Japanese language in any Twin city schools? (Minneapolis, St. Paul: credit, house)

[tokyogal]

We are an American family moving back to the Twin Cities after living in Tokyo for over the last 3 years. Our kids, (15,12, 9) are used to a small international private school and are getting close to being fluent in Japanese. I am trying to find any schools that offer Japanese. So far, only see Edina HS as a possibility. Because we are used to big city life, we are considering the MAC/groveland area of St Paul, St. Anthony Park, or the lakes area. we want to be able to walk as much as possible and avoid outer ring suburban life. Because of expat life, and little expense living over here in Tokyo, we have been blessed with being able to afford a house in the 500.000 plus range.
thanks

[golfgal]

Eastview High School in the Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan district (196) offers Japanese. My DS16 is taking this class this fall. Obviously it is an outer ring suburb but our neighborhood is more walkable then most in St. Paul so walkability is not exclusive to the inner city. Where will you be working though. You wouldn't want to live in the south metro if you work in Maple Grove, for example.

[tokyogal]

My husband will be working in Mounds View so prefer something a bit closer, but will look into the Apple Valley/eagan school district.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by tokyogal

We are an American family moving back to the Twin Cities after living in Tokyo for over the last 3 years. Our kids, (15,12, 9) are used to a small international private school and are getting close to being fluent in Japanese. I am trying to find any schools that offer Japanese. So far, only see Edina HS as a possibility. Because we are used to big city life, we are considering the MAC/groveland area of St Paul, St. Anthony Park, or the lakes area. we want to be able to walk as much as possible and avoid outer ring suburban life. Because of expat life, and little expense living over here in Tokyo, we have been blessed with being able to afford a house in the 500.000 plus range.
thanks

Morningside area of Edina might be something to your liking. 8 miles from downtown Minneapolis, and everything you need for shopping and services are very close, plus you get a school system that is very very good. Lake Harriet is very close and there are wonderfull walking paths, bike paths etc.

Best advice for finding a house - pick the area you are wanting to live first, then find a realtor that is highly focused on that area. If you are looking for Edina or SW Minneapolis, I can give you a short list of some excellent realtors. Send me PM if you want that info. Otherwise, good luck in you relocation.

[golfgal]

You don't want to work in Mounds View and live in the south suburbs. Mounds View Schools are VERY good, I would look in that area.

Another option is that you will probably be able to find some courses at the many colleges/universities around the metro area. For your high schooler that could be a course s/he could take as part of the program where high school kids can take college level courses that count both for college and high school credit. The classes are free for high school students but you have to buy books, etc. It is a great program.

Often you will find foreign language offerings in the park and rec programs around town as well.

[Camden Northsider]

Patrick Henry High's IB program offers Japanese Language study. This school is very close to our home and the area itself may be one you want to check out if you are looking to live in Minneapolis proper yet still be close to northern metro suburban areas. Your price range is beyond our neighborhood's current housing market's peak values, but you could find something beautiful in the neighborhood and save some of that money that you would pay in the pricier neighborhoods. Victory nbrhd has some nice little restaurants/ businesses and other amenities (there aren't a lot of businesses in the neighborhood but it's very close to Brookdale and Robbinsdale shopping centers), the biggest walkability bonus around here is our adjacency to tons of park/ green space. There is similarly a great little elementary school in the neighborhood, Loring Community School (MPS website info here)

Also, was wondering if you had seen this web site: The Minneapolis Japanese Language and Culture Meetup Group (Minneapolis, MN) - Meetup.com (http://japanese.meetup.com/508/ - broken link). Good luck with your search and welcome back!

[TokyoToo]

Hi! We are just back from Tokyo as well. Our kids are 7 & 9.

Have you had any luck finding a way to maintain your kids' Japanese? I didn't imagine it would be this difficult! We even tried to sign up for the Mori no Ike family week with Concordia, but it was cancelled due to low enrollment. Please let me know if you've found anything. After 5 years in Japan, I hate to see them completely lose the language!

Gambatte ne! (^_^)

[BeckyS]

Harding High School in Saint Paul offers Japanese language instruction. This is a regular course for high school students enrolled there. Harding is also an International Baccalaureate program.

Saint Paul Community Education (Saint Paul Public Schools-Community Education) offers Japanese as well.

[moguro]

If your children are proficient in Japanese, the Minnesota Japanese School might be what you're looking for. Classes are held on Saturdays on the campus of Hope Church, located just south of Minneapolis on Portland Avenue in Richfield. The website is here: Minnesota Japanese School.

Good luck!

[Double]

Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minnesota has a Japanese language program taught by last year's Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Also, Northern Star Online is a consortium of school districts on the western side of the Twin Cities that offers online Japanese classes.