How to Use This Textbook

　Features of this textbook

▌Irodori increases what you can do in your daily life in Japan

“Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan” is a Japanese textbook for people who are living in Japan, or who will be liv-
ing in Japan in the future. It teaches Japanese for different daily situations in Japan, including working, shopping,
having fun, eating, and interacting with other people.

The objective of this textbook is to increase what you can do using Japanese in real-life situations in Japan. These
are called “Can-dos.” The textbook aims to build communication skills for everyday life in Japan through “Can-do”
based learning.

▌Irodori allows you to learn A1/A2 level Japanese

Irodori is made up of three parts: Starter (*1), Elementary 1, and Elementary 2. Starter corresponds to the JF
Standard for Japanese-Language Education (*2) A1 level, and Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 correspond to the
A2 level. At A1 level, you can make greetings and communicate in a very simple way by using expressions that you
have learned. At A2 level, you can hold short, basic everyday conversations on familiar topics.
*1 Starter is set to be released in fall 2020.
*2 T he JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education represents levels of Japanese in six stages, from A1 to C2.
These are the same as the Council of Europe’s CEFR.

A2 level
◦ C an understand sentences and frequently used expressions
related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic
A1 level personal and family information, shopping, local geography,
◦ Can understand and use familiar everyday employment).
expressions and very basic phrases aimed ◦ Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a sim-
at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete ple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine
type. matters.
◦ Can introduce him/herself and others and ◦ C an describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background,
can ask and answer questions about per- immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate
sonal details such as where he/she lives, need.
people he/she knows and things he/she
has.
◦ C an interact in a simple way provided the
other person talks slowly and clearly and
is prepared to help.

JF Standard for Japanese-

Language Education User’s
Guide Book (New edition)

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 1 ©The Japan Foundation

▌Irodori is based on the “JF Can-do for Life in Japan”
The Japan Foundation’s “JF Can-do for Life in Japan” were announced in 2019. These “Can-dos” describe fun-
damental Japanese communication skills that non-native Japanese speakers who come to Japan as “Specified
Skilled Workers” will need in everyday situations in Japan. Irodori has established objectives based on these
Can-dos, so by using this textbook, you can learn fundamental communication skills for daily life in Japan. Irodori
can also be used for studying before coming to Japan or for preparing for the Japan Foundation Test for Basic
Japanese (JFT-Basic), which measures these communication abilities.

▌Irodori builds practical Japanese skills with plenty of audio and authentic materials
Irodori emphasizes listening input. It is important for you to listen to a lot of Japanese so that you can use it in
real-life situations. Therefore, Irodori provides plenty of audio files. In addition, reading and writing activities are
based on authentic or quasi-authentic materials that are actually used in daily life in Japan, so you can practice
your Japanese in close-to-real-life situations. With these audio files and materials, you can learn practical Japa-
nese that you can use immediately.

▌Irodori covers a variety of topics closely connected to everyday life

Irodori is organized by topic. Each lesson deals with a different topic connected to everyday life in Japan. You
won’t just study the Japanese language—you will also experience Japanese life and culture through many differ-
ent subjects linked to everyday life in Japan and the Japanese context. There is also a section of useful informa-
tion for daily life in Japan.

▌Irodori offers enough support to learn language knowledge, such as grammar and
kanji
The objective of this textbook is for you to be able to use Japanese when communicating in real life, so the aim is
not to study grammar, words, or kanji. However, you will need these elements for the Can-dos, so Irodori offers
enough knowledge about them in the context of communication. Irodori covers a lot of the grammar, words, and
kanji handled by general elementary level Japanese learning materials.

▌You can download Irodori online

Irodori is available online, so you can download it from wherever you are in the world. It is provided as a PDF file,
so you can print it out, or view it on a tablet or smartphone. The audio can be downloaded or streamed.

▌Irodori is loosely connected to Marugoto

The topics and grammar points in each lesson of Irodori are loosely connected to “Marugoto: Japanese Language
and Culture” a Japanese coursebook for overseas learners created by the Japan Foundation. You can use Irodori
and Marugoto together, use part of Marugoto as a supplement when you study Irodori, or use Marugoto-related
websites, such as Marugoto+ (Marugoto Plus), to study Irodori.

▌Irodori aims for mutual understanding between people through communication and
an understanding of culture
The overall aim of learning with Irodori is mutual understanding between people, which is the fundamental phi-
losophy of the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education. Irodori contributes to developing communication
skills in Japanese and cross-cultural skills. Through these skills, people starting life or already living in Japan
can express themselves, get to know each other well, and interact, which will lead to mutual understanding.

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 2 ©The Japan Foundation

　How this textbook is organized

Irodori is made up of three parts: Starter (A1)*, Elementary 1 (A2), and Elementary 2 (A2). Each of these learning
materials have the following:
*Starter is set to be released in fall 2020.

Main book (PDF)

Cover

A message to the reader (Japanese, English) How to use this textbook (Japanese, English))

Table of Contents (Japanese, English)

Lessons 1 to 18

Activities Listening Kanji Words Grammar Tips for life

script(s) Notes in Japan

Can-do Check

Publication information

Audio files (MP3)

Lessons 1 to 18

Other resources*
Answers Word lists Teaching guides

Others

*Other resources are to be released.

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 3 ©The Japan Foundation

　How to use this textbook

1 How each lesson is organized

Starter, Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 each have nine topics, and are organized into 18 lessons. The suggested
time for each lesson is around 150 to 180 minutes. However, the number of activities is different in each lesson,
so please adjust the lesson time to match these.

