JAPANESE

Syllabus

Grade 12&13

(To be implemented from year 2009)

Faculty of Languages Humanities & Social Sciences

National Institute of Education
Maharagama
1.0 Introduction
Japanese is an Asian language studied widely all over the world, and especially in the Asian region. It has been more than 2 decades
since the language was introduced to the Sri Lankan education field and so far has attracted the attention of many students. A student can
offer Japanese as one of his/ her 3 subjects to sit for the A/L examination which is also the university entrance examination in Sri Lanka.
It is necessary for a student to have obtained a pass to be eligible for university entrance if s/he plans to study Japanese at the university.

1.1 Benefits of Studying Japanese

A lot of benefits can be gained in studying Japanese. A student who studies Japanese at the beginner’s level would find easy access to
higher educational opportunities in Japan. Professional development and employment opportunities will also be available. (e:g: business
ventures, translation & interpretation, teaching, hospitality trade, tourism, aviation, employment in Japanese companies etc.)

2.0 Objectives

• Understand the grammatical system of the Japanese language.

• Develop skills of listening.

• Develop skills of speaking.

• Develop skills of reading and comprehension.

• Develop skills of writing.

• Understand Japanese culture and traditions.

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 Proposed term – wise breakdown of the syllabus

Grade Term Scheme of Work Periods

12 1 Competency levels 100

1.1, 1.2, 2.1,2.2,2.3, 3.1

2 Competency levels 100

3.2, 4.1,4.2,4.3,5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 9.1, 10.1

3 Competency levels 100

5.3, 5.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 9.2, 9.3, 10.2, 10.3

13 1 Competency levels 100

1.1, 1.2,2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 6.1, 6.2, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10.1

2 Competency levels 100

1.3, 1.4,2.2, 2.3, 3.3,4.2, 4.3,5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.3, 10.2

3 Competency levels 100

7.1, 7.2,7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 10.3

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3.0. Syllabus 3.1 Grade 12

Competency Competency Level Content No of

Periods
1.0 Identifies letters and writes 1.1 Writes in Hiragana • Hiragana (Appendix 11 – 1.1 ) 20
properly 1.2 Writes in Katakana • Katakana (Appendix 11 – 1.2 ) 20

2.0 Listens, understands and 2.1 Understands basic pronunciation • 50 basic sounds in Japanese
responds • Specific sounds and specific mora in 40
2.2 Understands daily conversation Japanese.
2.3 Extracts and understands -long vowel, voiced consonant,
Information & instructions properly. -doubled sound, contracted sound.
• Directions, shopping, telephone
conversations etc.
• Weather forecasts, announcements etc.

• 50 basic sounds in Japanese

3.0 Engages in communication 3.1 Pronounces the basic sounds in the 56
• Specific sounds and specific mora in
clearly & effectively language properly.
Japanese
-long vowel, voiced consonant,
3.2 Engages in simple daily conversation,
-doubled sound, contracted sound
giving information and instructions • Directions, shopping, telephone
properly. conversations, domestic conversations
etc.
• Describes people, places and
situations.

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Competency Competency Level Content No of
Periods
4.0 Uses basic grammatical 4.1 Acquires basic grammatical structures. • Based on the content of the prescribed 66
structures & subtleties in 4.2 Writes simple sentences. text book
the language correctly 4.3 Writes grammatically. -Basic Grammar patterns(Appendix 1)
-Short passages
-Short Conversations

5.0 Acquires special usage of 5.1 Acquires knowledge about the origin of • 200 basic kanji characters 28
Kanji unique to the Kanji. (Appendix 11- 1.3)
language 5.2 Uses Kanji. -Stroke orders
5.3 Formation of Kanji. -meanings
5.4 Varieties of Kanji. - word formation

• Passages with,
6.0 Reads and comprehends 6.1 Reads. - cultural information 40
meanings 6.2 Comprehends. - social information
6.3 Extracts information from pieces of - traditional etiquette
writing. • Simple essays

