Intensive Japanese Language Course for Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Students

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日本語

This page contains information on an intensive Japanese language course available to recipients of the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship (last updated May 2018).

1. Course outline

This is an intensive six-month course offered by the Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences' Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture to MEXT Scholarship students planning to carry out graduate-level research at national or municipal universities in the Keiji (Kyoto-Shiga) area. Students will learn functional Japanese essential for everyday life, and fundamentals of the language necessary for conducting research. Admission is limited to 30 students, and takes place in April and October.

2. Course framework

The course comprises an average of nine classes per week, and runs for 16 weeks. It is offered at five levels, with a placement test given at the beginning of each semester.

Level Contents Subjects
Elementary I This level is intended for those with no previous Japanese language education or with only basic knowledge of hiragana and katakana , or those working towards attaining a level of proficiency equivalent to JLPT N5 or CEFR A1. Students will learn basic grammar structures, and acquire fundamental skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Japanese Language
    (Grammar and Sentence Structures, Conversation, Listening, and Reading & Writing): 7 classes
  • Kanji: 1 class
  • 2 classes from Current Issues in Japan I, II, or Culture and Traditions in Japan I
Elementary II This level is best suited for those who have completed Elementary I, Minna no Nihongo I , or Genki I , or are working towards attaining a level of proficiency equivalent to JLPT N4 or CEFR A2. Students will strengthen their basic grammar knowledge, along with listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. All applicants are required to take an online placement test to determine their level and class schedule.
  • Japanese Language
    (Grammar and Sentence Structures, Conversation, Listening, and Reading & Writing): 7 classes
  • Kanji: 1 class
  • 2 classes from Current Issues in Japan I, II, or Culture and Traditions in Japan I
Intermediate I This level is best suited for those who have completed Elementary II, Minna no Nihongo II , or Genki II , or are working towards attaining a level of proficiency equivalent to JLPT N3 or CEFR B1. Students will strengthen their understanding of grammar and sentence structures as well as listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. All applicants are required to take an online placement test to determine their level and class schedule.
  • Japanese Language
    (Grammar and Sentence Structures, Conversation, Composition, Listening, and Reading): 8 classes
  • Kanji: 1 class
Intermediate II

This level is best suited for those who have completed Intermediate I, or are working towards attaining a level of proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2 or CEFR B2. Students will strengthen their understanding of grammar and sentence structures as well as their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. All applicants are required to take an online placement test to determine their level and class schedule.
  • Japanese Language
    (Grammar and Sentence Structures, Conversation, Composition, Listening, and Reading): 8 classes
Advanced

This level is best suited for those who have completed Intermediate levels, or are working towards attaining a level of proficiency equivalent to JLPT N1 or CEFR C1 or C2. Classes include academic Japanese, designed to help students develop the abilities to apply their language skills to research, to follow lectures, to read and write academic papers, and to participate in academic discussions with ease. All applicants are required to take an online placement test to determine their level and class schedule.

  

3. Notes

  1. Japanese language lessons at the Education Center for Japanese Language and Culture are available at the request of academic supervisors, and are regarded as one of the prerequisites for admission to Kyoto University's graduate programs.
  2. Class attendance must be above 80%. Tardiness of more than 20 minutes will count as absent.
  3. Elementary I and II levels include mandatory achievement tests. These are used to gauge students' understanding of the material, and not for the purpose of grading.
  4. All students must take a final exam and deliver a speech in July (if the course is during the First Semester) or October (if it is during the Second Semester).

4. Completion and grading

Those who have completed a course will be issued a certificate and grade. Grades will be based on attendance, class participation, assignments, quizzes, final exam, speech, and other factors.

5. Contact

Student Affairs Section, Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kyoto University

Yoshida Nihonmatsu-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501
Phone: 075-753-9586
Fax: 075-753-9595
Email: A30kyomuj*mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (replace * with @)