In my Beginner 2 class, I start with a theme and, based on that, have students practice Japanese conversation using basic grammar in a variety of situations. Rather than merely understanding the grammar forms, I encourage students to build practical conversational ability—what kinds of expressions can you make using a new grammar form along with other words you already know.

Each class focuses on one grammar element. The bulk of the class period consists of practice using that grammar element in practical situations; by the end of class, students can make use of the new grammar in real-life conversations. This approach of broadening one's converational ability is a key—perhaps the key, I feel—to building one's Japanese language ability.

I invite my students to speak up freely during class—it's how you'll improve your speaking ability—and please feel free to ask questions during class. I'm looking forward to seeing you in class, where we can learn "Japanese you can use."