Akiko Ohashi Brennan, Japanese Program Coordinator for CLS and first-year instructor.
The Center for Language Studies Japanese immersion program is acknowledged as one of the most challenging and rewarding in the country. Our Japanese team is composed of exceptional native teachers who provide individualized instruction and continuous feedback in small classes.
CLS Japanese students at the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford. Excursions enrich the classroom learning.
Combining innovative pedagogical methods with excellent instructional materials, our Japanese intensive courses ensure rapid learning, cultural literacy, and long lasting retention of the language. The CLS Japanese program is excellent preparation for individuals interested in work or study abroad.
Available Courses
Goals/Objectives (100A: Japanese I): The purpose of this course is to promote elementary level of proficiency in Japanese through a communicative approach. Students are expected to be able to understand basic spoken and written forms of modern Japanese, and to do some basic communication in Japanese upon completion of the course. In addition to being able to read/write sentences in hiragana, katakana, and kanji (58 Kanji characters are introduced), you will be able to function at a survival level in interactive situations common to daily life in Japan.
Goals/Objectives (105A: Japanese II): The purpose of this course is to further develop the elementary level of proficiency attained in JPNS100A through a communicative approach. Students are expected to be able to understand basic spoken and written forms of modern Japanese, and to do some basic communication in Japanese upon completion of the course. Students are expected to be able to comfortably read/write sentences in combination of hiragana, katakana, and kanji (87 Kanji characters are introduced).
100A. First-Year Japanese I
105A. First-Year Japanese II
DETAILS
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
The second-year course covers the basic patterns of Japanese and introduces 272 Kanji characters.
Classes and many cultural lectures are conducted in Japanese to stress training in comprehension (both reading and aural), speaking, and composition. Special emphasis is placed upon the development of free conversational skills.
COURSES
110A. Second-Year Japanese I
115A. Second-Year Japanese II
DETAILS
Prerequisites: Students entering second-year Japanese are expected to have mastered 240 Kanji from Kanji Look and Learn.
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
This course is designed to help intermediate level learners of Japanese develop the four skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a balanced manner. Using the Quartet 1 textbook, students will learn sentence patterns and expressions, kanji, vocabulary, and reading strategies, focusing on the JLPT N3 level.
The textbook has “Reading,” “Writing,” “Speaking,” and “Listening” sections in one section, which are connected by common themes. The topics of the “Reading” reading material are also covered in the “Writing” writing, “Speaking” conversation, and “Listening” listening comprehension sections, and the listening comprehension section uses the sentence patterns and expressions of the reading material. The various ways in which the sections relate to each other allow students to develop all four skills in a natural and balanced way.
Throughout each session, students choose a topic of their own interest, research it on their own, write a report, and present their findings to the class. Through this project, students experience the joy of learning and teaching their interests in Japanese, while also developing the skills to become independent learners. This experience will also be useful for their Japanese language study after CLS.
In addition, students will have a language exchange with Japanese people in Japan per session. By talking with a Japanese about what they have learned, they will not only gain more knowledge, but they will feel the joy of being able to communicate in Japanese and realize their own accomplishments.
COURSES
200A. Third-Year Japanese I
205A. Third-Year Japanese II
DETAILS
Prerequisites: Students entering third-year Japanese are expected to have mastered all of Kanji Look and Learn.
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
227A & 228A - JLPT Preparation Course
The fourth-year Japanese is built around preparation for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The first session is aimed at reaching level N3/N2 or and the second session is aimed at reaching N2/N1, depending on the needs and background of the student.
Customized coaching and mentoring is complemented by reading and writing assignments, in a supportive immersion environment.
In 2025, this course is being offered virtually.
Credits: 4 US credits (1 Beloit Unit) per course
Textbooks
GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Textbook [978-4789017305]
GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook [978-4-7890-1731-2]
GENKI II: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Textbook [978-4-7890-1732-9]
GENKI II: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook [978-4-7890-1733-6]
Session 1:
Quartet Vol 1: Intermediate Japanese Across Four Language Skills (Chapters 1 - 3 including “brush-up” sections) ISBN: 978-4789016957
Quartet Vol 1: Workbook including “brush-up” sections, ISBN: 78-4789016964
Session 2:
Quartet Vol 1: Intermediate Japanese Across Four Language Skills (Chapters 4 - 6 including “brush-up” sections) ISBN: 978-4789016957
Quartet Vol 1: Workbook including “brush-up” sections, ISBN: 78-4789016964
TRY! Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 Revised Edition [978-4872179033].
Testimonial
Akiko Ohashi Brennan
Senior Instructor of First-year Japanese, since Summer 2010
“The 7 weeks of teaching CLS are my favorite time of the year. The instructors and students live in the beautiful Beloit College campus studying, eating and participating in special events together. We become so close that I cannot help but cry at the closing ceremony every summer. We become almost a family.
This is not an easy program. In 7 weeks, students earn the equivalent of 2 semesters (one year) worth of credits. Instructors expect students to do their best. We give a lot of homework, followed by many quizzes and tests in order to check understanding of the materials. But, we believe that learning should be fun. We always try to teach and practice the materials in an enjoyable and interesting way. Even when I teach boring verb conjugations, I lead the students in singing the “TE-form song” so that they can memorize this grammar point in an easy and fun way.
Besides teaching, the other passion I have is performing Tea Ceremony. I have performed tea ceremonies at CLS many times. Each time, all of my students enjoy tasting the combination of the bitter tea and accompanying sweets. Most importantly, I witness their profound appreciation of a most precious tradition in Japanese culture. We also go to the Anderson Japanese Gardens as a field trip and later discuss what we saw in class. Learning about Japanese culture is one of the most important aspects of CLS.
The CLS program is the best immersion program in the world because the students can experience “Little Japan” in Wisconsin, learning not only the language but also its culture.”
