Japanese

Course Content

Building upon N5 foundations, this course expands your ability to understand and communicate in everyday situations. You'll develop more complex grammar structures, expand kanji knowledge, and be able to handle a wider range of daily conversations and basic written materials.

What You Will Learn:

• Engage in longer conversations about daily life topics
• Describe past experiences and future plans in detail
• Express opinions, preferences, and emotions
• Understand and give complex directions and instructions
• Handle various social situations appropriately
• Read simple personal letters and diary entries
• Understand basic Japanese TV programs and anime with context
• Write short compositions about familiar topics
• Make requests and ask for permission politely
• Describe experiences using appropriate verb forms

Kanji Expansion:

• Learn approximately 300 kanji characters (cumulative ~400 kanji)
• Understand multiple readings (??? and ???)
• Practice kanji compounds (??)
• Learn kanji radicals for better retention
• Develop strategies for kanji memorization

Grammar Development:

Te-form applications (?-form requests, permissions, progressive actions), potential form (???), volitional form (???), conditional forms (??, ?, ?), giving and receiving verbs (???, ???, ???), comparative and superlative expressions, more complex particles, plain form vs polite form, quotation markers (???), and expressing experiences (?????).

Advanced Grammar Points:

• Te-form for various functions (requests, sequences, reasons)
• Expressing abilities and possibilities
• Making comparisons (??, ??, ??)
• Conditional expressions for different situations
• Giving and receiving verbs with proper perspective
• Expressing obligations (????????, ??????)
• Causative and passive forms introduction

Vocabulary Expansion:

Approximately 1,500 words covering expanded daily life vocabulary, transportation and travel, health and medical terms, education and workplace, nature and environment, emotions and feelings, common idiomatic expressions, and practical phrases for various situations.

Reading & Writing Skills:

• Read and understand simple stories and essays
• Comprehend everyday written materials (signs, menus, instructions)
• Write emails and messages to friends
• Keep a simple diary in Japanese
• Understand basic Japanese websites and social media

Listening Comprehension:

Understand everyday conversations at natural speed, comprehend simple announcements and instructions, follow basic storylines in anime and dramas, and understand weather forecasts and news headlines.

Cultural Understanding:

Japanese school system and culture, workplace basics and business etiquette introduction, seasonal traditions and celebrations, understanding keigo (honorific language) basics, regional differences in Japanese culture, and modern Japanese lifestyle and pop culture.

JLPT N4 Preparation:

Complete preparation for JLPT N4, focusing on all exam sections including vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and listening skills with practice tests and strategies.

Course Content

Advance to intermediate Japanese with the ability to understand and communicate in a wide range of everyday situations. You'll master more complex grammar structures, significantly expand kanji knowledge, and be able to read and comprehend longer Japanese texts with improved fluency.

What You Will Learn:

• Understand Japanese used in everyday situations with coherent conversations
• Read and comprehend written materials with specific content
• Follow narratives and understand summary information from newspapers
• Express complex ideas and abstract concepts
• Participate in discussions on familiar topics
• Write coherent essays and longer compositions
• Understand Japanese movies and TV shows with basic context
• Comprehend workplace communications and instructions
• Give detailed explanations and presentations
• Handle most social and professional situations

Kanji Mastery:

• Learn approximately 650 kanji characters (cumulative ~1,000+ kanji)
• Master complex kanji compounds and their meanings
• Understand kanji etymology and components
• Read kanji in various contexts and styles
• Learn specialized kanji for different fields
• Develop speed in kanji recognition and reading

Advanced Grammar:

Causative forms (???), passive forms (???), causative-passive forms, honorific and humble language (keigo), formal and written expressions, various conditional forms, expressing conjecture and hearsay (???, ???, ???), nominal expressions, complex sentence structures with multiple clauses, and expressing changes in state (?????, ?????).

Complex Grammar Points:

• Causative and passive constructions in various contexts
• Advanced honorific language (???, ???, ???)
• Formal written expressions and literary forms
• Expressing conjecture, hearsay, and evidentiality
• Advanced conditional and temporal expressions
• Nominalization and abstract expressions
• Compound and complex sentence structures
• Expressions for making decisions and changes

Vocabulary Enrichment:

Approximately 3,750 words including advanced vocabulary for specific topics, business and workplace terminology, academic expressions, formal and written language, specialized vocabulary for various fields, idiomatic expressions and proverbs (????), onomatopoeia and mimetic words (???·???), and contemporary Japanese expressions.

Reading Comprehension:

• Read newspaper articles and magazine features
• Understand business emails and documents
• Comprehend literary works with moderate difficulty
• Follow technical instructions and manuals
• Read social media and online content fluently
• Analyze and summarize longer texts

Writing Proficiency:

• Write formal letters and business emails
• Compose essays and reports on various topics
• Create detailed descriptions and narratives
• Use appropriate formal and informal writing styles
• Express opinions with supporting arguments

Listening Skills:

Understand natural conversations at normal speed, comprehend news broadcasts and documentaries, follow complex storylines in Japanese media, understand lectures and presentations, and participate in group discussions effectively.

Cultural Competence:

Deep understanding of Japanese business culture and etiquette, mastery of keigo in various social contexts, appreciation of Japanese arts and literature, understanding of Japanese history and society, contemporary social issues in Japan, regional dialects awareness, and navigating complex social hierarchies appropriately.

Professional Application:

• Workplace communication and business Japanese
• Job interview preparation in Japanese
• Business meeting participation
• Professional email and document writing
• Customer service communication
• Academic study in Japanese contexts

JLPT N3 Preparation:

Comprehensive preparation for JLPT N3, often considered the bridge to advanced Japanese. Master all required grammar patterns, vocabulary, kanji, and develop strong reading and listening comprehension skills through extensive practice and test-taking strategies.

Bridge to Advanced Level:

N3 serves as a crucial stepping stone to advanced Japanese proficiency. At this level, you'll have the foundation to pursue professional opportunities, academic studies, and deeper cultural engagement in Japanese-speaking environments.