The Japanese Program is housed at Dimond High School for the 9th through 12th grades. At the high school level, the focus turns primarily to improving Japanese language skills, using a thematic-based approach. Currently, there are four levels of immersion classes, all of which meet once a day as an elective for immersion students.
The highest-level class participates in the “Adopt-a-Student” program, which pairs individual students with a Japanese family from the Anchorage community. Students enjoy various activities with their host-families, spending approximately three hours together each month. Also, the “Talking With Native-Speakers” program brings Japanese native-speaker volunteers from the community into the classroom twice a month to work with students in small group activities, such as debates and simulations. Immersion students at Dimond also reach out into the global community through an e-pal {like a pen-pal) exchange with high school students in Japan and Japanese Immersion Students in Australia.
Immersion Program graduates are honored at a special completion ceremony each May. You can recognize students who complete Anchorage’s K-12 Japanese Immersion Program at graduation by the prestigious cord they wear with their graduation gowns. The Anchorage School District approved for students to wear this special mark of distinction as a tribute to their enduring effort and dedication to learning.