• Content based on the prescribed text

7.0 Translates 7.1 Reads & comprehends meanings. book
7.2 Translates. -words 10
7.3 Becomes aware of the similarities and -phrases
dissimilarities in the source and the target -sentences
language. -passages

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Competency Competency Level Content No of
Periods
8.0 Evaluates and criticizes 8.1 Reads and comprehends simple literary • Based on the content of the prescribed 10
literary work work. text book
8.2 Answers simple questions based on -Short stories
literary work. -poetry
8.3 Makes simple comments. -songs

9.0 Incorporates ethics and 9.1 Acquires knowledge about Japanese • Simple articles on culture
Morals found in language culture and society. • Simple articles on traditions and 5
and literature in their lives 9.2 Compares and contrasts Japanese & Sri customs
Lankan cultures and society.
9.3 Incorporates knowledge in their lives.

10.0 Familiarizes with culture, 10.1 Acquires knowledge about traditional • Based on the content of the prescribed
society and traditions culture & society. text book 5
through language 10.2 Acquires knowledge about modern -Sentences
culture & society. -Short passages
10.3 Compares & contrasts. -Simple literary works and pieces of
writing

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 3.2 Grade 13

Competency Competency Level Content No of

Periods
1.0 Acquires special usage of 1.1 Acquires knowledge about the origin of • 300 basic Kanji characters 60
Kanji unique to the Kanji.
Language ( Appendix 11 – 1.3 )
1.2 Uses Kanji.
-Stroke orders
1.3 Formation of Kanji.
-meanings
1.4 Varieties of Kanji.

2.0 Engages in communication • Describes about people, places and

clearly & effectively 2.1 Engages in formal conversation. situations.
2.2 Describes elaborate situations. • Talks about simple weather forecasts & 50
2.3 Makes simple speeches. news.
• Makes simple announcements and
simple speeches.
3.0 Familiarizes with the 3.1 Understands the expressions unique to the
expressions and usage Japanese language • Greetings 10
unique to the Japanese 3.2 Uses expressions unique to Japanese • Honorific forms
language language in proper situations
• Plain form
3.3 Selects the suitable language form in
• Indirect speech etc.
speech

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Competency Competency Level Content No of
Periods
4.0 Listens, understands and 4.1 Understands formal conversation. • Getting permission, comprehending 40
responds 4.2 Understands elaborate descriptions of requests, receiving advice etc.
situations. • Detailed descriptions of people, places,
4.3 Understands simple speeches. countries, situations etc,
• Simplified weather forecasts, news,
announcements, and simple speeches.

5.0 Uses basic grammatical 5.1 Uses expressions unique to the language. • Idioms, proverbs etc.
structures & subtleties in • Pieces of writing. 60
the language correctly 5.2 Writes in detail. • Essays, Poetry etc.
5.3 Writes accurately

• Passages with,
6.0 Reads and comprehends 6.1 Reads passages with Hiragana, Katakana
-cultural information
meanings and Kanji. 40
- social information
6.2 Reads and comprehends -traditional etiquette
6.3 Extracts information from pieces of
• Simple essays
writing.

7.0 Translates • Sentences

7.1 Reads & comprehends meanings. • Pieces of writings
7.2 Translates. • Simple literary work 10
7.3 Becomes aware of the similarities and
dissimilarities in the source and the target
language.

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Competency Competency Level Content No of
Periods
8.0 Evaluates and criticizes 8.1 Reads and comprehends simple literary • Literary works 10
literary work work. • Simplified short stories
8.2 Answers simple questions based on • Poetry etc.
literary work.
8.3 Makes simple comments.

9.0 Incorporates ethics and 9.1 Acquires knowledge about Japanese • Simple articles on culture
morals found in language culture and society. • Simple articles on traditions and 10
and literature in their lives 9.2 Compares and contrasts Japanese & Sri customs
Lankan cultures and society.
9.3 Incorporates knowledge in their lives

10.0 Familiarizes with culture, 10.1 Acquires knowledge about traditional • Sentences
society and traditions culture & society. 10
• Short passages
through language 10.2 Acquires knowledge about modern
• Simple literary work and pieces of
culture & society.
writing
10.3 Compares & contrasts.