Each lesson is organized as below:

◦ Topic name and lesson title

◦ Introductory questions
These are questions to help you get a clear image of the themes of the lessons. Look back on your own
experiences, and talk about them in class.

◦ Activities
These activities help you to achieve the Can-dos, and are the main part of this textbook. Each lesson
has 3 to 6 activities. They will help you learn Japanese that you can use in real life.

◦ Listening script(s)

◦ Kanji Words
Study the kanji words that appear in the activities.

◦ Grammar Notes
Explanations of the grammar and expressions that you study in each lesson.

◦ Tips for life in Japan

Explanations about Japanese culture and context that has appeared in the activities.

Kanji Words Tips for life in Japan

Topic name and lesson title Introductory questions

Activities Listening script(s) Grammar Notes

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 4 ©The Japan Foundation

2 Activities and steps

(1) Types of activity and aims

There are four types of activity in each lesson: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Each activity can stand
alone, but they are all loosely connected within one lesson. The number, type, and arrangement of activities is
different in each lesson, but generally there are more speaking activities. The overall aims of the four types of
activity are:

The aim is to become able to ask and answer questions in familiar situations, as
Speaking
well as to give simple explanations about yourself and things you know.

The aim is to become able to understand the important parts of everyday conversa-
Listening tions, and to obtain the necessary information from simple news, public announce-
ments, and similar broadcasts.

The aim is to get the necessary information in written texts in everyday life, such
as announcements, notices posted in public facilities, and menus at restaurants,
Reading
as well as to read and understand the content of pamphlets written in simple Japa-
nese for non-Japanese residents.

The aim is to learn skills such as filling in the forms needed for everyday life, send-
Writing ing messages to friends and other people, and creating simple social media posts
about things that are familiar to you.

(2) The common steps to all these activities

Each activity has the following steps:

➊ Can-do objective
Look at the Can-do of that activity to understand its objective.

➋ Activity
Do the speaking, listening, reading, or writing activity.

➌ Can-do check むずか

Can-do チェック　『いろどり』初級 1（A2）
★☆☆：まだ難しかった (I did it, but could do it better.)　　　★★☆：できた (I did it. )　　　★★★：よくできた (I did it well.)

Use the Can-do check at the end of the book to do a self-eval-

▶トピック 今の私
　Topic My Current Self

第 1 課　レストランで働いています　I work in a restaurant.

活動・Can-do 評価

uation. You should check for yourself how well you have
Activities & Can-do Self-evalution

1. お久しぶりです
久しぶりに会った人とあいさつをすることができる。 ☆☆☆
01 Can exchange greetings with a person you are meeting for the first time in a long time.
2. 日本に来てどのぐらいですか？

achieved the Can-do. You can write your impressions of the ☆☆☆

Can-do チェック　『いろどり』初級 1（A2）

身近な人に聞かれたとき、自分の近況を簡単に話すことができる。
02 Can talk in simple terms about how you have been recently when asked by a close person.
3. 日本では何をしていますか？
日本でしている仕事について、簡単に話すことができる。 ☆☆☆

activity, what you want to try next, and so on, in the comment
03 Can talk in simple terms about your work in Japan.
コメント Comments （年 /月 /日）(Y/M/D)（　　／　　／　　）

section.★☆☆：まだ難
You can fill in the
しかった
むずか
Can-do
(I did check
it, but could each
do it better.) time you finish
　　　★★☆：できた (I did it. )　　　★★★：よくできた (I did it well.)
第 2 課　ゲームをするのが好きです　I like playing video games.
活動・Can-do 評価
Activities & Can-do Self-evalution

an activity, or you can do it when you have finished the learn-

1. 趣味は料理をすることです
趣味や好きなことについて、簡単に話すことができる。 ☆☆☆
04 Can talk in simple terms about your hobbies and favorite things to do.

今の私
2. 休みの日は何をしますか？
トピック
ing for thatMy
lesson.
▶ 休みの日の過ごし方について、質問したり、質問に答えたりすることができる。 ☆☆☆
05

Current Self
Can ask and answer questions about how you spend your days off.

Topic
　 3. スタッフ紹介
店や施設などに貼られているスタッフ紹介を読んで、家族や趣味などについて理解することができる。 ☆☆☆
06 Can read staff descriptions posted in a store, facility, etc. and understand their families, hobbies,
etc.
自己紹介

1 課　レストランで働いています　I work in a restaurant.

4.

第
職場に掲示するスタッフ紹介用に、自分の趣味や休みの日にすることなどを簡単に書くことができる。 ☆☆☆
07 Can write in simple terms about your hobbies, your days off, etc. for staff descriptions posted at
work.
コメント Comments （年 /月 /日）(Y/M/D)（　　／　　／　　）

活動・Can-do 評価
Activities & Can-do Self-evalution

1. お久しぶりです
久しぶりに会った人とあいさつをすることができる。 ☆☆☆
01 Can exchange greetings with a person you are meeting for the first time in a long time.
2. 日本に来てどのぐらいですか？ 初級1　Can-doチェック- 1 ©The Japan Foundation

身近な人に聞かれたとき、自分の近況を簡単に話すことができる。 ☆☆☆

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 5

02 Can talk in simple terms about how you have been recently when asked by a close person.
©The Japan Foundation
3. 日本では何をしていますか？
日本でしている仕事について、簡単に話すことができる。 ☆☆☆
(3) Specific steps for speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities

Speaking activities

➊ Can-do objective
▶トピック
年 中 行 事とマナー

9
第　 　　課 成人の日は、何をするんですか？

➋ Preparation for the words じぶん

3.
くに
い な か

田舎に帰って家族でお祝いします
まつ ぎょうじ
かえ か ぞ く

かんたん しょうかい
いわ

自分の国の祭りや行事について、簡単に紹介することができる。
40
Study the words that you will need for the activity by following
Can talk in simple terms about festivals and events in your country.

