Japanese Language Resources
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The below information has been compiled by USJETAA for informational purposes. The resources below are not endorsed by nor affiliated with USJETAA, JETAA USA, or any JETAA chapter. Most resources have been recommended by JET alumni, but please do you own research before deciding if a program is right for you.
Study in Japan
Wahaha Japanese Language School
Has both short-term and long term options in Japan.
Genki JACS
May have been founded by a JET alum. https://www.genkijacs.com
SIL Sapporo Nihongo Gakko
http://www.silnihongo.com/homeeng.html
Bushido Japan
https://www.bushidojapan.com/introductionschool
Short-term in Japan and online programs.
International Business Seminars – Winter Japan Seminar
For undergraduate or graduate students.
https://www.brochure.ibstours.com/winter-japan
Resources compiled by Ikigai Connections:
- Edogawa Union. Basic Japanese language classes in Tokyo. Voluntary staff also organize additional events for students like cherry blossom parties.
- Willows Communication. Japanese classes in Tokyo. Teaching Japanese through Japanese culture, life, history, industry, economy, politics, science, business. Online classes are also available.
- Suginami Nihongo Kaiwa no Kai. Japanese conversation lessons every Tuesday in Tokyo.
- The Shinjuku Foundation for Creation of Future. A list of all available volunteer Japanese language in the Shinjuku district.
- Coto Academy- Studying for the JLPT? Register for a small group prep course or to work virtually with a private tutor to meet your Japanese language needs. Also available in person in Japan.
- Meguro Language Center- Looking to start your Japanese studies, or to prepare for the JLPT exam? This website provides free study materials and practice quizzes, as well as explanations of helpful grammatical structures.
- Japan Switch. Affordable Japanese language classes for beginners.
- Kyoto Japanese Language School. A modern Japanese language school located in Kyoto.
- Kai Japanese Language School. Based in Tokyo, Kai offers in-person and online language classes.
- Kansai College of Business and Language. A two-year program in Osaka where you can receive a technical associate’s degree that you can use to transfer as a 3rd year student to a Japanese university or find potential employment in Japan.
- KCP International. KCP is a fully accredited, study abroad Japanese language immersion program based in Tokyo.
Homestay
Okajima
JET Alumni Language Courses
Hajimemashite
Website: https://hajimemashite.com/
Email: aarti.barve@hajimemashite.com; info@hajimemashite.com
Aarti Barve (Okayama, 2006-2008) is the founder of https://hajimemashite.com/, a platform for customized online Japanese courses. With an experience of 17yrs + including, teaching at the University of Mumbai, Aarti prepares students for JLPT exams. She has designed a special fee structure for the JET alumni. JET alumni can use the HAJIME 21 code to avail a discount of 20% in fees.
JETAA Study Groups & Courses
USJETAA Japanese Reading Group – Virtual
The goal of the USJETAA Japanese Reading Group is to help advanced beginner and intermediate level students improve their reading skills. Each month we will look at a short reading from Aozora Bunko, a repository of public domain literature. Participants should attempt to do the reading on their own and come to the meeting with any questions. We will spend the meeting each month reading the assignment sentence by sentence to understand how the Japanese is working.
Upcoming readings: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c_AnkB3PgLaimWLjiOQ4OtGb7F8rVzo_P01pu0t9Y5o/edit#gid=0
JETAANY Virtual Nihongo Dake Conversation Hour
Date: Most Mondays
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. EDT
Details: Join us virtually Mondays on Zoom to keep your Japanese language skills sharp. This chat is for Japanese speakers at the intermediate level or higher. Come join in on the fun! There’s no fee to participate. RSVP & Questions: contact Ashley via email
For upcoming events check out the JETAANY Facebook Events Page.
JETAA DC (DC, MD, & VA) Virtual Japanese Script Reading Club – Every Sunday at 2:00PM to 3:00PM ET. Sign up form
Join your fellow Japanese language learners and read through a Japanese short play script! The first read-through is for language study, the second read-through is for putting emotion into your Japanese. There will be three language levels available (easy, medium, hard), and a native-speaking Japanese Pronunciation Coach in every zoom breakout room.Email jetambassador@jetaadc.org with any questions. To sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl3pMd4reYVdHdyo_iqkjKubOKrL2m_ejc_KEKJFjBl1lzMg/viewform
Language Learning Resources
Thank you to Dan of Boston Intercultural Consulting for these resources.
GENKI 1 & 2: I can’t stress how important choosing the right beginner’s textbook is. Genki is the best tool to start for 90% of learners.
TAE KIM’S GRAMMAR GUIDE: An excellent, concise grammar guide.
SO-MATOME & SHIN KANZEN MASTER: The two test-prep series for passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
NIHONGO NO MORI: The BEST Japanese learning videos, all for free!
ANKI: Our favorite spaced repetition flashcard application.
YOMICHAN: A browser plugin that translates Japanese words with a simple hover of your mouse. To learn how it integrates with Anki, click here to read our guide.
MIDORI: The best iOS Japanese dictionary. Includes a flashcard program for those who don’t want to bother to with Anki.
DROPS: Fun application for learning vocabulary.
BUNPO: Beautifully organized and effective grammar-learning app.
DEEPL: Our go-to application for machine translation. Far from perfect, but we find it much more effective than Google Translate.
