Students begin to acquire skills in listening, speaking, writing, and reading the Japanese language.
They study the basic grammar and vocabulary used in daily living. Hiragana, the Japanese syllabary writing system, and katakana, the Japanese syllabary for foreign words, are taught. In addition, a limited number of kanji, Chinese characters, are introduced. The course is designed to introduce students to the history, geography, culture, and customs of the country through the language.