Short course
Japanese: Beginners – Part 2
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
21/01/2027 - 25/03/202719:00 - 21:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Join this interactive 10-week course to further develop your basic Japanese language skills and enjoy exploring the culture.
To support the development of communicative skills, the course offers a balanced progression in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each session features practical, meaningful activities – from practice exercises, interactive tasks, and guided listening to problem‑solving scenarios. Learners engage with authentic language, collaborate with classmates, and build confidence through varied, hands‑on activities that mirror real‑world communication.
The course is pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and completion of the course will help you meet the level requirements.
Is this the right level course for you?
New students, who have not completed 'Japanese: Beginners – Part 1', whose proficiency in the language is appropriate for the course level are very welcome.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts 21 January 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 7:00-9:00pm.
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) 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: Where are you going? Talking about plans
Week 2: Where did you go? Discussing holidays
Week 3: Dates and days of the week
Week 4: Everyday activities and routines
Week 5: Making a reservation at a restaurant
Week 6: Stating how frequently one does something
Week 7: Describing things, people and the weather
Week 8: Entertaining a guest and receiving hospitality
Week 9: Expressing own thoughts about experiences
Week 10: Class choice: revision, film, anime, song, language game, etc.
Key grammar points
* Verb conjugation
* Time expressions
* Adjectives
* Number counting system
Key functions
* Discussing plans
* Talking about daily routine
* Describing people and things
* Expressing basic opinions about things
Course aims
To develop learners’ language skills and knowledge to enable them to communicate at a basic level with speakers of the target language in a limited range of practical, everyday situations.
Course objectives
- Develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for basic everyday communication in the target language.
- Consolidate listening comprehension skills to understand the gist of very short, basic written texts and audio excerpts.
- Familiarise learners with high-frequency vocabulary and grammar structures for basic routine communication.
- Develop an appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the country (or countries) in which the target language is spoken.
Learning outcomes
By the end of your course, learners will be better prepared to:
- interact in a simple way using a basic range of language in routine everyday contexts;
- understand and respond to basic spoken or recorded language relating to very familiar everyday situations;
- demonstrate comprehension of short, simple texts containing high-frequency vocabulary and basic grammar structures;
- write short texts to provide basic personal information or simple descriptions.
Level and demands
Pitched at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Teaching methods
You will learn through practical activities that encourage the use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. The activities bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.
The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, etiquette, and everyday usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, interactive tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.
Assessment methods
You will be set short, optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.
Mai Oyama
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. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
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 this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £315.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Textbooks
To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:
- Japanese for Busy People 1 Revised 4th Edition (Romanised version) / AJALT
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Course reading
- Japanese for Busy People 1 Revised 4th Edition / AJALT
- Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Japanese Grammar, Premium Second Edition (NTC FOREIGN LANGUAGE) / Eriko Sato
- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/ / Online dictionary
Module code: O26P581XJW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.