Japanese Language Education

Japanese Language Courses offered at Komaba I Campus

There are four types of Japanese language courses offered at Komaba I Campus.

1. PEAK Japanese Courses
   PEAK (Programs in English at Komaba) is a regular degree program in which students take their major courses in English. This program starts in September.
2. KOMSTEP/USTEP-U Japanese Courses
   KOMSTEP and USTEP Type-U (Komaba Student Exchange Program/University-wide Student Exchange Program Type-U) are both study abroad exchange programs.
3. Junior Division Japanese Courses (1st and 2nd year students)
   This is a regular program for matriculated students in which students take their major courses mainly in Japanese. This program starts in April.
4. Non-Credit Japanese Courses

Japanese Language Courses offered at Hongo Campus

A variety of Japanese language courses are available at different levels and for different purposes at the Center for Japanese Language Education at Hongo Campus. Courses are open to all students including students at Komaba.

Course details are as follows.

PEAK Japanese Courses

These Japanese courses are for undergraduate students in the PEAK program. The junior division courses (for 1st and 2nd year students) include both required and elective Japanese classes. 6 credits are required in the junior division for both the International Program on Japan in East Asia and the International Program on Environmental Sciences. Japanese courses in the senior division (3rd and 4th year students majoring the International Program on Japan in East Asia) require students to take an appointed number of courses from a list of Japanese language electives. The International Program on Environmental Sciences allows students to apply credits attained from Japanese language courses to their graduation requirements.

PEAK Junior Division Japanese Language Courses

Required Courses: These courses aim not only to develop students’ Japanese Speaking/Listening/Reading/Writing skills, but also to help students develop skills needed to consider issues from multiple points of view, think both logically and creatively, as well as to develop their own autonomy. These courses allow students to study Japanese in a holistic way.
 
Elective Courses: Elective courses are offered on a variety of areas, including conversation, reading comprehension, kanji, speech styles, news and events in Japan, literature, films and other topics in popular culture, business Japanese, etc. This allows students to choose courses depending on their own strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Required courses are only taken by PEAK students, while elective courses are also open to KOMSTEP and USTEP undergraduate students.
 
PEAK Japanese courses are divided into groups according to each student’s language proficiency. There are classes for all levels from beginner to advanced, as well as native speaker level. The level of Japanese language courses that students can take will be determined based on placement test results. Classes are limited to 15 students or fewer, which allows students to study Japanese at their own proficiency level.

PEAK Senior Division Japanese Courses

These courses are offered for students in the International Program on Japan in East Asia. The course content is designed to help students in their major studies. For example, courses may include “Integrated Academic Skills”. These courses are also open to KOMSTEP and USTEP undergraduate students.
 
For details about PEAK Japanese language courses, visit this webpage.

KOMSTEP/USTEP-U Japanese Courses

The KOMSTEP Program is a short term exchange program between the College of Arts and Sciences/Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and its partner schools overseas. USTEP is a short term exchange program between the University of Tokyo and its partner schools overseas. KOMSTEP undergraduate students may study Japanese language courses at Komaba I Campus. USTEP undergraduate students may take Japanese language courses at Komaba I Campus and/or other Japanese courses at Hongo Campus. Below is an explanation of the Japanese language courses offered at Komaba I Campus.
 
Integrated Japanese: These courses are for undergraduate students who wish to study Japanese intensively.

“Integrated Japanese” classes deal with the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing at seven different levels shown below. Students are divided into groups depending on their proficiency level, and the class size is limited to a maximum of 15 students. This allows students to take Japanese courses which suit their individual levels and backgrounds. Each student's proficiency level will be determined based on placement test results.

Other Japanese courses: Students may take PEAK senior division courses and any other PEAK junior division courses except the required courses.

For details about KOMSTEP/USTEP-U Japanese language courses, visit this page.

Junior Division Japanese Courses

These Japanese courses are designed for undergraduate international students (1st and 2nd year students) enrolled in April. Students in the PEAK program, KOMSTEP and USTEP undergraduate students are also allowed to take some of these courses.

Non-Credit Japanese Courses

At the KomabaⅠCampus, the Non-credit Japanese Language Courses are offered every semester to non-native speakers of Japanese who belong to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences and College of Arts and Sciences, such as international graduate students, foreign researchers and faculty members.
The following courses are available.

- Advanced Academic Reading
- Advanced Academic Writing
- Pre-advanced Academic Listening & Speaking
- Comprehensive Intermediate Japanese
- Intermediate Oral Communication
- Elementary Japanese 1 (A semester only) / Elementary Japanese 2 (S semester only)
 
Each course consists of 10 sessions, starting in late April (S semester) and late October (A semester).
Classes are held face-to-face at the KomabaⅠCampus.
Credits cannot be earned for the Non-credit Japanese Language Courses.
A certificate of completion will be issued to those who wish, upon completion of the number of attendance and the requirements approved by the class.
 
Contact: ryugakusei-g.c[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp *[at] should be replaced by @.
International Student Section, Academic Affairs Division, Graduate School and College of Arts and Sciences, UTokyo (Ground floor of Administration Building)

Center for Japanese Language Education (Hongo Campus)

A variety of Japanese language courses are available at different levels and for different purposes at the Center for Japanese Language Education at Hongo Campus. Courses are open to all students. Credits cannot be earned for these courses.
Details can be found here.