じゅんび
1 ことばの準備
Preparation for the words

the steps below. (Some activities have these, and some do not.) まつ

【祭りや行事ですること】
いなか
ぎょうじ

かえ かざ かざ とくべつ りょうり た
a. 田舎に帰る b. 飾りを飾る c. 特別な料理を食べる d. パーティーをする

1. Listen to the audio while looking at the illustrations, and

check the meaning of the words
うた おど りょこう い かね
e. 歌ったり踊ったりする f. 旅行に行く g. プレゼントやお金をあげる

2. Listen to the audio and try repeating the words

The aim is to check the pronunciation, not to memorize え

( 1 ) 絵を見ながら聞きましょう。 　　　　
み
09-13
き

Listen while looking at the illustrations.

き い

the words.
( 2 ) 聞いて言いましょう。 　　　　
09-13
Listen and repeat the words.
き えら

( 3 ) 聞いて、a-g から選びましょう。 　　　　

09-14
Listen and choose from a-g.

3. Listen to the audio and choose the illustration that matches

the content
Check whether you understand the meaning immediately 初級2　L9 - 8 ©The Japan Foundation

after hearing the word. The aim is to become able to link

the meaning with the expression.
▶トピック
年 中 行 事とマナー

9
第　 　　課 成人の日は、何をするんですか？

➌ Listen to the example dialogs

か い わ き
2 会話を聞きましょう。
Listen to the dialog.

こくさいこうりゅうきょうかい しんねん よにん ひと

国際交流協会の新年パーティーで、4 人の人が、
じぶん くに まつ はな

The aim of this activity is speaking, but first you should lis-
自分の国の祭りについて話しています。
The four people are at a New Year’s party of the International Exchange
Association. They are talking about festivals in their countries.
まつ

( 1 ) どんな祭りですか。

ten to the example dialogs and roughly understand their

What kind of festivals?
まつ えら

1 . どんな祭りですか。a-d から選びましょう。
What kind of festivals? Choose from a-d.

contents. You do not need to understand the grammar and

だんじき あ まつ きゅうれき しょうがつ きょう いわ みず まつ
a. 断食明けの祭り　　b. 旧暦の正月　　c. キリスト教のお祝い　　d. 水かけ祭り

いわ えら

2 . いつ祝いますか。ア - エから選びましょう。

expressions in detail for this step.

When are the festivals celebrated? Choose from ア-エ.

しがつ くがつ がつ がつ とし ちが
ア. 4 月　　　イ. 9 月～ 2 月　　　ウ . 2 月ごろ　　　エ . 年によって違う
しゅんせつ

① 春節
ちゅうごく
②ソンクラーン ③レバラン ④クリスマス
（中 国） （タイ） （インドネシア） （フィリピン）

Depending on the activity, you will either listen to several

09-15 09-16 09-17 09-18
まつ
1 . どんな祭り？

2 . いつ？

shorter example dialogs in several different situations, or ( 2 ) もういちど聞きましょう。

き

Listen to the dialog again.

なに い えら

1 . 何をすると言っていますか。a-e から選びましょう。

listen to one longer example dialog in one situation. General-

What is done at the festivals? Choose from a-e.

かいがいりょこう い あか かざ かざ いなか かえ みず あ
a. 海外旅行に行く　b. パーティーをする　c. 赤い飾りを飾る　d. 田舎に帰る　e. 水をかけ合う

ly, if there are several shorter dialogs there will be no script

なに た

2 . 何を食べますか。ア - エから選びましょう。何も言っていないときは、

「―」を書きましょう。
えら

What is eaten? Choose from ア-エ. Write ‘－’ if it is not mentioned.

ぎょうざ
なに い

ぶた まるや
か

ア. クトゥパット イ. 餃子 ウ . 豚の丸焼き エ . クッキー

in the main text, but a “listening script” in the back. If there

is one longer dialog, there will be a script in the main text. ①春 節
しゅんせつ

09-15
②ソンクラーン
09-16
③レバラン
09-17
④クリスマス
09-18
なに
1 . 何をする？ ，　，
なに た
，
The steps for each of these is as follows:
2 . 何を食べる？

初級2　L9 - 9 ©The Japan Foundation

◦ Dialog script not included ◦ Dialog script included

1. Before you listen, check what kind of situa- 1. Before you listen, check what kind of situa-
tion it is, and what is being talked about tion it is, and who is talking to who

2. Listen to the dialog and understand the key 2. Listen without looking at the script, and
content while you answer the questions roughly understand the content as you an-
swer the questions
3. Listen to the dialog again after you have
checked the meaning of any new words and 3. Follow the script as you listen and under-
expressions, and understand the contents in stand it in more detail. When you do this,
slightly more detail check the meaning of any new words and
expressions together

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 6 ©The Japan Foundation

➍ Focus on the form
Study the grammar and expressions that you will need to achieve the Can-do.

