*Please note – the B2 Level courses are pending commencement in the Haru Term (October 2025).
This course aims to prepare students to:
- Understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar.
- Understand most TV news and current affairs programmes.
- Read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints.
- Present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest.
- Take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views.
- Write an essay or report, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view.
*日本語は下記にあります。
This class is for independent Japanese language users (B2 level) to come and learn together.
We will deepen our understanding of a wide range of topics extending beyond Japan, concerning global society and culture, past and future, by using raw resources like news videos and articles, announcements, theatre, and literary works. We’ll put high-level communication skills into practice by working on expressing opinions and thoughts accurately with the support of the teacher. By interacting with classmates we hope you will gain new perspectives!
This class will focus on active Japanese learning between classmates.
As class will be held every other week, in-class time will be focused on speaking practice. On weeks without class, there will be small tasks focused on input.
Study Topics in Haru Term:
[Reference: Topics studied in 2023-2025]
- The Current Startup in Japan (Society x Work and career)
- Travel and Individuality (Travel and transport x Health)
- Satoyama and Satoumi – Living with Nature (My home and around my home x Nature and the environment)
- People Known throughout the World (Lifestyle and life x Language and culture)
- The Art of Preserving Traditions (Language and culture x Work and career)
- Linking Together Stories (Free time and entertainment x Lifestyle and life)
- “Konbini” in Japan (Society x Lifestyle and life)
- Houses- Spaces and its roles (My home and around my home x Language and culture)
- Gift-giving custom (Language and culture x Human relations)
- What do children dream for the future? (School and education x Work and career)
- Multiculturalism and WAGOU (Human relations x Language and culture)
- AI and its creations (Technology x Society)
- The Art of Preserving Tradition (Language and culture x Work and career)
- Traveling with Washoku (Eating habits x Travel and transport)
自立した日本語使用者（B2）として、参加者同士で学び合うクラスです。
日本に限らず、世界の社会や文化、過去と未来に関する幅広いトピックについて、ニュース動画や記事、報告、講演、文学作品といった「生の素材」を使いながら理解を深めます。教師のサポートにより自分の意見や考えをより正確に伝えられるように練習しながら、日本語での高度なコミュニケーション力を身に着けていきます。クラスメイトとのインターアクションを通して新しい視点を獲得していくことも目標です。
このクラスは参加者同士のアクティブな日本語学習が中心となります。
クラスは隔週で、教室の中では主に話す練習にフォーカスします。クラスがない週はインプットのための小さい課題があります。
[2025 Haru Term 学習トピック（予定）]
［参考：2023-2025に学習したトピック］
- 日本のスタートアップの今（社会 x 仕事と職業）
- 旅と個性（旅行と交通 x 健康）
- 里山と里海（住まいと住環境 ⅹ 自然と環境）
- 世界で知られる人物（自由時間と娯楽ｘ生活と人生）
- 伝統を守る技（言語と文化ｘ仕事と職業）
- 物語をつなぐ（自由時間と娯楽ｘ生活と人生）
- 日本の「コンビニ」（社会 ｘ生活と人生）
- 家ー空間とその役割（住まいと住環境 ｘ 言語と文化）
- 贈る心（言語と文化 ｘ 人との関係）
- 子どもたちはどんな夢を見るのか （学校と教育ｘ社会）
- 多文化と和合（人との関係ｘ言語と文化）
- AIがつくるもの（科学技術 ｘ 社会）
- 伝統を守る技 （言語と文化 x 仕事と職業）
- 和食で旅する （食生活 x 旅行と交通）
B2 Level 2 Haru Term Course Details
B2 Level 2 Course Terms and Conditions
Table of Contents
- Enrolment requirements
- Course Structure
- Course Materials
- Fees
- Payment
- Cancellations and refunds
- Other
Additional Terms and Conditions
1. Enrolment requirements
1.1 Students must be aged 18 and over.
1.2 J-Course is a service offered to paid members of The Japan Foundation, Sydney. (Membership is an annual $25 fee and is separate to the tuition fee in section 4.) Applicants to J-Course must be current members at the time of enrolment.
1.3 The Japan Foundation, Sydney reserves the right to cancel the enrolment of students who do not hold current membership, including in cases where membership has expired.
