FAQs

A1. Yes. If you study IRODORI in order from the beginning, you will gradually be able to achieve the goals set out in the textbook. It is difficult to practice speaking if you are studying independently, but you can still learn effectively by listening to the audio and repeating what you hear many times. The IRODORI Japanese Online Course is also available for self-study. In this online course, you can use the videos to practice speaking.

A2. At present, there are no plans to sell IRODORI in print format. If you need it in print, please use general printing/bookbinding services.

A3. Yes. The website can also be displayed on a tablet or smartphone device.

A4. JFT-Basic is a test that “seeks to measure the level of Japanese language proficiency needed by foreign nationals about to reside in Japan mainly for work, to communicate in everyday life situations” (Source: JFT-Basic website). IRODORI is for learning basic Japanese communication skills that are needed for daily life and working in Japan, so striving to achieve the “Can-do” objectives from “Starter” to “Elementary 2” can help you to prepare for the JFT-Basic.

A5. The IRODORI levels do not directly match specific JLPT levels. However, if you complete the “Starter” to “Elementary 2” levels of IRODORI, you can be considered to have reached the N4 level of JLPT, which is “the ability to understand basic Japanese.” On the other hand, while JLPT measures linguistic competence based on the receptive skills of reading and listening, IRODORI also includes objectives for speaking and writing.

A6. IRODORI covers the receptive skills of reading and listening at the elementary level, as well as most of the elementary kanji, vocabulary, and grammar needed for that. Learning all the contents of IRODORI can help students to prepare for the N4 level of the JLPT. However, IRODORI is not a textbook designed to help students pass the JLPT, so if they are taking the JLPT, we also recommend studying the official sample questions and practice books to familiarize themselves with the JLPT format.

A7. Each lesson takes about 2.5-3 hours. The time varies because there are different numbers and types of activities in each lesson. However, the above times are needed to complete activities such as listening and speaking using IRODORI. They do not include time for practicing the language knowledge needed for the activities, such as kanji, vocabulary, and grammar. Each lesson typically takes about 4-5 hours in total to complete (3 hours of IRODORI activity time and about 1-2 hours of language knowledge practice).

A8. Each part, “Starter,” “Elementary 1,” and “Elementary 2,” typically takes about 80-100 hours to complete, so the entire course is estimated to take about 240-300 hours to complete.

A9. In total, your students will learn 429 Kanji characters (see the “Kanji list”). Kanji are not taught on their own. Instead, your students will study them as words used in the activities in each lesson, and gradually learn and remember their meaning and pronunciation.