If you are an adult and work with Japanese colleagues or you’re planning a future trip to Japan for business, our group Japanese Language Classes on Zoom will help.
We cover business situations even at the beginner levels, but also conversation after work and getting to know each other.
At more advanced levels we study articles or videos on current affairs and hot topics in Japan.
Our Philosophy: Class is intense! We’re busy working professionals and come to class to study. We use the immersion method – don’t expect to hear much English once class has started. We demand that you learn by preparing for class beforehand, then we practice and expand in the classroom setting. Then review again at home. Expect up to 2 hours preparation each week! More advanced levels may include a presentation element.
Class study at JASO is a benefit of membership, so you or your company must be a current JASO member to participate. All membership details at www.jaso.org.
Group Class Information
Small group classes run 8 weeks total, 75-minute classes (10 hrs contact time)
Maximum 10 students. Minimum 4 needed for class to run.
Classes held online through Zoom or Google Meet (Teacher’s choice).
Week 1 starts from Monday September 23, Week 8 finishes Friday November 15, with following week in case emergency make-up needed due to unavoidable teacher cancellation.
Note: No class Monday November 11 (veteran's Day), no class Thursday October 31 (Halloween). Make up class MAY have to go beyond Thanksgiving week.
It is the student’s responsibility to use an up-to-date operating system, camera, headphones and microphone to ensure you can engage effectively and responsibly in the classroom. Quality connectivity is also the student’s responsibility, not the instructor’s. The instructor will try to make a reasonable effort in case of a student’s connectivity trouble. However, the instructor will not pause, halt or interrupt class in a way that overly impacts other students.
Process
Sign-up online. Select your class. Pay the fee.
We make every effort to ensure you are placed correctly and we will check on new students. We do reserve the right to move you after first class. We also want you to talk to us if you think you need to move.
We communicate using Dropbox. Once assigned to a class, you’ll receive notification that you are added to this class Dropbox folder. Inside this folder is course textbook (beginner and improver levels only), welcome letter, meeting codes to enter class, and class preparation. For some higher-level courses, you are required to purchase a textbook separately.
Find a quiet space for class, so as not to disrupt others.
You are always expected to prepare for class in advance. Instructors place class preparation notes in Dropbox several days prior to class. You will receive notification from Dropbox when materials are placed there – you’ll need to set up your Notifications, so keep checking anyway.
Our Levels Structure
Beginner level classes are for students who are new to Japanese, or have only a little self- or class-based study. Plan to start at Beginner 1 even if Beginner 2 or 3 seems more suitable. If you do NOT have a reasonable understanding of the ーて verb form, do NOT sign up for Beginner 6 or beyond.
Improver classes are for those that have studied the basics, and sometimes more advanced Japanese, for a reasonable period of time (often some time ago!). Students have (or quickly re-gain) a comfort with a range of tense use and verb conjugations, but need step-by-step progression to learn, or re-learn these using textbooks.
Lower Intermediate classes are bridging the gap to full intermediate student. It is still textbook-based.
Intermediate classes are for those who understand and are comfortable using a range of conjugations, and are working on longer, more complex explanations and discussion. Often at approximate JLPT N3 level.
Pre-Advanced classes are for those who are at or close to JLPT N2 and have often worked/lived in Japan for a significant period of time. More complex, discussion-based classes.
Choose your level by signing up. If you’re new, we’ll contact you to check your level before class starts.
Our Classes
Beginner 1
Instructor: Kayo Niimi Day & Time: Thursday 5:45-7pm
Description: Students will be introduced to concepts around working at a Japanese company including introductions, basic situational cultural expressions and language, pronunciation, and the building blocks of starting to speak. Note: Class scheduled for Halloween will be held on Wednesday October 30th.
Students are expected to have very little knowledge of the language. Textbook provided.
Beginner 2
Instructor: Ayumi Naraoka Day & Time: Monday 6:30-7:45pm
Students should have completed Beginner 1. Textbook provided.
Beginner 3
Instructor: Kana Ito Day & Time: Wednesday 5:30-6:45pm
Students should have completed Beginner 2. Textbook provided.
Beginner 5
Instructor: Shoko Parker Day & Time: Tuesday 6:15-7:30pm
Students should have completed Beginner 4. Textbook provided. This course begins the introduction of the ーて verb form. If you have a solid understanding of hiragana and katakana, and a good grasp of basics such as numbers, time, directions, greetings, and adjectives, plus present and past tenses, but little knowledge of this verb form, this is a good place to enter the course.
Lower Intermediate 3
Instructor: Tetsuko Sugawara Day & Time: Thursday 7-8:15pm
This class will use the textbook Marugoto Intermediate Book 1 (B1). Students must purchase the course text in advance. Students can purchase the online version through Kindle or Google Play, or the hard copy at Amazon HERE. Additional audio and other materials available HERE.
Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced language teaching professionals. You can read about them HERE.
Refund Policy Course will run with minimum 4 students signing up. If course does not run, 100% of fees refunded. Cancellation after September 15, no refund if your cancellation causes numbers to drop below 4 in total. 50% refund otherwise. Refund processed after classes start. We will communicate with you as sign-up windows close regarding number of sign-ups.
We understand business people sometimes have work commitments that cause them to miss class. Many students end up missing 1 or 2 classes because of work commitments. We price these classes affordably to take this into consideration. We do not give refunds because “work became busy”.
Total attendance is limited to 60 people - register today!
今年のJASO主催Holiday After HoursイベントはLane Powell法律事務所で開催いたします。アペタイザーと飲み物を準備してお待ちしております。人数は６０名と制限がございますのでお早めにお申し込みください。
参加費お１人様 $25、ラッフルチケット２枚付き Click here for parking information.
Tickets are non refundable.
Japan-America Society of Oregon503.552.8811 | info@jaso.org | 900 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite #1810, Portland, Oregon 97204 © 2024 Japan-America Society of Oregon
