Real starting points and milestones, one step at a time.
Can complete reading and grammar training steadily and keep a personal list of error-prone points, with clear improvement in simulated tests.
5/5
Started in the second year of high school with a general English foundation and no Japanese background, preparing mainly on weekends and holidays.
Progress by modules of reading, grammar and vocabulary, combined with error analysis and staged practice, with a manageable amount of homework after each class.
N5
Completed the staged study plan and application checklist, and can clearly explain study motivation, moving smoothly into the application process.
5/5
Had basic kana and N5 level, but lacked an overall plan for EJU and interviews, and was unclear about application timelines.
Broke the work into stages covering language study, application documents and interview expression, with quarterly goals and item-by-item confirmation.
N4
Can draft basic business emails and confirm items more naturally in simulated meetings, relying much less on translation tools.
5/5
Had reading ability around N4, hesitated to speak with clients, and relied on translation tools for emails.
Rewrote emails based on real workplace scenarios, practised meeting speaking through role play, and corrected honorific usage sentence by sentence.
N3
Can identify the focus of each question type and shifted from random drilling to reviewing weak points, with a clearer N2 preparation rhythm.
5/5
Had N3 level but scattered grammar knowledge, unstable reading speed and listening focus, and no systematic review method.
Layered review by knowledge point, with question-type drills, timed reading and error review, plus two rounds of full mock exams before the test.
Can actively greet others, introduce themselves and use topic vocabulary, and is willing to speak up in class.
5/5
A primary school student interested in anime, with no systematic learning experience and a short attention span.
Introduced kana through themed games, character cards, songs and picture-book dialogue, with short and frequent interactive tasks in every class.
Can handle basic question and answer in simulated travel scenarios, keeps expression cards, and dares to communicate while travelling abroad.
5/5
A working adult who had studied Japanese intermittently, avoided speaking for fear of mistakes, and could only study on weekday evenings.
Practised high-frequency scenarios such as ordering food, asking directions, shopping and booking, and organized ready-to-use expression cards after class.
Can keep talking through simulated interviews with noticeably fewer pauses and more organized expression.
5/5
Had intermediate reading ability but frequent pauses when speaking, slow conversational response, and few chances for real communication.
One-on-one situational conversation with frequent follow-up questions and pronunciation feedback, reviewing sticking points by topic.
Completed kana and basic sentence patterns, can handle simple greetings and questions, and is ready to move on to the next level.
5/5
Had never studied Japanese systematically, worried that kana and grammar would be hard to memorize, and needed a gradual pace.
Small-step practice, pronunciation shadowing and everyday sentence patterns, with review cards after class to consolidate the day content.
Built an item-by-item review method, can complete the 203 exam formats more fully, and answers more calmly in timed self-tests.
5/5
A non-Japanese major lacking methods for the reading and translation part of the 203 exam, and without a usable essay structure.
Item-by-item training in reading location, sentence splitting for translation, and essay frameworks, with a timed full-paper self-test every month.
