Japanese Language Program Objective
A F International offers Japanese language courses to individuals and companies.
Our teaching methods are individualized, even in groups. Small classes of
four to twelve students assure that each student receives ample individual
attention and the chance to participate actively in class. The result is
a learning environment that fosters a higher level of fluency than a typical
college course.
We consider it to be the major goal of
our program to have students use Japanese in as many real-life situations
as possible. Our Japanese programs have been designed to develop proficiency
in both the spoken and written language.
Homework, which includes cassette tapes
for oral review, is an important part of our program. With an expert Japanese
instructor as your guide, you will learn to speak, read, write and understand
Japanese in a warm, relaxed atmosphere, and you will be introduced to Japanese
culture from the unique perspective of an educated professional.
Beginning Japanese Level 1
This class is designed to teach beginners
a day-to-day language, and to introduce pronunciation, basic sentence patterns
and essential vocabulary for communicating in the standard spoken language.
The course includes reading and writing both the hiragana and the katakana
writing systems, using daily phrases, understanding numerals, time expressions,
and counting systems.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 1-11)
Beginning Japanese Level 2
This class continues to build upon the
basic foundation acquired in Level 1, emphasizing further vocabulary and
conversational practice using new grammar including the conjugation of adjectives,
and the -te and -nai forms of verbs. Examples of customary behavior in everyday
situations such as giving and receiving gifts, using the telephone, asking
directions will be introduced. The course provides frequent practice in
reading and writing hiragana and katakana.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 12-25)
Beginning Japanese Level 3
This class is for those who are motivated
to continue to a more advanced level of the language. Students learn more
complex sentence structures through the study of dictionary forms and the
-ta forms of verbs while acquiring conversational skills such as making
comparisons, and describing things using adjectives. About 50 kanji are
also introduced.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 26-30) and (Japanese for Busy
People Vol. 2, Lessons 1-4)
Intermediate Japanese Level 4
This class helps students acquire a more
advanced level of grammar such as relative clauses, subordinate clauses,
and less formal speech while practicing conversation in practical situations
such as applying for school, and making hotel reservations. Students will
acquire another 80 kanji by the end of this course.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 2, Lessons 5-12)
Intermediate Japanese Level 5
This class is geared toward many more communication
skills based on everyday topics, for example, discussing the rules of sumo
wrestling and delivering flowers. Writing a diary and a thesis is also introduced
using the plain forms of verbs. The course covers grammar including conditional,
volitional, and potential form of verbs, polite and informal speech. Students
will add about 80 more kanji.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 2, Lessons 13-20)
Conversational Japanese
This is a program designed for students
who already have a good command of the language. Conducted entirely in Japanese,
the course emphasizes speaking and understanding spoken Japanese in a cultural
context. It aims to develop conversational skills by focusing on communication
strategies, including the use of topical videos and CDs.
Japanese Proficiency Test Preparation
This class is for those who have mastered
Level V and would like to challenge themselves to evaluate their language
skills by taking the test. The test administered by the Association of International
Education, Japan (AIEJ) is held annually in December. The course preparing
for the level 4 test (the easiest) will train students to be confident in
writing, reading, listening by reviewing grammar and expanding their vocabulary.
Conversational Japanese is also emphasized.
Text and Supplementary Materials
Since communication in a foreign language requires an understanding of the
cultural context, our aim is to teach you the living language through carefully
selected textbooks, newspaper and magazine articles and other relevant materials,
rather than have you repeat and memorize tourist phrases.
We have selected Japanese for Busy People
(Kodansha International), as the one that best fulfill the objectives of
our students from the beginning through advanced levels. | 
