JAPANESE CLASS

IFReC will hold Japanese language courses (the 1st semester) for scholars, students and their spouses  from overseas at IFReC, RIMD, PRIMe, CAMaD, RIKEN BDR Osaka and CiNet.   Classes will be conducted online (ZOOM Meetings).

Class for Beginners

From Oct. 1 , 2024 to Mar. 18, 2025 (20 lessons)

• Level : An elementary level class for beginners to learn basic Japanese.
• Day/Time : Tuesday evenings, 18:30-20:00 (90 min)　
• Instructor: Ms. Kaori Tajima
• Tuition : Free

This class starts with daily greetings and self-introductions. No Hiragana / Katakana knowledge is necessary.

Class for Pre-Intermediate Level Students

From Oct. 2, 2024 to Mar. 19, 2025 (20 lessons)

• Level : An elementary to pre-intermediate level class.
• Day/Time : Wednesday evenings, 18:30-20:00 (90 min)
• Instructor: Ms. Kaori Tajima
• Tuition : Free

This class is for those who can speak Japanese in simple sentences using basic conjugations, such as te-form and ta-form. Knowledge of Hiragana / Katakana is also necessary.

How to join the program

Please send an email to Hitomi YOSHIDA (hi-yoshidaifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp), Research Planning & Management Office, IFReC with your information (Name, position, laboratory name including the department and the class you would like to take).

Registration is now open.

(We will stop accepting applications once the limit is reached.)

About IFReC Japanese Classes

Focus on Daily Conversion

Learn practical conversations for use in various situations in daily life, such as when shopping or at a restaurant, and learn useful phrases, such as train announcements. In addition, learning Japanese for use in your lab and meetings will broaden your communication skills.

Enjoy Talking with Other Students

Use the Breakout Room to talk in pairs or groups, and you can not only learn Japanese, but also make new friends outside your laboratory or department by sharing fun and useful information such as recommended spots and foods in your home country. It's easy to stay motivated when you have fellow students to talk with, and they can encourage you to continue learning.

Learn Difficult Honorific Expressions or “Keigo”

"Keigo" can be difficult to learn on your own, but through role-playing in realistic situations you will be able to learn it at your own pace according to your language skill level.

No Attendance Requirements

There is a review period at the beginning of every lesson, so if you miss a lesson because you are busy with your research activities, you can still go over what was covered in the previous lesson.

*Recently, participants who are absent from the class without informing us of their absences are increasing. Please inform us of your absence in advance if you will not be able to attend the class. We would like to ask all participants for understanding this point.

SCHEDULE

Student Voices

• Class level: Perfect! Maybe it should be adjusted depending on students on each term. But I believe Matsumura-sensei has done it, in the beginning of the year. And this one is perfect for me. Not too difficult nor too easy. Because if it's too easy, it will not be interesting.
  Schedule (day/time): Perfect! Just after my lab hours in IFReC and I still got enough time for dinner.
  Contents of the lesson: Perfect! Especially the keigo part. It will be very much useful in my daily life setting.
  Others: I feel that the class size of 3-4 people is the optimum size for this kind of practical Japanese class. It gives us the chance to get asked by Matsumura-sensei without waiting too long. I can imagine if we have 9-10 persons, it might be difficult for the rotation.
  No homework and tests are also perfect thing. Because we do not expect more pressure after our tiring day of lab works. Overall, the class has been perfectly planned, scheduled, and executed.

• I like the class sizes, the material covered, and the date and times. I have found the classes helpful and am looking forward joining the class again when it starts again.

• I enjoyed the class and having discussions with friends and sensei. Sensei was very kind and helpful so it gave me motivation even when I was discouraged to speak because I didn't know the vocabulary.　For the schedule and contents of the lesson, I think it was already good.

• I like the class sizes, the material covered, and the date and times. I have found the classes helpful and am looking forward joining the class again when it starts again.

• Class Level : I took Class B, and for me the class level is suitable to my current Japanese level.
  Schedule(day/time) : The schedule was ok. The evening time makes it easier for us to join, as most of us have other things to do in the morning & afternoon, so I think putting the class schedule in the evening is good. The class size was 3 students in class B, and it was good for an online course, because we can focus and we have plenty of time for discussion and questions.
  Contents of the lesson : The lessons and the materials are useful to enrich my Japanese knowledge. The materials are composed systematically, and Tomo sensei is very good at delivering the materials. Her explanation makes it easy to understand. She is also very helpful, patient, and open when we have questions.

• I'm very happy joining this ifrec Japanese course. Very friendly teacher. We're enjoy to learn Japanese.

• I was indeed very grateful to IFReC, and Osaka University in general, for organizing a very systematic and helpful course for its foreign researchers and workers.
  When living in a different Country, one of the main obstacle that one encounters is, I believe, a communication problem. Being ignorant of the local language makes it difficult to communicate with local people, to understand each other, and eventually it may lead to misunderstanding.
  I was very happy to discover then that Osaka University understands this issue and offer all the foreigner workers its full help and support. The course I attended was organized in a very systematic way, but at the same time it was fun and light.
  The teacher is extremely kind, tries to involve every student in the process of learning, and is never tired to repeat things if not understood completely.
  I personally would like to join again Class B, if possible, in order to fix even better all the points, grammar rules and various subjects already touched.
  I warmly suggest other researchers and workers in a similar situation to join this practical Japanese course offered by the University: it will surely be helpful and also fun.

• I'm very happy joining this ifrec Japanese course. Very friendly teacher. We're enjoy to learn Japanese.
  - This course is very suitable for me because I could practice more in speaking Japanese.
  - The content of lessons are very useful in daily living.
  - The total number of classmates are also very appropriate, which is very effective for studying. We could practice the conversation in pairs effectively.
  - Tomo sensei is also very helpful and fun. I could easily understand about the lesson. The powerpoints are also very interesting!
  - Since there's no examination, it makes it more enjoyable!
  - I hope I could join the next class so I can practice more in speaking Japanese.