Japanese

JAPANESE PROGRAMME

Centre for Language Studies’ Japanese Programme is one of the largest and most prestigious language programmes in the world. From travelling, studying or working in Japan, career development in Japanese companies overseas, or simply enjoying Japan's unique culture and society, we open the doors to any person who has a keen interest in learning the Japanese language.

Have you ever thought of the following activities: watching Japanese TV programmes without subtitles, appreciating Japanese traditional cultures in authentic ways, travelling in Japan without language difficulties, and working for Japanese / global companies?

Centre for Language Studies’ Japanese Programme will open the doors to any person who has a keen interest in learning the Japanese language.

Lessons conducted are based on an action-oriented approach with comprehensive grammar and vocabulary guides. In this, linguistic and socio-cultural knowledge necessary for communicating in Japanese and communication skills are enhanced through various communicative activities. We provide plenty of opportunities to apply lesson materials in simulated real-world situations.

Persons who complete Levels 1-4 will reach the level of N5 of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) for their knowledge in both grammar and vocabulary.

For Whom Pre-requisites Assessments Durations Instructor

For Whom

JAPANESE LANGUAGE LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Japanese Language courses are designed and structured for the busy working professional who aspires to attain language mastery in the Japanese Language.
Competencies achieved through attending the progressive courses are useful to building confidence so as to enable the individual to speak, understand and read basic syntax in the newly-acquired language focus.
Courses are designed in a structured and coherent manner, positioned from an adult perspective so that they closely address and match the adults’ learner’s quest for continuing education.

Successful completion of the language competencies are contingent upon participants’ consistency in attendance, and the dedication of time to practice after each class session.

Pre-requisites

NO MINIMUM STANDARD REQUIRED FOR EMBARKING ON THE COURSE

The Japanese Language courses are designed in progression from Level 1 to Level 3. This corresponds to a beginner in the language focus to roughly the equivalent of Beginner Level.

No specific pre-requisites are needed to enroll in Level 1. However, people who have intention to join mid-stage in the series of Levels are advised to take a placement test.

Please contact us at clslang@nus.edu.sg for the placement test.

Assessments

INCORPORATING ASSESSMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Each course of content comprises some 30 hours, incorporating assessments and assignments. For each of the levels from 1 to 3, there will be an assessment (pass or fail) set for students to gauge their ability and readiness to continue onto the next higher level in Japanese Language.

Certificates of Participation will be granted to participants who have attended at least 70% of the classes.

Certificates of Achievement will be granted to participants who have attended at least 70% of the classes and successfully passed the final assessment.

Proficiency Certificates will be granted to individuals who have successfully completed three consecutive levels, encompassing Levels 1 to 3, Levels 4 to 6, and Levels 7 to Level 9.

Durations

Instructor

Apply Now

Full Course Descriptions (Course Topics)

LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 LEVEL 5 LEVEL 6 LEVEL 7 LEVEL 8

LEVEL 1

JAPANESE LEVEL 1

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: 11 January 2025	Course End Date: 15 March 2025
Material Cost: Fresh Student - TBA (Purchase/collection/delivery to be advised)	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: 9am to 12pm, every Saturday for 10 weeks
Registration Start: 26 October 2024	Registration Deadline: 25 November 2024	Course Schedule

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2016503385*** Learn more

This course is approved by National Silver Academy (NSA). Singapore Citizens aged 50 and above will be eligible for a subsidy of up to 50% off the course fee. For more information on NSA, please visit www.nsa.org.sg

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

This course has no pre-requisites and is meant for participants with no prior knowledge of the target language. Participants with prior knowledge (including spoken proficiency) are advised to contact CLS to take a placement test.

This is the first part of introductory-level Japanese. It is designed to provide competence in handling various tasks in daily life and professional life using basic linguistic and socio-cultural skills. With more emphasis placed on the development of oral communication skills, the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilise the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write Hiragana and Katakana (Japanese scripts).

Course Content:

Greeting, self-introduction
Describing family members
Conversation on food and drink
Placing an order
Describing where you live
Conversation for visiting a friend's house
Expressing day and time
Describing daily life
Writing and reading Hiragana & Katakana (Japanese scripts), reading some simple Kanji (Chinese characters)

At the end of the course, participants will be able to use Japanese in above situations.

Required Textbooks:
1. Marugoto Starter A1 Rikai (main textbook)
2. Marugoto Starter A1 Katsudo (optional)

LEVEL 2

JAPANESE LEVEL 2

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: 11 January 2025	Course End Date: 15 March 2025
Material Cost: Fresh Student - TBA , Continuing Student - NIL (Purchase/collection/delivery to be advised)	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: 9am to 12pm, every Saturday for 10 weeks
Registration Start: 26 October 2024	Registration Deadline: 25 November 2024	Course Schedule

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2016503386*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 1 or passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 1 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write using Kanji.

