We offer the following standard Japanese language courses. All courses have ten 50-minute classes per week of Japanese grammar, ten classes of conversational Japanese, and additional subject-specific classes.
Use the table below to help select the best course for you:
| Course | Speaking | Reading, Kanji |
Cultural study |
Fun | Formal Jpese |
Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conversational Japanese | High | Medium | Medium | High | Medium | None |
| Japanese through Pop Culture | High | Medium | High | High | Low | Must be Beginner 2 or above |
| Japanese and Traditional Culture | Medium | Medium | High | High | Low | None |
| Farmstay Japanese | High | Low | Medium | Medium | Low | Limited start dates |
| Japanese for Exams | Low | High | Low | Medium | High | October/November only |
| Exam Skills Option | Low | High | Low | Low | High | Year-round, once per week. JLPT levels 2-4 only. |
A sample week schedule is available here (PDF, contains Japanese text).
1. Conversational
Japanese |
For people who need to be able to communicate in Japanese, this course offers a heavy emphasis on real-life skills. Learning Japanese just by reading textbooks and listening to tapes doesn't make you a Japanese language speaker. You will learn common sentence patterns and vocabulary with your teacher, then use them in practical situations both inside and outside of the classroom. Our course offers a full range of activities that you will find both useful and exciting. Schedule: 10 grammar and 10 conversation classes per week |
2. Japanese and Traditional Culture |
Are you interested in Japanese culture? This course offers you the opportunity to learn about the culture while learning the language, and the chance to participate in it with other Japanese people. You will study topics such as ceramics, tea ceremony, calligraphy, and flower arrangement at school, and then join real lessons run for Japanese people with a specialist teacher, as well as learning about Japanese customs, history, and art. We guarantee that you will have a great experience! Schedule: 10 grammar, 10 conversation and and 6 cultural classes per week |
3. Japanese Through Pop Culture |
Do you love Japanese manga, music, and movies? Do you wish you knew what they were really saying? |
4. Farmstay Japanese |
In conjunction with Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF), we offer a package of either two or four weeks of classes to prepare you for life on the farm. We will also arrange the details of your farmstay, to place you in the Kyushu area. You are free to stay for up to six months with one or several of the many participating farms. This course is only available at certain times of year. Schedule: 10 grammar, 10 conversation and 5 farming-topic-related classes per week |
5. Japanese for Exams |
For people who want to pass any of the Japanese proficiency tests. You will learn grammar, vocabulary (including kanji), reading skills and listening with your experienced teachers, aimed at achieving your exam goals with ease. You will have the chance to check your progress every week, using previous test papers. This course is only available in September, October and November. Schedule: 10 grammar, 10 conversation and 5 exam study classes per week |
| Exam Skills Option | Preparation for the JLPT. Each week a teacher gives you homework, then analyzes your weak points and discusses learning strategies with you. This option is available year-round, as a weekly option. Schedule: One hour of class per week, plus about 3 hours of homework. |
