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.
Japanese: Lower Intermediate - Part 2
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Course starts: 23 Jan 2025
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: Considering which products to purchase when shopping
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 - 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
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
Preparatory reading
- Japanese for Busy People 2 Revised 4th edition / AJALT
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £275.00 |
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:
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!