This course develops the kanji, vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening skills needed for JLPT N4. It follows the two Nihongo So-Matome N4 books identified in the uploaded outline: Kanji & Vocabulary and Grammar, Reading & Listening. Learners progress from core language knowledge to everyday texts and conversations, then consolidate their skills through N4-style practice.

 

Duration 8 Weeks – 56 Days – 144 hrs.

 

Objectives 

• Recognize and understand N4-level kanji and vocabulary in context.
• Distinguish and use common N4 grammar patterns.
• Read short everyday texts for main ideas, details, and sequence.
• Understand key information and speaker intent in everyday conversations spoken relatively slowly.
• Work through N4-style vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening questions within the applicable time limits.
• Identify weak areas and apply focused review strategies.

 

Target Audience

• Learners preparing for the JLPT N4 examination.
• Learners who have completed JLPT N5 or equivalent beginner Japanese study.
• Students or working adults seeking structured practice in basic Japanese reading and listening.

 

Prerequisites

• Confident reading of hiragana and katakana.
• Basic knowledge of Japanese sentence structure and particles.
• Familiarity with basic verb and adjective forms.
• Willingness to complete approximately 30–45 minutes of independent study on most non-class days, as recommended in the source outline.

Course Outline

Week 1 — Orientation and foundations

Day 1 — Course Introduction and JLPT N4 Overview 

• Module 1: Course Orientation — Course goals and the two So-Matome N4 books.
• Module 2: JLPT N4 Familiarization — Vocabulary, grammar and reading, and listening sections.

 Day 2 — Japanese Writing and Sentence Foundations

• Module 1: Writing System Review — Hiragana and katakana reading.
• Module 2: Basic Sentence Structure — Word order and the particles は, が, and を.

 Day 3 — Foundational Kanji and Everyday Words 

• Module 1: Foundational Kanji — Character recognition, readings, and meaning.
• Module 2: Everyday Vocabulary — People, places, objects, and routine activities.

 Day 4 — Basic Verbs and Adjectives 

• Module 1: Verb Forms — Present, past, affirmative, and negative forms.
• Module 2: Adjectives — い-adjectives and な-adjectives in descriptions.

 Day 5 — Language in Context 

• Module 1: Kanji and Vocabulary in Sentences — Understanding words within complete sentences.
• Module 2: Time Expressions — Days, dates, schedules, and frequency.

 Day 6 — First Steps in Reading 

• Module 1: Everyday Notices and Messages — Identifying purpose and basic information.
• Module 2: Reading for Details — Finding who, where, when, and what.

 Day 7 — First Steps in Listening 

• Module 1: Short Conversations — Recognizing familiar words and the main topic.
• Module 2: Listening for Details — Identifying speakers, places, times, and actions.

  

Week 2 — Kanji, vocabulary, and core grammar I

Day 8 — Daily Routines 

• Module 1: Routine Vocabulary and Kanji — Common actions and times of day.
• Module 2: Action Sentences — Connecting an action with a person, object, time, or place.

 Day 9 — Kanji Readings and Action Sequences 

• Module 1: Kanji in Common Words — Readings and meanings in context.
• Module 2: Connected Actions — Understanding the order of actions.

 Day 10 — Places and Movement 

• Module 1: Places and Movement Vocabulary — Locations and destinations.
• Module 2: Location and Direction Particles — Where an action occurs and where someone goes.

 Day 11 — People and Descriptions 

• Module 1: People and Activities Vocabulary — Relationships, roles, and everyday activities.
• Module 2: Descriptive Sentences — Describing people, objects, and situations.

 Day 12 — Choosing the Right Word and Pattern 

• Module 1: Vocabulary Distinctions — Words with related meanings.
• Module 2: Grammar Distinctions — Similar sentence patterns and their different meanings.

 Day 13 — Reading Short Everyday Texts 

• Module 1: Integrated Language Knowledge — Kanji, vocabulary, and grammar in sentences.
• Module 2: Reading for Stated Information — Names, dates, places, and actions.

 Day 14 — Listening to Everyday Arrangements 

• Module 1: Conversations About Plans — People, places, times, and activities.
• Module 2: Cumulative Language Review — Week 1 and 2 vocabulary and grammar.

  

Week 3 — Experiences, ability, requests, and rules

Day 15 — Talking About Experiences 

• Module 1: Experience Expressions — Whether someone has done something before.
• Module 2: Experience Vocabulary — Events, activities, and visits.

