Japanese Language Program
Our online Japanese classes are led by professional instructors in a supportive community. Make real progress toward your goals with our themed tracks, which focus on practicing the language through real-world applications.
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Why study with JSB?
✔️ Focus on real-world application: Class time is concentrated on interactive exercises that simulate real-life use of the language, so you can make progress toward your goals faster and more enjoyably.
✔️ Rigorous curriculum: You should expect to spend roughly 2 hours per week on independent preparation and homework. You'll receive personalized feedback on assignments and spend class time focused on hands-on activities that reinforce textbook learnings.
✔️ Experienced native instructors: Our instructors are native speakers of Japanese with robust teaching experience at Boston-area universities, supported by a seasoned teaching and curriculum development advisor.
✔️ Extended community: Our online classes are open to people everywhere, and supplemented with an optional in-person meetup each semester in the Boston area. JSB also offers a wide range of Japanese cultural programs to complement language study.
Presented with support from:
Fall 2026 Courses
Week of September 14 - Week of November 16
All courses meet online for 10 weeks, with one 90-minute class per week.
** Have questions about our classes? Need help finding the best fit for you?
Email us at info@japansocietyboston.org **
Japanese Foundations I
This class is intended for students who are learning Japanese for the first time. We will practice simple expressions and grammar patterns that serve as the building blocks for basic conversation and learn to read the hiragana and katakana writing systems. Students will gain a solid base of knowledge to support productive continued study of Japanese.
Pre-requisites: None!
Required Texts: 1) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese; 2) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 - Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening
Optional Text: TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 - Hiragana/Katakana, Kanji, Reading, Writing
Day & Time: Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm ET
Instructor: Ritsuko Sullivan
Beginner Japanese I - Travel
This class will build on foundational learnings by introducing vocabulary and grammar structures used to describe actions in progress, make requests, and express preferences. We will focus on practicing the language through conversation-based activities that simulate common situations students would encounter during travel. Students will develop the skills to interact effectively with locals in basic scenarios during their next trip to Japan.
Pre-requisites: Students should be confident using basic nouns, adjectives, and present and past verbs in polite form. Students should also be able to read hiragana, katakana, and approximately 50 basic kanji characters.
Required Texts: 1) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese; 2) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 - Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening
Optional Text: TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 - Hiragana/Katakana, Kanji, Reading, Writing
Day & Time: Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm ET
Instructor: Yasuko Shiozaki Ta
Beginner Japanese I - Media & Pop Culture
This class will build on foundational learnings by introducing vocabulary and grammar structures used to describe actions in progress, make requests, and express preferences. We will focus on examining uses of the language in Japanese film, fiction, anime, manga, and music, drawing on examples supplied by the instructor as well as students in the class. Students will gain confidence to identify and appreciate familiar language in their favorite Japanese media.
Pre-requisites: Students should be confident using basic nouns, adjectives, and present and past verbs in polite form. Students should also be able to read hiragana, katakana, and approximately 50 basic kanji characters.
Required Texts: 1) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese; 2) TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 - Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening
Optional Text: TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 - Hiragana/Katakana, Kanji, Reading, Writing
Day & Time: Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm ET
Instructor: Yasuko Shiozaki Ta
Intermediate Japanese I - Travel
This class will introduce increasingly complex grammar structures and vocabulary used to describe simultaneous and sequential actions, potential and hypothetical situations, and obligations. We will focus on practicing the language through conversation-based activities that simulate common situations students would encounter during travel. Students will gain confidence to engage more deeply with locals across a variety of scenarios during their next trip to Japan.
Pre-requisites: Students should have a strong understanding of plain form and be confident using the te-form of verbs and adjectives, making requests, using comparisons and superlatives, and stating opinions and reasons in the appropriate speech style (formal or informal). Students should be able to read hiragana, katakana, and approximately 140 kanji characters.
Required Texts: 1) TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese; 2) TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 - Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening
Optional Text: TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 - Kanji, Reading, Writing
Day & Time: Wednesdays 7:00-8:30pm ET
Instructor: Jun Ono
Intermediate Japanese I - Media & Pop Culture
This class will introduce increasingly complex grammar structures and vocabulary used to describe simultaneous and sequential actions, potential and hypothetical situations, and obligations. We will focus on examining uses of the language in Japanese film, fiction, anime, manga, and music, drawing on examples supplied by the instructor as well as students in the class. Students will develop the skills to consume more of their favorite Japanese media in the original language.
