CLS Spark for Japanese is hosted by the LTL Language Education and provides an interactive, beginning and advanced beginning-level learning experience in a dynamic virtual environment. Throughout the summer, students use all the opportunities the program provides to develop their Japanese language skills while gaining valuable insight into Japanese culture.

The virtual institute includes ten hours per week of intensive live group instruction, focusing on the major aspects of language acquisition including grammar, pronunciation, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. Instructors also provide personalized support through weekly individual consultations tailored to students’ specific needs and interests. Beyond the classroom, students participate in cultural activities such as an origami class, anime and manga discussion club, and live storytelling of Japanese folktales to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and traditions while allowing them to engage with experts and members of the host institution community. Starting in Week 5 of the program, students meet weekly with their peer language partners for 45-minute sessions where they practice their growing Japanese skills, engage in cultural exchange, and foster person-to-person diplomacy.

Over the course of just eight weeks, students complete the equivalent of one year of university-level Japanese language instruction and are eligible for academic credit.