Overall for the course
The course provides four class levels J1 ~J4 for students who are of compulsory school age.
The course aims to provide basic to intermediate level knowledge of Japanese, with a level of proficiency for communicating and functioning effectively in frequent situations of everyday life. The students learn Japanese writing skills, using Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji characters.
The systematic study method on the curriculum corresponds to basic to pre-intermediate levels of some certified Japanese proficiency tests such as the NJE (National Japanese Examination) and JLPT (The Japanese Language Proficiency Test), etc.
The course also introduces Japanese culture and knowledge by using “Realia” (raw teaching materials – refers to “real things”) as supplementary teaching materials for language education, as well as reading and listening to narrative article/story materials for comprehension and for increasing scanning and skimming skills.
The students will also experience seasonal events that Las Vegas Gakuen will provide to all students, including a speech contest.
Level descriptions
J1
This course aims to provide basic to elementary level knowledge of Japanese, with a level of proficiency for communicating and functioning effectively in frequent situations of everyday life. This course is designed for students to develop their first year of Japanese Elementary level. This course emphasizes balanced development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities to communicate and accomplish needed tasks while understanding Japanese culture and manners. The student will learn the Japanese writing systems Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji (55 Kanji characters). Also, the J1 class provides the basics of Japanese typing skills for students to use in their daily communication.
J2
This course aims to provide continuing basic to elementary level knowledge of Japanese, with a level of proficiency for communicating and functioning effectively in frequent situations of everyday life. This course is designed for students to develop mutual understanding through basic conversation as well as increase their grammatical knowledge. Students who register for this course should be eligible to register for the National Japanese Exam (NJE) at the end of the course year. The student will learn the Japanese writing systems Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji (99, total 154 Kanji characters).
J3
This course aims to provide continuing elementary level knowledge of Japanese, with a level of proficiency for communicating and functioning effectively in frequent situations of everyday life. This course is designed for students to develop their third year of Japanese Elementary level. This course emphasizes communication to further a purpose and accomplish needed tasks while understanding Japanese culture and manners. Students who register for this course should be eligible to register for the National Japanese Exam (NJE) at the end of the course year. The students who finish this course will also be able to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (*JLPT) N5 level to N4 level. The student will learn Japanese writing systems Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji (83, total 237 Kanji characters).
*JLPT- The JLPT by will be held worldwide to evaluate and certify proficiency of Japanese for nonnative speakers. It is offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.
J4
This course aims to provide continuing Pre-intermediate level knowledge of Japanese, with a level of proficiency for communicating and functioning effectively in frequent situations of everyday life. This course is designed for students to develop their fourth year of Japanese PreIntermediate level to be able to take some of the major proficiency tests such as the NJE (National Japanese Examination), JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) and/or AP (Advanced Placement) Japanese. This course emphasizes development of Keigo (Honorific language) for communicating to further a purpose and accomplish needed tasks while understanding Japanese systematic grammar. Students who register for this course should be eligible to register for the National Japanese Exam (NJE) at the end of the course year. The students who finish this course also will be able to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (*JLPT) N4 level to N3 level. The student will learn the Japanese writing systems Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji (101, total 338 Kanji characters).
*JLPT- The JLPT by will be held worldwide to evaluate and certify proficiency of Japanese for nonnative speakers. It is offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.