
support communication.
The course is taught in two parts (odd lessons and even lessons); the even lessons of the textbook will becovered this Late Summer semester.
Required Textbook: Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture, Pre-Intermediate A2/B1. See Table ofContents and Sample.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv7-8,

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

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

Kakutani

ONLINE

Section A(no class 9/2)

Conversation 9-10 (Conv9-10)
For students who have finished Level 9, or are taking or finished level 10 of our Japanese Courses, or
equivalent, and feel confident with Level 9 content/grammar. This class will be a nice challenge for the
student who has just finished Level 9, and more comfortable for those at a higher level. If you are notconfident in Level 9 patterns, Conv 7-8 may be a better conversational course for you.
The course will emphasize role-playing by the students in different social and business situations. The focus
will be on maintaining a conversation and learning and using situational vocabulary.
The course is taught in two parts, first and second half. The first half will be covered this Late Summer
semester.

No textbook required. See Sample here.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv9-10,

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

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

9 classes

Kurahara

ONLINE

Section A(no class 9/2)

Conv9-10,

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

12:00 – 2:00 pm ET

9 classes

Kurahara

ONLINE

Section B

Conversation 11-12 (Conv11-12)
For students who have finished at least one semester of Level 11 (and are conversationally fluent at thatlevel) of our Japanese Courses or higher. If you are not confident in Level 11, Conv 9-10 may be a better
conversational course for you.
Students will study and discuss various Japanese cultural topics, including social media. New vocabulary andexpressions will be introduced. The course is repeatable and will cover different content every semester.
No textbook required. Sample coming soon.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv11-12, Section A

Wed., 8/14 - 9/11

6:00 – 8:00 pm ET

5 classes

AizawaIN-PERSON

Conversation 13 (Conv13)
For students who have finished at least one semester of Level 13 (and are conversationally fluent at thatlevel) of our Japanese Courses or higher, and have passed JLPT N2 or equivalent knowledge. Students
should recognize at least 1,200 kanji. If you are not sure, please contact the office to schedule a levelassessment.
実際の日本の番組をみながら、実用的な慣用句、表現、生きた日本語の習得を目指す最上級者向けコースです。

さすが上級者！と言われるような洗練されたカッコいい日本語を会話で使いこなしてみませんか。
The course is repeatable and will cover different content every semester.
No textbook required. Sample coming soon.
Section

Dates

Time

# of Classes

Instructor

Location

Conv13, Section A

Thurs., 8/15 - 9/12

6:30 – 8:30 pm ET

5 classes

AizawaONLINETUITION
5-Class Courses:
Non-members $185
Members $165

9-Class Courses:
Non-members $330
Members $290

Inclusive of fees, where applicable.
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 (see Late Spring
Japanese Level 1). Students with some background should refer to the Level Guide (Conversational
Levels) or course textbooks to determine the most appropriate class. There is no placement exam. If you
are still not sure of your level, it may be possible to schedule a level assessment by phone with the SeniorDirector. 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)
the afternoon of Tuesday, August 13, 2024 (for classes beginning on Wednesday, August 14)
the afternoon of Wednesday August 14, 2024 (for classes beginning on Thursday, August 15)
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 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 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 for
credit). 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.
C 1 and C 2 Students:
Marugoto Japanese
Language and Culture,
Starter (A1) Katsudoo

C 3-4 Students:
Marugoto Japanese
Language and Culture,
Elementary 1 (A2)
Katsudooby Japan Foundation
by Japan Foundation
ISBN: 978-4-384-05752-2
ISBN: 978-4-384-05754-6
Price at Japan Society:$22

Price at Japan Society:$27

C 5-6 Students:
Marugoto Japanese
Language and Culture,
Elementary 2 (A2)
Katsudoo

C 7-8 Students:
Marugoto Japanese
Language and Culture,
Pre-Intermediate (A2/B1)
by Japan Foundation

by Japan Foundation
ISBN: 978-4-384-05758-4
ISBN: 978-4-384-05756-0
Price at Japan Society: $30(limited copies)

Price at Japan Society:$27
C 9-10, C 11-12, C 13 Students: No required textbook.

INSTRUCTORSAll of the Language Center’s instructors are native Japanese speakers with extensive teaching experience.
Yuko Aizawa has taught at the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, Japan and at the Royal Hawaiian
Academy in the United States. She has been an instructor at the Language Center since 1994.
Naoko Date holds a BA in English language from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Since 2016, she has beenteaching eMentor Japanese language and culture courses to US Air Force personnel. For the US 2020 Census
translation in Japanese, she held the position of final editor and quality control.

Yumiko Kakutani has a BA in French Literature from Keio University in Tokyo and is a graduate of Japan Society’s
Teacher Training Program. She worked for Sakura Bank in the International Planning Division and Foreign
Exchange Division for 10 years. She has taught privately in the United States for a number of years (including JLPTand SAT II students). She has been teaching at number of local universities including Baruch College, City Collegeof New York and Fordham University.
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 theJapanese 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 is also a co-researcherof the National Institute of Language and Linguistics.
Mana Kobuchi grew up in Fukuoka City and began her Japanese teaching career in Tokyo. Later she moved to
the United States and then the Netherlands, where she continued teaching Japanese. Along the way, she obtained
an MA in TESOL from SIT (School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT) and a PhD in Linguistics from the
CUNY Graduate Center. She greatly enjoys teaching Japanese, as she is fascinated by language in general andJapanese in particular.
Kazue Kurahara received her BA at Hunter College and an MA in TESOL and Teaching Japanese as a Foreign
Language from New York University. She teaches all levels of Japanese, various workshops, and special topics
classes involving social media and pop culture. She is particularly passionate about sociolinguistics andonomatopoeia. She has taught at New York University, The New School, and Hunter College, among others. A
nature admirer, she is often seen photographing trees and plants and tending to her indoor garden. She is the
scriptwriter and host of Japan Society’s YouTube series "Uki Uki NihonGO! + Culture."
Kaori Murata received her BA in Linguistics from the University of Tsukuba and MA degree from New York
University. She studied at Tisch School of Arts focusing on Cinema Studies, and Interactive Media. She studied
Mandarin for 2 years in Shanghai. This experience sparked a multicultural language passion. She has experienceof teaching Japanese to students of all levels.
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 ofJapan Society’s Teacher Training Program and has been teaching at the Language Center since September 2016.