Columbia University Japanese Program

Japanese Language instruction was introduced to Columbia in the late 1920s. Currently instruction in Japanese is offered at five stages or years in the modern form of language. In addition, the Department provides courses in classical Japanese and Kanbun and in directed readings for students doing advanced research. At present the Japanese language staff comprises eight lecturers, all of whom are native speakers of Japanese. The Japanese Language Program has a reputation of being one of the best in the country for a long time and it has produced numerous accomplished Japanologists. In the teaching of modern Japanese, which represents the core of the program, acquisition and use of both the spoken and written languages are stressed from the outset. The aim is to provide students of diverse learning backgrounds and a wide rage of academic and career interests with a balanced command of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

NOTE on First Year Japanese

There are 2 ways to complete First Year Japanese: Schedule A and Schedule B as diagrammed below.

In Schedule A you take the first semester in fall and take the second semester in the spring. It takes 1 year (2 semesters).

In Schedule B you take the first half of the first semester in spring, the second half of the first semester in the fall, and the second semester in the spring.
It takes 1 and a half years (3 semesters).

If you are choosing the desired level for placement test, "1st Year 0.5 semester"is starting from Elementary Japaense B in fall.

Columbia University Japanese Language Program

Courses

Courses