Pre-requisites: Students should have a strong understanding of plain form and be confident using the te-form of verbs and adjectives, making requests, using comparisons and superlatives, and stating opinions and reasons in the appropriate speech style (formal or informal). Students should be able to read hiragana, katakana, and approximately 140 kanji characters.
Required Texts: 1) TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese; 2) TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 - Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening
Optional Text: TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 - Kanji, Reading, Writing
Day & Time: Tuesdays 7:00-8:30pm ET
Instructor: Jun Ono
Tuition
(For one semester)
General: $450
JSB Member: $383
JSB Members also get access to member-only JSB events and discounts at Japan-related events and businesses around Boston. Student membership starts at just $25/year! See all benefits here.
Instructors
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Ritsuko Sullivan
Instructor
Ritsuko Sullivan is a native Japanese speaker with over two decades of teaching Japanese to students from 5 to 60+ years old in various settings. Previous to teaching, she worked in business at multinational companies in Tokyo. She has taught at Japanese Elementary School, Japanese Junior High School and various educational institutions in the US including Phillips Academy, the University of Massachusetts, Fitchburg State University, and Boston College. She also taught Japanese in Shanghai, China and online during COVID. She is experienced in teaching Japanese from Elementary to Advanced level or more in any learning environment with students of any background. Her teaching philosophy is motivating students to learn. She has a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics Foreign Language Pedagogy.
Jun Ono
Instructor
Jun Ono holds an MA in Japanese with a specific focus on Japanese Language Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has taught Japanese language and culture courses at various universities, including the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the University of Texas, Austin, and Bowdoin College and among others. Presently she teaches at Boston College. Using this background, she specialize in creating engaging, practical lessons tailored for adult learners. Her motto is to provide enjoyable and meaningful lessons for everyone!
Yasuko Shiozaki Ta
Instructor
Yasuko Shiozaki Ta is a native of Awaji, Hyogo, Japan. She has taught beginning-level Japanese courses at Boston University and Wellesley College. Yasuko earned a B.A. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology from Osaka Kyoiku University and an M.A. in Community Counseling from Marquette University. She has lived in the Greater Boston area for over 20 years. Yasuko enjoys teaching adult learners and creating a supportive, engaging classroom where students gain confidence in communicating in Japanese while exploring Japanese culture and traditions. Outside of teaching, she enjoys hiking, traveling, classical music, theater, and cooking.
Ayako Anderson
Curriculum Development & Instructional Advisor
Ayako is a Principal Lecturer in Japanese at Northeastern University. She holds an MA in Japanese Pedagogy from Columbia University and has taught learners ranging from age 6 to adults over a nearly 30-year career, including at Harvard Summer School, Noble and Greenough School, Phillips Academy Andover, and Global Online Academy. Her work focuses on pedagogy, curriculum design, and technology integration, informed by decades of experience across a wide range of learner ages and needs. Originally from Numazu, Japan, Ayako has lived in Massachusetts for 20 years. Outside the classroom, she enjoys oil painting.
Instructors
Coming soon!
Policies
Registration & Tuition:
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Tuition must be paid in full at the time of registration. Payment plans are not available.
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Students must procure their own textbooks and workbooks (listed in the course description). Any supplementary materials will be provided.
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JSB Member Tuition is available to active JSB Members at the time of registration. JSB Membership is non-refundable.
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Students must be 16+ years of age at the time of registration.
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If the minimum enrollment for a course is not met by September 7, 2026, the course will be cancelled. Registered students will be refunded the full value or may switch to another course if available.
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Students may be permitted to change courses one time if requested before the second class, only in the case that the change does not cause either course to exceed the maximum or minimum number of students.
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Students who cancel their registration before September 14, 2026 will receive a 70% refund, unless their cancellation causes the course to drop below the minimum enrollment, in which case no refund will be provided. No refunds will be provided after September 14, 2026.
Class Procedures:
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Student contact information will be shared with our instructors so they can communicate with students directly during the semester.
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No make-up class or refund of tuition will be provided in the case of a student absence.
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If no students show up for a class within the first 20 minutes, the class will be cancelled and no make-up will be provided.
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In the unlikely event that a teacher must be absent from class, they will notify students via email at least 24 hours in advance (except in case of sudden emergency) and offer a make-up class.
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All classes are held online. Students should join from a quiet environment where they can freely use their camera and microphone.
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Recording of classes is not permitted.
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Teachers will only review homework that is submitted by the deadline communicated by the teacher.
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A digital letter of completion will be issued to students with attendance of >70% following the course.