Starting Oct. 14, the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center is once again offering Japanese language classes to children and their parents. The classes will cater to 3- to 5-year-olds—2-year-olds are welcome if accompanied by an adult—and parents are encouraged to learn with their children.
In this preschool setting, children will learn customary greetings through song and play. Art activities will focus on Japanese culture, as well as Hirigana and Katakana writing techniques. The eight-week class will meet Friday afternoons from 2:30 to 5 p.m. or Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at the educational facilities at Christ United Methodist Church, 219 N. Mary Drive, in Santa Maria. Classes won’t be held on Nov. 25 or 26.
Tuition is $80 for the first child, $50 for the second child, and $30 for the third child, and includes classes and learning materials. A military discount of $10 will be deducted from tuition for Vandenberg Air Force Base families. To participate, there’s an additional $10 annual membership fee to join your family to the SMJCC.
The center is currently taking names and coordinating classes for older children and adults for 2012.
For more information, contact Emiko Gerber at 314-2540 or santamariajcc@gmail.com.
This article appears in Oct 13-20, 2011.