Japanese Group Classes

10 different levels, plus 1 review/practice class

Classes twice per week for 75 minutes each

Small class size (max. 9 students)

Experienced, native-speaking teachers

Four 10-week terms per year

Affordable tuition

Conveniently located at Dupont Circle

The Japanese Language Program at ILI consists of four 10-week terms throughout the year. We are offering ten different levels, from beginner to advanced, plus a newspaper reading class. Classes meet at the Institute twice a week in the evening on Monday and Wednesday or on Tuesday and Thursday. Our teachers are all native-speaking and experienced. To find your level, please refer to the level description or use our self-evaluation guide. If you have further questions, please call Francisco Todd, ILI's Foreign Language Coordinator, at 202-686-5610 ext. 105.

Level Description

Basic 1: The emphasis of this introductory class is on conversation and learning the reading and writing skills of Hiragana. Verbs, adjectives, interrogatives, and vocabulary of everyday situations are covered. This course is for those students with little or no ability in the language. Previous Japanese not required. Basic 1 A and B are identical in content.

Objective:	Students will learn the basics of Hiragana characters and learn useful daily expressions. The objective is to enable the student to obtain the necessary survival skills in order to communicate in uncomplicated Japanese.
Learning Outcome:	Students will obtain a solid foundation on the basics of the Japanese language. They will have been introduced to Hiragana and its syllables. Students will be able to obtain a good grasp of just what kind of language Japanese is while learning the basic conversational patterns.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and dialogues on topics involving, introductions, address and telephone numbers, days and times, counting objects, going and coming, taxis, people and things, places and locations, and buying tickets.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People I Rev. Edition, Textbook-$29; Workbook-$23; Kana workbook-$15
Lessons:	Textbook: units 1-4; Workbook: lessons 1-9; Kana workbook: pages 1-29

Basic 1A: Mondays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm
Basic 1B: Tuesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Basic 2: This level continues to build up necessary basic grammar skills that will enable students to understand, read, write and speak correct Japanese. It continues to build on the basic 1 level by adding vocabulary and slightly more complex structures. Classes will continue to focus on conversation and learning the reading and writing skills of Hiragana, engaging in longer conversations on familiar everyday topics. Basic 2 A and B are identical in content.

Objective:	To continue to develop and enhance students’ introductory level of reading and writing of Hiragana, and continue to expand the basic grammar through more intricate verb tenses and lengthier speaking, writing, and reading assignments. To learn to write basics sentences in the customary continuous Japanese style.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to use more complicated Japanese vocabulary in dialogues and written work. Students will learn the particle usage and sentence structures of Hiragana.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and dialogues on topics involving, Hiragana sentence structures, telephoning, baking cakes, Kabuki, giving and receiving, asking preferences, a party, ownership and events, doing this and that, and requests and orders.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People I Rev. Edition, Textbook-$29; Workbook-$23; Kana workbook-$15
Lessons:	Textbook, units 5-8; Workbook, lessons 10-17; Kana workbook, pages 30-49.

Basic 2A: Tuesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm
Basic 2B: Wednesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Basic 3: In this last Basic class students will continue practice of conversation and writing in Hiragana but will be introduced to Katakana, the second phonetic syllabary used primarily for foreign names and place names and also words of foreign origin. Students will continue to learn the various forms of transliterating Japanese in the Roman alphabet. Basic 3 A and B are identical in content.

Objective:	To work toward a higher level of comprehension and speaking with increasingly more complex subject matter and style. To learn the Katakana symbols and its uses and to continue to increase one’s ability to read and write traditional Japanese.
Learning Outcome:	Upon completion of this level students will be able to engage in conversations and be involved with reading about a broader range of topics with greater confidence and precision. Students will have acquired a solid foundation of the language and will be ready for intermediate level study.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and dialogues on topics involving, having things done, public transportation, asking permission, refusals, present condition, expressing preferences, dinning out, and Katakana basic and modified syllables symbols.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People I Rev. Edition, Textbook-$29; Workbook-$23; Kana workbook-$15
Lessons:	Textbook, units 9-11; Workbook, lessons 18-25; Kana workbook, pages 52-84.

Basic 3A: Mondays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm
Basic 3B: Thursdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Intermediate 1: This course will start with a short review of the Basic levels. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment of the participant’s current skills and knowledge of the Japanese written forms of Hiragana and Katakana. Listening, reading, speaking and writing skills will be addressed throughout the course. There will be an introduction to Kanji through dialogues, and reading and writing exercises in Kanji.

