Toyota Language Center

Japanese Course Level Guide

(Note: Conversational Japanese levels ARE DIFFERENT! To see how levels
correspond to the Conversational Japanese courses, please go to the end
of this document)

Level 1
For complete beginners of the Japanese language. Basic vocabulary,
elementary conversation and simple sentence structure will be taught in
Romaji (Japanese written phonetically in the Roman alphabet). Hiragana (a
Japanese syllabary) will be introduced. Course materials include JAPANESE
FOR BUSY PEOPLE, Vol. I. The following is the sentence structure that one is
expected to master in each chapter.
L. 1

Noun 1 wa Noun 2 desu.

L. 2

Noun 1 wa Noun 2 dewa/ja arimasen.

L. 3

Ima nan-ji desu ka.

L. 4

Kore wa nan desuka. Sore wa pasokon desu.

L. 5

Kono kasa wa 1000 en desu. Ano ringo o mittsu kudasai.

L. 6

Jon san wa kyo Meri san to Japan Society ni kimasu.

Jane san wa kino Liz san to resutoran ni ikimashita.

L. 7
Harry san wa 5-gatsu 12-nichi ni Amerika kara Nihon ni
kimashita.
Maikeru san wa shinkansen de Kyoto ni ikimasu.
L. 10

Watashi wa mainichi tenisu o shimasu.

Tomu san wa kino depato de kutsu o kaimashita.

Level 2
Students must recognize Hiragana.
L. 8

Teburu no shita ni neko ga imasu.

Kaban no naka ni nanimo arimasen.

L. 9

Depato no mae ni onna no hito ga hitori imasu.

Kissaten wa ano hoteru no naka ni arimasu ka.

L. 11

Watashi wa mainichi haha ni denwa o shimasu.

Robato san wa ashita Juri san ni aimasu.

L. 12

Are wa takai tokei desu.

Madonna san no doresu wa furui desu.

L. 13

Haha wa chichi ni hon o agemashita.

Chichi wa haha ni hon o moraimashita.

L. 14

Tokyo wa atsukatta desu.

Kino no pati wa shizuka deshita.

L. 15

Issho ni bangohan o tabemasenka/tabemashoka/tabemasho.

Ashita kaisha de pati ga arimasu kara isshoni ikimasen ka.

L. 16

Mado o akemashoka.
Watashi wa kabuki no kippu ga 3 mai arimasu.

Level 3
Must read Hiragana and Katakana comfortably. This course will focus on the
introduction and use of the te and nai forms of the verb, as well as
continue with the building of conversation skills and vocabulary.
L. 17

Aya san wa kino supa ni itte, jusu o kaimashita.

Ken san wa kino kaisha no ato de chikatetsu de uchi ni

kaerimashita.
L. 18

Chotto matte kudasai.

Ano kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.

L. 19

Midori san wa Tokyo eki de shinkansen ni notte, Kyoto de

(shinkansen o) orimasu.
Tokyo kara Narita made basu de 1-jikan han kakarimasu.

L. 20

Kore o morattemo iidesu ka.

L. 21

Koko de tabako o suwanaide kudasai.

L. 22

Maya san wa ima terebi o mite imasu.

Mo asagohan o tabemashita ka.

L. 23

Watashi wa Tokyo ni sunde imashita.

Yumi san wa Ichiro san o shitte imasu ka.

L. 24

Chichi wa gorufu ga jozu desu.

Watashi wa kohi ga suki dewa arimasen.

L. 25

Onsen ni ikitai desu ka.

Watashi wa kino atama ga itakatta desu.

Level 4

L. 1

L. 2
L. 4

L. 5
L. 7

Short form present

Place V

Noun Modify

Dic

Level 5
L. 8

Noun ModifyPastShort form past

L. 9

Please

May

Please dont
Shouldnt

L. 11

Dont have to

Have to/ Must

Adj
A B Adj
A Adj
A B Adj
A B C Adj
A Adj

L. 12

Verb
Dic Dic Adj
Dic Adj
Dic Dic Adj
A B C Adj
A Adj
A B


L. 13

Form

If/ Noun Adj

Level 6
L. 2

L. 3

L. 4

A (present)A (past)
B

L. 6

L. 7

AdjAdv

Transitive

Dic

A B

Intransitive

Level 7
L. 8

Reason

L. 9

XX Obj
XX Obj

L. 11

3rdPerson

L. 12

But

Stem

Command

Volitional

L. 13

Respectful/Humble

Level 8
L. 2

Order

L. 3

Passive

Subj XX Obj Passive

L. 4

Potential

Ability
Possibility

L. 6

L. 7

Maybe

Interrogative

3rdPerson

Level 9
L. 8

Causative

XX
XX
Please let me do

L. 9

Humble

Transitive/Intransitive

Question in sentences

One doesnt mean that

One cant do such

L. 11

L. 12

N Modify

L. 13

In order to~
Try to

Please try to

Level 10 (former Intermediate Level)

Designed for those who have mastered basic grammar and sentence patterns.
Development of speaking and listening skills will be the focal point of classes at
the Intermediate Level.

Level 11 (former Level 10)

Reading materials include short articles and stories of current interest.
Listening comprehension is improved by the use of television programs,
including Japanese drama. Use of idioms is emphasized in both speaking and
writing. Recognition of 500 kanji is expected.

Level 12 (former Level 11)

Television programs, short stories and current events from Japanese
newspapers and magazines will be discussed. Students will be asked to express
their opinions on a wide range of subjects. Recognition of 800 kanji is expected.

Level 13 (former Level 12)

Current events from television programs, Japanese newspapers and magazines,

as well as drama, movies, etc. will be used to build up useful expressions and
idioms. Discussion will be encouraged to promote oral communication. Writing is
also emphasized. Students should be able to recognize at least 1200 kanji.

Conversational Japanese Levels

Level I Conversation= for beginning students, no Japanese experience necessary
Level II Conversation= for students who have finished Level 1 or 2 content (from
levels above)
Level III Conversation= for students who have finished Level 3 or 4 content (from
levels above)
Level IV Conversation= for students who have finished Level 5, 6, or 7 content (from
levels above)
Level V Conversation= for students who have finished Level 8, 9, or Int. content
(from levels above)

Still have questions? Unsure about your level?

Please call Director and Japanese instructor Tomoyo Kamimura at 212-715-1256 to
discuss further, or email to language_inquiries@japansociety.org.
We hope to see you soon!
Ganbarimashou! Lets study hard!