Aberdeen High School students in Mika Katzer’s class are brushing up on their Japanese — literally.

This is the second year she’s teaching the language at AHS. Her second-year class includes 20 students between 10th and 12th grades.

She incorporates reading, writing, speaking and listening into her lessons.

“Japanese is not a difficult language to learn how to speak, but very difficult to learn how to read and write, since we use three different writing systems with thousands of letters and characters,” she said. “I also teach various aspects of Japanese culture, and try to provide authentic cultural experiences whenever I can.”

Formal calligraphy is one aspect of the authentic experience, she said. Katzer recently shared with her class the calligraphy tools and materials she had brought over from Japan.

“They learned the history, the proper use of these tools and materials, and basic strokes,” she said.

(Courtesy photo) From left, Brielda Manu, Aliyah Tageant and Savannah Hendricks practice Japanese calligraphy with their classmates at AHS.