Objective:	Through more complex vocabulary, grammatical style, and topics, students will work toward a more complete understanding of Japanese. Students will be introduced to the written form of Kanji and will start to recognize its characters in dialogues and readings.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to converse more fluently and confidently using more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, and recognize the written form of Kanji.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and dialogues on a wide variety of topics. Some grammatical points will include, comparatives/superlatives degrees, expressing frequency, going somewhere to do something, asking for and offering explanations(n-desu), past experiences, making strong suggestions(ta hoga ii), to become(ku/ni naru), te miru, using adverbial forms of adjectives to modify, using direct and indirect quotations, etc.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People II: Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version), $31
Lessons:	Textbook-lessons, 1-8

Intermediate 1: Mondays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Intermediate 2: This course continues to expand the fundamentals and grammatical elements of Japanese. The course will continue to explore other common additional meanings for popular terms. New sentence patterns and structures are introduced through more complex dialogues and readings. Continued emphasis will be placed on conversation and reading and writing skills in Kanji.

Objective:	Through more complex vocabulary, grammatical style and topics, students will work toward a more complete understanding of Japanese and continue to acquire a higher level of understanding of Kanji.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of this course students will continue to converse more and more fluently and confidently using more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, and continue to increase their knowledge and recognition of Kanji.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and dialogues on a wide variety of topics. Some grammatical points will include, relative clauses, nominalizing sentences, expressing potentiality and volition, expressing uncertainty (kamo shirenai), indirect questions(ka/ka doka), natural or habitual results, conditional forms, expressing necessity(nakereba naranai), etc.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People II: Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version), $31
Lessons:	Textbook-lessons, 9-15

Intermediate 2: Tuesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Intermediate 3: This course is designed to assist the student in recognizing much more complex grammatical terms and structures relying heavily on Kanji. The course will focus on natural conversation in interpersonal relations, covering more complicated constructions and a greater number of effective expressions.

Objective:	This course is constructed so as to improve conversational skills, relying less and less on mental translations, and to also raise the overall level of the student’s linguistic ability. Students will become more familiar with written Kanji.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of this course students will continue to converse more and more fluently and confidently using more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, and continue to increase their knowledge and recognition of Kanji.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and readings on a wide variety of topics. Some grammatical points will include, expressions of impressions (yo, mitai,so,rashii), actions to be done in preparation for the future (te oku), hazu, despite(noni), describing changes(yo ni naru, te iku), nominalizing sentences, expressing purpose, expressing completions of past, present and future(te iru/te ita), stating decisions(kotoni naru/suru),action of giving/receiving services(te morau,te kureru), expressing intention, passive structures, etc.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People III: Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version), $34
Lessons:	Textbook-lessons, 1-8

Intermediate 3: Wednesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Intermediate 4: As the continuation of the higher intermediate level teaching, students will continue to engage in more complex conversations and will read and write in more Kanji characters. This course will mark the end to learning daily conversation. The student will also dramatically improve their overall linguistic ability. This course will pay special attention to various types of Japanese, including polite Japanese, informal conversation, and declarative writing.

Objective:	The aim of this course is to increase the student’s familiarity with the written language and facilitate the writing of letters as well as memorandums.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of this course students will have acquired the confidence and knowledge to express ideas, suggestions, and argue points of view. They will also increase their knowledge and use of complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, and continue to increase their knowledge and recognition of Kanji. Student will have acquired around 253 commonly used Kanji characters.
Topics:	Writing, pronunciation, and grammar are introduced through exercises and readings on a wide variety of topics. Some grammatical points will include some honorifics, using causative and causative-passive structures, leaving and relaying messages(yoni iu), plain imperatives, explaining reasons, and understanding written and spoken styles.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People III: Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version), $34
Lessons:	Textbook-lessons, 9-15

Intermediate 4: Thursdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Intermediate 1-4 Review/Practice: This course is designed for those who have completed Intermediate 4 or equivalent. It will review most of the grammar covered from Intermediate 1 through Intermediate 4 by practicing it in sentences and conversations. We will offer three different Review sessions, Review (A) will cover Intermediate 1 & 2, Review (B) will cover Intermediate 3, and Review (C) will cover Intermediate 4. These courses are recommended before taking Pre-Advanced.