Course Content:

Describe hobbies
Describe what you do on holidays
Describe the route when going somewhere
Describe your neighbourhood
Express what you want, what you want to buy
Conversation for shopping
Describe your holiday experience

At the end of the course, participants will be able to use Japanese in above situations.

Required Textbooks:
1. Marugoto Starter A1 Rikai (main textbook)
2. Marugoto Starter A1 Katsudo (optional)

LEVEL 3

JAPANESE LEVEL 3

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: 11 January 2025	Course End Date: 15 March 2025
Material Cost: Fresh Student - TBA, Continuing Student - TBA (Purchase/collection/delivery to be advised)	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: 9am to 12pm, every Saturday for 10 weeks
Registration Start: 26 October 2024	Registration Deadline: 25 November 2024	Course Schedule

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2016503387*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 2 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 2 and aims to develop basic linguistic and socio-cultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilise the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji. Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:
Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:
1. Count items
2. Talk about frequency
3. Talk about past events
4. Compare things and places
5. Express your desire to do something
6. Understand instructions
7. Offer help
8. Talk about what a person doing now
9. Ask for permission

At the end of the course, participants will be able to talk about past events, choose better items by comparing things, and offer to help other people.

Required Textbooks:

1. Marugoto Elementary 1 A2 Rikai (main textbook)
2. Marugoto Elementary 1 A2 Katsudo (optional)

LEVEL 4

JAPANESE LEVEL 4

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: 11 January 2025	Course End Date: 15 March 2025
Material Cost: Fresh Student - TBA , Continuing Student - TBA (Purchase/collection/delivery to be advised)	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: 9am to 12pm, every Saturday for 10 weeks
Registration Start: 26 October 2024	Registration Deadline: 25 November 2024	Course Schedule

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2017505382*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 3 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 3 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji. Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:
Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:
1. Elaborate on an event using multiple sentences
2. Understand instructions on what you should not do
3. Talk about things that you have to do
4. Talk about hobbies
5. Talk about what you can do
6. Talk about experiences
7. Talk casually

At the end of the course, participants will be able to understand instructions, talk about hobbies and experiences and know how to talk casually.

LEVEL 5

JAPANESE LEVEL 5

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: TBC	Course End Date: TBC
Material Cost: Fresh Student - TBA , Continuing Student - TBA (Purchase/collection/delivery to be advised)	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: TBC
Registration Start: TBC	Registration Deadline: TBC

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2019507983*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 4 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 4 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji. Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:
Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:
1. To state your opinion
2. To convey messages
3. To understand instructions on how to use devices
4. To elaborate on an event using detailed sentences e.g. "This is the house where I used to live." "I often swam in the river when I was a kid." "Shall we go for a walk if the haze is gone?"

At the end of the course, participants will be able to understand instructions on using devices, communicating with others about daily activities in more details.

LEVEL 6

JAPANESE LEVEL 6

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: TBC	Course End Date: TBC
Material Cost: TBA	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: TBC
Registration Start: TBC	Registration Deadline: TBC

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2019507984*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 5 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 5 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language.
Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji. Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:
Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:
1. To ask requests
2. To talk about what you can do
3. To talk about your habits and activities
4. To state reasons
5. To talk about preparation

At the end of the course, participants will become more comfortable with the basic daily situations.

LEVEL 7

JAPANESE LEVEL 7

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: TBC	Course End Date: TBC
Material Cost: TBA	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: TBC
Registration Start: TBC	Registration Deadline: TBC

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2022012519*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 6 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 6 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language. Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji.

Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:

Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:

To talk about sightseeing spots
To talk about eco-friendly activities
To describe someone's life
To accept/decline invitation

At the end of the course, participants will become more comfortable with the basic daily situations.

LEVEL 8

JAPANESE LEVEL 8

Course Fee: Full fee: $654 \| Fee after NSA subsidy: $354	Course Start Date: TBC	Course End Date: TBC
Material Cost: TBA	Venue: Online Class (As this is an online course, the use of webcam will be compulsory for everyone.)	Schedule: TBC
Registration Start: TBC	Registration Deadline: TBC

All self-sponsored Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use available funds in their SkillsFuture Credit account to pay their course fees.
SFC Course Code: ***TGS-2022012520*** Learn more

For NUS Alumni/Staff/ Student, there will be a 10% discount off the course fee before GST.

Pre-requisites: This course is meant for candidates who have obtained a certificate of achievement for Japanese Level 7 or have passed the placement test.

This course builds upon Japanese Level 7 and aims to develop basic linguistic and sociocultural skills. More emphasis is placed on the development of oral communication skills, and the goal of this course is not only to gain basic knowledge but also the skills to utilize the Japanese Language.

Participants will also learn how to read and write more Kanji. Participants are also trained to learn basic self-study skills in Japanese to enable them to continue studying Japanese both in and outside of the classroom.

Course Content:

Participants will be engaged in tasks to achieve the following communicative functions:

To talk about sightseeing spots
To talk about eco-friendly activities
To describe someone's life
To accept/decline invitation

At the end of the course, participants will become more comfortable with the basic daily situations.