Japanese Learning School, Irvine, CA

Orange Gakuen

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Summer Camp 2024 Schedule & Fee

3 days a week Camp: $200 + $10 (material fee)

Returning students get 10% off.

Siblings will receive $10 discount.

Week A 6/10(Mon), 6/12(Wed), 6/14(Fri)

Week B 6/17(Mon), 6/19(Wed), 6/21(Fri)

Week C 6/24(Mon), 6/26(Wed), 6/28(Fri)

Week D 7/15(Mon), 7/17(Wed), 7/19(Fri)

Week E 7/22(Mon), 7/24(Wed), 7/26(Fri)

Week F 7/29(Mon), 7/31(Wed), 8/2(Fri)

The Class schedule is subject to change depending on the number of enrolled students.
Please write a check payable to Cynthia Hara Alt.

During summer breaks, it is a great opportunity to learn the Japanese language in a relaxed atmosphere. The Summer Camp is open to the public. The three hours sessions consist of language study class for each level as well as cultural experience through art, crafts and cooking. The content of the program will differ depending on the needs of each group. All groups will participate in the “Japanese hospitality with Japanese food” party on the last date of the camp. This is an opportunity to show appreciation for the parents.

For this year’s summer camp, we have chosen a theme “Power of support from little hands.” We have chosen a craft theme for the purpose of sending them to the Japan Earthquake charity. Some examples are: Kazari musubi (knot), clay modeling, festival decoration, Japanese food/sweets, cooking, coloring Japanese paper, chopstick cases and rest, lantern, paper cutout, Japanese calligraphy, picture letter, etc.

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COVID - 19 Announcement:

We have resumed in person class instruction as of April, 2022. At this time we will offer both in person classes, as well as online lessons to our students. Please inquire on planning options at Cynthia.Hara@OrangeGakuen.net to learn about our offerings for your specific Japanese goals.

Class Arrangement:
Classes are separated by age and Japanese experience. We have classes ranging from Beginner Japanese to Advanced Japanese.
The youngest students join our Mommy & Me class, starting from ages 0 – 3 years. This is not just a regular Mommy & Me class, but one that focuses on Early Childhood Brain Training. We also have classes for students in Pre-school to high school & College as well as Adults. We have two main courses： one that focuses on Japanese Conversation and Culture and one that focuses on the Japanese Proficiency Official Test/AP Japanese. The class for Japanese Proficiency may be taken after completing the basic and intermediate classes. Deciding what your goals are in Japanese will help you improve the most. Class sizes can vary, but typically will be about 6 students. Our English based textbook has many tips and useful information for first time Japanese learners.

Early Education
At Orange Gakuen, bilingual experience is part of our Mommy and Me and Donguri Club classes.

As an adult, we can only think in the first language we have learned. Although a child can pick up a second language very easily there is usually only a limited time for the brain to learn it. One of the reasons why Japanese is difficult for English speakers is because the frequency of the language is different. Until a child is two years old, this is very easy. A child can pick up a language easily until about three years old at which time, the left and right sides of the brain connect.

The best chance of becoming bilingual is before the age of three.
As we get older, it is increasingly harder to learn new languages because of how the brain works.
Newborn till preschool age is the best period of time for beginning new languages.
A child's enthusiasm and joy for learning in these early years facilitate active learning as he/she prepares for kindergarten.

Lets work hard to become bilingual!

Class for K-G12 College & Adults beginner ~ Advanced

Official Japanese Proficiency Test class
We have Official Japanese Proficiency test for every first Sunday of December at USC for our area by Japan foundation. They are 5 levels of test. Our Proficiency class start at G5 ~ G12. Also we have college and adults class preparation for test.　

AP Japanese

We offer AP Japanese instruction to pass the standardized certification exams needed to show proficiency to the college board. Many students benefit from passing AP Japanese by saving money on college tuition, earning a higher GPA, graduating early, partaking in advanced level courses and earning a double major. It also expands options to apply in Japanese universities.

