Japanese Language Courses

Learn to speak Japanese to prepare for travel or to reconnect with family and friends. We offer classes, interactive workshops and private tutoring to help students of all levels learn to speak about their hobbies, travel plans, pop culture and work. By learning from a native speaker you will also develop cultural awareness of Japanese values and common communication practices.

Introductory Japanese I

The goal of this Japanese course is to introduce the fundamentals of the sound systems, writing systems, basic grammar and vocabulary, and basic phrases for everyday situations. It is designed for people new to the Japanese language. In Introductory Japanese you will learn proper greetings, words for meals, how to ask about family and friends, and be able to navigate public transport. This class is designed for adults and youth ages 12 and older.

Sessions – Summer 2024

Introductory Japanese I will be offered again in Summer 2024. If you have any questions about the course, please call us at 541-728-3022 or email us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com and we would be happy to help!

Japanese II Conversation

The goal of this Japanese course is to help students learn the fundamentals of Japanese sound systems, writing systems, basic grammar and vocabulary, and basic phrases for everyday situations.  We will learn how to plan activities with friends, coordinate travel arrangements such as tickets and accommodations, and common vocabulary used around food. In addition, students will learn how to write and read Japanese in the present tense.

This course is designed for people who have studied Japanese for at least three months previously, or who are returning to their studies after a break. Our class is designed for youth ages 13 and up, as well as adults.

Sessions – Fall 2024

Japanese II Conversation will be offered again in Fall 2024. Please check back in the future for more details. You can give us a call at 541-728-3022 or email us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com and we will be happy to help with any questions.

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Japanese III Conversation

In Japanese III we will expand our conversation, reading and writing skills. Students will be introduced to adjectives and their conjugations and also te-form verb conjugations. We will learn how to to describe our friend and family, order food, and discuss our hobbies. This class is designed for youth ages 11-17.

Sessions – Winter 2025

Japanese III will be offered again in Winter 2025. Please check back for more details. If you think this course may be a good fit for you, please call us at 541-728-3022 or email us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com and we will be happy to help.

Japanese through J-Pop

Come and join us for a fun, interactive Japanese course through Zoom! In this 5-week course, we will listen to Japanese pop music (J-pop) together and then translate and discuss it. You will be introduced to Japanese pop culture, and learn conversational phrases. This class is for intermediate Japanese speakers, but motivated beginners are also welcome to enroll.

Sessions

We do not have any sessions scheduled at this time. Check back to this page for our updated schedule! You can also email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com if you have any questions.

The Language of Japanese Food Workshop

This is a perfect opportunity to learn how to make sushi rolls and taste your creation! Learn how to prepare sushi rice, pick and prepare ingredients, and roll your own sushi while using the Japanese language. Sushi would be a great addition to your culinary repertoire! 

Check this page for future offerings of this class. You can also sign up to be on our mailing list at the bottom of this page and email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com if you have questions.

Individual Tutoring

Private tutoring with an experienced teacher can help you improve your language skills while working around your schedule. We offer both in-person and remote one-on-one lessons to help you meet your language learning needs. Our language tutoring rate is $50 dollars per hour, and when you purchase your time in advance you can reduce that rate down to $46 per hour.

We also offer semi-private tutoring for 2-3 youth and/or adults at an affordable price, so you can have fun learning with your friends. If this is something that would interest you, contact us and we will be happy to arrange this. You can see more about small group tutoring here: https://bendlanguageinstitute.com/product/small-group-private-lessons/

If you are new to Bend Language Institute, just send us an email at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022 and we will be happy to put you in touch with a local teacher to discuss your language level and interests.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Naoko Gamble
Naoko Gamble Instructor —Japanese
I grew up in Nara, Japan and obtained a Bachelor’s in English from Osaka Shoin Women’s College. Before coming to Bend, I lived in Southern California for 21 years. I previously worked at a university as a liaison staff for a Japanese government agency and as a professor of the Computer Science Department. I was also an office manager at a small advertising company and worked at the County Education Office as an administrative assistant. I am thrilled to be joining Bend Language Institute as a Japanese teacher to introduce my native language.

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