New classes will start in 2011

Due to the fact that I am expecting my second baby in September this year, I won't be able to offer classes in next semester (from September 2010).

So it will be a little while until I can come back to teach at the Asian Culture Center.  I am hoping to resume my classes in January 2011, but I might wait until April 2011.  We will see.  I will let you know on this blog site when I decide to come back.

I am also thinking of offering a total beginners class if there is a strong demand when I resume next year - but then I would have to drop one of my current classes (either beginners II or intermediate).  It will be up to how many students will show up in the first couple of classes in the new semester.  So please make sure to come to the first lesson in the new semester if you do want to take my classes.

Class schedule for March and April

I noticed that yesterday there were quite a few students (among those who come regularly) that were absent from the class, both in beginners II and intermediate class.

I wonder if it is partly because we had to skip (cancel) the class for two weeks in a row? I hope you won't give up coming to the class because of these class cancellation, and try to make it to every class when it is offered.

Unfortunately, there are some more classes that I have to cancel in March and April due to my husband's trips. I will give you all these dates here, so please mark your calendar and try to come to all the classes when it is offered.

Classes will be given as usual (unless there occurs some unexpected change - if it happens I will let you know by email.)
3/8, 3/29, 4/5, 4/19, 4/26 (I believe 4/26 is the last class of Spring semester.)

No classes
3/15 (due to the spring break)
3/22 (due to my husband's trip)
4/12 (due to my husband's trip)

Next classes are on March 1st

As I informed most of the students by email yesterday, the class was cancelled last night (Feb. 15) due to the weather.

And unfortunately, I have to cancel my classes next week (Feb. 22) as well, since my husband will be away for next 10 days and therefore there is no one who can babysit our son.

I am sorry for the inconvenience, but I hope you all will keep up with Japanese study during this 2-week "break".

I look forward to seeing you all on March 1st!

New Semester starts on February 1st

Due to my husband's business trip, I cannot have my classes on Monday 26th January, which was originally the first class of this semester.

So, our first class this semester is Monday February 1st, from 6pm (Beginners II) and from 7:15pm (Intermediate).

I apologize for the inconvenience, but I hope you understand: I am teaching at the ACC as a volunteer without any payment, so we cannot really afford to hire a babysitter for the time when my husband is away.

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing you all (old and new students who are interested in coming) on February 1st!

Nov. and Dec. Schedule plus Xmas Party plan

Here are the schedules of our Japanese class at the ACC for the next 2 months.

Nov. 23 (Mon) - No class due to Thanksgiving break (ACC is closed)

Nov. 30 (Mon) - We have classes as usual, and possibly it is the last class of this year (see below)

Dec. 7 (Mon) - No class if we follow the ACC's schedule, but the director of the ACC said that if we need to have one more class this year, they can arrange a student staff to be there for us on this date. So PLEASE VOTE: if you would like us to have another class on Dec. 7, please email me. If there are more than 3 students in each class, I will tell Melanie (the ACC director) to let us have classes on this date.


Christmas Party tentatively planned on Dec. 11 (Fri.) from 5pm (till 7 or 8 pm)

What to bring: A dish or some drinks (soft or alcohol) to share.

Please also RSVP for this party plan: Tell me if you can make it or not. And if you already know that you can come, please tell me what kind of dish you are planning to bring so that we won't have too much overlaps. (You can just tell me which one among "Main" "Appetizer" "Salad" "Dessert" or "Drinks".)

Thank you - I appreciate your quick response!
And have a nice Thanksgiving break :-)

Nov.2 class cancelled

Both classes on November 2 is cancelled, due to my husband's schedule. I am sorry, and I hope to see you in the following week!

Important notice about the class on Monday 26th

Due to my husband's trip during that week, I have to cancel the intermediate class on Monday, 26th.

As for the Beginners II class, we will have the class, but I will have to finish the class a little earlier than usual time, because I am thinking to bring my 18-month old boy, Benjamin Takumi, to the class.

Fall Semester starts on Monday, Sep. 14

Our class at the Asian Culture Center this Fall semester starts on Monday, September 14.

In this semester, I am offering:
(1) Beginners II: 6pm - 7:10pm
(2) Intermediate: 7:15pm - 8:15pm

A brief description of each class is as follows:
(1) Beginners II: This is a class for beginners who have learned some basics of Japanese (e.g. reading and writing of hiraganas and katakanas, some basic sentence patterns and particles, etc.), and I start from Lesson 5 of a textbook titled "Genki I" (if wished, photocopies are available from ACC). Note that this is a continued class from the last semester, but it is not restricted to the students from the last semester, of course, but open to anyone who is more or less at the same level in Japanese learning.

(2) Intermediate: This is a class for intermediate level students. I will start from the review of Lesson 9 of the textbook Genki I (if wished, photocopies are available from ACC). Note that this is a continued class from the last semester, but it is open to anyone who is more or less at the same level in Japanese learning. Please come and see.

For those who are new to my classes:
Please click "For Newcomers" under "category" on the left column, and read all the postings. Thank you, and I hope to see you in the class!

Spring Break

Next week is the spring break at IU --- the Asian Culture Center wiill be closed too, and so we don't have a class next week either (on March 16).

Have a great spring break, and I'll see you on March 23rd!


By the way, I am leaving for Japan on the 21st of April, and my husband's family will be visiting us from the 12th of April (Sunday) to celebrate our son's 1st birthday (which is the 17th of April).

Therefore, I will have to cancel the class on the 13rd, the 20th and the 27th of April. (The Spring Semester ends with the end of April.)

That leaves us just three more classes in this semester --- March 23, March 30, and April 6.

I am sorry for having to miss so many classes at the end of the semester. But I hope as many of you as possible can make it to all the rest of the classes in this semester.

Advanced class starts on the 21st

Advanced class starts on Wednesday, January 21st, at 5:45pm at my place.

As I have already told some students, I have been thinking to offer the class in different arrangements (in terms of place and time) from this semester. Let us talk about it on our first meeting on the 27th. So I hope that as many of you as possible can make it for the first class.