Features of This Book

Katsudoo and Rikai should both be seen as main study materials. Decide which to choose
based on your learning objectives. In addition, Katsudoo and Rikai use the same topics. If

Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture is a coursebook that is based on the JF
Standard for Japanese Language Education. It has the following features.

● Japanese Levels of JF Standard for Japanese Language Education

you use both, you can make progress in your overall Japanese proﬁciency.

● Intercultural Understanding
Marugoto offers learning in both language and culture. There is help with interculturalunderstanding in various places, such as the situations of the conversations, contents ofMarugoto employs levels that correspond to the six stages of the JF Standard forJapanese Language Education (A1-C2). Marugoto (Elementary2) is A2 level.

the conversations, photographs and illustrations. Learn about Japanese culture, reﬂect on
your own culture and deepen your intercultural understanding.

A2 level

3月3日

・Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of mostimmediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local
geography, employment).
・Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchangeof information on familiar and routine matters.

日本文化センターで、すしをつくりました。
とてもたのしかったです。
If I compare Japanese food with Australian food, theyboth rely on fresh ingredients and the natural tastes ofthe fresh ingredients.

・Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background,immediate environment and matters in areas of immediateneed.
Source: JF Standard for Japanese● Managing Your Own Study

Language Education 2010Users Guide Book

It is very important to evaluate and manage your learning by yourself in order to keep

(2nd edition)

going in language learning. Make a record of the Japanese language and culture you havestudied using the portfolio. When you look at the portfolio, you can clearly understand yourown learning processes and your accomplishments.

● Two Marugoto coursebooks:

Katsudoo and Rikai

Marugoto offers two methods of study aimed at enabling you to communicate using
Japanese: Katsudoo and Rikai .

Katsudoo : a coursebook for communicative language activities
・ For people who want to start using Japanese immediately
・ The objective is to gain practical ability communicating in everyday situations.
・ You will practise listening to and speaking Japanese a lot.

How to Use This Book
1 Course Flow
The Marugoto (Elementary2 A2 Katsudoo ) course is designed with communicative
language activities at its heart. The suggested class length for one lesson is around 120180 minutes. In the middle and at the end of the course, you will do Test and Reﬂection 1and 2.

Course Example : with a class length of 120 minutes

Rikai : a coursebook for communicative language competences
120 minutes × 10

・ For people who want to learn about Japanese・ The objective is to study the features of the Japanese language that arenecessary for communication.

120 minutes × 8

lessonlessonlessonlesson

1

10

11

18

・ You will systematically study how Japanese is used in communication.
Test and Reﬂection 1
12

Test and Reﬂection 2
13

Try Using

2 Topic and Lesson Flow

Learn the Objectives

Speak in pairs using
the expressions in theEach topic contains two lessons. Look at the photographs
and talk about what kind of thing you think you are going

conversations you listened

to do. Check the Can-do statements to see what you willto. Oval bubbles show otherbe able to do by the end of each lesson.

expressions you can use.
If you cannot do it well, try
listening to the conversation

Listen and Noticeagain. Audio ﬁles for Lesson

You will listen to a lot of contextualized

Review (p147-157) are also

conversations. As well as understanding theavailable for practice.

contents of the conversation, it is important to grasp theﬂow of the conversation and notice the expressions thatare often used. Audio ﬁles : URL → p17

Look, Listen and Try Saying
Can-do Check
Listen to theAfter the lesson check by yourself whether you could do therecording andCan-do statements and write a comment.

check your understanding

Can-do Check p180-p183

URL → p17

while pointing at thephotographs and illustrations.
Try saying the words andLife and Culture

sentence patterns quietly

You will look at a variety of photographs showing Japanese life andas you listen. Remember theA lot of photographs andculture. You will compare it with both your own country and yourself,words that you need.

illustrations are used toand discuss what you think with the class.

Audio ﬁles : URL → p17make the lesson contents
easy to understand and fun
to study.

Icons
Listen and repeat

Discover the Rule

Rate your performanceusing the 'Can-do Check'

ListenThink about the form andmeaning of the sentences

DiscoverTalk in pairs

Write

Make a simple presentation
using notes

Add to your portfolio

Read / Recognise

Audio soundyou noticed in the conversations,and then discover the rule oflanguage usage.
se s sio n

xpr
and eion
Wo r d s
attentld payuohs
youThis part shows the correct form of words. Keep themtoin mind while practising.

Yuuko-sanJapan

14

Paku-san(Pak)Kyasii-san(Kathy)

Shin-san(Singh)

Karumen-san(Carmen)

Korea

U.K.

India

Mexico-san : In Japanese, san is put after other people's
names to show respect or politeness.（Tanaka-san ）Tanaka-san

Kawai-sanJapanJapan

Yamada-san

Yoshida-sanJapan

Japan

Rupa-san(Rupa)
India

Ishikawa-sanJapan

Yan-san(Yang)

Kaara-san(Carla)

Tairaa-san(Tyler)

Malaysia

FranceU.K.

15

3 Activities for Intercultural Understanding

6 Related Information

Marugoto is a course where you study language and culture together. You should use

Marugoto Portal Site

Japanese and experience Japanese culture outside the classroom as well.
・ Look at Japanese websites

・ Watch Japanese dramas and ﬁlms

・ Go to Japanese restaurants

・ Go to events related to Japan・ Talk to Japanese friends and acquaintances

https://www.marugoto.jpf.go.jp/en/

You can download the resources and access the websites listed below free of charge.

● Resources to use with the textbook
・ Audio ﬁlesTalk about the things you have experienced outside the classroom with your classmates.

・ Task sheets for writing
・ Vocabulary index
・ Phrase index

4 How to Manage Your Own Learning

・ Can-do Check１）Can-do Check
Do the Can-do Check (p180-p183) when you ﬁnish a lesson. Look back on your studyand write comments. You can write in your preferred language.

● Learning support websites
・ MARUGOTO Plus・ MARUGOTO Words

Examples of comments● Teachers resources

・I'd like to try going to a Japaneserestaurant in my town.
・Now I can give advice about a trip
to my Japanese friends.

２）Portfolio
Make a record of both your study and experiences of Japanese language andintercultural understanding. In order to reflect, put the following kinds of things into
your portfolio.
① Can-do Check② Tests③ Things you wrote using Japanese (e.g. cards, notes for a presentation, and so on)④ Records of experiences with Japanese language and culture

5 Tests
For information about the procedure and contents of the tests, see Test and Reflection(p87-p88 and p138-p139).

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