Japanese Advanced (part 2)

Part 2 continues to teach you to be able to understand Japanese in everyday and work settings. Constantly putting into practice your learnings and aiming to provide more detail and context when speaking and writing.

You’ll start to be able to discuss topics more logically and explain yourself to others with more accuracy. Alongside this, you will begin to read novels and be able to grasp the main story line as well as the generic portrayal of the characters.

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.

You will continue to work on your writing skills, learning an additional 100 kanji and practice on traditional manuscript paper. There will be the opportunity to use apps such as ‘Anki’ and ‘Quizlet’ to support your learning, as well as paper cards to help memorise Kanji.

At the end of the module, you’ll have an opportunity to sit a mock test, based on the JPLT N1 test. This will help you to decide whether to consolidate the same level or move up to the next class.

Who is it for?

To keep up in class you should have reached good JLPT N2 level – around 320 hours of formal learning and some independent study. You could have recently finished part 1 of our advanced course, or similar. More can be found in the eligibility section.

Timetable

This course takes place once a week for two hours over 10 weeks with an intake in January.

Benefits

• Good preparation for sitting 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 TV programmes covering everyday topics like cooking, travel etc
• explain and write about the background and cause of unpredictable occurrences e.g., an accident
• understand content of enquiries about your work or field of expertise

Grammatical structures

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

• といえどもeven, even if
• たことにしてexpresses a decision or news that does not reflect the truth
• なくしてwithout
• をもって1) by means of, with. 2) at the time
• ものとしてto assume, to suppose
• 並み（なみ）same level as, equal to, on par with , each, row of
• すら / ですらeven (with emphasis)
• にしてonly, just because, although, even, at (place, time), in (time span)
• なりas soon as
• なりに / なりのIn one's own way/style
• ともなくuncertainty, lack of intent
• や否や（やいなや）as soon as, the moment-
• とも～ともunable to draw a conclusion, unable to judge
• たら～たでwhether or not
• どんなに～うが/うと(も)Now matter how/what, even if
• とはindicates word or phrase being defined with emphasis/surprise
• とされるis considered to, it is said that-
• とばかりにas if to say, as though-
• を限りに（をかぎりに）starting from.., to the full extent of
• ならではdistinctive of-, special to-

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.

Your tutor will give regular feedback and encourage you to sit a mock exam based on JLPT N1 level.

You will also be required to complete several hours of homework each week and independent study to keep up in class and pass your mock test.

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 Advanced Japanese (Part 1) course 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 t.ogura@city.ac.uk 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, although, at this level the classes will mainly be taught in Japanese.