Japanese Advanced (part 1)

Part 1 is the first of three modules where you will be aiming to achieve your JPLT N1 Level, consisting of one class a week for ten weeks.

During this time, as well as continuing to enhance your vocabulary and reading abilities in everyday situations, you will be able to understand more complex content and topics including politics and economic sections in newspapers and magazines.

As you would expect from such a high-level course, you will be required to study independently outside of the virtual classroom where you will discuss what you have watched, read and written.

Who is it for?

This course is ideal for learners who have completed the Japanese Upper Intermediate (Year 5) level or similar. You should be confident at JLPT N2 level to enrol on this course. Also for those who have previously obtained their JLPT N1 and would like a refresher or to maintain the same level. Especially if you haven’t used the language for a while.

Timetable

This course takes place once a week for 10 weeks with two intakes, one in October and another in January.

Benefits

• Great preparation if you are working towards the JLPT N1
• Taught online allowing easy access to learning
• Led by an experienced native Japanese tutor

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• understand general content of lectures and themes you are interested in
• express your opinion in a logical manner when joining discussion and debates
• write letter and e-mails using basic polite Japanese
• read novels, understanding the feelings of characters and main storyline

Grammatical structures

Below are a sample of some of the many grammatical structures you will learn throughout the course.

• ないまでもeven if [A] is not done, then [B]
• というわけではないit’s not that, it doesn’t mean that
• を皮切りに（をかわきりに）starting with
• まみれcovered with, stained, smeared with
• となると / となればonce/when something happens
• こそすれonly the first point is true, the second point cannot be true
• ことのないようにso as not to, to not-
• ともあろうof all people (expression showing surprise at a high standing person's misbehaviour)
• くらいのものだonly (emphasis)
• だの～だのand, and the like, and so forth
• XがXなら、YもYだlike [father] like [son] (negative meaning)
• くらいならrather than (do ...)
• たところでeven if-
• こそ「～が・けれど」but, although (emphasis)
• ものをalthough, but, even though, I wish that
• と思いきやTo think [A], but [B]
• (よ)うと～まいと・(よ)うが～まいがwhether or not, regardless
• とあればif, if it is the case that
• としたってeven if..
• ところをalthough/despite a certain time/situation.

You will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate on completion of the course if you attend over 70 per cent of the classes. The course is not formally accredited.

You won’t need to sit an exam at the end of the course, but you will be required to complete several hours of homework each week.

Teaching

This course takes a very active approach to developing your skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking; with lots of interaction with your teacher and fellow students.

We can tailor the course to your individual needs. Your tutor will work with you to identify areas where you excel and those which need more development. This will help you make effective use of your independent study time.

The virtual classes allow you to discuss any films or TV clips you have watched over the week. You’ll also get time to practice your fluency through role-play and delivering short presentations.

At this level you are expected to be studying daily to enhance your learning and comfortable to put in several hours outside of the classroom to your practice.

It is the right level if you have either:

• completed our upper intermediate syllabus or equivalent
• good JLPT N2 level
• be able to study for several hours a week independently.
• Your tutor can assess you prior to enrolment to help determine your level and if this course is right for you.

You should already be able to:

• talk about your hobbies and interests
• express personal feelings and emotions with reasons
• be able to organise meetings with friends and colleagues
• join conversations discussing familiar everyday topics
• generally understand TV shows or movies in standard Japanese
• understand the content of official letters and e-mails written in polite Japanese
• understand the content of general articles in newspapers and magazine
• use around 1,000 kanji.

We offer a variety of courses, so if this isn’t the right level, take a look at the others we teach.

Please contact tutor Taka Ogura at [email protected] to discuss which course is suitable for you.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.