Where can I learn Japanese in Kitchener-Waterloo? | Renison Continuing Education

Spring 2025 Course offerings (JL)

Course code and title	Dates	Day and time
JL 110 Conversational Japanese 1 - In-person Course code: JL 110 This is an introductory course for students who have little to no knowledge of Japanese. In this course, students learn not only how to greet or introduce themselves in Japanese, but also how to shop (e.g. asking for prices, choosing your item) and simple ways to ask for directions. REGISTER NOW	May 28 to July 30, 2025	Wednesdays 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
Conversational Japanese 2 - In-person Course code: JL 120 This course is designed for those who have some knowledge of the Japanese language, but less confidence in speaking. The course focuses on pronunciation and developing useful expressions for real-life situations. REGISTER NOW	May 27 to August 5, 2025 (no class July 1 - Canada Day)	Tuesdays 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
Conversational Japanese 3- In-person Course code: JL 210 The focus of this course is to produce simple statements and questions using basic grammar structures and pronunciation guidelines. By the end of this course, students will be able to carry out simple everyday communication in Japanese. The kanji writing system is also introduced. REGISTER NOW	May 29 to July 31, 2025	Thursdays 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
Integrated Japanese 4- Virtual Online Classes Course code: JL 225 Building on Japanese knowledge and skills acquired previously, students will continue to develop integrated skills by learning grammatical structures and increased vocabulary. This course focuses on building language skills for social activities in various settings. Approximately 50+ basic kanji characters will be introduced. The textbook for this course is: Japanese for Busy People II (4th edition). REGISTER NOW	May 29 to July 31, 2025	Thursdays 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
Expressing Characters and Words through Japanese Calligraphy (5 classes) - Virtual Online Classes Course code: JL 119 This course explores the calligraphy art form while teaching fundamental brush techniques. Students learn to appreciate the history and insight of characters and words through lectures by a renowned Japanese calligraphy artist. This course is open to students in the novice through advanced levels of calligraphy and native or non-native Japanese-language speakers. REGISTER NOW	5 sessions: May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25	Wednesdays 7:30pm to 9:00pm ET

For more information, please contact: cape@uwaterloo.ca

PLEASE NOTE: language classes, JL 110, JL 120, and JL 210 will be held in-person at Renison University College at the time listed above. JL119 and JL 215 will be held online synchronously (LIVE) at the times stated above.

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COURSE MATERIALS

JL 110 -

Option #1: Japanese for Busy People Book 1: Romanized: Revised 4th Edition Kodansha USA; 4th edition (September 20, 2022) [ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1568366197] - This version of the textbook is recommended for those who haven't learned any Japanese characters before.

Option #2: Japanese for Busy People Book 1: Kana: Revised 4th Edition Kodansha USA; Bilingual edition (May 31, 2022) [ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1568366203] - This version of the textbook is recommended for those who are comfortable reading hiragana characters or if one prefers to learn Japanese by reading hiragana characters from the very beginning.

The 4th edition is the latest version of "Japanese for Busy People." You can obtain your textbook through Amazon.ca. There is also a Kindle edition available. Please purchase your books before you come to class.

JL 120 -

Option #1: Japanese for Busy People Book 1: Romanized: Revised 4th Edition Kodansha USA; 4th edition (September 20, 2022) [ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1568366197]

Option #2: Japanese for Busy People Book 1: Kana: Revised 4th Edition Kodansha USA; Bilingual edition (May 31, 2022) [ISBN-13 : ‎ 978-1568366203]

The 4th edition is the latest version of "Japanese for Busy People." You can obtain your textbook through Amazon.ca. There is also a Kindle edition available.

JL210 -

The Association for Japanese-Language Teaching (2022). Japanese for busy people II, Revised 4th Edition. Kodansha USA. (ISBN: 9781568366272)

JL 215 -

Japanese for Busy People Book 2: Revised 4th Edition Kodansha USA; 4th edition (March 28, 2023) [ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1568366272] There is also a Kindle edition available.

JL 119 -

Students are required to prepare their own calligraphy tools. If you are a first timer of calligraphy, please find any blushes and ink at home first to see how Japanese calligraphy is. Later, if you wish to buy calligraphy tools, you can find them online store such as Amazon.jp, or consult with your instructor.

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Spring 2025 Registration

Regular Registration OPENS the week of February 3, 2025

Regular Registration Deadline: 9am ET Monday, May 12, 2025

LATE Registration continues until 11:59am ET Friday, June 6, 2025

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Fall 2025 Registration

Regular Registration OPENS the week of July 1, 2025

Regular Registration Deadline: 9am ET Monday, September 8, 2025

LATE Registration continues until 11:59am ET Friday, October 3, 2025

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Certificate policy for Japanese courses

After the successful completion of each Japanese course, along with a minimum of 70% of the classes attended, you will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion.

