Japanese Lower Intermediate - Level 3

Delivered across three 10-week modules, this Japanese lower intermediate course will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Japanese language and culture, and allow you to communicate with native speakers in a more natural way.

You’ll learn to use less formal language to chat about your hobbies, describe your exercise routine or recall landmarks you’ve visited.

Throughout the course, you’ll be introduced to a further 150 new kanji characters, along with key grammar structures such as volitional and conditional forms, passive verbs and the use of quantifiers to add details and nuance. You’ll also explore respectful and humble expressions, enabling you to communicate appropriately in a range of social contexts.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to communicate confidently at JLPT N4 level, as defined by Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Who is it for?

Completed our Level 2 Japanese course? Feeling confident communicating at JLPT N5 level? If you have studied Japanese for around 120 hours this course is a natural next step to build on your skills. For full details, please see the eligibility section.

Timetable

The course includes 60 hours of learning, delivered across three modules. Each module consists of 10 weekly evening sessions, taught online.

Benefits

• Ideal preparation for taking a JLPT N4 exam
• Taught by an experienced Japanese tutor
• Interactive and enjoyable sessions, with plenty of opportunities to practice with peers.

By the end of the course you will be able to

• Understand 150 more kanji
• talk about your hobbies
• ask someone to do something for you
• describe what you lost at the station
• talk about what you want to do
• book theatre tickets
• explain about the company transfer
• describe your symptoms to a doctor
• know how to deal with a parking ticket
• enquire about a ski tour
• talk about your daily routine, including exercise and the foods you eat
• apologise for being late
• express gratitude, worries and concerns
• ask someone to look after something for you
• use expressions for giving and receiving
• enquire about someone’s personal circumstances
• talk about landmarks
• talk about someone’s physical features and personality
• talk about what others have done
• ask someone to convey a message on your behalf
• talk about imminent actions
• go to a hairdresser and ask for a particular style from a photo.

Grammatical structures including

• Plain form んです。
  A: どうしたんですか。B: お腹がすごく痛いんです。
  A: What's wrong? B: I have terrible stomach-ache.
• Vて-form いただけませんか。
  先生、この本を貸していただけませんか。
  Sir, could you lend me this book?
• Interrogative Vた-formら　いいですか。
  パスポートを失くしました。どうしたらいいでしょうか。
  I lost my passport. What should I do now?
• Potential verbs
  漢字が300字書けます。
  I can write 300 kanji.
• How to use the volitional form
  パブに行って、ビールを飲もう。
  Let’s go to the pub and drink a beer.
• Use of the imperative and prohibitive forms
  あのサインは、「まっすぐ行け。」という意味です。
  That sign means "go straight."
• How to make the conditional form
  信じていれば夢はかないます。
  If you keep believing, your dreams will come true
• V dictionary form のは　adjective　です
  漢字を書くのは、楽しいです。
  Writing kanji is fun.
• V dictionary form のを　忘れました
  図書館に本を返すのを忘れてしまいました。
  I forgot to return the book to the library.
• Passive verbs
  アメリカ大陸はコロンブスによって発見されました。
  The Americas were discovered by Columbus.
• Quantifier は
  日本では結婚式をするのに200万円は要ります。
  In Japan you need at least 2 million yen to hold a wedding.
• Quantifierも
  ヒースロー空港に行くのに2時間もかかりました。
  It took as long as two hours to get into Heathrow Airport
• Causative verbs
  先生は、生徒に自由に意見を言わせました。
  The teacher let students freely voice their opinions.
• V causative て-form いただけませんか
  友だちの結婚式があるので、早退させていただけませんか。
  As I am going to attend my friend’s wedding, would you please let me leave earlier?
• 尊敬語 (respectful expressions)
  社長は、お寿司を召し上がります。
  The president eats sushi.
• 謙譲語 (humble expressions)
  明日、社長にお目にかかります。
  I will see the president tomorrow.

You will receive a Certificate of Completion from City St George’s, University of London, along with a digital badge for your LinkedIn profile.

To qualify, you must attend at least 70% of classes.

Teaching

Classes are highly interactive and include:

• Small group work and role-play
• Listening to audio materials (e.g. radio clips)
• Reading articles and texts
• Watching video content
• Digital learning tools to support your progress

You’ll also explore Japanese culture, current affairs and traditions alongside language learning.

Every lesson is designed to make learning practical, enjoyable, and social, so you can use Japanese confidently in everyday situations.

You’ll need a solid foundation in basic Japanese to join this course. It’s the right level if you have:

• completed our Level 2 Elementary Japanese course, or equivalent elsewhere
• Around 120 hours of formal study
• reached JLPT N5 level.

You should already be able to:

• Express your opinion
• talk about getting on and off means of transportation
• understand direct speech and reported speech, how they differ
• when to use conditional expression
• understand statements involving receiving or giving actions.

Still unsure where to start? Reach out to the team and we can help you to find the right level.

Looking for something different? Then check out the other courses we offer.

Additional requirements

To enrol onto the Lower Intermediate Japanese course, you must:

• be age 18 or over
• have basic IT skills and a reliable internet connection to access lessons and course materials.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.