1. Focus on the grammar and expressions ▶トピック

年 中 行 事とマナー

9
There are underlined blank spaces in the example dia-
第　 　　課 成人の日は、何をするんですか？

かくにん き

( 3 ) ことばを確認して、もういちど聞きましょう。 　　　　
09-15 ～ 　　　　　
09-18

logs—these are the grammar and expressions you should

Check the words and listen to the dialog again.

たいせつ いわ あか
大切（な）important ｜ どんなふうに how ｜ 祝う celebrate ｜ 赤 red ｜ おめでたい celebratory

focus on.
いろ きょう たと かざ
色 color ｜ イスラム教 Islam ｜ ラマダン Ramadan ｜ 例えば for example ｜ 飾りつけ decorations
はんぶん
半分 half

Listen to the audio and fill in the blanks, focusing on the

linguistic form. おんせい き か

（ 1 ） 音声を聞いて、　　　　　にことばを書きましょう。 　　　　
09-19
Listen to the recording and fill in the blanks.

2. Think about the meaning and usage of the grammar and しゅんせつ いなか
（春節は）田舎に　　　　　　　　　　人が多いです。
しゅんせつ さいきん
（春節は）最近では海外に　　　　　　　　　　人もいます。
かいがい
ひと おお

ひと

expressions
まち ある みず あ
（ソンクラーンは）町を歩き　　　　　　　　　　、みんなで水をかけ合います。
とし ちが
（レバランは）年　　　　　　　　　　違います。

Answer the questions to help you to think about the

いなか かえ いなか かえ ひと おお いなか かえ ひと ちが

「田舎に帰ります」
「田舎に帰る人が多いです」
「田舎に帰る人もいます」は、どう違いますか。
ぶん ぽう
文 法 ノート ➐
いなか かえ いなか かえ ひと おお いなか かえ ひと
What are the differences of 田舎に帰ります, 田舎に帰る人が多いです, and 田舎に帰る人もいます?

まえ ぶん うし ぶん かんけい ぶん ぽう
「ながら」の前の文と後ろの文は、どんな関係ですか。 文 法 ノート ➑

meaning of the grammar and expressions and how they What is the relationship of the sentences that come before and after ながら?

「によって」は、どんな意味だと思いますか。
い み おも ぶん ぽう
文 法 ノート ➒
What do you think によって means?

would be used. The learner should think about this and かたち ちゅうもく かいわ き

（ 2 ）形に注目して、① - ③の会話をもういちど聞きましょう。 　　　16

09-15 ～ 　　　　　
09-17

discover the rules of Japanese themselves, instead of the

Focus on the expressions used and listen to the dialog ① - ③ again.

teacher explaining the grammar first.

➡ A fter wards, read and check the “Grammar Notes” 初級2　L9 - 10 ©The Japan Foundation

example sentences and explanations.

3. Listen once again to the example dialogs, focusing on the expressions used
Listen to the example dialogs one more time, and check how the grammar and expressions are used
in the dialog.

➎ Speaking
This part is the goal of the activity. Practice it step by step.

1. Listen to the model dialog

▶トピック
年 中 行 事とマナー

Listen to the audio and follow the dialog in the speech 9

第　 　　課 成人の日は、何をするんですか？

まつ ぎょうじ はな
3 祭りや行事について話しましょう。

bubbles, which is a model dialog to help you achieve the Talk about festivals and events.

まつ
インドネシア には、どんなお祭りがありますか？

Can-do. Check the flow of the dialog and the expressions. インドネシア では、レバラン がいちばん大きいお祭りです。
おお まつ

だんじき あ まつ

レバラン は、 断食明けのお祭り です。

2. Shadow the dialog いつですか？

This is practice so that you can speak fluently. First,

とし ちが
年によって違います。
し がつ

4月 です。
がつ

だいたい 2月ごろ です。

shadow the dialog in the speech bubbles while looking at

どんなことをするんですか？

the text and do this several times. Finally, shadow it again いなか かえ

田舎に帰って、家族でお祝いします 。
かいがい りょこう
かぞく

ひと
いわ

海外に旅 行する 人もいます。

without looking. なに た
何を食べますか？

とくべつ りょうり か し た
クトゥパットという特別な料理や、クッキーなどのお菓子 を食べます。

3. Practice it
Next, prepare for the next step: 4. Speak freely. Some
かいわ き

( 1 ) 会話を聞きましょう。 　　　　
09-20
Listen to the dialog.

( 2 ) シャドーイングしましょう。 　　　　
09-20

activities have this, and some do not. Practice by changing

Shadow the dialog.
かいわ ないよう れんしゅう

( 3 ) 2 の会話の内容で、練習しましょう。
Have a practice conversation using the contents of 2 .

the words in the speech bubble dialog, and by using the

じぶん くに まつ ぎょうじ はな い に ほ ん ご

( 4 ) 自分の国の祭りや行事について、話しましょう。言いたいことばが日本語でわからないときは、
しら

調べましょう。
Talk about the festivals and events of your country. If you do not know what to say in Japanese, try to look it up.

content of the example dialogs in ➌ . 初級2　L9 - 11 ©The Japan Foundation

4. Speak freely
Speak freely about yourself, or perform a role play. Freely say what you want, instead of just chang-
ing the words in the speech bubble dialog. You can use a dictionary or a smartphone when you need
words to express yourself.

➏ Can-do check

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 7 ©The Japan Foundation

What is Shadowing?
“Shadowing” is a practice technique. Listen to the audio and quietly say the sentences immediately after
you start hearing the words, instead of waiting until the end of the dialog. Your words should follow right
behind the words in the audio, like a shadow.

