Japanese: Lower Intermediate - Part 2

Overview

This 10-week course is pitched at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and completion of the course will help you meet most, or all, of the level requirements. To help develop your fluency in the language, the course will focus primarily on speaking and listening skills, but will also include practice in reading and writing. You will have plenty of opportunities to practise the target language through hands-on class activities such as discussions and role-plays.

Programme details

Course starts: 25 Jan 2024

The weekly course schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topics likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: Asking for preferences and soliciting suggestions

Week 2: Comparing things, and expressing the comparative comment

Week 3: Seeking information or advice

Week 4: Describing ongoing actions or states 

Week 5: Travelling in Japan and Japanese cultural experiences

Week 6: Reporting things to someone

Week 7: Expressing concerns; complaining

Week 8: Talking about someone’s personal history

Week 9: Haiku -a Japanese poetry

Week 10: Class choice: revision, film, anime, song, language game, etc.

Key grammar points:

* Plain-forms of verbs

* Connecting clauses/sentences

* Expressing frequency

* Direct and indirect speech

Key functions:

* Referring to indefinite things

* Stating or asking for preference

* Expressing opinions and concerns

* Comparing two or more items 

* Making strong suggestions

Certification

Students who attend a minimum of 70% of classes will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £251.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Ms Rie Wakayama

An Oxford local, Rie is a qualified and very experienced Japanese language teacher. She has taught Japanese language courses to adults for many years and also GCSE and A-Level syllabuses to children at local private schools. In her spare time, Rie loves Japanese cooking.

Course aims

To help students to practise and consolidate their interactive skills in the target language in a wider range of simple and routine everyday situations requiring straightforward descriptions and direct exchange of information on family and other people, living conditions, educational background and work.  

Course objectives:

  • To further develop the language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing at level A2 of the CEFR.
  • to consolidate listening and speaking skills to enable students to communicate in a wider range of simple everyday work and leisure settings and matters in areas of most immediate relevance.
  • To equip students with the vocabulary items and grammatical structures required to read and write short, simple texts on familiar topics.
  • To develop an insight into the cultural practices relating to simple everyday work, study and leisure settings.

Teaching methods

You will learn through a communicative teaching approach with the emphasis on actively engaging in classroom activities in the target language. These are likely to include role-plays, pair- and small group-work, and conversational practice conducted in a supportive, friendly and informal learning environment.

The course has been structured to help you primarily to improve speaking and listening skills and to further develop your insight into the culture and daily life of the target language. You will also learn and practise new grammatical structures in a communicative context and will be encouraged to develop your reading and writing skills in your own time.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • communicate in simple everyday situations requiring direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters;
  • understand and respond appropriately to simple spoken language in everyday situations provided speech is slowly and clearly articulated;
  • read and demonstrate comprehension of a wider range of short simple texts on familiar matters of concrete type and consisting of everyday language;
  • write short, simple notes, messages, descriptions and/or personal letters;
  • demonstrate intercultural awareness in everyday social situations and language use generally.

Assessment methods

You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

Selection criteria

Our public programme is open access, and most adult language classes are mixed ability. To benefit from this course, participants will have completed our Lower Intermediate - Part 1 course. New students are very welcome!