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 Appendix 1
Japanese Grammar
1. Noun
(1) Predicative use of noun
(2) TE- form for the predicative use of noun [N + DE]
(3) Adjectival use of noun [N1 + NO + N2]
(4) Omission of modified noun [N + NO]
(5) Pluralization of noun [N + GATA / TACHI]

2. “I” ending Adjective

(1) Predicative use of “I” ending adjective
(2) TE- form for “I” ending adjective [A + KUTE]
(3) Adjectival use of “I” ending adjective [A + I + N]
(4) Adverbial use of “I” ending adjective [A + KU+ V]
(5) Substitute for noun [A + I + NO]
(6) Nominalization of “I” ending adjective [A + SA]
(7) Verbalization of “I” ending adjective [A+ GARU]

3. “NA” ending Adjective

(1) Predicative use of “NA” ending adjective
(2) TE- form for “NA” ending adjective [AN + DE]
(3) Adjectival use of “NA” ending adjective [AN + I + N]
(4) Adverbial use of “NA” ending adjective [AN + NI + V]
(5) Substitute for noun [AN + NA + NO]
(6) Nominalization of “NA” ending adjective [AN + SA]
(7) Verbalization of “NA” ending adjective [AN + GARU]

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4. Verb
(1) Types of verb conjugation (Verb groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ, Ⅲ)
1) Verb Ⅰ
2) Verb Ⅱ
3) Verb Ⅲ
(2) Predicative use of verb
(3) Adjectival use of verb [Dictionary form, TA- form, TEIRU-form + N]
(4) Intransitive verb and Transitive verb
(5) TE- form for verb [V + TE / DE]
(6) TE form of the negative verb [V + (A)NAIDE]
(7) TE form of the negative verb [V + (A)ZUNI]
(8) Imperative form of verb

(9) Aspect
1) ～ TE ARU
2) ～ TE IRU
3) ～ TE IKU
4) ～ TE KURU
5) ～ TE SHIMAU
6) ～ TE IRU TOKORO DA
7) ～ TOKORO DA
8) ～ TA TOKORO DA
9) ～ TSUDZUKERU
10) ～ OWARU
11) ～ HAJIMERU
12) ～ DASU

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5. Particles
(1) Case Particles
1) GA
2) O
3) NI
4) DE
5) E
6) TO
7) KARA
8) MADE
9) YA
10) NO
(2) Conjunctional Particles
1) TE (DE)
2) NAGARA
3) TARI
4) GA
5) KARA
6) NODE
7) NONI
8) SHI
(3) Adverbial Particles
1) WA
2) MO
3) KA
4) NADO
5) GURAI

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 6) DAKE
7) SHIKA
8) MADENI
9) BAKARI
10) DEMO
(4) Sentence final particles
1) NA
2) NE
3) YO
4) WA
5) NO
6) DAI
7) KAI
8) NA

6. Interrogative
(1) Types of Interrogatives
1) NANI/ NAN
2) DARE/ DONATA
3) ITSU
4) NAZE/ DOUSHITE
5) DOU/ IKAGA
6) DONNA
7) DONO GURAI/ DORE GURAI
8) IKUTSU
9) IKURA
(2) Indefinite [Interrogative + “KA”]

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 (3) All-out negation [Interrogative + “MO” + negation]
(4) All-out affirmation [Interrogative + “DEMO” + Affirmation]
(5) ….WA + Interrogative
(6) Interrogative + GA….

