Japanese Fundamentals 4
Course Description & Objectives
This course is the final part of the Fundamentals series, designed for beginning to lower-intermediate learners. Serving as a Soshuhen 総集編 — a summary, consolidation, and practical application of what students have learned in Fundamentals 1, 2, and 3 — the course uses lessons from Starter, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan (Japan Foundation) to revisit key elements of the Japanese language. Topics include talking about hobbies, making plans and invitations, sharing event details (when and where), and sharing past experiences. Students will strengthen their foundation through structured review and build confidence using Japanese in both speaking and writing. While completion of Fundamentals 3 is recommended, it is not required. However, prior knowledge of hiragana and katakana is necessary to join.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Independently create simple noun, adjective, and verb sentences in both present/future and past tense using basic particles.
- Practice and use essential particles: か、は、が、を、も、と、で、に、の.
- Ask and answer questions about their hobbies and favorite activities.
- Share information about events, including when and where, and ask/answer whether someone is attending.
- Express availability and handle invitations (both inviting and responding).
- Talk about what they usually do on their days off.
Japanese Language Program
Tuition
Costs (8-session courses )
workshops are separate price
Member: $180
Non-member: $230
Membership Bundle*: $210 (Save $15!)
*JASDFW regular individual/family membership + Tuition
Registration
- Thursday, April 9th – June 4th
- Registration will open in February, 2026
- 8 sessions
- Instructor: Ikuko Fujiwara
- Wednesdays, February 4th – March 25th
- 12:00pm – 1:10pm CST
- 8 sessions - Make-up Date: April 1st
- Instructor: Mariko Nijo
- Wednesdays, February 4th – March 25th
- 7:00pm – 8:10pm CST
- 8 sessions - Make-up Date: April 1st
- Instructor: Mariko Nijo
- Mondays, February 23rd – April 13th
- 7:00pm – 8:10pm CST
- 8 sessions - Make-up Date: April 20th
- Instructor: Izumi Sakurada
* The make-up day is only applicable if a class is canceled during the session. If no cancellations occur, the course will conclude on the scheduled date.
While completing Fundamentals 1–3 is highly recommended before joining Fundamentals 4, it is not required. However, students should have basic foundational skills, with some assistance as needed. Specifically, students should:
- Be able to read and write the 46 basic hiragana characters (ideally katakana as well).
- Be able to create simple sentences using です (noun and adjective sentences).
- Be able to create basic verb ます sentences to describe daily activities, future plans, and past events.
- Be familiar with the following particles: か、は、が、を、も、と.
- Have learned basic adjective structures (い-adjectives vs. な-adjectives, and basic conjugation).
- Understand and use demonstrative pronouns:
これ・それ・あれ and この・その・あの. - Be able to count from 1 to 100 in Japanese.
- Understand the basic difference between plain form and polite form.
- Be able to ask and answer common beginner-level questions, such as:
- これはなんですか。
- どこにすんでいますか。
- しゅっしんはどこですか。
- おしごとはなんですか。
- そのしごとはどんなおしごとですか。
- かぞくはなんにんですか。
- なにがすきですか。
- このひとはだれですか。
- まいあさなにをしますか。
- あしたなにをしますか。
- きのうなにをしましたか。
Japanese Language Program Policy
Updated January 27, 2026
General Class/Program Policy
- All classes will be conducted via Zoom. Attendees must have a device with audio and video capabilities, as well as an internet connection.
- All Japanese Fundamentals classes and workshops will be recorded, and students will have access to the recording for a limited period.
- Sharing of any Zoom Meeting information or recorded videos with third parties is not allowed. Students must use their registered names as the usernames when joining each session. Attendance will be taken for each lesson.
- Classes are designed for students 16 years and older. Please contact the language program manager before registering if the student interested is younger than 16 years. Participation by minors is subject to approval and requires a parent or guardian consent form.
- Each class will have a minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 15 students. JASDFW reserves the right to cancel the class if it does not meet the minimum attendance number.
- For a class that uses a textbook, students will be provided with textbook information to order online on their own. They are expected to have it ready before the first day of class.
- Occasionally, we are required to replace an instructor or change the schedule. While we try to avoid these changes, we reserve the right to make them as needed.
- Students should check their spam or junk email folders to avoid missing any confirmations or emails from the instructor.
- Student contact information collected from the registration process may be given to the instructor of the class for teaching and/or emergency purposes.
- Please keep receipt of tuition payment when registering online.
Lesson Cancellations
- Lessons will be rescheduled when JASDFW cancels a lesson due to teacher emergencies or other unforeseen and nature-related circumstances. A tornado warning in the Dallas area, power outages and loss of internet connections have led to lesson cancellations in the past.
- If a lesson is canceled, the schedule typically shifts by a week pushing the last day of class later. However, the teacher and students may come to an agreement to meet on another day of the same week or twice in another week.
- If no students are present in a particular lesson for no apparent reason, the session will not be canceled or rescheduled. The instructor will record the lesson and the recording link will be sent to the students the following day.
Course Cancellation/Refunds
- If we cancel a course due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, students already registered will be notified via email and receive a full refund.
- Course cancellations due to low enrollments will be determined no later than 3 days before the starting date.
- Cancellation Refunds:
- Cancellations made at least 7 days before a class starting date will receive a 100% refund.
- Cancellations from 7 days to 1 day (24 hours) before a class starts will receive a 75 % refund.
- Refunds will not be granted for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start of a class. After that, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Please email the language program manager to request tuition refunds.
- Notwithstanding the above policy, JASDFW reserves the right to grant refunds contrary to this policy on a case-by-case basis.
Certification
- Students may request a certificate of completion by emailing the language program manager at the end of each term. To qualify for a certificate of completion, students need to attend 6 or more live sessions and complete at least 8 assignments (5 quizzes and 3 speaking practices) during the session.
- Completing our classes is different from passing the Japan Language Proficiency Test or any other test of Japanese skills.
Class Recording and Copyright Policy
- All online classes offered by the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth (JASDFW) are recorded for educational and review purposes. These recordings will be made available only to enrolled students through secure platforms designated by JASDFW.
- Students are strictly prohibited from recording any portion of the class using personal devices or third-party software. This policy is in place to protect the privacy of all participants and to comply with copyright laws.
- All class materials, including but not limited to recordings, handouts, presentations, and audio-visual content, are the intellectual property of the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth. These materials are protected under U.S. copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, or shared outside of class without prior written permission from JASDFW.
- Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, including removal from the course without a refund.
Contact
Please contact the Language Programs Manager at ikuko@jasdfw.org for any questions.
Language Workshops
Instructors
Ikuko Fujiwara
Her academic and professional background spans Japanese language education, TESOL, and Composition, beginning with a Master’s degree in TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As the Japanese Language Programs Manager at the Japan-America Society, she leads the program’s curriculum development, mentors instructors, and serves as a primary instructor herself. Originally from Japan, she brings both cultural and linguistic expertise to her teaching. In addition to Japanese, she has taught ESOL and college composition at various institutions in the United States. She is committed to creating inclusive learning spaces that foster cross-cultural understanding and empower students through language.
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