Japanese Intermediate (part 2)

In part 2, you’ll learn to talk about change, give advice and use polite expressions in response to an explanation. We’ll also teach you how to read and understand a recipe – ideal if you are a fan of Japanese food and want to prepare authentic dishes at home!

At this level, we keep class sizes very small, giving you plenty of time to participate during the lesson and deliver short presentations to the group on a chosen subject. You’ll watch anime and Japanese films in your own time and discuss them with your classmates in the lesson. It’s like having your own ‘film club’, which not only improves your vocabulary but broadens your understanding of Japanese culture.

You’ll learn another 100 kanji, to further expand your use of characters, and improve your writing skills.

This ten-week module continues to build your intermediate level knowledge and work towards Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N3 level.

Who is it for?

You’ll need to be able to communicate at JLPT N4 level to join this us here. You may have completed part 1 of our intermediate syllabus or studied formally for around 200 hours. More information can be found in the eligibility section.

Timetable

This course takes place once a week for 10 weeks.

Benefits

• Learning at this level allows you to have much more input and control over your learning, expressing your opinion on topics that spark your interest
• Learn as part of a motivated and supportive group of students
• Our qualified Japanese tutor can guide you through any challenges.

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

• read about or express dietary needs, restrictions and personal taste
• ask a question and express your opinion during a presentation on a subject, such as environmental issues
• understand an explanation given by a clerk using polite expressions and respond
• talk about recent changes with a friend and emphatically give advice
• use basic expressions that display humbleness to a person you have met for the first time in order to greet and respond to questions
• use another 100 kanji.

Grammatical structures including:

• ～ということです
  試験の結果は95％、つまり合格ということだ。
  Your test score was 95%. In other words, you passed.
• ～通り
  天気予報の通り、昨日は雨でした。
  It rained yesterday, just as the weather report said.
• ～といえば
  大阪の食べ物と言えば、たこ焼きです。
  Speaking of Osaka food, takoyaki comes to mind.
• ～わけにはいかない
  あとで車を運転するので、今お酒を飲むわけにはいかない。
  I will be driving a car later, so I cannot drink any alcohol now.
• ～ことはない
  締め切りは来週なので、急ぐことはないですよ。
  The deadline is next week, so there is no need to rush.

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.

Assessment

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

Teaching

You will work with your tutor to identify areas of strength and weakness. Your tutor will then advise you where best to focus your energy when studying independently. We use interactive techniques, such as vocabulary lists and using online flip cards.

Weekly classes are an opportunity to practise your skills, give short presentations and have conversations with your peers.

It is the right level if you have either:

• completed part 1 of our Japanese intermediate syllabus or equivalent
• studied formally for 200 hours (plus independent study)
• JLPT N4 level.

Your tutor may assess you prior to enrolment to help determine your level.

You should already be able to:

• talk about trips and new experiences – your thoughts and feelings, and the things you tried
• present information about your pets and family and explain your relationships with them
• imagine what an event was like from the participants’ point of view or from the things they did
• talk with a friend about a private matter while confirming information.

Other courses are available at different levels. See the full range of courses.

English requirements

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