7. Adverb
(1) Adverbs which co- occur with negative predicates
1) AMARI ～ NAI
2) SUKOSHIMO/ CHITTOMO ～NAI (negation)

8. Demonstratives [KO, SO, A, DO + {RE, NO, (SO)KO, NNA, CHIRA. U}]

9. Conjunction
1) SOSHITE
2) SOREKARA
3) SOREDE
4) SHIKASHI
5) TOKOROGA
6) SURUTO

10. Numerals

11. Suffixes relating to number and time

(1) Different suffixes (counters) according to object to be counted
(2) Suffixes indicating the period of time
(3) Suffixes indicating time
(4) Suffixes indicating the day, week, month and year

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 (5) Suffix indicating the period of time and space as a whole
(6) Suffixes indicating age, money, number of times

12. Clause
(1) Noun clause
1) [……NO]
2) [……KOTO]
3) [……TOIUKOTO]
(2) Interrogative clause [Interrogative …….KA]
(3) Alternative question clause [affirmative + KA negative + KA] [affirmative + KA DOUKA]

4) Quotation clause
1) […….TO]
2) […….YOU(NI)]
(5) Temporal clause
1) [……TOKI(NI)]
2) [……TA ATO(DE/ NI)]
3) [……TEKARA]
4) [……MAE(NI)]
5) [……UCHINI]
6) [……AIDANI]
7) [……AIDA]
8) [……MADENI]
9) [……MADE]
(6) Incidental clause
1) [……MAMA]
2) [……NAGARA]

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 (7) Casual clause
1) [……TE]
2) [……KARA]
3) […..NODE]
4) […..TAMENI]

(8) Purposive clause

1) [……TAMENI]
2) [……NONI]
3) [……NI]
(9) Conditional clause
1) [……”(R)EBA”]
2) [……TARA]
3) [……TO]
4) [……NARA]
(10) Concessive clauses [……TEMO/ DEMO, interrogative + ….TEMO/ DEMO]
(11) Adversative clause
1) [……NONI]
2) [……GA]
3) [……KEDO/ KEREDO(MO)]
(12) Parallel clause
1) TE form
2) MASU form minus MASU
3) [……TARI, …..TARI]
4) [……SHI]

13. Passive voice

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14. Causative voice
15. Causative + Passive voice

16. Potential expressions

17. Request
1) […..O KUDASAI]
2) [……TE KUDSAI]
3) [……NAIDE KUDASAI]
4) [……TE KUDSAIMASENKA]
5) [O……KUDASAI]
6) [……(-A)SETE KUDASAI]

18. Invitation
1) [……MASHOU]
2) [……MASENKA]

19. Advice
1) [……HOUGA II]

20. Wish
1) [……GA HOSHII]
2) [……TAI]
3) [……TAGARU]

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21. Intention
1) [……(Y)OU OMOU]
2) [……TSUMORI DA]
3) [……(Y)OU TO SURU]
4) [……KOTO NI SURU]
5) […….NI SURU]

22. Obligation […….(A)NAKEREBA/ (A) NAKUTEWA NARANAI/ IKENAI]

23. Express the actions which are not compulsory to do [……NAKUTEMO/ NAIDEMO II/ KAMAWANAI/ YOROSHII]

24. Permission […….TEMO/ DEMO II/ KAMAWANAI/ YOROSHII]

25. Order
1) Imperative form of verb
2) [……NASAI]

26. Prohibition
1) [……NA]
2) [……TEWA IKENAI]

27. Inference
1) [……DAROU(TO OMOU)]
2) [……DESHOU]

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 3) [……RASHII]
4) [……YOU DA]
5) [……KAMOSHIRENAI]
6) [……HAZU DA]
7) [……HAZU GA NAI]

28. Model [N + RASHII]

29. Impression [Stem of adjective + “SOU”]

30. Likelihood [……YOU]

31. Reporting [(……NI YORUTO)…..SOU DA]

32. Change
1) [{A + KU/ AN + NI/N + NI} + NARU]
2) [{A + KU/AN + NI/N + NI } + SURU]
3) [……KOTO NI NARU]
4) [……YOU NI NARU]
5) [……YOU NI SURU]
6) [MOU……]
7) [MADA……]