Correct way
おんがくをきくことです。
お ん が くを き くこ とで す。

あと、ゲームをするのが すきです。
あ と 、ゲ ーム を す る の が す き で す。

おんがくを
きくことです。

お ん が くを Incorrect way
き くこ とで す。

あと、ゲームを
するのが すきです。

あ と 、 ゲ ーム を
す る の が す き で す。

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 8 ©The Japan Foundation

 Listening activities

The steps for these activities are similar to those for the speaking ac- きせつ てんき
初級 1
▶トピック
季節と天気

tivities, but the aim is listening comprehension. You have achieved the
3
ふ ゆ さ む

冬はとても寒くなります
だい か
第　 　　課

objective if you can listen and understand the necessary parts. くに

あなたの国にはどんな季節がありますか？
きせつ

What are the seasons like in your country?

➊ Can-do objective にほん

1.
し き
はる

春は桜の花が咲きます
さくら

みじか
はな

どうが
さ

み きせつ とくちょう りかい

日本の四季についての短い動画を見て、季 節の特 徴を理 解することができる。
08 Can watch a short video about the four seasons in Japan and understand seasonal characteristics.

じゅんび
1 ことばの準備

➋ Preparation for the words

Preparation for the words
きせつ

【季節のことば】
あつ さむ あたた
a. 暑い b. すずしい c. 寒い d. 暖かい e. じめじめする／
む あつ
蒸し暑い

Study the words that you should know before listening. Some
activities have these, and some do not. The steps are the
same as for the speaking activities.
あめ ふ ゆき ふ さくら はな さ な
f. 雨が降る g. 雪が降る h. 桜の花が咲く i.もみじがきれい
（な） j. セミが鳴く

➌ Listening え み

( 1 ) 絵を見ながら聞きましょう。 　　　　
03-01
き

Listen while looking at the illustrations.

This part is the goal of the activity.

き い

( 2 ) 聞いて言いましょう。 　　　　
03-01
Listen and repeat the words.
き えら

( 3 ) 聞いて、a-j から選びましょう。 　　　　

03-02
Listen and choose from a-j.

初級1　L3 - 1 ©The Japan Foundation

1. Check the situation

Before you listen, look at the illustrations and check the
▶トピック
季節と天気

situation, purpose and material of the listening task. 3

第　 　　課 冬はとても寒くなります

おんせい き
2 音声を聞きましょう。
Listen to the recording.

2. Understand the content step by step

にほん しょうかい えいぞう み
日本を紹介する映 像を見ています。
You are watching a video that introduces Japan.

Listen and understand the key content while answering

the questions. Activities will have different ways to prac-
にほん きせつ とくちょう えら

( 1 ) 日本の季節の特徴を、 1 の a-j から選びましょう。 　　　　

03-03

tice, including selecting the illustrations that match the Choose the characteristics of each season in Japan from a-j of .
1

content, selecting keywords, making notes of key points,

and writing True or False. You do not need to understand はる
がつ がつ
つ

梅雨（　　，
ゆ

　　）

5月 6月
春（　　，
　　） しがつ しちがつ
4月 7月

everything you hear. If you can answer the questions, you 3月

がつ
8月
がつ

がつ くがつ
2月 9月

have achieved the Can-do. 1月

がつ

12 月
がつ
11 月
がつ
10 月
がつ
なつ

夏（　　，　　）

3. Check the words and listen again

This is an extra activity to help you to listen to the content ふゆ

冬（　　，
　　）
かくにん き
あき

秋（　　，
　　）

( 2 ) ことばを確認して、もういちど聞きましょう。 　　　　
03-03

in a little more detail. Listen again after you have checked

Check the words and listen to the narration again.

がっこう
たくさん many / much ｜ 学校 school

the meaning of the new words and expressions in the 初級1　L3 - 2 ©The Japan Foundation

textbook. There are some slightly difficult words at ele-

mentary level, so you do not have to memorize everything.
▶トピック
季節と天気

➡ If you want to check the parts that you do not under- 3
第　 　　課 冬はとても寒くなります

stand, you can look at the listening script at the back.

おんせい き か

（ 1 ） 音声を聞いて、　　　　　にことばを書きましょう。　　　　
03-04
Listen to the recording and fill in the blanks.

はる さくら はな さ あたた
春は桜の花が咲きます。暖かく　　　　　　　　　　。

➍ Focus on the form

なつ あつ がっこう やす
夏は暑いです。学 校が休みに　　　　　　　　　　。
あき
秋はすずしく　　　　　　　　　　。

Focus on the new grammar and expressions of what you

へんか い かたち つか ぶん ぽう
変化について言うとき、どんな形を使っていましたか。 文 法 ノート ➊
What expression was used to describe the changes?

have listened to. The steps are the same as for the speak-
かたち ちゅうもく おんせい き

（ 2 ）形に注目して、音声をもういちど聞きましょう。　　　　
03-03
Focus on the expressions used and listen to the narration again.

ing activities. The lesson will only have this part if there
are new grammar or expressions.

➎ Can-do check

初級1　L3 - 3 ©The Japan Foundation

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 9 ©The Japan Foundation

 Reading activities

➊ Can-do objective ▶トピック

レストランで

4
第　 　　課 しょうゆをつけないで食べてください

➋ Reading 5.
いんしょくてん くち

飲食店の口コミ
いんしょくてん くち よ あじ ねだん じょうほう よ と
飲 食店についてのネットの口コミを読んで、味や値 段などの情報を読み取ることができる。
18 Can read online reviews about restaurants and find information, such as taste and price.

