Donguri Kai – Little Kids Classes
Donguri Kai – Little Kids Classes
Donguri Kai – Little Kids Classes
Little Kids classes are for students in K-2nd grade who are learning Japanese for the first time or have had early exposure to Japanese at home.
Little Kids Class Offerings, Spring 2025
Mondays, 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm (Central Time)
Formerly Level 1 New Students Class. This class is for students in K – 2nd grade who will learn Japanese for the first time. Students learn Japanese vocabulary, basic greetings, and conversational phrases. Class is taught in English.
Format: Online (Google Meet)
Class Dates: 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12
Class size: 6 students maximum
Instructor: Akemi Taguchi
Saturdays, 9:30 am – 10:30 am (Central Time)
Formerly Level 1 In Person Class. This class is for students in K – 2nd grade who will learn Japanese for the first time. Students learn Japanese vocabulary, basic greetings, and conversational phrases. Class is taught in English.
Format: In Person @ JASC’s new building (5700 N. Lincoln Ave.)
Class Dates: 4/12, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24
No Class On: 4/19
Instructor: Miwa Bolick
Saturdays, 10:45 am – 11:45 am (Central Time)
The class focuses on developing the ability to read short sentences smoothly in Japanese, expanding vocabulary including kanji, enhancing the ability to explain things in detail, and acquiring formal conversation skills. It prepares students to smoothly transition into the “Big Kids Intermediate” or “Big Kids Advanced” class when advancing to 3rd grade. The class will be conducted in Japanese only.
Format: In Person @ JASC’s new building (5700 N. Lincoln Ave)
Class Dates: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17
No Class On: 4/26
Instructor: Kaori Tabion
Japanese instruction only. Class learns the basic Kanji and the radicals, reading, and writing rules.
Format: In Person @ JASC’s new building (5700 N. Lincoln Ave)
Class Dates: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17
No Class On: 4/26
Instructor: Kaori Tabion
Class size is limited to 6 – 8 students. Register early to ensure a spot for your child.
Please email (dongurikai@jasc-chicago.org) to consult with Donguri Kai teachers if you are unsure which class to sign up for.
Registration is now closed.
Akemi Taguchi（田口あけみ）
A journalist once said, “As a student, I learned from wonderful teachers, and ever since then I’ve thought everyone is a teacher.” I have been teaching children for the last 30 years both in Japan and the United States. I have taught both in the classroom and as a Japanese teacher, and I am now so fortunate to be part of a great community of learners and teachers here at Donguri Kai. I hope to enjoy our journey to learn about this wonderful Japanese language and culture.
Kaori Tabion（タビオン果織）
After 10 years of working in the healthcare industry, Ms. Tabion started with Ms. Yatsuda a study group teaching Japanese to their kids and friends. In 2017, she started Donguri Kai at JASC and has been teaching since. She is a member of an international research community of kanji teaching methods in multilingual children at Learn Japan.
