Students

Center for Japanese Language Education

The University of Tokyo's Center for Japanese Language Education offers a variety of Japanese language courses for international students across the university.

Classroom location

Center for Japanese Language Education at the Hongo Campus (5th floor, Administration Bureau Building 2) and elsewhere.

Target

All international students at the University of Tokyo

• Some courses have restrictions on the types of students eligible or require applicants to take a placement exam, but all other courses can be taken by any international student at the University of Tokyo, provided that application is made within the specified period.
• In addition, some courses are also open to foreign researchers other than international students, as well as the spouses of international students/researchers.

Types of Courses

• General Course
  This course meets in one to three sessions per week, so as to accommodate international students' busy schedules. The course includes general classes taught at different levels ranging from elementary to advanced, and classes focused on specific skill areas, such as kanji and intermediate conversation.
• Intensive Japanese Course
  Offering elementary to advanced classes, this course is designed for students who are able to devote a large portion of their time to Japanese language learning. Since the purpose of the course is to significantly improve language skills in a short period, participants are expected to attend every lesson.
• Academic Japanese Course
  This course is aimed at equipping advanced learners with the skills necessary for writing papers in Japanese.
• Other Courses
  In addition to the courses listed above, the Center for Japanese Language Education offers short-term Japanese courses for specific purposes.

Course start and application period

Courses start in mid-April and mid-October (excluding short-term courses). Students interested in taking one of the courses need to apply during the designated application period before the courses start. Those who do not apply before the deadline will not be able to take the courses.
For information on the courses, application periods, and other details, visit the Center for Japanese Language Education's website at the address below.
http://www.nkc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_e.html

Other Japanese Courses

Some University of Tokyo graduate schools (or other departments) offer Japanese language courses apart from those run by the Center for Japanese Language Education. Most are intended for international students enrolled in that school or department, but some are also open to spouses and international students in other graduate schools/departments. See below for details.

Off-campus Japanese Language Courses

There are various off-campus opportunities to study Japanese, including: (1) privately operated Japanese language schools, (2) Japanese classes sponsored by certain municipalities, and (3) Japanese classes offered by volunteers (such classes are available in Bunkyo-ku). If interested, be sure to check out these opportunities.

Japanese Language Courses Provided
by Faculties / Graduate Schools

Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology/Faculty of Letters

Course title	Japanese Language Course, Office of International Students and Scholars
Course outline	Open to International students in the Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology or the Faculty of Letters. Level: Intermediate or higher. Classes are held once a week, focusing on different topics each week (reading, written expressions, oral expressions, grammar, kanji, and listening comprehension).
Office in charge	Japanese Language Staff, Office of International Students and Scholars (Phone: 03- 5841-3734)
E-mail

Graduate School of Education/Faculty of Education

Course title and outline	Doctoral Thesis Support Program Help in revising unnatural or incorrect Japanese expressions in international students' Doctoral theses or prepublication papers for academic journals (individual tutoring).
	Master's Thesis Support Program Help in revising unnatural or incorrect Japanese expressions in international students' Master's theses (individual tutoring).
	International Relations Office Tutoring Consultation on Japanese language study or other studies at the International Relations Office.
	Japanese Language Course for Thesis Writing Class on how to write academic theses in Japanese.
	Thesis Writing Support for International Students Individual guidance by Japanese students on Japanese expressions in international students' theses (no application required for international students).
Office in charge	Student Support Team (International Students; Phone: 03-5841-3908)
E-mail

Graduate Schools for Law and Politics

Course title	Japanese Language Study Group
Course outline	Reading and discussing articles on current events in Japan.
Office in charge	International Student Advisor (Phone: 03-5841-3124)
E-mail

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences

Course title	Language Courses R (reading, advanced), W3 (writing, advanced), W2 (writing, intermediate to advanced), L (listening and speaking, intermediate to advanced), I1 (lower intermediate) and I2 (upper intermediate)
Course outline	This noncredit course is open to international students/researchers in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, or Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences who wish to identify and overcome their Japanese language problems. The course is offered in both the summer and winter semesters.
Office in charge	Komaba International Office (Phone: 03-5454-6064)
E-mail
URL	http://komaba.io.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/index.html

Graduate School of Engineering/Faculty of Engineering/Graduate School of Information Science and Technology

Course title	Japanese Language Courses, School of Engineering
Course outline	The courses are open to international students/researchers in the School of Engineering, the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, and some departments of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, and to their spouses. The purpose of the courses is to enhance international exchange and facilitate students' daily and academic activities in Japan. Twenty courses in Japanese language/affairs are provided from beginning to advanced levels in the summer and winter semesters. Each course lasts 15 weeks. Details are posted on the School of Engineering's website.
Office in charge	Japanese Language Staff, Room 133, Faculty of Engineering Building. 8 (Phone: 03-5841-8826)
E-mail
URL	http://www.oice.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/student/study/japanese/index.html

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences/Faculty of Agriculture

Course title	Japanese Courses, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences / Faculty of Agriculture
Course outline	Open to international students/researchers of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences or the Faculty of Agriculture. Each group meets twice a week for approximately 90-minute lessons taught by a Japanese volunteer. Meetings can be missed if the participant's schedule does not permit attendance on a certain day. Lesson content is tailored to the group size and the participants' interests and proficiency. The basic focus is on developing Japanese conversational skills necessary for everyday life and studying, with some instruction on Japanese culture and traditions.
Office in charge	Office for International Cooperation and Exchange (Phone: 03-5841-8122)
E-mail

Graduate School of Frontier Sciences

Course title	Japanese Language Courses
Course outline	Open to international students/researchers in graduate programs or institutes at the Kashiwa campus, and their families. Levels: From beginning to advanced (10 courses available). Each course has one to three classes per week.
Office in charge	International Liaison Office (Phone: 04-7136-4561)
E-mail
URL	http://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ilo/html/jpn_language_e.html

Komaba II Campus

Course title	The Japanese Language Course at Komaba Research Campus
Course outline	Komaba Research Campus offers this course to improve the Japanese language proficiency of international students/researchers. Period: Summer-semester course, April to July; winter-semester course, October to February. Classes: Basic I, Basic II, Intermediate (approximately 15 students each) Content: The basic classes are aimed at building communication skills (mainly conversational), with attention to basic grammar. The intermediate class is aimed at further enhancing practical conversational skills through combination of basic-level sentence patterns.
Office in charge	International Relations Section, Institute of Industrial Science (IIS)
E-mail