Japanese Language Program Objective

The Boston Language Institute, New England’s leading language school, offers Japanese language courses to individuals and companies. The quality of instruction provided in our Japanese language classes are on a par with the best native Japanese language school.

Our teaching methods are individualized...even in groups. Small classes of four to twelve students assure that each student receives ample individual attention and the chance to participate actively in class. The result is a learning environment that fosters a higher level of fluency than a typical college course.

We consider it to be the major goal of our program to have students use Japanese in as many real-life situations as possible. Our Japanese programs have been designed to develop proficiency in both the spoken and written language.

Homework, which includes cassette tapes for oral review, is an important part of our program. With an expert Japanese instructor as your guide, you will learn to speak, read, write and understand Japanese in a warm, relaxed atmosphere, and you will be introduced to Japanese culture from the unique perspective of an educated professional.

Japanese Level 1 is designed to teach beginners a day-to-day language, and to introduce pronunciation, basic sentence patterns and essential vocabulary for communicating in the standard spoken language. The course includes reading and writing both the hiragana and the katakana writing systems, using daily phrases, understanding numerals, time expressions, and counting systems.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 1-11)

Japanese Level 2 continues to build upon the basic foundation acquired in Level 1, emphasizing further vocabulary and conversational practice using new grammar including the conjugation of adjectives, and the -te and -nai forms of verbs. Examples of customary behavior in everyday situations such as giving and receiving gifts, using the telephone, asking directions will be introduced. The course provides frequent practice in reading and writing hiragana and katakana.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 12-25)

Japanese Level 3 is for those who are motivated to continue to a more advanced level of the language. Students learn more complex sentence structures through the study of dictionary forms and the -ta forms of verbs while acquiring conversational skills such as making comparisons, and describing things using adjectives. About 50 kanji are also introduced.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 1, Lessons 26-30) and (Japanese for Busy People Vol. 2, Lessons 1-4)

Japanese Level 4 helps students acquire a more advanced level of grammar such as relative clauses, subordinate clauses, and less formal speech while practicing conversation in practical situations such as applying for school, and making hotel reservations. Students will acquire another 80 kanji by the end of this course.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 2, Lessons 5-12)

Japanese Level 5 is geared toward many more communication skills based on everyday topics, for example, discussing the rules of sumo wrestling and delivering flowers. Writing a diary and a thesis is also introduced using the plain forms of verbs. The course covers grammar including conditional, volitional, and potential form of verbs, polite and informal speech. Students will add about 80 more kanji.
(Japanese for Busy People Vol. 2, Lessons 13-20)

Conversational Japanese This is a program designed for students who already have a good command of the language. Conducted entirely in Japanese, the course emphasizes speaking and understanding spoken Japanese in a cultural context. It aims to develop conversational skills by focusing on communication strategies, including the use of topical videos and CDs.

Japanese Proficiency Test Preparation is for those who have mastered Level V and would like to challenge themselves to evaluate their language skills by taking the test. The test administered by the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ) is held annually in December. The course preparing for the level 4 test (the easiest) will train students to be confident in writing, reading, listening by reviewing grammar and expanding their vocabulary. Conversational Japanese is also emphasized.

Text and Supplementary Materials

Since communication in a foreign language requires an understanding of the cultural context, our aim is to teach you the living language through carefully selected textbooks, newspaper and magazine articles and other relevant materials, rather than have you repeat and memorize tourist phrases.

Since 1981, we have experimented with several university-level Japanese textbooks and have selected Japanese for Busy People (Kodansha International), as the one that best fulfill the objectives of our students from the beginning through advanced levels. CDs, cassette tapes, videos and workbooks accompanying the textbooks are available. You may borrow tapes and CDs for home listening from our Lending Library. The videos will be presented in class. It provides students with day-to-day expressions in real-life situations. Books may be purchased at the Boston University Bookstore, 660 Beacon St., Boston or from our on-line bookstore specializing in foreign language textbooks, study guides and audiocassettes.

Tuition and Course Organization

Tuition for the 24-hour core Japanese program at all levels is $399 (with the exception of Japanese Proficiency Test Preparation, which is $495). There is a non-refundable $35 registration fee. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions as well as four-week accelerated programs.

In addition to the our core program, we offer a 96-hour Daytime Intensive program which covers three to four semesters in eight weeks - offering the greater likelihood of actually speaking, as well as reading and writing, the language than a traditional university course. Tuition for the Daytime Intensive Program and the Group Immersion Program is $1,995

Private Programs

Immersion Programs

The Boston Language Institute Guarantee

Because of the individualized nature of our programs and the high quality of our instruction, we guarantee your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with the quality of instruction within the first two weeks of an eight-week session, or the first week of a four-week accelerated session, we will refund your tuition in full.
Refund requests must be made no later than the business day after the second meeting of a once-a-week or the fourth meeting of a twice-a-week class of a Main Session; and no later than the business day after the first meeting of a once-a-week or the second meeting of a twice-a-week class of an Accelerated Session.

Class Schedules

We encourage students to register at least a week before the session starts, especially since classes are limited to 12 students. A Program Coordinator will be happy to take registration information by phone (617-262-3500 x241), fax or e-mail.