Objective:	To prepare students for the more advanced levels using the appropriate grammatical structures and patterns.
Learning Outcome:	Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired the skills to speak, read, and write Japanese using the correct grammatical structures and patterns beyond a simple communicative level.
Topics:	A solid review of grammar using a variety of contexts and situations obtained mainly from the workbooks II and III.
Textbook:	Japanese for Busy People II: Workbook for the Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version) $27 & Japanese for Busy People III: Workbook for the Revised Third Edition includes 1 CD (Kana Version) $31
Lessons:	Review (A)-Workbook II, lessons 1-15, Review (B)-Workbook III, lessons 1-7, Review (C)-Workbook III, lessons 8-15.

Review/Practice (A) for Intermediate 1 & 2: Thursdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm
Review/Practice (B) for Intermediate 3: Mondays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm
Review/Practice (C) for Intermediate 4: Tuesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Pre-Advanced: For students who have completed Intermediate 4 or its equivalent. Advanced Kanji, reading, writing, discussions and a fundamental grammar review in the context of written materials are covered in this class. This course is especially attractive for those who speak read and write Japanese but lack confidence.

Objective:	To be able to engage in expressive discussions in the given topics and to achieve better comprehension skills. To increase vocabulary and Kanji in addition to more complicated expressions and structures.
Learning Outcome:	Students will have acquired the necessary skills to engage in discussions involving higher level expressions and vocabulary.
Topics:	Short essays on social, cultural happenings and Japanese phenomena.
Textbook:	Material from various Japanese sources, selected by teacher
Lessons:	N/A

Pre-Advanced: Wednesdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Advanced: Students that have attained a level of proficiency enabling them to communicate easily in everyday situations or have lived or studied in Japan are encouraged to join this class. More advanced Kanji, reading, vocabulary building and discussions are emphasized. This is the class for students who have confidence in their overall Japanese skills.

Objective:	To be able to discuss more advanced topics using complex sentences and expressions and to increase vocabulary and Kanji.
Learning Outcome:	The student’s ability to express their opinions at an advanced level is further enhanced.
Topics:	A variety of social and cultural issues will be presented for discussion.
Textbook:	Material from various Japanese sources, selected by teacher
Lessons:	N/A

Advanced: Thursdays: 6:15 - 8:45 pm

Newspaper Reading: This course is designed for those who have attained an advanced level of proficiency. Latest articles from Japanese newspapers will be used for reading and discussion. Oral presentations will be conducted by the participants based on selected articles of choice.

Objective:	To be able to read and discuss newspaper articles.
Learning Outcome:	The student will be able to advance from just being able to read simple articles or passages to more complex ones.
Topics:	Social, cultural, economic and political issues.
Textbook:	Material from various Japanese newspapers
Lessons:	N/A

Newspaper: TBA

Program Details

Program Director: Tazuko Ichikawa
Ms. Ichikawa joins the International Language Institute with 30 years of experience as the Program Director of the Japanese Language School at the Japan American Society of Washington, DC. She has taught all levels of Japanese to a wide variety of students and most recently instructed at the RICE Japanese Program of Washington, DC.

2008 Schedule:

Winter Term	Jan. 14 - Mar. 22, 2008	Deadline: Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Spring Term	Apr. 7 - June 14, 2008	Deadline: Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Summer Term	Jul. 7 - Sept. 13, 2008	Deadline: Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Fall Term	Sept. 29 - Dec. 6, 2008	Deadline: Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Tuition: $320 for one level. Please click here to apply on-line.

Duration: Classes meet twice weekly either on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday for 10 weeks. Each session is 75 minutes.

Class Size: Minimum of 4 students. Maximum of 9 students.

To Find Your Level: To find your level, please refer to the level description or use our self-evaluation guide. If you have further questions, please call ILI.

Textbooks: May be purchased at the time of registration or at the Institute before or on the first day of class.

Refunds: No refunds are issued once classes have started.

Inclement Weather: Classes are cancelled in accordance with federal government closings (not school closings!) due to inclement weather. Please check public announcements on radio, TV and the Web; or call ILI at (202) 362-2505.

Cancellation/Substitution: The International Language Institute reserves the right to cancel any class if deemed necessary. Prior to commencement of class, students will be given a full refund. In the event of cancellation after the commencement of class, the pro-rata portion of the unexpended tuition will be refunded within $5. The prorated amount of refundable monies will be determined by the ratio of classes completed to the total number of classes in the scheduled program. The International Language Institute reserves the right to assign substitute instructors whenever necessary.

Location: See address below.

Questions? Please call Francisco Todd, Foreign Language Coordinator of ILI, at 202-686-5610 extension 105.