Course Information
These courses will be conducted online via Zoom. To participate fully, you will need access to a device with internet, microphone, and camera (such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet). All times listed are New York time (ET).
These courses are for students who are ages 12 to 15 as of the start date of the course.
All other Language Center programs are for adults (age 16+); please visit the Language Center homepage for a full list of offerings.
Beginners are invited to start their Japanese language learning journey in this online course. Students ages 12 to 15 will learn and practice the fundamentals of Japanese language and culture with a group of like-minded peers. Using a variety of fun and engaging activities referencing popular Japanese media such as anime, students will develop practical listening, speaking, writing and cultural skills to kick-start their Japanese language abilities!
Basic vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures will be taught so students can carry on a simple conversation.
Both complete beginners and students who have taken the previous “Japanese for Teens” course (offered through Spring 2022) should take Youth Level 1. Students with more experience, please email us for placement in Youth Level 2 or 3.
For a printer friendly version of these courses, please click here: 2023 Summer Japanese for Youth: Ages 12 to 15 (PDF).
Course Descriptions
Youth Level 1
Tuesdays, May 23—August 1, 5-6 pm ET (no class 7/4)ONLINE·10 classes·Kaoru ShinoharaYouth Level 1 is for both complete beginners as well as students who have taken the previous Japanese for Teens course offered by Education & Family. Course content will include the following:
- X wa Y desu. (e.g., I am Jon. Risa is 14 years old. My phone number is 123-4567.)
- Noun + janai desu (e.g., I am not American. I am not a student.)
- Question sentences (e.g., How old are you? What time is it?)
Required Textbook: Genki I, 3rd Edition (Ch. 1)Youth Level 2
Thursdays, May 25—August 3, 5-6 pm ET (no class 7/6)ONLINE·10 classes·Kaoru Shinohara
YOUTH 2 CLASS CANCELLED.
Youth Level 2 is for students who have a thorough understanding of Japanese for Youth Level 1 material.
Course content will include the following:- Kore/Sore/Are/Dore (e.g., How much is this game?)
- Koko/Soko/Asoko/Doko (e.g., Where is the bathroom? It’s over there.)
- Dareno + noun (e.g., Whose cellphone is this?)
- The particle mo (e.g., Watashi mo: Me too.)
Hiragana recognition will be emphasized.
Required Textbook: Genki I, 3rd Edition (Ch. 2)Youth Level 3
Wednesdays, May 24—August 2, 5:30-6:30 pm ET (no class 7/5)ONLINE·10 classes·Yuki Aizaki
YOUTH 3 CLASS CANCELLED.
Youth Level 3 is for students who have a thorough understanding of Japanese for Youth Level 2 material.
Course content will include the following:- Present tense verbs (e.g. I sleep: Watashi wa nemasu.)
- The particles o, de, ni, and e (e.g. I eat a banana: Watashi wa banana o tabemasu.)
- Time expressions ni (e.g. I watch anime on Sunday: Watashi wa nichiyoubi ni anime o mimasu.)
- Frequency adverbs (e.g sometimes: tokidoki, often: yoku, etc.)
Emphasis will be on complete mastery of hiragana. A few more kanji will be introduced.
Required Textbook: Genki I, 3rd Edition (Ch. 3)Youth Conversation and Beyond (Level 3+)
Tuesdays, May 23—August 1, 5:30-6:30 pm ET (no class 7/4)ONLINE·10 classes·Yuki AizakiYouth Conversation and Beyond is for students who have a thorough understanding of the material covered in Japanese for Youth Levels 1-3.
In this course, students will be able to:- Role play in various scenarios such as shopping, ordering food, etc.
- Participate in open conversations based on a selected theme
- Effectively use a Japanese dictionary to create their own sentences
- Use manga and other resources to further cultivate their reading and writing ability
- Use scenes from various anime to practice their listening skills
- Review grammar points and the hiragana-katakana writing systems
Emphasis will be on complete mastery of hiragana and katakana. A few more kanji will be introduced.
No textbook required.
Tuition
Japan Society members: $200
Non-members: $250
How to Register
At the moment, registration is accepted online (preferred) or by phone only at (212) 715-1269 or (212) 715-1293.
To register at the member price, the membership must be under the student’s name (Student Membership), or the student should be part of a Family Membership. To purchase or renew a membership, please visit the Membership page and pay online. Or, call 212-715-1270 and leave a message; they will get back to you.
Please register by Friday, May 19, if possible. Seats may not be available after this date; please check the website for registration availability or contact the office.
Registrants will receive a Welcome Email and Zoom link from [email protected] on:
- the afternoon of Monday, May 22, 2023 (for classes beginning on Tuesday, May 23, 2023)
- the afternoon of Tuesday, May 23, 2023 (for classes beginning on Wednesday, May 24, 2023)
- the afternoon of Wednesday, May 24, 2023 (for classes beginning on Thursday, May 25, 2023)
For more information, please eemail us at [email protected], or call (212) 715-1269 or (212) 715-1293. Please note that while we are working remotely, we may not always be reachable by phone.
Additional Information
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations are accepted until 12 pm ET on the business day before the course or workshop begins (for Shodo, until 12 pm ET on the business day before coursework begins). 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, $5 for workshops) will be refunded. Cancellations are only accepted via phone.
Japan Society also reserves the right to cancel any course or workshop if sufficient enrollment is not obtained. In such cases, 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.
Students must be age 16 or older.
We do not record these classes, and recording of these classes is prohibited.
Required Textbooks
The following textbooks are required. A limited supply of textbooks are available for purchase at the Language 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 is fine.
GENKI I (An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese) (3rd Edition)
published by The Japan Times | ISBN: 978-4789017305
Price at Japan Society: $45
We strongly recommend purchasing the 3rd Edition. Please note that the 2nd Edition has some differences, including page numbers, examples, etc., and is not recommended for this reason.
Instructors
Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Support for Japan Society’s Language Center is provided, in part, by Mark F. Goldfield and Mary E. Hatch; Christopher Hong; Steven Giordano; and Dr. Bic Kanayjorn.