This part is the goal of the activity. 1 グルメサイトの口コミを読みましょう。

くち よ

Read the following reviews on the restaurant review site.

ていしょくや さが
おいしい定食屋さんを探しています。
You are looking for a good restaurant specializing in Japanese-style set meals.
たか ひょうか ひと

( 1 ) いちばん高い評価をつけているのは、どの人ですか。

1. Check the situation Which person gave the highest rating?

Before you read, check the situation, purpose and ①

material of the reading task.

②

2. Understand the content step by step

Read and understand the key content while answer-
▶トピック
レストランで

4
第　 　　課 しょうゆをつけないで食べてください
③

ing the questions. First, you should understand the

にん か えら

( 2 ) 5 人は、どのポイントについて書いていますか。a-d から選びましょう。
Which aspects of the restaurant did the five person each write about in their reviews? Choose from a-d.

④
あじ りょう ねだん た

basic outline, such as what the topic is and where the

a. 味　　　b. 量　　　c. 値段　　　d. サービス・その他

① ② ③ ④ ⑤
⑤
， ， ， ， ， ，
key information is, and then you can get the slightly
みせ じょうほう ひょう

( 3 ) この店についてわかった情報を表にメモしましょう。

more detailed information. You do not need to under- あじ

Take notes in the table with the information you found about the restaurant.

初級2　L4 - 15 ©The Japan Foundation

a. 味

stand everything; if you can answer the questions, りょう

b. 量

ねだん
c. 値段

you have achieved the Can-do. d. サービス・その他

た

Generally, there are no furigana (ruby characters) �� たいせつ

大切なことば

ていしょくや や
どれも ｜ 定食屋 restaurant specializing in Japanese-style set meals （～屋 ～ store / restaurant）

on the texts you will actually see in your daily life in

any
まんぞく
ボリューム amount ｜ 満足（な）satisfactory ｜ おばちゃん middle-aged woman

リーズナブル（な）reasonable

Japan. There are no furigana on these reading mate-

じゅうし
2 あなたなら、どのポイントを重視しますか。

rials, just like real ones. You will probably see a lot of Which aspect do you consider to be important?

unknown words and kanji in your daily life in Japan.

To prepare for that, you should first look for clues
from the words that you do understand, photographs, 初級2　L4 - 16 ©The Japan Foundation

and illustrations, and read by guessing, without

checking the meaning of words or using a dictionary.

Check the useful words

The useful words are words that elementary-level learners should learn or words that would be
useful when living in Japan. First, read the text without looking anything up. Then, check the mean-
ing of these useful words, and look up the ones you do not know and how to read the kanji in a dic-
tionary. After this, it’s a good idea to try reading the text again.

3. Deepen your understanding of the content that you have read

You can deepen your understanding by answering the questions, looking back at your own experi-
ences, and comparing what you have read to what happens in your country. It’s okay to use a local
language for class discussions. Some activities have this step, and some do not.

➌ Focus on the form

Grammar and expressions that you should know for elemen-
▶トピック
レストランで

4
第　 　　課 しょうゆをつけないで食べてください

tary level have been picked out from the text you have read.
The steps are the same as for the speaking and listening 　　　　　にことばを書きましょう。
Fill in the blanks.
か

activities, except there is no audio file for reading activities.

わたし りょう おお
とてもおいしかったです　　　　、私には量が多かったです。
みせ あたら ひる こ
お店は新しくてきれいです　　　　、お昼は混んでいます。
あじ まんぞく じかん
味もボリュームも満足です　　　　、……ちょっと時間がかかります。

Look at the text and fill in the words in the underlined blank まえ ぶん うし

「が」の前の文と後ろの文は、どんな関係だと思いますか。
ぶん かんけい おも ぶん ぽう
文 法 ノート ➎
What do you think is the relationship of the sentences that come before and after が ?

spaces. Some activities have this part, and some do not.

➍ Can-do check

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 10 ©The Japan Foundation

 Writing activities

➊ Can-do objective

➋ Writing
1. Check the setting
Before you write, check the situation, purpose and material of the writing task.

2. Read the examples

If there are examples, you should read them to get a clear idea of what you should write. In some
cases, the reading activity that comes just before is a model (example) for this.

3. Write
In real-life situations, you will write by hand when filling in forms, or use a smartphone or keyboard
when sending messages. For messages and social media, try to actually type on a smartphone or
keyboard, send, and post if you can.

4. Get feedback on what you have written

Read each other’s writing with your classmates, make comments, and create replies. By getting
feedback from a reader’s point of view, you will learn to write from their perspective. Some activities
have this step, and some do not.

➌ Can-do check

▶トピック
いっしょに出かける

7
第　 　　課 道に迷ってちょっと遅れます

4.
さんじゅっぷん

30 分おくれます
ま あ おく つた か
待ち合わせに遅れることを伝えるメッセージを書くことができる。
23 Can write a message saying that you will be late for the arranged time.

か
1 メッセージを書きましょう。
Write a message as follows.

ま あ じかん おく あいて おく
待ち合わせの時間に遅れるので、相手にメッセージを送ります。
You are sending a message to say you will be late for the arranged time.
れい さんこう か おく りゆう じかん じゆう かんが

例を参考にして、メッセージを書きましょう。遅れる理由や時間は自由に考えましょう。
Write a message. Freely think about the reasons and how late you will be.

れい
　　　（例）

あやま
謝ることば Apology

りゆう
理由 Reason

じかん
時間 Time：どのぐらい？

ひと へ ん じ か おく
2 メッセージをもらった人は、返事を書いて送りましょう。
If you receive a message, write your reply and send it.

