Your students have learned Nihongo and are ready to leave for Japan? They might be anxious about their work and life in Japan even if they can speak basic Japanese. Let’s get rid of their anxiety by focusing on what they CAN DO!
The Japan Foundation has developed a series of Can-do Statements for foreign nationals who are not native speakers of Japanese. These statements, each beginning with “I can …” and describing an ability to complete a communicative task, are called the “JF Can-do for Life in Japan”.
Let’s check below with your students! If they are not confident enough, please review the said lesson of the IRODORI book [A1 (pink), A2-1 (orange) or A2-2 (yellow)] in the right column.
| I can… | Can-do Number | |
| □ | Give a somewhat detailed self-introduction when you give first greetings at work and other places. | Can-do 2, Lesson 2, A2-2 |
| □ | Listen to and understand a simple explanation of a daily schedule at work. | Can-do 37, Lesson 9, A1 |
| □ | Listen to a simple explanation when being shown around a room at work and understand what room it is. | Can-do 31, Lesson 8, A1 |
| □ | Listen to short and simple instructions at work and understand what to do. | Can-do 39, Lesson 10, A1 |
| □ | Confirm and ask someone to repeat the important points when you receive instructions at work. | Can-do 40, Lesson 10, A1 |
| □ | Briefly answer when asked about the status of work. | Can-do 44, Lesson 13, A2-1 |
| □ | Tell your supervisor what is going on when you have a problem at work. | Can-do 43, Lesson 13, A2-1 |
| □ | Read the buttons on an electric appliance, for example the remote controller for the air conditioning, and understand which one to press. | Can-do 30, Lesson 7, A1 |
| □ | Read and understand instructions on how to throw away of garbage, such as when to throw away a certain kind of garbage. | Can-do 66, Lesson 15, A2-2 |
| □ | Exchange greetings with a person you are meeting for the first time in a long time. | Can-do 1, Lesson 1, A2-1 |
| □ | Talk about and decide the time and place to meet. | Can-do 21, Lesson 7, A2-1 |
| □ | Give directions to the destination by car when, for example, someone gives you a ride. | Can-do 19, Lesson 6, A2-1 |
| □ | Ask someone for help when, for example, you have a problem with Japanese. | Can-do 29, Lesson 9, A2-1 |
| □ | Look at news about an epidemic illness and more or less understand the contents, such as its name, symptoms, and prevention methods. | Can-do 59, Lesson 16, A2-1 |
| □ | Listen to news and announcements about a disaster and understand what happened and what to do. | Can-do 68, Lesson 16, A2-2 |
For more details, please see https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/urawa/e_rsorcs/seikatsu.html
If your students are not confident yet, please try to teach them “Tips for Life in Japan”.
