TUFS Online Preparatory Japanese Language Course for International Students (OPJLC Summer 2026)

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  • Course Period: August - September 2026
  • Course offered: Online Live Course / Online On-Demand Course
  • Eligible participants:
    ①　Students who are enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a Japanese university or graduate school, as well as those who are scheduled to enroll in such a program by the end of October 2026.
    ②　International research students currently studying at a Japanese university or graduate school, as well as those who are scheduled to come to Japan as research students by the end of October 2026.
    * The Japanese Language and Culture Studies Program (Ryugakusei Bekka) is considered part of a degree-seeking program. Exchange students, privately funded research students, and other non-degree seeking students are not eligible.
  • Course Levels：Elementary - Intermediate
  • Course Fee: Free
  • Application Period: May 25 - June 15, 2026

Course Outline 

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Live-Lesson Course

This is a course to learn Japanese language through online live lesson twice a week. Morning and evening classes are offered, and you can choose which class you would like to take.

  • Features of the course
    ・This course focuses on conversational Japanese, taught through a total of 12 live lessons.
    ・Two levels are available for those who have never studied Japanese before and for those who have completed the first half of the beginner level.
    ・Students can prepare for and review the live lessons with assignments given before and after class.
    ・Students can utilize the university’s proprietary on-demand materials for both preparation and review of their courses.
  •  Levels / Course Contents / Requirements for Taking This Course
Level  Aimed at: Eligibility Requirements
 Elementary 1 Those who are learning Japanese for the first time. This course include Hiragana and Katakana lessons. This course include Hiragana and Katakana lessons. Students will study focusing on conversation through interactions in live lessons. To be able to introduce yourself and talk about yourself is the goal of the course.

Syllabus
  • Students who apply to “Eligible Participants” specified at the top of this website.
  • Students who can obtain the textbook used in class (Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Tomodachi Vol. 1) by themselves.

Print edition of the textbook can be purchased from here（International shipping available with additional shipping cost.）
Digital (Kindle) edition is available for purchase on Amazon Japan store and Amazon stores in some other regions.
Elementary 2 Those who finished studying the first half of elementary level. (Around JLPT N5 level) The course focuses on conversation.

Syllabus
  • Students who apply to “Eligible Participants” specified at the top of this website.
  • Students who have finished studying the first half of elementary level.
    *A score of 40 or higher on this level check test is required to enroll in the course.
  • Students who can obtain the textbook used in class (Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Tomodachi Vol. 2) by themselves.

Print edition of the textbook can be purchased from here.（International shipping available with additional shipping cost.）
Digital (Kindle) edition is available for purchase on Amazon Japan store and Amazon stores in some other regions. 
  • Class Schedule
Level  Class (Live Lesson) day
Elementary 1 and 2 Mondays and Thursdays, August 3 - September 24, 2026

(Total of 12 lessons, 90 min each)
*No class on August 10, 13, 17, and September 21

【Morning Class】9:30～11:00 (Time in Japan)
【Evening Class】20:00～21:30 (Time in Japan)
  • Capacity: 10 students / class
  • Media used: Zoom
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On-Demand Course

 This is a course that allows students to study autonomously using online learning materials developed by TUFS. Students can participate in weekly online schooling via Zoom to check the results of their self study and their level of achievement.

With the On-Demand Course, students can also choose between the “with live online schooling” format, in which they participate in weekly online schooling via Zoom to check the results of their self-study and their level of achievement, and the “without schooling” format, in which they use online learning materials for self-study and do not take any online live schooling.

  • Features of the course
    - The online learning materials developed by TUFS are provided at free of charge for the duration of the course.
    - The course is designed for those who have never studied Japanese before, as well as those who have studied Japanese to some extent.
    - Instructors and student staff (TA) specializing in Japanese language education will support your study during schooling.
  • Levels / Course Contents
 
Level This course is aimed at:  
 　Elementary 1　

Those who are learning Japanese for the first time. This course include Hiragana and Katakana lessons.

Syllabus

  
 　Elementary 2　　

Those who have finished all of the following:
- Have learned elementary Japanese for about 6 months
- Want to learn Japanese at the latter half of the beginner level (equivalent to JLPT N5)
- Have mastered 2 of the following verb conjugation, "te-form", "dictionary form" and "nai form"
- Can read and write Hiragana and Katakana without any difficulties, and can read and write about 50 Kanji

Syllabus

   
　Intermediate 1

Those who have finished all of the following:
・Those who have finished the beginnerʼs textbook（≒JLPT N4）
・Those who can read 200 Kanji
・Those who would like to practice interactions using Japanese at the first half of the intermediate level（≒JLPT N3／CEFR B1） 

Syllabus

   
　Intermediate 2

 Those who have finished all of the following:
・Those who have study the Intermediate textbook（≒JLPT N4-3）
・Those who can read more than 200 Kanji
・Those who would like to practice interactions using Japanese at the first half of the intermediate level（≒JLPT N3 ／CEFR B1） 

Syllabus

   
  • Course Schedule
 
   

Elementary 1

(Mondays)

 Pre-Course Guidance August 3, 2026

15:30～17:00
Online Schooling 1st session: August 17
2nd session: August 24
3rd session: August 31
4th session: September 7
   

Elementary 2

(Tuesdays)

 Pre-Course Guidance August 3, 2026

15:30～17:00
Online Schooling 1st session: August 18
2nd session: August 25
3rd session: September 1
4th session: September 8
   

Intermediate 1

(Wednesdays)

 Pre-Course Guidance August 3, 2026

15:30～17:00
Online Schooling 1st session: August 19
2nd session: August 26
3rd session: Septemebr 2
4th session: September 9
   

Intermediate 2

(Thursdays)

 Pre-Course Guidance August 3, 2026

15:30～17:00
Online Schooling 1st session: August 20
2nd session: August 27
3rd session: September 3
4th session: September 10
    • Capacity: 15 for Elementary, 10 for Intermediate for the on-demand course with online schooling
    • Media used: TUFS MOJL (Moodle for Online Japanese learning), Zoom
    • How to Access to and use MOJL
 

Level Selection Flow Chart

Read before taking the course

Application

■Procedure for students
 Make sure to read all items listed under "Read before taking the course" above before application. Fill out and submit the student application form below within the application period. A notice of acceptance will be emailed to students by the early July, 2026, after your eligibility is confirmed by the Japanese university you are enrolling. Information necessary for taking the online course (Zoom meeting info etc.) will also be notified by the end of July.

 Application Period︓ May 25 - June 15, 2026

■Procedure for the person in charge of the university
If you / your students are interested in participating in our course, please fill out the form below to let usknow the person in charge, to whom we can request a student reference. TUFS will provide the list of students to the person in charge by Thursday, June 18, 2026. Please check the list and confirm the eligibility of students by Thursday, July 2, 2026 by sending an email to opjlc[at]tufs.ac.jp.
*If the above schedule is difficult to follow, please contact us.
*In case of large number of application, there will be a draw.

【University contact form】Please fill out the form by June 15, 2026.

Contacts

Office for OPJLC
PR & Collaboration Division, General Affairs and Planning Department
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Email: opjlc[at]tufs.ac.jp
3-11-1 Asashi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8534
University website: https://www.tufs.ac.jp

*For inquiries, please contact us by e-mail.
*Please replace [at] with @.

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