The Japanese language program offers courses ranging from the first-year to the third-year level. Please refer to the table for details on the course offerings for each academic term.
| Year | Fall Quarter: | Winter Quarter: | Spring Quarter: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | JAPAN 1 | JAPAN 2 | JAPAN 3 |
| 2nd | JAPAN 4 | JAPAN 5 | JAPAN 6 |
| 3rd | JAPAN 120A | JAPAN 120B | JAPAN 120C |
Students looking for an immersive language experience can take JAPAN 1, 2, 3 over the summer.
Courses are offered through Summer Sessions: D, E, F
| Year | Materials |
|---|---|
| 1st | GENKI (Vol. 1) [3rd Edition] — Textbook & Workbook |
| 2nd | GENKI (Vol. 2) [3rd Edition] — Textbook & Workbook |
| 3rd | TOBIRA: Gateway to Advanced Japanese — Textbook |
Important Notice: For Students Unable to Enroll in a Full Japanese Language Section
If you are unable to register for your desired section because it is full, please read the following carefully. Please note that the waitlist will not be activated unless all sections within the same course level are at full capacity.
If the waitlist is NOT activated:
Please complete and submit the Crash Request Form for the appropriate course level (see links below). An instructor will contact you at a later time regarding your request.
If the waitlist IS activated:
Please sign up for the waitlist. In addition, please submit the Crash Request Form for the appropriate course level (see links below).
If you are already enrolled in a section but wish to switch to a different section that is currently full:
You will be considered a crasher for that section and must also submit the Crash Request Form.Please follow the same procedures listed above, depending on whether the waitlist is activated.
Links to the Crash Request Forms:
Japan 1
Please refer to the Placement Test Information section below for further details.
Students who have prior experience studying Japanese before enrolling at UCSB are required to take the Japanese Placement Test before registering for a course.
Japanese Language Placement Test
If you have studied Japanese previously or speak it at home, you are required to take the placement test to take Japanese language courses at UCSB. The placement test will be given on Canvas and Zoom. Please fill out this form here to register for the Japanese Language Placement Test. Further instructions on the placement test will be emailed after you sign up for the placement test.
:: How to Prepare for the Placement Test ::
Before taking the placement test, review the materials (textbooks) from the course(s) you have previously taken. We recommend focusing on verb and adjective conjugations, as well as vocabulary and kanji. For more information about each level of our Japanese courses, please refer to the link below.
Japanese Language Course Description
If you have any questions regarding the Japanese Language Program, please contact the Program Coordinator, Yoko Yamauchi at yokoy@eastasian.ucsb.edu
Meet your Japanese 先生
Akiyo Cantrell
HSSB 2219
Email: cantrell@eastasian.ucsb.edu
From: Hiroshima, Japan
Favorite Japanese Words:
チョコレート(chocolates)、食べる(eating)、ワイン(wine)、飲む(drinking)
Hobbies & Interests: Trying out new restaurants in town with family
Maki Fujita
HSSB 2236
Email: makifujita@ucsb.edu
From: Japan, lived in Spain, Armenia, and Benin
Specialty: AI & language learning, cross-cultural communication
Favorite Japanese Word: 自然 (Shizen) – It means ‘nature,’ but it also reflects a sense of natural flow and harmony in life, language, and learning.
Hobbies & Interest: Japanese Films & Classic Cinema – From Mizoguchi Kenji to Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Language in the Real World – Beyond grammar, exploring culture & society
Yukiko Tsuchiya
HSSB 2221
Yoko Yamauchi
HSSB 2235
Email: yokoy@eastasian.ucsb.edu
From: Hyogo, Japan
Speciality: Integration of Culture, Intercultural Understanding, and Pragmatics in Japanese Language Education
Ask me about: What Kansai Dialect Says About Its People. From Drizzle to Sunshine, Tea to Coffee: A Journey Through Language and Culture from Europe to the US
