Overview
Duration
10 weeks
Level
Beginner
Prerequisites
30+ hours Beginning Japanese
Tuition
Under $14/hour
Class Time
3 hours/week
Group Size
4-10 students
Location
ILC, Carmel
Details
Dates:
4/18/26 - 6/20/26
Time:
Saturdays, 11:30am-2:30pm
Cost:
$430.00
(Does not include text books and optional tuition insurance)
What You’ll Learn
Talk about the past using polite verb forms (ました / ませんでした)
Describe what you did yesterday, last week, and on specific days
Ask and answer questions about past experiences and activities
Give simple reasons and explanations using 〜から (“because”)
Use い-adjectives and な-adjectives to describe people, places, and things
Express likes and dislikes with reasons (e.g., “I like sushi because…”)
Combine ideas into longer, more natural sentences
Participate in real-life conversations (shopping, social plans, daily life)
Improve listening comprehension through structured dialogue practice
Build confidence telling simple stories about your life in Japanese
Weekly Itinerary
Each week includes speaking practice, games, cultural context, and real-world role-plays. You’ll use everything you learn — right away.
Week 1 – Review & Reactivation: Review Lessons 1–4 through conversation activities and speaking games; rebuild fluency and confidence
Week 2 – Past Tense Introduction: Learn past tense verb forms (ました / ませんでした); talk about what you did yesterday
Week 3 – Talking About the Past: Use time expressions (きのう, せんしゅう, etc.); discuss weekend and past activities
Week 4 – Daily Life Conversations: Practice common verbs (eat, go, study); role-play conversations about past actions
Week 5 – Review & Storytelling: Reinforce Lesson 5 through guided storytelling and speaking activities
Week 6 – Giving Reasons: Introduce 〜から (“because”); give simple explanations and reasons
Week 7 – Describing with Adjectives: Use い- and な-adjectives to describe people, places, and things
Week 8 – Preferences & Opinions: Express likes and dislikes with reasons; build longer responses
Week 9 – Practical Communication: Role-play real-life situations (shopping, social plans) using past tense and reasons
Week 10 – Final Review & Conversation: Combine past tense, adjectives, and reasons in conversation; group speaking activities and final review
Meet Your Instructor
Ai
Languages: Japanese
Ai is our wonderful Japanese instructor, bringing both warmth and extensive experience to her classroom. She graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University with a degree in English and American Literature, where she developed a deep appreciation for language, culture, and communication. After graduation, she worked as an English attendant for several companies, supporting professionals in their language development and cross-cultural communication. She then transitioned into teaching and has spent over 10 years working as an English teacher in Japan.
Throughout her career, Ai has taught students of all ages and backgrounds, helping them build confidence and practical language skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. Her teaching style is interactive, engaging, and student-centered, always focusing on making lessons both meaningful and enjoyable.
Outside of the classroom, Ai is passionate about traveling and has visited nearly 30 countries. She loves immersing herself in new cultures, meeting people from different backgrounds, and discovering unique traditions and perspectives. Exploring the world and embracing new experiences have always been an important part of who she is. She brings that same curiosity, openness, and enthusiasm into her classes—creating a positive, fun, and welcoming space where students feel inspired to learn and grow.