Southeast JapaneseLanguage School
Japanese language and culture on Saturday mornings — a kindergarten program from age five, the regular program from age six, and adult classes online. No prior language knowledge required.
- School hours
- Saturdays · 8:45 – 12:15Level 4 – Level 12: 9:00 – 12:30
- New semester begins
- Third Saturday in AugustThe school year ends at the end of June
- Fall registration begins
- Early JuneNew student registration
- Levels
- Kindergarten – high schoolAdult classes online
From first words to fluent conversation
The school includes a kindergarten program for children who are five years old. The regular program is recommended for children six years and older, and adult classes meet online.
Kindergarten Program
Children who are five years old learn the Japanese culture through organized activities involving crafts, songs, and the Japanese language.
- Age 5
- Crafts, songs, and the Japanese language
The year in four seasons
Japanese culture follows the turning of the seasons. Through the school year, students celebrate each season's festivals in class, learning the words, the customs and the stories behind them.
March
Hinamatsuri
ひな祭りThe doll festival
March is Hinamatsuri — a doll festival to celebrate girls. Boys and girls alike observe the hina-ningyo display that showcases the Emperor and Empress's court.
Speech program & Children's Day
Ohanashikai · Kodomo no Hi
こどもの日Children's Day
Students showcase what they have learned in the past year through a speech program held onstage. On Children's Day, the koi no bori — fish flags — and samurai helmets and dolls are displayed, and children learn about this festival through a presentation.
Cultural Festival · second weekend in June
Tanabata
七夕“The evening of the seventh”
The star festival is celebrated by allowing the students to write down their wishes and hang them on a traditional tanabata tree. Our school holds an annual Cultural Festival the second weekend in June. School ends at the end of June, with vacation time during the month of July.
Third Saturday of August
School Begins
始業The start of lessons
School begins on the third Saturday of the month.
Back to School Day
Back to School
授業参観Visiting the classroom
Back to School Day is held to learn about our curriculum and school program.
CurrentAnnual athletic event
Undokai
運動会Sports day
Undokai is an annual athletic event held in October. Every student attending the Southeast Japanese School will participate in the various sport games at a nearby park.
Each November
Shichi-go-san
七五三“Seven, five, three”
The Seven-five-three Festival is held in November each year at local shrines in Japan. At Southeast Japanese School, students learn about the festival, and a few students will have the opportunity to dress in the traditional kimono for the occasion.
Oshogatsu festivities
Toshikoshi
年越しCrossing into the new year
Students experience a sample of the oshogatsu festivities by viewing traditional mochi pounding and tasting toshikoshi soba.
January
Oshogatsu
お正月The New Year
In January, to welcome the new year, the students are served ozoni.
Beginning of February
Setsubun
節分“Dividing the seasons”
In the beginning of February, students celebrate Setsubun. They are given roasted soybeans to eat to ensure their good luck throughout the new year.
Simple, family-friendly pricing
Pay for the year or in 11 monthly installments — immediate family discounts are available either way.
Japanese School
Kindergarten – High School Level
Saturday mornings · 8:45 AM to 12:15 noon
$115/month
- Tuition: $1,265 a year plus materials (textbook, workbook)
- 11 monthly installments may be made at $119.60 a month
- Immediate family discounts available
- Participant dues to the community center are required and invoiced separately
Online · three levels
Adult Classes
Saturday mornings · 70 minutes
$90/month
- Tuition: $990 a year, materials included
- 11 monthly installments may be made at $93.60 a month
- Immediate family discounts available
- Participant dues to the community center are required and invoiced separately
Required for all families
Participation Dues
Collected separately by the community center
$120per year, one person
- Families of two or more: $180 a year
- Membership entitles all family members to participate in any organization
- Participation is open to anyone regardless of race or religion
Registration for the fall semester opens in early June. Participant dues to the community center are required for all families and are invoiced separately.
A century ofSaturday mornings.
Southeast Japanese Language School (Southeast Gakuen) was first established in 1925 as Norwalk Gakuen to teach Japanese to children of Japanese immigrants. In 1962, the school was renamed Southeast Japanese School. Presently, the school teaches Japanese as a foreign language to all students regardless of race or religion.
The school provides students the opportunity to experience Japanese culture as they learn the language. Our program provides a rich variety of cultural activities including monthly cultural events to enhance cultural experience and understanding. It is hoped that the experience at the Southeast Japanese School will provide students with a better understanding of the Japanese people.
We believe that foreign language is best taught at a young age when children are most responsive to new languages. The school includes a kindergarten program for children who are 5 years old. Our regular program is recommended for children 6 years and older. Our program includes all modalities of the language including listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture.
The school year begins in late August and ends at the end of June.
“We, at Southeast Japanese School, are committed to providing instructions in the Japanese language and culture. Our goal is to enable students to successfully function in a Japanese-speaking environment and to foster an appreciation of the Japanese culture.”
ようこそ、サウスイースト学園へ
Join us this Saturday
Registration for the fall semester opens in early June. For further information, please email your questions to gakuen@sejscc.org or call (562) 863-5996 and leave a message.
We do not return phone calls to out of area numbers.