Fundamental Japanese Course is for students who are learning Japanese as a foreign language.
Includes Kinder, Fundamental A-F, Youth A-D.
In our Kinder classes, we do not focus on traditional "teaching" of Japanese. At VJLS, we expose the children to fun games, activities, and a variety of Japanese cultural experiences and develop their desire to read and write Hiragana. We also value each child's individuality, nurture their creativity, and guide them to act on their own initiative.
Children can play freely and experience physical activities in our large hall.
Instruction is provided in Japanese, however, all students are welcome regardless of Japanese language ability. Classes are divided into two, with a choice of morning or afternoon classes.
Schedule | 10-month program (Sep - Jun) Morning Class: Sat 9am-12pm Afternoon Class: Sat 1pm-4pm | |
Fees |
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Fundamental A Students will master basic 46 Hiragana letters while learning very basic vocabulary, greetings, songs, and grammar through interactive activities and various kinds of audiovisual aids. The class focuses on listening and speaking more than reading and writing.
Approximate age: 6-8
For those who have passed Fundamental A and wish to continue to learn more basic vocabulary and expressions while mastering additional 25 hiragana letters by adding diacritic marks and small ya, yu, yo, tsu, and long vowels. The class also focuses on listening and speaking more than reading and writing.
Approximate age 7-8
Fundamental C is for those who have passed Fundamental B or equivalent. They start studying Japanese grammar more systematically with a textbook and audiovisual aids to acquire useful sentence structures to describe themselves, their families and friends. They will also complete learning katakana.
Approximate age: 8-9
Fundamental D is for those who have passed Fundamental C or equivalent. They'll learn more variety of sentences and expressions and interact in class. They'll also learn past tense so that they can start writing a diary. They will practice reading and writing of hiragana katakana combination sentences and start learning basic kanji.
Approximate age: 9-10
Fundamental E is for those who have passed Fundamental D or equivalent. They will build more advanced vocabulary while learning how to connect sentences into a longer story to express their opinions in Japanese.
Approximate age: 10-11
Fundamental F is for those who have passed Fundamental E or equivalent. They'll build more advanced vocabulary while learning how to connect sentences into a longer story to express their opinions in Japanese. Upon completion of Fundamental F, students will have reached the JLPT N5 level of proficiency in Japanese, which includes knowledge of 100 kanji.
Approximate age: 11-12
Schedule | 10-month program (Sep - Jun) Sat 9am-12pm |
Fees | Administration Fee: $50 (Payable at the time of registration.) Tuition Fee: One-time payment $1,250 (if registered before May 31, 2023) Monthly payment (Sep-Jun) $131.25 (if registered after June 1, 2023) |
Students will complete the elementary to intermediate level study of Japanese in "Genki 1&2" followed by "An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese". The aim of this course is to develop the four basic language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking in order to cultivate a foundation of Japanese language ability. Emphasis is placed on balancing skills in accuracy, fluency and complexity. This class has an annual end of year assessment.
Textbook: Genki 1 Lesson 1-6
This class is for students between Grade 7 and Grade 12 who learn Japanese for the first time. By the end of this course You will be able to:
・Read and write hiragana and katakana
・Introduce yourself
・Order food in a restaurant
・Extend /accept/turn down invitations
・Ask and describe the location of buildings, things, people, events
・Speak and write about your background and experience in simple sentences
・Read and write 58 kanji
Textbook: Genki 2 Lesson 7-12
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
・Describe person’s physical attributes
・Combine two and more adjectives to make a long sentence
・Speak in an informal manner to your friends
・Make a polite request
・Compare things against each other
・Express your intentions for the future
・Describe two and more activities and events you did or currently do
・Describe your past experiences
・Provide advice
・Make a guess or prediction
・Read and write 102 new kanji
Upon completion of Youth B, students will have reached the JLPT N5 level of proficiency in Japanese.
Textbook: Genki 2 Lesson 13-17
This course will focus on socially appropriate communication techniques, such as using different levels of politeness and expressing appreciation.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
・Answer questions in a simple job interview
・Provide advice
・Describe give/receive something (あげる、くれる、もらう)
・Describe people’s kind acts
・Make travel plans
・Politely ask someone for a favor
・Learn and practice a more casual speech style
・Read and write 79 new Kanji
Textbook: Genki 2 Lesson 18-23
This course will focus on socially appropriate communication techniques, such as using different levels of politeness and expressing appreciation.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
・Describe the actions you did in the past and the ones you regret
・Describe your previous actions
・Express conditional sentences
・Describe the actions you perform simultaneously
・Use honorific expressions
・Describe an action that is easy or difficult to perform
・Create passive sentences
・Describe your wishes for someone
・Create causative sentences
・Create causative-passive sentences
・Create command sentences
・Create conditional dependence sentences
・Read and write 93 new kanji
Upon completion of Youth D, students will have reached the JLPT N4 level of proficiency in Japanese.
Schedule | 10-month program [Sep - Jun] Sat 9am-12pm |
Fees | Administration Fee: $50 (Payable at the time of registration.) Tuition Fee: One-time payment $950 (if registered before May 31, 2023) Monthly payment [Sep-Jun] $99.75 (if registered after June 1, 2023) |
Youth A-D
Intermediate to advanced Japanese level is required for all Extracurricular classes except the Dance class.
A “letter” is not just a sign or character. It is a tool that can describe feelings and scenery, and that represents culture in its own form. Japanese has a lot of beautiful words, and uses three separate alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji to express culture through letters - an art in themselves. Calligraphy is to imbue letters with the meanings the words have, and the feelings you want to express, using a writing brush and ink. I feel joyful when the letters I painted with the brush speak to someone in a way that goes beyond the words. Through calligraphy, let’s learn and feel Japanese letters, words, and culture.
You can be a very different person from the you you know. You can show a face no one has seen before. The stage is the place, and theatre the activity. If you want to enact this dream—let's create a play together. Watch great plays, prepare a script, and create drama. For those who prefer to create with technology such as audio and lights, there are always opportunities to get involved - that is the magic of theatre!
Schedule | 10month (Sep - Jun) Extracurricular: Sat 3:10pm-4:10pm The first class is on September 16, 2023 |
Fees | Extracurricular Tuition Fee: 10 month $400 (cash or cheque) Monthly payment (Sep-Jun) $42 |
Have you ever seen Ghibli movies? How do you feel after watching? Did you enjoy it? Do you feel inspired? Ghibli movies actually relate to Japanese culture and reflect the country's history. When watching them, it is important to understand “why this movie is interesting” or “ what it really means”. If you get it, you will be able to enjoy more and more for sure! Let’s figure out what the hidden message is hidden in each movie.
487 Alexander St
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1C6 Canada
Monday - Friday: 9am - 3pm
©2023 Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall • Registered Charity: 119281996RR0001 BC Society: S0000334
Located on the traditional, unceded territories of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
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