If you are interested in joining this April, please contact the e-mail address below ASAP.

For information on courses, which begin in April or October, please send an e-mail to David English House:

Rie - for brochures and application forms.
- or -
Kazumi - for specific questions on the course.

Introduction
The course is a well-rounded introduction to both written and spoken Japanese designed by the University of Sheffield School of East Asian Studies. The only knowledge of Japanese needed to start the course is the ability to read hiragana and katakana.

Course Description
The six-month course, which can be extended into a year for those who want to take it slowly, starts in April and October. Students take the course at home, and can work full-time at the same time. There are audio and text materials, and progress is monitored by means of written assignments and telephone interviews with native Japanese speakers. At the end of the course, there is a test that can be taken in either Hiroshima or Sheffield. Students who sucessfully complete the course will receive an internationally-recognised certificate from the University of Sheffield School of East Asian Studies. Students who pass the course and also have a good university degree can enter the Diploma/MA course in Japanese Language and Society.

Distance learning can be a lonely way of studying. In recognition of this, there is extensive local suport for each course, on top of the support provided directly by the university. Each student is assigned to a Japan-based tutor. Staff at David English House provide advice and efficient administrative assistance. Students are encouraged to form study groups and take part in discussions on the internet.

Objectives
In terms of spoken language, the objectives are to enable students with no previous knowledge of Japanese to acquire basic vocabulary to take part in everyday conversations, and acquire an understanding of social conventions necessary to interact with Japanese people.

In terms of written language, the objectives are to enable students to understand and handle basic grammatical structures of the language, and gain complete mastery of hiragana, katakana and some 250 kanji.

Entrance requirements
- No Japanese ability or university degree are necessary to enter the course
- Students whose native language is not English are required to have a suitable English language qualification, eg. TOEFL (minimum 600, computer score 250) or IELTS (minimum 6.5).

Fee
¥300,000, payable in two installments of ¥150,000.