Overview
Duration
12 weeks
Tuition
Under $14/hour
Level
Beginner
Prerequisites
None
Class Time
2.5 hours/week
Group Size
4-10 students
Location
ILC Carmel
Details
Dates:
01/13/27-03/31/27
(End date may change due to class needs)
Time:
Wednesday, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Cost:
$430.00
(Includes $30 one-time enrollment fee. 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

Chrissie
Languages: Japanese
Chrissie is a passionate Japanese language instructor with a strong academic background in Japanese studies and linguistics. She has dedicated more than 15 years to studying the Japanese language and culture, developing a deep understanding of both the linguistic and cultural aspects of communication. Her professional experience includes five years working with the Shizuoka City Board of Education in Japan, where she gained valuable insight into Japanese education, culture, and daily life.
With more than eight years of teaching experience, Chrissie has worked with students of diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and proficiency levels. She is committed to helping learners build a strong foundation in speaking, listening, reading, and writing while making language learning both engaging and practical. She believes that understanding culture is just as important as learning vocabulary and grammar, and she enjoys incorporating authentic cultural experiences, traditions, and real-world communication into her lessons.
Chrissie is known for her warm, patient, and enthusiastic teaching style. She creates a welcoming classroom environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, practicing new skills, and building confidence at their own pace. Whether students are learning Japanese for travel, business, academic pursuits, or personal enrichment, she strives to make each class interactive, encouraging, and tailored to help every learner achieve their goals.
Her greatest reward as an instructor is watching students gain confidence in their abilities and develop a lasting appreciation for the Japanese language and culture.

