In language education, communication skills and performance ability are now regarded as more significant than grammatical knowledge and vocabulary. The idea of “the ability to perform tasks based on the Can-Do standards,” which CEFR is promoting, has become well known at home and abroad. Each language institution is applying this idea toward its teaching and thus is striving to create its own standards; Hokkaido University has organized the curriculum based on “Hokkaido University Japanese Standards”.

Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, International Education and Research Division offers Japanese education as a ‘communication’ which develops peer study between international students and Japanese students. We offer seven levels include beginner 1-3, intermediate 1-3, and advanced level. For more information on the course, please refer to the “General Japanese Course guide” .

For more information on the course and application procedures, please refer to the “Japanese Language Course Guide”.

The maximum capacity for each class is 35 students. If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity, we may ask you to switch classes in the first lesson.

New applicants who have never taken the General Japanese Course must take a placement test (except those mentioned in the Notes (2) below). If you took classes in the previous semester/quarter, you may take a placement test this time, but you do not have to.
The General Japanese course in Hokkaido University use online placement test TTBJ. Please take the test (SPOT90＋Grammar90＋漢字SPOT50) during the designated placement test period. Please refer to the PDF above to see how to take the test and check the flow after the test. Please check them carefully before taking the test. You can take the test from anywhere in the world.

Notes：
(1) The purpose of this test is to check the applicants’ Japanese level. If you cheat on the test and register classes higher than your actual level, you may not be able to keep up with the class.
(2) If you have not previously studied Japanese, please DO NOT take the placement test as you will be automatically placed in Introductory 1.
(3) Even if you are not required to take the placement test, such as a first-time Japanese learner or continuing student, you will still need to submit an online application.

All applicants for the General Japanese Course should submit an application from HERE. Please check the poster for the application schedule. No applications are accepted after the designated application period. If your application is not successful, please check the contact form.
Based on the score of the placement test, choose your classes according to the following table. For students who will take Japanese course register classes based on their total Japanese score (日本語力の総合スコア). For students who will take a Japanese Literacy class register based on their total Chinese character score (漢字力の総合スコア).

The classes you can choose from depend on your past class history and placement test scores. Please select classes based on your score and level.

(1) The results of your class, class times, place of the classrooms will be announced via e-mail before the semester begin. Please refer to the student page for your class information.
(2) The final decision on which class you will be placed in depends on the number of students, so it is not a guarantee that you will be able to take the class you wish to register. Please refer to Japanese Language Course Guide.
(3) Except certain students, General Japanese classes are not accepted as credits.
(4) In principle, students must attend 70% of classes or above. The passing grade is 60% or above.

If you have any inquiries about the General Japanese Course, please refer to the Contact Form.