Zoom classes
Zoom lessons are becoming more popular. We offer full classes via Zoom, or we are able to combine Zoom and classroom sessions. As of 2020, Due to the Covid - 19 pandemic, we have converted all of our in person instruction to online. All classes will continue as normal through our Zoom platform. We will continue this until the pandemic no longer threatens the health and safety of our students and families. We will continue offering Zoom instruction after the pandemic is over, as well as returning certain classses to in person instruction.

Class Fees:
Our current tuition system is one class per week, 90 minutes a class.
Tuition for a once a week class is $120 per month.
Mommy & Me NOUSAGI Club: 1/Week $130.
Pre-School Students Class DONGURI Club: 1/week $130.
Japanese proficiency Test Class: 1/week $150
Our Private Lessons at $50 per hour.
Registration fee: $100
Activity fee is $50 per year.
We also have $10 discounts for families with siblings.

Registration & Free trial lesson:
First, please make an appointment to schedule your free trial lesson. Appointment can be scheduled through Cynthia.Hara@OrangeGakuen.net.
During the free trial, we will discuss your goals and assess your Japanese background so that we may decide the best class for the student.

Kathy Okajima

My five-year-old son has so much excitement for learning the Japanese language! Cynthia Sensei makes learning about the language, food, and culture so much fun and easily accessible to even the youngest learners.

Aya Westbrook

Orange Gakuen has provided and served as a mode of growth in many aspects of the youngest children attending. While only meeting once a week, my own two young children have benefited from language development such as vocabulary, character recognition, conversation and greetings, appreciating Japanese culture through weekly crafts, games and songs, to soft skills such as kindness and empathy; and most importantly the love to stay curious and keep learning. It is exciting to have seen significant growth and improvement in young student abilities and see your child all of sudden writing their name effortlessly in Japanese, for example.

We all have loved Hara sensei’s classes from day one - we have now been with Orange Gakuen for 5 years. Her affectionate and individualized attention to the strengths of each student makes every student eager to participate, even through only Zoom during COVID, and she has consistently served as a true role model to both students and parents alike.

Education philosophy and mission statement

We aim to create a rich and safe environment for all children as we nurture their independent and creative spirits. We dedicate our efforts to encourage and support each individual child’s abilities while nurturing independence.

Bilingual and bicultural education is promoted through practicing effective communication. Cultural differences are often blocks to understanding. For example, it is difficult for children who grow up in the American culture to express their feelings in the “Japanese way.”
There are many difficulties in translating some expressions. By promoting cultural education through different modalities, a student will learn to cross the cultural gap and become truly bilingual.

We treat each student as unique individuals without having the border of language and culture. Through effective communication between teachers, parents and students, we strive to foster a fervor for learning. Each student is encouraged to share his/her own abilities and interests in areas such as the arts and music which serve as learning materials for promoting proficiency in Japanese. It is our hope that each student who has studied with us will be able to share their skills and knowledge and be able to be vibrant members of society.

Cynthia Hara

Founder of Orange Gakuen

Online Lessons

We offer online classes to help you achieve your educational, professional and business goals. Courses cover beginner to advanced Japanese, Japanese Language Proficiency Test, AP Japanese and Business Japanese.

The same care and interactiveness that defines our in person instruction can now be received right at home. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have transitioned all of our classes to the online format. Our core foundational classes have adapted very well to the new system, and the school has added new offerings to meet the growing and changing educational needs brought on by this shift.

Every class connects you to live instruction; we value working in real time so you can receive plenty of personalizd instruction, as well as interaction between your fellow students. Lessons are live streamed both ways, connecting you to your peers and creating a dynamic enviroment that fosters connection and deeper learning.

We offer both Group and Private lessons. Please reach out to cynthia.hara@orangegakuen.net to schedule a free trial and assessment.

Free Counseling

First, please tell us about your current situation and your goals during the counseling session. Of course, please feel free to use this opportunity to consult us about any worries or questions you may have.

Free Counseling Now

Japanese Learning School​, Irvine, CA

Orange Gakuen

Free Counseling

Japanese Learning School, Irvine, CA