 Day 16 — Expressing Ability 

• Module 1: Ability Expressions — What someone can or cannot do.
• Module 2: Skills and Activities Vocabulary — Words commonly used in ability statements.

 Day 17 — Making Requests 

• Module 1: Request Expressions — Asking someone to perform an action.
• Module 2: Listening for Requests — The requested action and the response.

 Day 18 — Permission and Prohibition 

• Module 1: Permission Expressions — Asking or stating whether an action is allowed.
• Module 2: Prohibition Expressions — Understanding what is not allowed.

 Day 19 — Understanding Rules and Instructions 

• Module 1: Grammar Comparison — Experience, ability, requests, permission, and prohibition.
• Module 2: Signs and Rules — Brief written instructions about permitted and prohibited actions.

 Day 20 — Actions and Intent in Context 

• Module 1: Reading Everyday Actions and Rules — Short texts about what people can or may do.
• Module 2: Listening for Intent — What a speaker wants and what happens next.

Day 21 — Week 3 Language Consolidation 

• Module 1: Grammar Review — Week 2 and 3 sentence patterns.
• Module 2: Integrated Reading and Listening — Experiences, requests, abilities, and rules.

  

Week 4 — Grammar III and reading development

Day 22 — Comparing People and Things 

• Module 1: Comparison Expressions — Comparing two people, objects, or choices.
• Module 2: Descriptive Vocabulary — Words that explain the comparison.

 Day 23 — Giving Reasons 

• Module 1: Reasons and Explanations — Why an action or event occurs.
• Module 2: Reading for Reasons — Connecting a decision with its explanation.

 Day 24 — Describing Sequence 

• Module 1: Sequence Expressions — Actions that happen before or after other actions.
• Module 2: Reading for Order — Following events, steps, and instructions.

 Day 25 — Discussing Plans and Intentions 

• Module 1: Plans and Intentions — Future arrangements and intended actions.
• Module 2: Listening for Plans — Who plans to do what, where, and when.

 Day 26 — Conditions and Results 

• Module 1: Conditional Expressions — What happens when a condition is met.
• Module 2: Related Grammar Meanings — Distinguishing conditions, reasons, and plans.

 Day 27 — Reading Notices and Messages 

• Module 1: Notices and Messages — Purpose, audience, dates, places, and required actions.
• Module 2: Short N4 Passages — Main idea and supporting details.

 Day 28 — Reading and Grammar Consolidation 

• Module 1: Everyday Texts — Notices, messages, and short passages.
• Module 2: Week 4 Grammar Review — Comparisons, reasons, sequence, plans, and conditions.

  

Week 5 — Listening development and integrated review

Day 29 — Recognizing Key Words 

• Module 1: Listening for Key Words — Words that indicate the topic.
• Module 2: Spoken Vocabulary — Connecting heard words with their meaning.

 Day 30 — Identifying People, Places, and Times 

• Module 1: People and Relationships — Speakers and their roles.
• Module 2: Place and Time — Where and when an event occurs.

 Day 31 — Following Actions and Events 

• Module 1: Actions in Conversation — What happened and what will happen.
• Module 2: Spoken Sequence — The order of actions or instructions.

 Day 32 — Understanding Reasons and Intent 

• Module 1: Reasons in Conversation — Why someone acts or makes a choice.
• Module 2: Speaker Intention — Requests, suggestions, and decisions.

 Day 33 — Understanding What Happens Next 

• Module 1: Situation and Context — Using the setting to understand a conversation.
• Module 2: Next Steps — The action expected after the conversation.

 Day 34 — Integrated Reading and Language Knowledge 

• Module 1: Mixed Vocabulary and Grammar — Activities, rules, plans, reasons, and comparisons.
• Module 2: Integrated Reading — Notices, messages, and short passages using those topics.

 Day 35 — Integrated Listening 

• Module 1: Mixed Conversations — People, time, place, actions, reasons, and intentions.
• Module 2: Cross-Skill Review — Using vocabulary and grammar to support comprehension.

  

Week 6 — JLPT question skills and practice

Day 36 — Kanji and Vocabulary Questions 

• Module 1: Kanji Questions — Character recognition and readings.
• Module 2: Vocabulary Questions — Word meaning and suitable use.

