TLC for Kids Japanese Class

Recommended classes will be suggested by the Japanese teacher and educational counselor after the trial lesson.

The best class for you will be determined by our educational counselor after you apply for a trial lesson.

We are ready to cooperate not only during lessons, but also at home to create a Japanese learning environment and support home study. With support from both sides of the family and TLC, your child’s Japanese language skills will soar!

How old is my child to attend online classes?

For children whose first language is English, we recommend Japanese classes from 3~4 years old. Please contact us for more information as there are individual differences.

I’m not sure if my child can stay focused online.

Group lessons are 45 minutes long. We have been studying the effective teaching methods of distance learning since 2020, and we are committed to making sure that our online lessons are as effective as in-person lessons. We are making every effort to ensure that you feel the same learning effect in online lessons as you do in face-to-face lessons.

Do you have homework?

Yes, we do. We have an original worksheet designed to strengthen your child’s Reading Fluency. The worksheets are designed in a spiral, step-by-step manner so that your child can steadily acquire skills while building confidence that he or she can do it! The worksheets are designed to help your child steadily acquire skills while building confidence in his or her ability to read.

Can I make up for an inconvenient day?

Yes, it is possible. However, please be sure to let us know by email at least 30 minutes before the class starts. Please note that an unexcused absence will be considered a missed lesson.

Is it possible to make up a day missed due to sudden illness?

Yes, it is possible. We ask that you contact us by email at least 30 minutes before the class starts. Please note that an absence without notification will be considered a missed lesson. For details, we will explain the terms and conditions when you enter the school.

How do you accept payment? Credit card?

Yes, we will use the credit card payment function called Square, which has been introduced by many restaurants. We will handle the payment by monthly automatic debit.

I live in the United States. Which should I have my child learn, Japanese or English?

It depends on the child’s age, language ability, and future residency plans. Generally, children of permanent residents in the U.S. are given priority in Japanese, while children of expatriate families and other short-term residents are given priority in English. If you attend a trial lesson, our counselor will advise you on the class that best suits your child’s needs.

Bilingual parenting can cause a variety of problems if the order in which the language is nurtured is not correct. It is extremely important to have a clear language development plan in order to raise your child to be an excellent bilingual. Please contact TLC for Kids if you have any questions or concerns about bilingual parenting.

I am concerned that my 3 year old will sit still in an online class.

Ideally, students should be able to sit for 20-30 minutes during the online lesson. However, it is rare for a 3~4 year old to be able to sit quietly for the entire lesson, so don’t worry. We do our best to keep children occupied during the lesson, but there are many children who cannot sit still. Parents worry that this may bother the teacher, but in most cases, after 2~3 months, the child will be able to sit calmly. They are learning in their own way how to conduct the class. In order for children to be able to sit down and work online, it is important to create study habits at home as well. In particular, reading picture books to children is an effective way to nurture their listening skills and language. Make sure to read a picture book to your child every day, and after 5 or 10 minutes of concentrated listening to your mother’s story, your child will be able to sit calmly in online classes.

I hear the homework is hard…

The main purpose of homework is to develop study habits. The success or failure of the homework is of secondary importance. If students do the assigned tasks steadily and diligently every day, they will develop a study habit and acquire the ability to learn by themselves. Without exception, children who succeed academically are those who have developed the ability to learn and study on their own. Note that if parents complain about mistakes on handouts, children will lose their motivation to learn. Please limit the amount of time spent on handouts to 20 minutes a day at most. The key to making children do well is not to leave them to do it alone, but to have a parent accompany them. If the child is not doing well or does not understand, provide support such as prompting with hints. It is not a good idea to let your child work on the worksheets for a long time; TLC for Kids worksheets are designed to be repeated, so it is okay if your child does not do the work at the time. The important thing is to acknowledge “good job” when the child completes a work. Children’s “desire to learn” grows when they are praised by their parents. When a child completes a work, give him or her a big hug and say, “Wow, you did a great job!

Do parents also need support during online lessons?

Children who are in the late 3-4 year old class or just starting to learn often need close parental support, while children who are over 4 years old or who have been taking lessons for 2~3 months and have become accustomed to the lessons can proceed with the class on their own without parental support. After 4 years old or after 2~3 months, children who are used to lessons can proceed with the class by themselves without parental support.

What level of Japanese can I reach?

TLC for Kids’ song classes are designed to help students acquire the level of reading skills required in the second and third grades of elementary school in Japan. Reading and writing in Japanese is important to improve Japanese language skills, and TLC for Kids teaches reading and writing with a program that we have developed ourselves. It is important to establish rudimentary reading and writing skills as quickly as possible.

I plan to live in the U.S. permanently. Does my child need to learn Japanese?

Even in families permanently residing in the U.S., if the mother’s native language (the mother’s most natural language) is Japanese, the principle is to treat the child in Japanese. The process of passing on the mother’s language to the child is not only related to the child’s language development, but also to cultural identity and human development. Note that many children who enter school age with an underdeveloped mother tongue will have difficulty in acquiring learning English skills.

How old do the students have to be to attend classes?

TLC’s singing classes (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced) are designed for toddlers through age 7, with Reading Fluency classes available for children over 7. As a general guideline, children up to junior high school age can enroll in this class. The age of graduation from TLC varies depending on the age of entry and the child’s academic ability. The earlier you start, the earlier you will reach your target level.

What level of Japanese is required?

The goal should be to learn to read and write at the 2~3 grade level of the local school. When children start attending local elementary schools, they will be occupied with homework and assignments. It is best to build a foundation of Japanese language skills while the child is as young as possible. Once they are able to read and write, they will be able to develop their Japanese language skills on their own through reading.

Both parents are English speakers. How can I teach my child Japanese?

If both parents are English speakers, use Japanese audio materials. Use audio materials, online materials, and other media for children. When children are young, it is not advisable to show them television for long periods of time, so create an environment that focuses on playing music CDs. Children have an excellent ability to acquire information in their environment, so take advantage of this.

What kind of teachers do you have for your online classes?

TLC for Kids is taught by native Japanese speaking teachers who are not only experienced in teaching children, but are also “professionals in teaching children,” including teachers who have experience in music and theater, and teachers who studied linguistics at university.

My child speaks Japanese, do I need lessons?

There are two types of language skills: living language skills and learning language skills. All children can naturally acquire life language skills if they attend preschool or kindergarten. On the other hand, “learning language skills” cannot be acquired without being taught. It takes 5 to 10 years to acquire “learning language skills. At TLC for Kids, we focus on learning language skills. If you want to give your child high academic ability, it is more important to help them acquire reading, reading comprehension, writing, and thinking skills than conversational skills.

How long is each class?

Each lesson basically lasts 45 minutes (this does not apply to private lessons). Within the 45 minutes, we use flashcards, reading, games, and other activities to keep the class moving at a brisk pace and to keep students from getting bored.

How many students are enrolled in an online class?

Considering the effect of children learning from each other, we use small groups of 2 to 4 students in our online group lessons.