1.4 Students must be able to participate in classes online.
1.5 Student participation is limited to one (1) course per term.
2. Course Structure
2.1 The B2 Courses are held over a period of ten weeks, with classes held once per fortnight for a period of two (2) hours.
2.1 Applications and payments are processed each term.
2.1 The B2 Courses are not held on designated New South Wales public holidays. In the event classes fall on such public holidays, these classes will be moved to the Friday of the same week.
3. Course Materials
3.1 The copyright of all course materials remains the exclusive property of The Japan Foundation, Sydney. Students may not reproduce or distribute any part of the course materials to any other persons or organisations without permission.
4. Fees
4.1 The tuition fee is $150 per term but is subject to change during the year.
5. Payment
5.1 A student’s enrolment in the course is confirmed once full payment and online application have been received.
5.2 Incremental course payments will not be accepted.
5.3 Students enrolling after term has started will be charged tuition fees only for the remaining classes that term, calculated from the date they submit their application.
5.4 The previous does not apply in cases of delayed enrolment by the student, wherein J-Course reserves a mandatory three (3) business day administration period to process enrolments. Students will not be allowed to join classes until this administration period has passed, and no refund will be offered for classes missed as a result.
5.5 Course fees cannot be transferred to another term or another student. All prices are listed in Australian Dollars and include GST.
6. Cancellations and refunds
6.1 The course may be cancelled if enrolments do not reach the minimum number. In the event that the course is cancelled for this reason, students already enrolled in the course will be notified prior to the scheduled commencement date and any course fees that have been paid will be refunded.
6.2 Enrolments submitted after the class has reached maximum capacity may be cancelled. In this case, any course fees that have been paid will be refunded.
6.3 In cases where class is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, students will be offered a substitute class or a full refund for that week, to be determined by The Japan Foundation, Sydney.
6.4 Students may cancel their enrolment up to five (5) business days before the first class of the term for the enrolled course. Students are required to notify J-Course via email in order to cancel their enrolment. Course fees will be refunded minus a cancellation fee of $50.
6.5 Students who wish to cancel their enrolment after the above cancellation deadline due to circumstances beyond their control are eligible to receive a refund equal to 50% of any remaining course fees. Students are required to notify J-Course via email in order to cancel their enrolment. The amount refundable is calculated from the date that J-Course receives notification of the student’s cancellation request via email. Cancellations received by 5pm on regular business days will be lodged the same day. Any cancellations received after 5pm or on weekends or holidays will be lodged the next business day.
6.6 Individual class refunds are not available.
7. Other
7.1 The Japan Foundation, Sydney reserves the right to change teachers and classrooms during term. Students will be informed of any such changes in advance via email.
7.2 The Japan Foundation, Sydney, has a zero-tolerance policy regarding disruptive or aggressive behaviour from students, staff, and visitors. The enrolment of any student may be cancelled for these reasons at the discretion of J-Course administration at any time. Cancelled enrolments will be refunded in accordance with the refund policies outlined in section 6.
7.3 J-Course can be contacted via email at jcourse_sy@jpf.go.jp or by phone at 02 8239 0055.
Additional Terms and Conditions for Online Classes
As classes are held online, the below will apply in addition to the standard Terms and Conditions.
a. The technical prerequisites for online classes are as follows:
- A computer or laptop (operating systems: Windows 10 or 8.1 / Mac OS X 10.10 or later)
- The latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari
- Headphones with a microphone
- A web camera
- A stable internet connection, with at least a 1.2Mbps download speed and 600kbps upload speed
b. The student is responsible for ensuring that the above requirements are met. Students who cause significant disruptions to class delivery due to insufficient technical prerequisites may be asked to rectify these deficiencies or change attendance to in person instruction if space is available. In the event that reasonable measures are not taken by the student to meet technical requirements, a student’s enrolment may be cancelled. Cancelled enrolments will be refunded in accordance with the policies outlined in section 6.
c. Classes cannot be recorded in any way, including audio only, without the express written permission of The Japan Foundation, Sydney.
d. The student is required to participate with their web camera on during online instruction.
d. The Japan Foundation, Sydney reserves the right to change the mode of class delivery at its discretion.
