Syllabus
| 1 | Subject | Level 4 Further Steps (Upper Intermediate Level) |
| 2 | Field | Japanese Language |
| 3 | Key words | Upper Intermediate, Grammar, Communication, Daily use, Conversation |
| 4 | Unit | 0.5 |
| 5 | Lecturer | Center for Japanese Language and Education |
| 6 | Period | June 23 - 27, 2025 |
| 7 | Time | 8:30-10:00 (Japan Standard Time) |
| 8 | Lecture style | Online (live virtual class) |
| 9 | Evaluation Criteria | Excellent (S) 90–100£¥; Very good (A) 80–89£¥; Good (B) 70–79%; Pass (C) 60–69%; Fail (D) 0–59£¥ |
| 10 | Evaluation methods | Attendance and Participation 60%, Assignments 40% |
| 11 | Prerequisites | ?Only students who are registered for one of the non-language GUC courses are allowed to apply. ?This course is suitable for intermediate level learners who have been judged to be “Level 4 Upper Intermediate” or above in the level check test offered on our website: The level is about the equivalent to JLPT N2. |
| 12 | Contents | Purpose The goal of this course is to provide upper intermediate level international students with an extensive set of Japanese oral expressions for use in daily life, knowledge of their usage, and opportunities to practice using them effectively. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 1) Ask questions confidently. 2) Provide detailed explanations while highlighting differences of one case from other cases. 3) Articulate their thoughts while considering their conversation partner. 4) Engage in real Japanese conversations more naturally. 5) Experience the preference for high-context interactions in Japanese. Description This course is offered as an online (live) virtual class. It is designed for students who have reached the upper-intermediate level, allowing them to apply their acquired knowledge in practical communication. The goal is for participants to feel confident in Japanese communication and to be motivated to progress to the next stage. In the class, we will practice asking questions and giving explanations, with a focus on the characteristics of high-context Japanese culture. Additionally, we will explore the nuances of the Japanese language using materials such as clips from movies popular in Japan. Moreover, there are sessions scheduled for participants to engage in conversations with native Japanese guest speakers. The schedule structure shares similarities with 'Level 3 Further Steps,' but the difficulty level of the content varies. Additionally, at this level, we focus on expressing thoughts and opinions, as well as sharing them with each other. This will help you grasp the keys to continuing conversations in a more natural way. Note: This is a combination of a lecture and an interactive class that simulates face-to-face sessions. In principle, therefore, the students are requested to have their camera on during the class. Active discussion with your classmates is strongly encouraged. Schedule Session 1: Icebreaking: Chat with classmates ¡¡ Continuing the conversation more comfortably by sharing each other's feelings Session 2: Clear Explanation: Introduce inventions from around the world Session 3: Real Japanese Experience (1): Watch and discuss commercials¡¡ Session 4: Real Japanese Experience (2): Let's create a talk show¡¡ Session 5: ¡¡ Real Japanese Experience (3): Watch and talk about your video with guest ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app students Notes: Schedules and content may be subject to change. Assignments Students are required to complete a worksheet provided every day (1-2 pages). Students are expected to spend about one hour every day reviewing the day's lesson. |
| 13 | Required readings | Center's original materials |
| 14 | Reference readings | Will be provided in class. |
| 15 | Notes on Taking the Course | The pre-assessment of the applicant's Japanese language learning background may lead to a suggestion that the applicant enroll in a course at a different level than initially desired. |
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Global Unit Courses (GUC)
International Education Promotion Group, Education and Student Support Department
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8652 JAPAN
For inquiries regarding GUC, kindly direct them to the following email address:
utokyo-guc.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp *Please change (at) to @
International Education Promotion Group, Education and Student Support Department
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8652 JAPAN
For inquiries regarding GUC, kindly direct them to the following email address:
utokyo-guc.adm(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp *Please change (at) to @
