Composition and Application of this Book
◆ Characters included in this bookThe book Kanji Tamago Pre-intermediate Level includes 164 characters, while the ElementaryLevel includes 162 characters. Together with Kanji Tamago Elementary and Pre-intermediate Level, it
covers the characters required for passing levels N5 and N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
The characters included in each section are divided into the following three categories.
“ 提出漢字 Featured characters”: Learners will study the reading and writing of each character.て い しゅつ か ん じ“ 読める Characters for reading”: Learners will only study the meaning and reading of eachよcharacter. The characters included in this category will reappear in later sections as “ 提出漢て い しゅつ か ん

字 Featured characters.”
じ“ 見て、わかる Characters for recognition”: Learners will gain knowledge of the meaning of
みeach character as a sign, but will not have to study its reading and writing. With some exceptions, the characters included in this category will reappear in later sections as “ 提出漢字て い しゅつ か ん じFeatured characters.”◆ Composition of the book(1) Sections 1 through 15, “ 漢字のパーツ The components of characters”
かん じ(2) “ 楽しく覚えよう１／２／３／ 4 Enjoy studying 1/2/3/4”: a segment that introduces theたのおぼcomponents (structural elements) of characters, phono-semantic compound characters,
and mnemonic methods.
(3) “ 読み方に気をつけよう１／２ Be careful with reading 1/2”: “1” is a practice reading test
よかたきin which learners tend to make mistakes. “2” explains the rules of sound change.
(4) “ もう少しやってみよう Let’s study some more”: a collection of questions that help learnすこers review the contents of sections 1 through 15 and the components of characters.

◆ Composition of each section(1) Title page(2) “ 提 出 漢 字 Featured characters,” “ 読 める Characters for reading,” and “ 見 て、わかるて い しゅつ か ん じよみCharacters for recognition.”(3) “ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”
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か

(4) “ 練習２：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”
れんしゅう[(5) Column]◆ Ruby (glosses placed alongside characters to indicate their reading, etc.)“ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”: in questions regarding the reading or writing ofれんしゅう

かcharacters, ruby are not provided for characters learners have already studied.

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“ 練習２：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”: in materials that require learners to independently
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obtain information (e.g. figures and charts, posters, maps, etc.), ruby are not provided.

◆ How to proceed through each section(1) Title pageThe title page includes a practice test that matches the particular scene and topic of each lesson.
Learners will challenge the test by guessing the meaning and pronunciation of new characters using
knowledge from previously learned characters. The test on the title page also works as a review for thecontents already learned. The correct answers to the test questions are found on the next page. Also, theillustration on the answer page incorporates the characters to be learnt in each lesson. Learners should try
to be aware of “what they should be able to do,” by learning the characters in each lesson through the useof the illustrations that show in which scene these characters will be used. There is no need to worry if thepractice test on the title page seems difficult. Learners are encouraged to check the answers to the test on
the next page, and look for any characters they already know in the illustration. Then, consider as to inwhat situations and places those characters are used, what they mean, and how to read them.
(2) Featured characters
The reading learners are expected to memorize at thatstage is displayed in bold typeface.

Serial number of featured characters.

方9

読み方

ホウ

ことば

この方

例文

あの方はどなたですか。／この漢字の読み方がわかりません。

よかた

れいぶん

かたかた

Special readings are enclosed in < >.

読み方
よかた

夕方
ゆうがたかた方法
ほうほう
かん じ＜行方＞
ゆくえよかた書き順方かじゅん

memoSpace where learners can freely write
down the meaning of the character intheir native tongue, original mnemonic
methods, illustrations, etc.

Vocabulary that matches the topic of each section
with focus on words featured in levels N4 and N5 of
the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Important words that include characters used in levels
N4 and N5 as well as words that learners are recommended to memorize are displayed in bold typeface.

In this segment, learners practice each of the characters presented on the title page one by one. It isrecommended to refer to the segments “ 漢字のはじまり The origin of characters (in Elementary level),”
かん じ“ 漢字のきほん The basics of characters (in Elementary level),” “ 漢字のパーツ The components of charかん じ

かん じacters,” “ 楽しく覚えよう Enjoy studying,” and “ 読み方に気をつけよう Be careful with reading,” andたのおぼよかたき

practice each character while considering methods to memorize it. The book presents various ideas for mnemonic devices and helps learners discover the method that matches best their abilities and preferences.
In “ ポイント Points,” learners can check and verify various commonly mistaken points, such as

本書の構成と使い方the form of the character and its reading, the okurigana (kana added after a character to show its Japanese inflection), its components, etc.
“Kanji Tamago: Hints and Points” can be downloaded from the website below.
Acras Japanese Language Education Institute (ACRAS) （http://www.acras.jp/）(3) “ 練習１：書いてみよう Exercise 1: Let’s write”
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かAfter completing the exercises in (2), in this section, learners will practice the featured characters with the objective of acquiring reading and writing skills. Exercises in breaking characters down
to their components and, vice versa, in assembling characters from various components will develop
learners’ awareness of the complex structure of characters.
At the same time, the exercises will establish associations with characters learners have alreadystudied, and will help them organize their knowledge of featured characters. Furthermore, learners willpractice sorting characters in groups by their meaning, and will conduct exercises that focus on theChinese and Japanese reading of each character and phono-semantic compound characters (phoneticcomponents). By repeating similar drills over and over, these exercises will help learners firmly commit the featured characters to memory.
(4) “ 練習 2：やってみよう Exercise 2: Let’s try”
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In this section, learners will get hands-on practice in conditions close to actual communication
situations that will help them develop abilities to obtain necessary information through reading and towrite characters. In each task, learners are expected to come up with correct answers, but what is evenmore important is to learn the process necessary to arrive at the correct answer and to master techniques
to accomplish tasks. Learners will study through practical drills what to focus on in order to obtain correct information, and how to guess the meaning of new character vocabulary.
There are two types of exercises for obtaining of information: through reading of written text, andthrough listening to audio materials and tying them up to written text. In both types, learners should
first try to complete the tasks on their own, without using dictionaries.
In the listening comprehension exercises, learners should make sure to take the time and readthrough the information section before listening to the audio material. The written text will probably
contain a large volume of information, and characters and vocabulary that the learners have not studied
yet, but there is no need to read through these sections and try to grasp their meaning. The important
thing is to take full advantage of the already acquired knowledge and obtain necessary information
within the limits of one’s own understanding.

◆ Legend02【Displays CD and track numbers.

】   Indicates that, before listening to a CD, learners need to first look at the figure in the task inorder to fully understand the situation. It also indicates the reading comprehension task.

【】 Indicates the beginning of a listening and reading comprehension task.

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