Japanese class levels and progress

Beginner level 1: Average time to complete: 8/10 wks Proficiency: 700 words 100 kanji
Beginner 1.1 JLPT: N5 / A1
Understands verb groups and can smoothly conjugate verbs into -te, -nai, dictionary, and -ta forms, and use the correct forms and the phrases that should follow them depending on the situation, such as asking for permission, describing what needs to be done or is prohibited, and talking about experiences (or lack thereof). Understand the meaning of kanji that they often see in their daily lives and read and write to some extent.

Beginner 1.2 JLPT: N5 / A1
Learns to use different levels of politeness in Japanese depending on whom they are talking to. Can agree with others’ opinions and express their own opinions. Can describe people, places, and things in greater detail. Can explain how to use machines, how to get to a destination, etc. Can describe their hopes for the future while considering situations that may or may not actually happen.

Beginner level 2: Average time to complete: 19 wks Proficiency: 1,300 words 300 kanji
Beginner 2.1 JLPT: N4 / A2
Can explain reasons and circumstances and ask for advice and direction. Can describe in detail their own abilities and strengths and weaknesses. Can express the concept of two actions taking place simultaneously. Can shift focus to describe states or conditions of people or things they have seen. When describing the state of something they saw, they can explain how it became that way and why.

Beginner 2.2 JLPT: N4 / A2
Can speak about their dreams and future plans. Can give accurate advice based on their understanding of another person’s situation. Can understand and explain the meaning of signs and symbols seen around the city. Can describe the conditions that are necessary for something specific to happen. Can describe the decisions they would make under certain conditions and ask for advice and directions.

Beginner 2.3 JLPT: N4 / A2
Can explain situations and facts from multiple perspectives. Can emphasize points they want to get across. Can apologize and express gratitude along with the reasons for them. Can express opinions, judgments, and actions taken based on concerns they have. Learns to make more polite requests to new acquaintances, superiors, and others.

Beginner 2.4 JLPT: N4 / A2
Can describe what is needed to achieve future dreams or goals. Can make inferences about the nature or state of people or things, even without personally experiencing the same circumstances. Can describe choices and decisions made of their own volition. Can express their dissatisfaction or surprise at disappointing results. Can express their distrust in situations where their judgment differs from another’s. Can explain that others have been forced, caused, or given permission to do what they are doing. Understands Japan’s social rankings and degrees of intimacy and correctly uses the politest level of Japanese.

Pre-Intermediate JLPT N3 / B1
Average time to complete: 20 wks Proficiency: 3,000 words 650 kanji

• Understands and write the meanings and idioms of N3 level kanji characters.
• Understands most commonly used everyday language and texts written about areas of interest or relevance to them.
• Understands the main points of familiar topics that they usually encounter at work, school, in their private lives, if used in a standard way of speaking.
• Be able to deal with situations that are likely to occur in daily life.
• Be able to connect words and phrases to describe fields that are of interest to them or related to them.
• Write formal letters, simple articles, and letters to express their opinions.
• They can discuss easy-to-understand news and social issues.

Intermediate JLPT N2 / B2
Average time to complete: 20 wks Proficiency: 6,000 words 1000 kanji

• Understands and writes the meanings and idioms of N2 level kanji characters.
• They can read about people`s experiences, and read interviews, novels, etc., and understand the main content of complex texts on specific topics.
• In addition to everyday situations, they can listen to a cohesive and long conversation at a speed close to natural speed, understand the flow and content of a story, the relationship between the speakers, and grasp the gist of it.
• They are fluent and natural enough to communicate with native speakers without being nervous about it.
• They can create clear and detailed texts on a fairly wide range of topics and explain their own perspectives on various subjects.
• They can write interview articles, novel reviews, and essays.
• They can discuss and present news and social issues.

Upper-intermediate JLPT N1 / C1
Average time to complete: 20 wks
Proficiency: 10,000 words 2000 kanji

• Understands and writes the meanings and idioms of N1 level kanji characters.
• Understands various kinds of fairly long texts with advanced content and grasps their implications.
• They can listen to highly specialized and abstract stories and long conversations at a natural speed, and understand the flow, content, and logical structure of the stories in detail.
• They can express themselves fluently and naturally without giving the impression that they are looking for words.
• They can use flexible and effective language.
• They can create clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex topics. They have mastered the usage of the words, connection expressions, and linking expressions that make up a text.
• They can write treatises on social issues in specialized fields where they can express themselves in a clear structure on complex subjects.
• Discuss and present on current affairs, social issues, and professional or abstract themes.

Total time from Beginner to Advanced level: Approx 60 weeks
In reality CESA Languages students chose to attend a course, according to their linguistic goals, personal wishes, and time constraints.