33. Excessiveness […….SUGIRU]

34. Experience […….TA KOTO GA ARU, ……TA KOTO GA NAI]

35. Occasional incidents [……KOTO GA ARU

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36. Trial [……TE MIRU]

37. Preparation [……TE OKU]

38. Easiness & difficulty [……YASUI, ……NIKUI]

39. Existence [N1 NI N2 GA ARU/ IRU, N1 NI N2 GA Q ARU/ IRU, N2 WA N1 NI ARU/ IRU]

40. Possession [N1 (NI) WA N2 GA ARU]

41. Perception [N GA SURU]

42. Explanation [……NODA, …….NDA]

43. Exemplification
1) [NI NO YOUNA N2 ]
2) [N DEMO]
3) […….TOKA]
4) […….NADO]
44. Introducing [N1 TO IU N2]
45. Collaboration [N TO ISSHONI]
46. Method […….KATA]

47. Comparison
1) [……HA, ……YORI…….]
2) [……YORI……(NO)HOU GA……]
3) [……TO ……TO DOCHIRA GA……KA]
4) [……(NO)HOU GA……]
5) [……HA……HODO……NAI]
6) [ICHIBAN/MOTTOMO……]

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48. Giving & Receiving
1) [(V TE) YARU/ AGERU/ SASHIAGERU]
2) [(V TE) KURERU/ KUDASARU]
3) [(V TE) MORAU/ ITADAKU]
49. Honorific system
(1) Honorific forms
1) [O……NI NARU]
2) [……(R) ARERU]
3) [O/ GO……KUDASAI]
4) Special honorific verbs
(2) Humble forms
1) [O/ GO ……SURU]
2) [O/ GO…….ITASU]
3) Special humble verbs
(3) Polite forms
1) [……MASU]
2) […….DESU]
3) […….DE GOZAIMASU, (O)…….GOZAIMASU]
(4) Polite prefixes [O/ GO N]
(5) Polite suffixes [N SAN/ SAMA]

50. Abbreviations

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 Appendix 11
1.0 Letters & Characters

1.1 Hiragana

あ い う え お が ぎ ぐ げ ご きゃ きゅ きょ
か き く け こ ざ じ ず ぜ ぞ しゃ しゅ しょ
さ し す せ そ だ ぢ づ で ど ちゃ ちゅ ちょ
た ち つ て と ば び ぶ べ ぼ にゃ にゅ にょ
な に ぬ ね の ぱ ぴ ぷ ぺ ぽ ひゃ ひゅ ひょ
は ひ ふ へ ほ みゃ みゅ みょ
ま み む め も りゃ りゅ りょ
や ゆ よ ぎゃ ぎゅ ぎょ
ら り る れ ろ じゃ じゅ じょ
わ を びゃ びゅ びょ
ん

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 1.2 Katakana

ア イ ウ エ オ ガ ギ グ ゲ ゴ キャ キュ キョ
カ キ ク ケ コ ザ ジ ズ ゼ ゾ シャ シュ ショ
サ シ ス セ ソ ダ ヂ ヅ デ ド チャ チュ チョ
タ チ ツ テ ト バ ビ ブ べ ボ ニャ ニュ ニョ
ナ ニ ヌ ネ ノ パ ピ プ ぺ ポ ヒャ ヒュ ヒョ
ハ ヒ フ ヘ ホ ミャ ミュ ミョ
マ ミ ム メ モ リャ リュ リョ

