Japanese Language Courses

Autumn I Term: September 23 – October 31, 2024 (6 weeks)

$192 Members/Continuing Students & $216 New Students

All classes will be held virtually via ZOOM.

All classes are tailored to the level of expertise and type of study required by students. Weekly lessons provide students with an opportunity to begin the study of Japanese or to sharpen previously acquired skills. Writing, reading and speaking skills will be covered in all class levels.

Class Payment/Class Cancellation:

In order to be registered for the class pre-payment must be received prior to the first class. If minimum class size is not met, the Society has the right to cancel class level. All students will receive a full refund.

Please be reminded that class registration fee is for one student only. If there are multiple students who are interested in taking our classes, please register each student separately. Society has the right to cancel a student’s registration at any time.

Text Books:

Beginning Level I – VIII

Students can purchase Japanese for Busy People Vol. I (4th edition) Romanized version textbook and workbook at www.amazon.com.

Optional “Let’s Learn Hiragana” and “Let’s Learn Katakana” books can also be purchased at www.amazon.com. Copies of “Let’s Learn Hiragana” and “Let’s Learn Katakana” materials will be provided.

Intermediate I – VI

Students can purchase Japanese for Busy People Vol. II (3rd edition) textbook and workbook at www.jaschicago.org. Textbooks and workbooks are not available at amazon.com.

Conversational I – IV

Students can purchase Japanese for Busy People Vol. III (4th edition) textbook and workbook at amazon.com.

Advanced I – VIII

Students will receive various handouts.

Students can purchase Nihongo Chokyu Washa Eno Kakehashi at www.amazon.com.

New Students – A complimentary Japanese for Busy People textbook will be sent to new students regardless of level after the first class. Students are required to purchase their own workbooks. All students will receive an email copy of lesson that will be covered the first day of class.

Continuing Students – All continuing students moving levels can purchase a Japanese for Busy People textbook and workbook at www.amazon.com. All intermediate level new students can purchase textbooks and workbooks at www.jaschicago.org.

For any questions please email: [email protected].

Beginning Japanese I

(Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm)

Designed for students with no previous instruction in Japanese, this course strives to develop an understanding of basic elements of Japanese grammar, expressions, and writing system (hiragana).

Materials: Worksheet(s) and Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (4th edition), and Workbook Vol. I (4th edition)

Please register for classes below.

New students will receive a complimentary Japanese for Busy People text book. 

Beginning Japanese Level II

(Mondays 5:30-7:30 pm)

A continuation of Beginning Japanese Level I, this course will build upon previously learned basic elements of Japanese grammar and expressions. Previous knowledge of hiragana is essential before taking this level. Writing system will include hiragana, katakana, and an introduction to basic Chinese characters (kanji).

Materials: Worksheet(s) and Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (4th edition), and Workbook Vol. I (4th edition)

Please register for classes below.

New students will receive a complimentary Japanese for Busy People text book. 

Beginning Japanese Level VI

(Wednesdays 7:30-9:30 pm)

A continuation of Beginning Japanese Level V, this level will build upon previously learned basic elements of Japanese grammar and expressions. Prior knowledge of hiragana and katakana are required.

Materials: Worksheet(s) and Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (4th edition) , and Workbook Vol. I (4th edition) .

Please register for classes below.

New students will receive a complimentary Japanese for Busy People text book. 

Beginning Japanese Level VIII

(Thursdays 7:30-9:30 pm)

A continuation of Beginning Japanese Level VII, this level will build upon previously learned basic elements of Japanese grammar and expressions. Prior knowledge of hiragana and katakana are required.

Materials: Worksheet(s) and Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People, Vol. I (4th edition) , and Workbook Vol. I (4th edition) .

Please register for classes below.

New students will receive a complimentary Japanese for Busy People text book. 

Conversational III

(Mondays 7:30-9:30 pm)

A continuation of Japanese Conversational II, this class will provide a forum for basic Japanese conversation between students and instructor as well as for more advanced kanji. Topics of conversation will be determined by the instructor, along with various reading assignments.

Materials: Worksheet(s) and Textbooks: Japanese For Busy People Vol. III, and Workbook Vol. III, and Basic Kanji Vol. II

Please register for classes below.

New students will receive a complimentary Japanese for Busy People text book. 

Advanced VI

(Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm)

This class will provide a forum for more advanced Japanese conversation between students and instructor along with additional progressive kanji. Topics of conversation will be determined by the instructor, along with various reading assignments.

Students at this level can continue to re-take this class as class material will differ each term.

Materials: Textbook:  Advanced Japanese Social And Economic Issues In Japan And The U.S.

Please register for classes below.

Advanced VIII

(Tuesday evenings 7:30-9:30 pm)

This class will provide a forum for more advanced Japanese conversation between students and instructor along with additional progressive kanji. Topics of conversation will be determined by the instructor, along with various reading assignments.

Students at this level can continue to re-take this class as class material will differ each term

Materials: Nihongo Chokyu Washa Eno Kakehashi & Kanji & Kana A Handbook of the Japanese Writing System

Please register for classes below.

Advanced IX

(Wednesday evenings 5:30-7:30 pm)

This class will provide a forum for more advanced Japanese conversation between students and instructor along with additional progressive kanji. Topics of conversation will be determined by the instructor, along with various reading assignments.

Students at this level can continue to re-take this class as class material will differ each term.

Materials: Nihongo Chokyu Washa Eno Kakehashi & Kanji & Kana A Handbook of the Japanese Writing System

Please register for classes below.