初級1　L7 - 8 ©The Japan Foundation

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 11 ©The Japan Foundation

3 Other sections and their steps

▌Kanji Words

This is a section for you to practice elementary level kanji with words. The aim is to become able to see and un-
derstand the meaning of the kanji that you will need in everyday life, and, as necessary, to be able to type these
on a smartphone or a PC.

In each lesson, this section covers around 10 kanji words from the activity. (You will learn 429 kanji in total in
Starter, Elementary 1, and Elementary 2.) The steps are below:

➊ Check how to read the kanji words and their meaning ▶トピック
今の私

1
第　 　　課 レストランで働いています

Focus on how to read the kanji while checking the meaning かん

漢 字
じ
の こ と ば

of the word. The kanji are written in three different fonts, so よ

1 読んで、意味を確認しましょう。
い み かくにん

Read and check the meaning of the following kanji.

that you can get used to different styles. がくせい

学生 学生 学生 仕事
し ごと

仕事 仕事

がっこう げん き

学校 学校 学校 元気
（な） 元気 元気

せいかつ いそが

生活 生活 忙しい 忙しい

➋ Read the kanji words in a sentence

生活 忙しい

きょねん はたら

去年 去年 去年 働く 働く 働く

Read a sentence that contains the kanji words, checking if せ んしゅう つく

先週 先週 先週 作る 作る 作る

you can read and understand them. 2 　　　の漢字に注意して読みましょう。

か ん じ ちゅうい よ

Read the following and pay careful attention to the kanji in 　　　.

① お元気ですか？
にほん き
② 去年、日本に来ました。
にほん な
③ 日本の生活に、もう慣れましたか？

➌ Type the kanji words ④ Ａ：働いていますか？

　 Ｂ：いいえ、学生です。今は、日本語学校に通っています。
いま に ほ ん ご かよ

やさい

Type the kanji words on your smartphone, tablet, or key-

⑤ 野菜を作っています。
かいご
⑥ 介護の仕事をしています。

⑦ 先週は、とても忙しかったです。

board, and check if you can type the kanji correctly. You do うえ
3 上の　　　のことばを、キーボードやスマートフォンで入 力しましょう。
にゅうりょく

Enter the words in 　　　 above using a keyboard or smartphone.

not have to be able to write the kanji by hand, but you can
do so if you are interested in kanji and want to practice your 初級1　L1 - 14 ©The Japan Foundation

handwriting.

▌Grammar Notes

These are explanations of the grammatical points in each lesson. They

cover grammar and expressions from the “Focus on the form” part of ▶トピック

5
第　 　　課
旅行に行こう

早く予約したほうがいいですよ

each activity. Read this section to check the answers to the questions
in the “Focus on the form” part. ➊ V-（られ）ます　＜ Potential-form 可能形①＞
かのうけい

しんせん た
新鮮なカニとかウニとか食べられますよ。
You can eat fresh crabs and sea urchins.

しょきゅう
- 『初級1』Lesson 5 explains that “the dictionary-form verb+ことができる” is used to express that a certain action

These explanations cover the form, the meaning, and the usage of the
みせ た
is possible because of the situation, such as この店では、
おいしいそばを食べることができます (You can eat delicious
た た た
soba at this restaurant). 食べることができます can also be expressed by the form of the verb 食べられます (食べら
れる).

- This form is called the potential-form. The potential-form is used to describe the ability and possibility of

grammar and expressions in the activity. There are also additional

something.
た
- The transitive verb sentence NをV changes to Nが V-(られ)ます when the verb takes the potential-form. カニを食
た
べる (I eat crabs) is said as カニが食べられる (I can eat crabs).

information and extra example sentences with grammar usages that

• 『初級 1』第 5 課では、
「この店では、おいしいそばを食べることができます。」のように、
「動詞の辞書形 + ことができる」が
ある状況において可能なことを表すことを勉強しました。
「食べることができます」は、
「食べられます（食べられる）」という動
詞の形を使って言うこともできます。

• このときの動詞の形を可能形といいます。可能形は、できることを表します。

are not included in the activities in the textbook. In addition, there are
• 他動詞の文「N を V」は、
動詞が可能形になると、
「N が V-
（られ）ます」となります。
「カニを食べます。
」は、
「カニが食べられます。」
のようになります。

れい おきなわ あたた はる あき およ
［ 例 ］ 沖縄は、暖かいから、春から秋まで泳げるよ。シュノーケリングもできるし。
▶

conjugation tables and comparisons to similar expressions, so you can

Because it is warm in Okinawa, people can swim from spring to fall besides snorkeling.

きょうと ふる まち てら じんじゃ み
▶
京都は古い町で、お寺とか神社がたくさん見られるよ。
Kyoto is an old city, where you can visit many temples and shrines.

organize your knowledge of grammar. ◆ How to make the potential-form (affirmative) 可能形の作り方（肯定）
conjugation rules 活用規則
example
dictionary-form potential-form ［ 例 ］
辞書形 可能形
つく つく
作る (tsukur ＋ u）→ 作れる（tsukur ＋ e ＋ る )
の の

1 グループ -u - e ＋る 飲む (nom ＋ u） → 飲める (nom ＋ e ＋ る )

In class, for the “Focus on the form” part, learners should first think
およ およ
泳ぐ (oyog ＋ u) → 泳げる（oyog ＋ e ＋ る )
み み み
見る → 見られる （見れる *）
2 グループ -る -rare ＋る た た た
食べる → 食べられる （食べれる *）

about how to use the grammar and expressions themselves. After- 3 グループ
irregular conjugation
不規則活用
する
く
来る
→ できる
こ
→ 来られる
こ
（来れる *）
く み た こ
＊
The Group 2 verbs and 来る of the Group 3 can be used without ら, such as 見れる and 食べれる, 来れる.

wards, they can read the explanations, or the teacher could explain 2 グループの動詞と 3 グループの動詞「来る」は、
「見れる」
「食べれる」
「来れる」のように、
「ら」がつかない言い方もあります。

初級2　L5 - 21 ©The Japan Foundation

them. Another option is to touch on this section simply in class, and

then the learners can read the explanation for homework.

