Soka to Offer Classes in Foreign Languages
Soka University of America will offer five foreign language courses this fall at its Calabasas campus, including Japanese, Mandarin and Korean for beginners.
For students who have already studied beginning Japanese, the university offers elementary and intermediate instruction in the language as well. The courses emphasize Asian culture, weaving discussion about current affairs, art and other topics into the study of the language.
Jeff Ourvan, Soka’s vice president for university relations, said the classes are ideal for businesspeople who need a working knowledge of another language or for those who are simply curious about Pacific Rim cultures.
“It’s a good opportunity for people to get their feet wet and see if they want to pursue it,” he said.
Jae Eun Yoon, who teaches the Korean class, said she plans to teach grammar and some writing in her course. But first things first, she said. “I think we’re going to start with the Korean alphabet.”
The beginners’ classes will be held Tuesday evenings, starting Sept. 1. Elementary Japanese will be taught on Thursdays, beginning Sept. 3, and the Intermediate II Japanese course is scheduled for Wednesdays, starting Sept. 2. All the classes will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Soka University, 26800 W. Mulholland Highway.
The 15-week courses are open to the public. The tuition is $150 and the deadline to register is Aug. 25.
For applications and information, call (818) 878-3775.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
