Learn to Read Hiragana & Katakana

May 13, 2021
past event image
Online Workshops past event
Did You Know?

Hiragana was developed from the cursive style of kanji in the beginning of the Heian era (794 – 1192). Katakana was developed in the Nara period (710 – 794) by either simplifying the kanji imported from China or by squaring off its cursive style.
Online Workshops

Hiragana: Friday, May 7, 6:30—8:30 PM EDT 
Katakana: Thursday, May 13, 6:30–8:30 PM EDT

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PLEASE NOTE: These workshops 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). Registrants will receive workshop information by email from [email protected] on the afternoon of the business day before the workshop starts, and the Zoom link will be sent by email by 10:30 AM EDT the morning of the workshop. Please note that all times listed are New York time (ET/UTC-04:00).

These mini-workshops offer the beginning student of Japanese the opportunity to quickly and efficiently master the reading of the two Japanese syllabaries, hiragana and katakana. It is these two writing systems, in combination with the more complex kanji (ideograms which represent meaning), which constitute the written Japanese language.

Tuition: $37 nonmembers/$30 Japan Society Individual & Corporate members
(price per workshop)

Registrants will receive course information by email from [email protected] on:

• the afternoon of Thursday, May 6, 2021 (for the Hiragana workshop)
• the afternoon of Wednesday, May 12, 2021 (for the Katakana workshop)
• Zoom link information by 10:30 AM EDT the morning of the workshop
 

Instructor: Ms. Kazue Kurahara holds a BA from Hunter College and an MA in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and TESOL from NYU. She holds teaching certificates in both Japanese and ESL. She has taught Japanese at various institutions, including New York University, Hunter College, Pace University, and The New School. She is the scriptwriter and host of Japan Society’s YouTube series "Uki Uki NihonGO! + Culture”.

Workshop Information (PDF)

PLEASE NOTETuition is non-refundable and non-transferable (including for credit) for any reason after 12 pm noon, the business day before your workshop starts. All refunds are subject to a $5 service charge, including those requested by the deadline date. No partial registration or auditing is permitted. Please note that cancellations are accepted by phone only. Cancellations via e-mail are not accepted. Japan Society reserves the right to cancel any course or workshop if sufficient enrollment is not obtained. In such a case, students already enrolled will receive full refunds. Students must age 16 or older to register.

Support for Japan Society’s Toyota Language Center is provided, in part, by the NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund in The New York Community Trust; Mark F. Goldfield and Mary E. Hatch; Christopher Hong; Steven Giordano; The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles; and Dr. Bic Kanayjorn.

  • Thursday, May 13, 2021
  • 6:30 pm