Japanese Language Program
Exchange students must enroll in our special Japanese language program. This comprehensive Japanese language program is divided into six levels, from Upper-elementary (Level 1) to Advanced (Level 6). All exchange students are required to take a Japanese language test online a month prior to their arrival in Japan in accordance with the instructions provided by Dokkyo. On arrival, they are required to take another Japanese placement test. At that point, they are assigned to courses suited to their respective language levels.
Students assigned to Level 1 to 4 are required to take six mandatory Japanese courses.
Students assigned to Level 5 or 6 are not required to take the mandatory Japanese courses. They can take any of the elective Japanese courses to focus on developing skills that they wish to improve.
In addition to the Japanese language courses, students of all levels are allowed to take regular undergraduate courses with the approval of the course instructors.
- Most of the regular undergraduate courses are conducted in Japanese. Approximately 30 courses are conducted in other languages.
- Exchange students must take at least six courses (10+ hours per week) to be eligible for a student visa.
- Some specific courses that require certain prerequisites are not offered to exchange students.
The Japanese language program is divided into six levels. On completion of a level, the student will have acquired similar language proficiency skills to those required to meet the equivalent external standards.
(Note: The Level 1 course is offered only in the fall semester.)
| Level | Learning outcomes | Equivalent external standard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLPT ＊ |
CEFR ＊＊ |
|||
| Upper-elementary | 1 | The student is able to engage in conversation on familiar topics in daily life and has the ability to read and write Japanese. | N4 | A2 |
| Pre-intermediate | 2 | The student is able to hold conversations on general topics and has the ability to read and write Japanese. | N4-N3 | A2-B1 |
| Intermediate | 3 | The student can understand Japanese used in daily life and, to a limited extent, that used in a wide range of other situations. | N3 | B1 |
| Upper-intermediate | 4 | The student has the fundamental and comprehensive Japanese language skills required to live in Japanese society. | N2 | B1-B2 |
| Pre-advanced | 5 | The student has the Japanese language skills required to study and engage in research autonomously at the university as well as those required to live in Japanese society. | N2-N1 | B2 |
| Advanced | 6 | The student has the Japanese language skills required to study and engage in research autonomously at the university as well as those required to engage in business. | N1 | C1 |
* Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
** Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
This section shows example schedules for students assigned to Levels 3 and 5. Please note that actual class schedules will vary according to the semester. Guidance on course registration will be provided as a part of the orientation program.
Japanese Level 3
⟺ Scroll| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period 09:00－10:40 |
JLP Comprehensive 1※ |
JLP Comprehensive 2※ |
|||
| 2nd period 10:55－12:35 |
JLP Vocabulary & Kanji |
Traditional Japanese Arts and Culture | JLP Fieldwork※ |
Global Studies | |
| 3rd period 13:35－15:15 |
JLP Listening & Speaking |
JLP Reading & Writing |
Sport & Recreation: Futsal | ||
| 4th period 15:30－17:10 |
|||||
| 5th period 17:20－19:00 |
JLP stands for Japanese Language Program. In Japanese Level 3, the six JLP courses are mandatory.
Courses indicated in italics are conducted in English.
※「Comprehensive」
The objective of this course is to develop comprehensive proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, based on the level of each class.
※「Fieldwork」
Students will set their own research theme related to Japan and research on their own.
The objective of this course is to deepen their understanding of the theme and acquire the Japanese language skills necessary to conduct the research.
Japanese Level 5
⟺ Scroll| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st period 09:00－10:40 |
JLP Special Seminar |
Economy and Regionalism in Southeast Asia | |||
| 2nd period 10:55－12:35 |
JLP Vocabulary & Kanji |
JLP Speaking |
Readings on Japanese Culture | ||
| 3rd period 13:35－15:15 |
Exploring Language Teaching | Tourism Management | Sport & Recreation: Basketball | ||
| 4th period 15:30－17:10 |
Japanese Economy | ||||
| 5th period 17:20－19:00 |
The JLP courses are elective, not mandatory. Students select courses from the following: Writing, Reading, Speaking, Listening, Vocabulary & Kanji, and Special Seminar.
Courses indicated in italics are conducted in English.
Please see the syllabus page.
To assess the Japanese competency that exchange students acquire during their time at Dokkyo University, we encourage them to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Please note that we fully subsidize the JLPT fee for students who will be returning to their home countries.
JLPT: https://www.jlpt.jp/
For more information, please see the Subsidy for Japanese-Language Proficiency Test page.