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Tuition Fees & Cancellation, Withdrawal & Refund policy (JL)

Fees

Tuition: $290.00 CAD (credit-free language and culture courses) + HST; $150.00 CAD(5-week calligraphy course) + HST

NOTE: As of March 2023, Renison continuing education’s administrative fee has been incorporated into the total tuition price as listed above and will be charged to all registrants.

One-on-One Tutoring: $500.00 CAD (10-hours of private tutoring one-on-one) + HST

For more information please contact: cape@uwaterloo.ca.

Cancellation, Withdrawal, and Refund Policy

The administrative fee of $15.00 CAD is non-refundable unless the course is cancelled.
If a course is cancelled, the tuition fee (inclusive of the administrative fee) will be refunded to students in full.
Students cannot defer their payments.

*The administrative fee applies to all students regardless of whether they have previously taken a Renison continuing education and/or Renison non-credit course previously.

Students may withdraw from a course up until 9am ET the Monday before the week classes begin for a full tuition refund, not inclusive of the $15.00 CAD non-refundable administrative fee.
Students may be refunded 80% of their tuition, not inclusive of the $15.00 CAD non-refundable administrative fee after the originally posted registration deadline (the Monday before the first week of classes), up until 9am ET the day before the second class. After this date, refunds will not be issued.
NOTE: registration deadlines may be extended at the discretion of CE staff; the refund and cancelation policy applies to the originally posted registration deadline (9am ET the Monday before the week classes begin).

Requests to withdraw should be sent in writing over e-mail to cape@uwaterloo.ca

Registration deadline:

9am ET the Monday before the week classes begin

-- SPRING 2025 TERM -- before 9am ET Monday, May 12, 2025

80% refund deadline: 9am ET the day before the second class

– SPRING 2025 TERM –

Tuesday classes =

Class 1 is Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Class 2 is Tuesday, June 3, 2025

80% refund deadline = before Monday, June 2, 2025 9am ET

Wednesday classes =

Class 1 is Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Class 2 is Wednesday, June 4, 2025

80% refund deadline = before Tuesday, June 3, 2025 9am ET

Thursday classes =

Class 1 is Thursday, May 29, 2025

Class 2 is Thursday, June 5, 2025

80% refund deadline = before Wednesday, June 4, 2025 9am ET

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How to register & How to pay (JL)

How to register

Registrations must be submitted through our student portal. Follow these steps to register for a continuing education course:

Visit the Continuing Education Courses page in portal.
Select ‘Details’ next to your course of interest.
Select ‘Details’ next to the course session you want to register for (if there are no course sessions listed, dates have not yet been confirmed for upcoming classes; please check back later).
Select ‘Add to Cart’; if you are not signed in to or signed up for an account, you will be prompted to do so now.
Once in your shopping cart, select ‘Checkout’.

You will receive confirmation of your registration through e-mail to the e-mail address attached to your account. For questions about your course, please contact cape@uwaterloo.ca.

If you run into issues with registration, signing in/up, or have questions about portal, please contact renison.sace@uwaterloo.ca.

How to pay

Upon checkout in our student portal (see How to register for further instructions), you will be prompted to pay via online credit card payment.

NOTE: alternative payment options may be available, please contact cape@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

Course Descriptions (JL)

Conversational Japanese 1

This is an introductory course for students who have little to no knowledge of Japanese. In this course, students learn not only how to greet or introduce themselves in Japanese, but also how to shop (e.g. asking for prices, choosing your item) and simple ways to ask for directions.

Course code: JL 110

Term Offered (subject to change without notice): Fall, Winter Spring

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Conversational Japanese 2

This course is designed for those who have some knowledge of the Japanese language, but less confidence in speaking. The course focuses on pronunciation and developing useful expressions for real-life situations.

Course code: JL 120

Term Offered (subject to change without notice): Fall, Winter Spring

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Integrated Japanese 3

Based on skills and knowledge in Japanese acquired previously, students will aim to develop their integrated skills with basic structure and vocabulary knowledge. This course emphasizes skills of carrying out social activities in various settings. The Kanji writing system will be introduced.

Course code: JL 215

Term Offered (subject to change without notice): Fall, Winter

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Integrated Japanese 4

Building on Japanese knowledge and skills acquired previously, students will continue to develop integrated skills by learning grammatical structures and increased vocabulary. This course focuses on building language skills for social activities in various settings. Approximately 50+ basic kanji characters will be introduced.

Course code: JL 225

Term Offered (subject to change without notice): Spring

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Expressing Words and Characters through Japanese Calligraphy

This course explores the calligraphy art form while teaching fundamental brush techniques. Students learn to appreciate the history and insight of characters and words through lectures by a renowned Japanese calligraphy artist.

This course is open to students in the novice through advanced levels of calligraphy and native or non-native Japanese-language speakers.

Course code: JL 119

Term Offered (subject to change without notice): Fall, Winter Spring

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Integrated Japanese 1

This course is an introductory course for students who have little to no knowledge of Japanese. Students will aim to develop integrated skills through online-based instruction to produce simple statements in daily-life contexts. The hiragana writing system will be introduced.

Course code: JL 115