ヤ ユ ヨ ギャ ギュ ギョ

ラ リ ル レ ロ ジャ ジュ ジョ
ワ ヲ ビャ ビュ ビョ
ン

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1.3 Kanji characters – 500

一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十 百 千 万 円 才 日 月 火 水 木
金 土 曜 年 時 分 今 午 前 後 朝 昼 晩 夜 夕 上 下 中 左 右
横 東 西 北 南 方 人 男 女 子 母 父 兄 姉 妹 弟 私 主 奥 友
先 生 学 何 誰 校 社 銀 駅 道 便 郵 局 所 事 務 家 部 屋 店
電 車 自 転 動 春 夏 秋 冬 天 気 空 山 石 岩 田 林 森 海 川
雨 雪 霧 雲 滝 有 名 高 安 長 短 新 古 大 小 多 少 明 暗 低
近 遠 速 早 遅 強 弱 広 悪 重 軽 暑 寒 深 浅 太 若 忙 細 暇
暖 涼 親 正 悲 寂 楽 苦 辛 甘 痛 平 硬 柔 難 易 良 好 元 気
静 行 来 帰 見 食 飲 寝 起 始 終 書 読 聞 歩 走 立 座 教 習

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作 洗 急 結 婚 住 知 乗 降 休 待 持 話 言 借 貸 返 売 買 出
入 払 着 脱 働 泳 遊 呼 使 歌 思 考 通 渡 写 送 泊 止 覚 忘
発 続 答 開 閉 試 消 直 並 変 残 集 京 仕 問 笑 泣 喜 困 怒
押 引 死 急 咲 置 勝 負 選 飛 進 受 会 合 取 吸 拾 疲 決 比
流 落 設 誘 伝 捨 計 逃 注 参 加 練 研 究 説 解 連 絡 運 代
勉 切 定 注 用 卒 去 争 戦 付 支 逆 整 勤 黒 白 赤 青 別 成
無 当 化 要 増 減 感 留 量 係 光 固 登 祭 建 敬 導 鳴 利 干
本 机 紙 服 窓 事 質 料 理 酒 茶 飯 米 肉 魚 卵 案 趣 味 花
橋 授 業 色 薬 院 病 寺 公 園 宿 図 館 室 場 県 府 都 国 外
内 旅 語 英 世 地 鉄 界 映 画 席 度 機 同 倍 半 全 間 毎 週
目 口 手 足 体 耳 心 頭 顔 犬 馬 鳥 牛 筆 第 単 洋 対 村 団

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技 術 街 竹 功 工 相 談 首 真 身 員 特 点 的 約 賛 然 予 野
糸 原 因 能 力 級 可 他 仏 共 位 以 性 不 必 値 価 昔 族 文
表 面 最 号 労 協 門 関 医 池 湖 島 谷 虫 星 風 個 家 察 警
油 輸 果 題 義 者 議 論 識 職 経 験 活 法 率 律 往 復 雑 誌
漢 字 数 政 治 宅 庭 町 番 両 独 類 種 科 品 現 産 荷 物 葉

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4.0 Teaching & Learning Methods
• Teaching sessions

• Individual listening, reading & writing exercises

• Group listening, reading & writing exercises

• Kanji quizzes

• Word games

• Audio- visual sessions

• Individual presentations

• Group presentations

5.0 School Projects

• Organizing of a Japanese Language Day

• Writing of a wall magazine

• Publishing of monthly mini magazines

• Organizing of a Japanese Film Festival

• Organizing of a Drama Festival, Song Competition, speech Contest etc.

• Organizing of cultural events i:e: exhibitions, seminars, workshops

• Class/ school library activities

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6.0 Assessment and Evaluation
It is intended to implement this syllabus in schools with the School Based Assessment (SBA) process. Teachers will prepare
creative teaching - learning instruments on the basic of school terms.
The First Examination under this syllabus will be held in 2011.
The details together with the format and the nature of questions will be introduced by the Department of Examination.

Prescribed Texts
1. Prescribed Japanese Text Book for G.C.E.Advanced Level - Part 1, NIE
2. Prescribed Japanese Text Book for G.C.E.Advanced Level - Part 2, NIE

References
1. Nihongo Shoho, The Japan Foundation, 1985
2. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu 1 , Three A Network, 1998,
3. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu 11 , Three A Network, 1998,
4. Japanese for Young People
5. Pupil's Book for Japanese G.C.E (A/L) , Reading & Comprehension Revised Edition, NIE, 2008

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