 Day 37 — Grammar and Sentence Questions 

• Module 1: Grammar Questions — Selecting a pattern that fits a sentence.
• Module 2: Complete Sentence Meaning — Understanding particles, forms, and patterns together.

 Day 38 — Reading Questions 

• Module 1: Notices and Messages — Purpose, key details, and required actions.
• Module 2: Short Passages — Main ideas, supporting details, and sequence.

 Day 39 — Listening Questions 

• Module 1: Specific Details — People, places, times, objects, and actions.
• Module 2: Speaker Intent — Reasons, decisions, requests, and next steps.

 Day 40 — Understanding Questions and Answers 

• Module 1: Question Interpretation — Identifying the exact information requested.
• Module 2: Answer Choice Analysis — Checking choices against the text or conversation.

Day 41 — Language Knowledge and Reading Practice 

• Module 1: Mixed Language Knowledge — Kanji, vocabulary, particles, and grammar.
• Module 2: Mixed Reading — Notices, messages, and familiar passages.

 Day 42 — Listening Practice and Topic Review

• Module 1: Mixed Listening — Everyday conversations on familiar topics.
• Module 2: Difficult Topic Review — Words, patterns, and comprehension points needing clarification.

  

Week 7 — Full practice examination and targeted review

Day 43 — Kanji, Vocabulary, and Ability Review

• Module 1: Difficult Kanji and Vocabulary — Readings, meanings, and similar words.
• Module 2: Experiences and Ability — Selecting expressions by intended meaning.

 Day 44 — Requests, Rules, and Reading Details 

• Module 1: Requests, Permission, and Prohibition — What is requested, allowed, or forbidden.
• Module 2: Reading for Details — Finding precise information in a notice or passage.

 Day 45 — Grammar and Passage Meaning 

• Module 1: Comparisons, Reasons, and Conditions — How each pattern changes meaning.
• Module 2: Main Idea and Sequence — Understanding the whole passage and its events.

 Day 46 — Plans and Listening Meaning 

• Module 1: Plans and Intentions — Future actions and arrangements.
• Module 2: Decisions and Next Steps — What speakers decide and will do.

 Day 47 — Integrated N4 Review 

• Module 1: Mixed Language Knowledge — Kanji, vocabulary, particles, verb forms, and grammar.
• Module 2: Reading and Listening Topics — Familiar texts and conversations requiring further review.

 Day 48 — Full JLPT N4 Practice Examination 

• Module 1: Language Knowledge and Reading — Vocabulary, grammar, and reading sections.
• Module 2: Listening — Everyday conversations and their related questions.

 Day 49 — Focused Review 

• Module 1: Language Topic Reinforcement — Difficult kanji, vocabulary, and grammar from the practice examination.
• Module 2: Comprehension Reinforcement — Misunderstood passages, conversations, and speaker intentions.

  

Week 8 — Final review and readiness

Day 50 — High-Frequency Kanji and Vocabulary 

• Module 1: Course Kanji — Recognition, readings, and meanings.
• Module 2: Course Vocabulary — Meaning and use in everyday contexts.

 Day 51 — Core Grammar Review 

• Module 1: Experiences, Ability, Requests, and Rules — Related grammar meanings.
• Module 2: Comparisons, Reasons, Sequence, Plans, and Conditions — Patterns used in sentences.

 Day 52 — Everyday Reading 

• Module 1: Notices and Messages — Purpose, audience, dates, places, and actions.
• Module 2: Short Passages — Main idea, details, reasons, and sequence.

 Day 53 — Everyday Listening 

• Module 1: Conversation Details — People, places, times, and actions.
• Module 2: Conversation Meaning — Reasons, intentions, decisions, and next steps.

 Day 54 — Integrated Language Review 

• Module 1: Mixed Kanji, Vocabulary, and Grammar — Language knowledge across familiar topics.
• Module 2: Priority Topics — Remaining language and comprehension gaps.

 Day 55 — Integrated N4 Reading and Listening 

• Module 1: Reading and Listening in Context — Familiar texts and conversations using course language.
• Module 2: Final Topic Clarification — Commonly confused words, patterns, and question meanings.

 Day 56 — Course Consolidation 

• Module 1: Final Language Review — Principal kanji, vocabulary, and grammar topics.
• Module 2: Final Comprehension Review — Main ideas, details, sequence, reasons, speaker intent, and next steps.