Class and Curriculum
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Schedule: Classes are held every Friday from 4:00PM to 5:30PM
School year: Lessons commence after Labor Day and end on the third Friday in June.
Special events: Sports Day, School Fair, New Year’s Party
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Curriculum
Preschool class (children aged 4 at the end of the year)
Textbook: Hajimete no Hiragana (Kumon)
Learning focus: Students become familiar with Japnese games and songs, and are introduced to the Japanese syllabary.
Kindergarten (ages 5 to 6)
Textbook: Hiragana Workbook (Kumon)
Learning focus: Students master Hiragana, and are introduced to katakana. Proper Japanese pronunciation is reinforced, and students learn to create simple sentences, and identify common Japanese vocabulary from flashcards.
Grade 1
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 1, Vol. 1 &2)
Learning focus: This textbook is used for most of the year, and common Chinese characters (kanji) taught in Vol. 2 of the textbook are introduced.
Grade 2
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 1, Vol. 2 & Level 2, Vol. 1)
Students use this textbook throughout the year.
Grade 3
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 2, Vol. 1&2)
Students use this textbook throughout the year.
Grade 4
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 2, Vol. 2 & Level 3, Vol. 1 )
Students use this textbook throughout the year.
Grade 5
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 3, Vol. 1 &2)
Students use this textbook throughout the year.
Grade 6
Textbook: Hikarimura (Level 3, Vol. 2 & Level 4, Vol. 1 )
Students use this textbook throughout the year.
Senior Class 1
Students master common elementary school-level kanji, focus on reading comprehension and learning more advanced grammar. Students begin preparations for the Level 3 Japanese Language Proficiency Examination.
Senior Class 2
For the first half of the school year, students continue to prepare for the Level 3 Japanese Language Proficiency Examination. During the second half of the year, students prepare for the Provincial Grade 12 Japanese exam.
Senior Class 3
Advanced class after Senior class 2
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Local school grade and class in the Japanese school
| Local school | Victoria Japanese Heritage Language School |
| Age 4 at the end of year | preschool class |
| Kindergarten | Kindergarten |
| Grade 1 | Level１ |
| Grade 2 | Level 2 |
| Grade 3 | Level 3 |
| Grade 4 | Level 4 |
| Grade 5 | Level 5 |
| Grade 6 | Level 6 |
| Grade 7 | Level 7 |
| Grade 8 | Senior Class 1 |
| Grade 9/10 | Senior Class 2 |
| Grade 11/12 | Senior Class 3 |
*This chart is a standard. The Senior Class students need to consult with the class instructors.