Curriculum
A curriculum that increases what you can “do” using Japanese
In each class, we focus on not only basic skills like grammar and vocabulary, but also tasks that combine more than 2 skille as speaking, listening, writing, and reading to help you apply what you’ve learned. From “understanding” to “being able to do,” you will develop practical Japanese skills.
“Frame of Reference for Japanese Language Education”
This is a common reference used by everyone involved in Japanese language education, based on the European educational system, to guide the learning, teaching, and evaluation of Japanese. To operate a Japanese language institution accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), schools must create distinctive curriculum within this framework. Information is also available on the MEXT website.
Basic Japanese Class
A semester at TLS lasts three months and students move up one class level per semester. From A1 to B1 level, before splitting into different career paths, students focus on improving the basics of Japanese for daily life. The B1 level, with its wider scope of study, provides an environment in which students can study at different study speeds depending on their career path after graduation and desired length of study.
This stage helps students facing real-life issues in Japan, focusing on the challenges they encounter as they begin their Japanese studies.
This is a step for those who have just started learning Japanese to turn 0 into 1. This first step will connect you to the next level in a fun and shortest way.
Topics
Conversations and vocabularies in class room and restaurant, responding requests, manners to throw gavages, rules in Japan, travel episode, email etc.
Representative Task｜Working at Restaurant
The most common part-time job for international students is working in restaurants. In class, students role-play as restaurant staff and guests. The guests practice ordering, while the staff listen and take notes using various counters, then pass the order to the manager.
Learn Japanese while putting 2 or more grammatical constructions into 1 sentence. Particularly focusing on mastering verb conjugations and using communication to engage with others.
Once students understand well this level, it is very helpful to learn intermediate and above Japanese. This is the most important level in building a solid foundation for the Japanese language.
Topics
Dealing with Keigo (honorific), the way Japanese people speak, instructions and signs, sickness, future goal, interviews etc.
Representative Task｜Expressing emotion in native way
Direct Japanese usage by international students occasionally surprises Japanese people. Students will listen to the teacher’s explanations and compare them with their own expressions, learning the differences. They will practice speaking like a native Japanese by repeatedly using the summarized materials.
From being able to live in Japan, the goal will be to create better relationships with other people and enrich your life.
This is the level where the image of Japanese language learning shifts from simply conveying facts to learning Japanese that includes one’s own feelings and consideration for others.
Topics
At family restaurant, stereo type, internet shopping, information from internet, questionnaire etc.
Representative Task｜Let’s chat
Even if students want to talk to Japanese people in Japanese, it won’t be possible without the opportunity to do so. In this class, students focus on starting and continuing conversations, learning effective ways to keep the conversation going.
A particular focus at this level is on reading texts. As they present the information they have acquired through reading to the class, they change the way they learn by dividing it into “understanding” and “using” the text for others.
When students reach this level, they will no longer have trouble with Japanese in their daily lives. Through speaking and writing, students can share more diverse content with those around them rather than listening and reading.
Topics
Travel essays, food culture, convenience stores, business, politics, etc.
Representative Task｜Write an opinion essay
Start by reading the model text. To get to know what to write in where, and write an opinion sentences that shows the causal relationship according to the order shown by the model text.
We believe students should reach the B1 level during their study in Japan. That’s because this level is the minimum required to effectively use the Japanese you’ve started learning in your career. Therefore, if you feel that you’re not yet prepared for the next level, it’s important to take a step back and deepen your understanding of the material up to this point.
トピック
Differences between humans and animals, diverse work styles, discrimination, Japan’s future, issues related to children, etc.
Representative task｜Mumbling
This is a great way to develop both listening and speaking skills while feeling the sense of speed in Japanese. This is a great way to develop both listening and speaking skills while feeling the sense of speed in Japanese.
Toyo Language School considers this level to be basic Japanese. This is a level that can be reached in as little as one year, starting from zero in Japanese. This level prepares you for Japanese language exams such as JLPT N2, N1, and the EJU, allowing you to prove your Japanese proficiency as a qualification.
From here, you will challenge yourself to achieve your career goals through career path-specific classes tailored to each individual’s Japanese language learning objectives.
＊The level that can be reached depends on the time of entry.
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