Japanese Language Courses

JAPAN 101: Basic Japanese I
This course is intended for students with no or very limited prior knowledge of Japanese and designed to develop active command of very basic spoken and written Japanese. At the end of this course, students will be able to communicate at A1 level of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Language) as described below:

  • Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
  • Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have.
  • Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

In this course, students will learn hiragana, katakana, and approximately 60 kanji characters.
[Textbook] Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 3rd Edition (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2020).

JAPAN 102: Basic Japanese II
This course is a continuation of JAPAN 101. In this course, students are expected to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in JAPAN 101 with the aim to work towards the entry level of A2 of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal preference, shopping, point of interest in local area, community involvement, etc.)
  • Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Approximately 80 kanji characters will be taught.

[Textbook] Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 3rd Edition (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2020).
Prerequisite: JAPAN 101 or consent of Department

JAPAN 150: First-Year University Japanese
This course is intended for students who learned very basic spoken and written Japanese in high school (e.g., Japanese 30 in Alberta high schools). It provides further training in the elementary-level grammar and vocabulary and aims to work towards the entry level of A2 of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal preference, shopping, point of interest in local area, community involvement, etc.)
  • Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Approximately 80 kanji characters will be taught.
[Textbook] Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 3rd Edition (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2020).
Prerequisite: Japanese 30 or 35 in Alberta high school or equivalent

JAPAN 201: Basic Japanese III
This course is intended for students at the entry level of A2 of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) and designed to further develop real-life communicative skills in spoken and written Japanese as described below:

  • Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal preference, shopping, point of interest in local area, community involvement, etc.)
  • Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
  • Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Approximately 100 kanji characters will be taught.
[Textbook] Genki 2: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 3rd Edition (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2020).
Prerequisite: JAPAN 102 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.

JAPAN 202: Basic Japanese IV
This course is a continuation of JAPAN 201. Students are expected to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in JAPAN 201 to further develop students’ language skills in spoken and written Japanese and prepare them for the B1 level of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
  • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
  • Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
  • Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Approximately 80 kanji characters will be taught.
[Textbook] Genki 2: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 3rd Edition (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2020).
Prerequisite: JAPAN 201 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.

JAPAN 301: Intermediate Japanese I
This course is intended for students at A2 level and aims to work towards the entry level of B1 of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
  • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
  • Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
  • Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

[Textbook] Marugoto Intermediate 1 (B1): Japanese Language and Culture (Isomura, et al., 2016).
Prerequisite: JAPAN 202 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.

JAPAN 302: Intermediate Japanese II
This course is a continuation of JAPAN 301. Students are expected to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in JAPAN 301 to further develop language skills in spoken and written Japanese at B1 level of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
  • Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
  • Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
  • Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

[Textbook] Marugoto Intermediate 2 (B1): Japanese Language and Culture (Isomura, et al., 2017).
Prerequisite: JAPAN 301 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.

JAPAN 401: Advanced Japanese I
This course is intended for students at B1 level and aims to work towards the entry level of B2 of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation.
  • Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
  • Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

[Course materials] Authentic materials, such as radio programs and newspaper/internet articles
Prerequisite: JAPAN 302 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.

JAPAN 402: Advanced Japanese II
This course is a continuation of JAPAN 401. It emphasizes the development of formal spoken and written skills useful for job search. Students are expected to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in JAPAN 401 to further develop language skills in spoken and written Japanese at B2 level of the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education and CEFR (European Framework of Reference for Languages) as described below:

  • Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation.
  • Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
  • Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
[Course materials] Authentic materials, such as job advertisements, newspaper/internet articles
Prerequisite: JAPAN 401 with a minimum grade of C+, or consent of Department.