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 12 ©The Japan Foundation

This textbook does not offer focused grammar exercise. If necessary, please use another textbook, such as
“Marugoto’s Rikai” (coursebook for communicative language competences). However, teachers should set gram-
mar exercises that are related to the Can-dos.

The explanations in this section should be read in English (or a local language*). The Japanese is only reference
for the teacher, so there is no need for any learner to read and understand this Japanese.
*Editions in languages other than English will be successively released.

In this section, the following symbols are used for different parts of speech, etc.

　　 N … …… Noun

　　 ナ A … …… ナ-adjective

　　 イ A … …… イ-adjective

　　 V … …… Verb

　　 S … …… Sentence

V-る means the dictionary-form of a verb. This includes verbs that do not end in る such as 読む
い

or 行く .

▌Tips for life in Japan

This column covers useful knowledge for life in Japan. You can learn ▶トピック
おいしい料理

11
第　 　　課 肉と野菜は私が買って行きます

about life in Japan and Japanese culture with many photographs and
illustrations. ● バーベキュー　Barbecue

Barbecues are a way of grilling and eating food outdoors. Many countries enjoy
barbecuing, especially Japan. Japanese barbecues are special in the following ways:

🔸🔸 You can grill meat with squash, onions, corn, and other vegetables, as well as

The topics in each lesson are picked up from the main text, especially
shrimp, squid, shellfish, and other seafoods.
🔸🔸 In some countries, you start eating after all the food is cooked. However, in Japa-
nese barbecue, cooking and eating go on at the same time.
🔸🔸 Yakisoba (fried noodles) or yaki-onigiri (grilled rice balls) are typically eaten last.

if they might be unknown to learners who have never been to Japan.

🔸🔸 It is common to rent barbecue equipment at parks and campsites.

🔸🔸 You can rent and buy everything you need (equipment, food, drinks, etc.) at some
barbecue places.
🔸🔸 Barbeque places on rooftops or terraces in cities have also become popular recently.

There is also reference information included, which will be useful to 　屋外で、グリルで食べ物を焼いて食べるバーベキューは、日本だけではなくいろいろな国で行われる料理のイベントですが、日本のバー

ベキューには、次のような特徴があります。

🔸🔸 肉が中心だが、肉だけでなく、かぼちゃ、たまねぎ、とうもろこしなどの野菜や、

know when you are living in Japan. After an activity, you can read this
エビ、イカ、貝などのシーフードも焼く。
🔸🔸 すべてを焼いてから食べるのではなく、焼いては食べ、焼いては食べ、を繰り返す。
🔸🔸 最後に焼きそばや焼きおにぎりを食べることも一般的。
🔸🔸 バーベキューの道具は、自分の道具ではなく、公園やキャンプ場などですべてレ
ンタルすることも多い。

section yourself, or look at it in class. If you want an explanation about 🔸🔸 道具や材料をすべて用意してくれて、手ぶらで行ってお金を払うだけでバーベ

キューが楽しめるバーベキュー場もある。
🔸🔸 ビルの屋上やテラスなどを使った「都会で楽しむバーベキュー場」の有料施設も、
最近人気が出ている。

something you see in the activities, you should check this section. そうざい
● スーパーの惣菜コーナー　Cooked dishes in supermarkets

In the cooked-dish section of a supermarket, side dishes are sold.

You can buy them, bring them home, and eat a meal without cooking.
Common side dishes are fried foods (such as croquettes), yakitori (grilled
chicken), nimono (boiled dishes), and salads. Supermarkets sell common

Like “Grammar Notes,” this section should be read in English (or a

side dishes that families often make at home and hard-to-prepare side
dishes that are not easily made at home.
People who are too busy to cook like cooked-dish sections in super-
markets. Some people also use this section to buy some healthy food.
These dishes are sold at a discount before the store closes.

local language*). The Japanese is only reference for the teacher, so 　スーパーの総菜コーナーでは、調理されたおかずが売られていて、買って帰れば自分で調理しないでそのまま食べることができます。よく
売られているおかずは、揚げ物（からあげ、コロッケなど）、焼き鳥、煮物、サラダなどがあり、一般家庭でよく作るおかずだけでなく、家
ではなかなか作れない本格的な味の惣菜を売りにしているスーパーもあります。
　総菜コーナーは、忙しくて自分で料理をする時間がない人にとってはありがたい存在です。また、栄養バランスを取るために料理を少し

there is no need for any learner to read and understand this Japanese. だけ買い足したりするなど、上手に利用している人もいます。閉店時間が近づくと、総菜が売れ残らないように、割引セールが行われます。

初級1　L11 - 20 ©The Japan Foundation

*Editions in languages other than English will be successively released.

初級1　How to Use This Textbook - 13 ©The Japan Foundation