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Indiana University Japanese Language Department インディアナ大学ブルーミントン日本語科

Welcome to the Indiana University Japanese Language Program Website

What you can expect from our program

Students who have completed the two-year language requirement should be able to function in daily situations in Japan. By the end of the third year (required for majors), students will be able to start to handle authentic materials. By the end of the fourth year, students are expected to have confidence when handling any modern materials.

Student Organizations and Activities

Japanese/English Conversation Table (JECT)

Japanese/English Conversation Tables Member Image

The EALC Japanese Program and the IU Intensive English Program (IEP) have created a new opportunity for Japanese language learners to converse with fellow learners and native Japanese speakers. Since the fall of 2009 the Japanese/English Conversation Table (JECT) has been meeting weekly in the Language Table Room of the Center for Language Technology and Instructional Enrichment (CeLTIE) in Ballantine Hall, room 106. Participants meet for one hour, speaking Japanese for the first 30 minutes and English for the second 30 minutes. The spring 2012 schedule is as follows:

Mondays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.: first- and second-year Japanese students and lower-level IEP students

Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: third- and fourth-year Japanese students and upper-level IEP students

Yoshino Albin(4:30 - 5:30) and Marie Kosakowski (5:30 - 6:30) will facilitate JECT. All Japanese language students are welcome to attend.

Japanese Conversation Club (JCC)

JCC is a very active student-initiated conversation club. Each week students of all levels gather for a brown-bag lunch at the International Center. Advanced Japanese language students help beginning-level students with their language study, and advanced speakers enjoy conversations with native speakers. For more information about JCC, visit the Office of International Services’ web site.

Japanese Student Association (JSA)

JSA membership includes native speakers of Japanese, students involved in Japanese studies and those who have strong interest in Japan. They are active and have various programs throughout the year.

JSA Website

Sports Clubs

Various clubs at IU practice Japanese martial arts, such as Aikido, Karate, and Judo.

Aikido Club page
Judo Club page

Miscellaneous Information

Japanese Computing

Most Indiana University PCs and Macs are Japanese language capable, and students can e-mail in Japanese and view web materials written in Japanese. Some class assignments can be done through the Internet.

Asian Culture Center

The Asian Culture Center presents lectures that deal with various issues related to Japan. It also provides opportunities for language tutoring and volunteering to share Japanese culture with people in the community.

JET Program and Teaching English in Japan Program

Each year some of our graduating students apply to the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET). The JET Program is sponsored by the Japanese government. Participants work in local offices or schools in Japan. Some of our graduates also participate in the Teaching English in Japan Program sponsored by Earlham College.

Japanese National Honor Society College Chapter (JNHS-CC)

The Japanese National Honor Society College Chapter was established by the Association of Teachers of Japanese to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement and excellence in Japanese language study. All graduating seniors with an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.5 in Japanese language courses are eligible to apply. The application fee is $15 per student. For more information, contact Keiko Kuriyama

Japanese Language Program News

  • Annual JNHS High School Student Visit to IU Bloomington

    12/1/2011
    IU Visit 10 Japanese language students from IU were paired with Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS) students from Bloomington High School (BHS) North for the annual JNHS High School Student Visit to IU. The December visit not only familiarizes JNHS students with IU's Japanese Program and postsecondary Japanese language education in general, but also provides IU students an opportunity to mentor and practice the language with talented high school Japanese language students. IU students share their experiences studying Japanese at the college-level with the honor society students, take them to Japanese classes, and show them around campus. This year participants gathered at a Japanese restaurant to have lunch together, where they also met Misako Matsubara, the IU Japanese Program lecturer, Keiko Kuriyama, assistant professor and IU Japanese Language Program coordinator, and Molly Jeon, Japanese and ESL teacher at BHS North.

  • Three EALC students are off to Kyoto, Japan

    6/30/2011
    IU Visit Hanako Gavia (EALC), Emmalee Shover (EALC) and James Wilson (Classical Studies, Greek, and EALC) have been admitted to Doshisha University as exchange students for the 2011-2012 academic year. They will be studying in Kyoto, Japan starting in September, 2011.

  • 2010-2011 Japanese National Honor Society-College Chapter

    4/28/2011
    IU Visit

    The EALC Department nominated four graduating seniors for membership in the Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS). The JNHS was established by the Association of Japanese Teachers to recognize and to encourage scholastic achievement and excellence in Japanese language study. The inductees for the 2010-2011 JNHS-CC are Andrew Gleiser, Satbyul Kang, Kyung Lee, and Ryan Rathberger.

  • The K-8 Japanese Language Program at the Bloomington Project School

    11/30/2010
    IU Visit

    The K-8 Japanese Program at the Bloomington Project School was launched in November of 2010. Japanese language classes are offered every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 at the Project School. Classes are being taught by Shoko Howard, a former IU Japanese Department Associate Instructor. Mrs. Howard, who also holds an M.A. in Elementary Education from the IU Department of Education, teaches students the Japanese language and about Japanese culture through games, music, manga, anime, origami, and other fun activities and texts. Currently, 8 students are attending classes. Anyone pursuing a degree in elementary education at IU who is interested in assisting the program as a volunteer, please contact the Japanese Program coordinator, Keiko Kuriyama.