BEGINNER LEVEL (初級)

***General Support & Class Resources

Adventures in Japanese Companion Site

Common Terms Defined for Beginners (PDF file)

Vocabulary Improvement Strategy (VIS) Requirements for Notebooks

***Kana Study Resources (Hiragana & Katakana)

Hiragana Chart (PDF file)

Hiragana Stroke Order Animations (University of Michigan)

Video Featuring the Japanese Alphabet in Song (YouTube)

Remembering Hiragana Through Pictures (Georgia Tech Japanese Program)

Katakana Chart (PDF file)

Katakana Stroke Order Animations (University of Michigan)

Remembering Katakana Through Pictures (Georgia Tech Japanese Program)

Kana Practice Sheets AND Online Study Materials (MIT Japanese Program)

***Geography & Cultural Resources

Map of Japan - Major Cities (PDF file)

Map of Japan by Regions & Prefectures (PDF file)

Geography of Japan Fact Sheet (PDF file)

***Essay Writing Resources

How to Use a Genkouyoushi (PDF file of AIJ Workbook explanation)

Large Box Genkouyoushi (PDF file to download for practice)

Small Box Genkouyoushi (PDF file to download for essay/journal submissions)

***Kanji Writing Resources

Basic Kanji Book, Volume 1 - Lessons 1-16 Practice (quizlet.com)

Basic Kanji Book, Volume 1 - Lesson 1-5 Review Powerpoint

Basic Kanji Book, Volume 1 - Lesson 6 Review Powerpoint

INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVELS (中級 ・上級)

***General Support & Class Resources

Adventures in Japanese Companion Site

Conjugation Chart (PDF file) --- Conjugation Chart (JPG file)

Tanoshii Japanese website

***Language & Grammar Resources

Japanese Course (Wikibooks - useful links here)

Japanese Language Proficiency Test Guide (Wikibooks)

Japanese/English Chat, Penpals, Language Help (Apricotweb.com)

***Computer & Online Dictionary Resources

Denshi Jisho Online Dictionary - A very useful online WA-EE and EE-WA dictionary

Weblio Online Dictionary - Useful for contemporary expressions

Jim Breen's Online Translation Dictionary - Another useful online WA-EE and EE-WA dictionary

***Typing and Keyboarding Resources

CosCom: Short Hand Guide: How to Type in Japanese

LingoDeer: Guide to Tying in Japanese

Miami University (OH) Interactive Language Resource Center - A comprehensive guide to setting up Japanese keyboarding using Windows 10

IB Kanji List (published by IBO)

Study Guide for Non-Basic Kanji Book Series Kanji on the IB Kanji List

AP Kanji List (published by College Board)

***Essay Writing Resources

How to Use a Genkouyoushi (PDF file of AIJ Workbook explanation)

Large Box Genkouyoushi (PDF file to download for practice)

Small Box Genkouyoushi (PDF file to download for essay/journal submissions)

GENERAL INFORMATION RESOURCES (インタネットの情報)

INFORMATION OF GENERAL INTEREST

Japan Information Network  (sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - The most comprehensive  website for learning about a variety of topics on Japan.

Web Japan (sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - Affiliated with the above site, this site offers more topics of interest to young people learning about Japan: Trends in Japan, Japan Fact Sheets, Nipponia Online Magazine, etc.

Country Studies - Japan (sponsored by the Federal Research Division of the The Library of Congress) - A scanned book that covers information about every aspect of Japan.

Japan Travel & Living Guide (sponsored by Japan Guide.com) - Full of general information about Japan, but BEWARE, this site is meant more for the traveler and less for the academic researcher.

Information Links About Japan (sponsored by AdmiNet) - Some of the links on this site no longer work, but the ones that do are full of information.

Japan Institute - ANU (sponsored by Australian National University) - There are a number of article links that relate to Japan's public policy and general involvement in world affairs.

ONLINE MEDIA RESOURCES

Asahi News (English);  Asahi Shimbun (Japanese)

The Japan News (English);  Yomiuri Shimbun in Japanese

The Mainichi (English);  Mainichi Shimbun in Japanese

The Japan Times Online (japantimes.co.jp---English)

News on Japan (newsonjapan.com---English)

NHK in English (Japanese News and TV);  NHK in Japanese (Choose either domestic or overseas news)

Google News - Look for the link on world events or navigate through the site by themes

Yahoo News - Look for the link on world events or navigate through the site by themes

ABYZ News Links - An index of world, national and local newspapers covering news in Japan, includes newspapers by geographic region

Radio.Net - Listen to some common radio stations in Japan

Internet Radio - Listen to a variety of radio stations in Japan

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & STUDENT CONTESTS

Youth For Understanding - This organization provides scholarships for year-round and summer homestays in Japan.  Many of our students have been accepted to this program in the past.  THE DEADLINE FOR MANY OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THIS PROGRAM IS JANUARY 1st or 15th.

Concordia Language Village - This is an intensive language & culture study program that can be done during the summer.

US High School Diplomats (HSD) Program - This is a summer exchange program with Japanese students at Princeton University; after one summer in this program, you become eligible to apply to the HSD Japan and spend the next summer in Japan.  Many of our students have been accepted to this program in the past.  2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE : JANUARY 15th (Application opened in October 2024).

Kobe College Corporation - Japan Education Exchange High School Essay Contest - A 1-month trip to Japan is awarded to one student who writes a 500-word essay IN ENGLISH related to a current event in Japan.  2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE : To Be Announced - Usually FEBRUARY 1st each year.

LEX America - This program provides homestay opportunities in Japan.

American Field Service - This program provides homestay opportunities in Japan.

Experiment in International Living - This program provides homestay opportunities in Japan.

Laurasian Institution Programs - This program provides an entire class the opportunity to go abroad to Japan.

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