In Company 3.0 Pre-intermediate Audio

[Ezekiel Tulagan]

Afterhaving used both the Nakama series and Yookoso series in college, learning Japanese seemed to revolve around tests of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji study. The instructors used few if any speaking assessments, and use of technology for learning was next to nil. After college, I taught beginner Japanese at a community center and the curriculum they were utilizing never even got past basic phrases. Lesson 1 was repeated almost every week because a new student with absolutely no knowledge of Japanese would show up. Loyal students never really progressed in their learning.

However, all of that changed with the introduction of the Marugoto books. With the curriculum's start-anywhere design, we were able to progress through the book week after week regardless of the number of new faces. This wonderful curriculum allowed students to try any topic without needing to have learned the previous topic's content as a prerequisite. In addition, the highly interactive curriculum allowed for both input and output practice of the language itself. No longer were students just copying notes from the board without saying a word. Now, they were getting into groups, practicing vocabulary and dialogues, and using the online resources at home to practice what they learned on their own time. For our small classes, this was a godsend.

In this article, I will break down all of the levels of the Marugoto books and give you a brief preview into what you will be getting when purchasing each text. All associated websites and digital features will be discussed as well. Before that, I will briefly talk about Marugoto's more remarkable points as well as the overall organization and content.

One of Marugoto's strongest points is its variety of content among a large range of proficiency levels. There are, as you might have guessed, a few different ways to measure proficiency in a language. One of the more popular methods is the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (or CEFR, for short). Based on the CEFR, the Japan Foundation created a language proficiency framework tailored to Japanese: the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education (JFS). These two language proficiency frameworks are the basis for Marugoto's level breakdown.

The CEFR divides overall language proficiency into six categories: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. A1 speakers of a language know only the very basics of that language while C2 speakers are exceptionally fluent and can use that language the same as (or even better than) an average native speaker. The Marugoto series claims to cover levels A1 to B1, but their highest level is also considered to be at the B2 level by some. Marugoto books also provide explanations for each level. I will provide a short summary of each level based on the book's description.

The CEFR and JFS also provide so-called "Can-Do" statements that detail what linguistic skills and abilities a user should be able to do in their target language. These Can-Do statements have been recently integrated into a number of other curricula and linguistic programs. The Marugoto texts integrate Can-Do statements all throughout their books. Utilizing these proficiency markers, users can even assess their own progress and create a portfolio to document their learning.

The two books are called Rikai (which means understanding) and Katsudoo (which means activities). Content-wise, they are essentially the same. The number of topics and lessons are the same, and the lessons in each book mirror one another. The difference is the linguistic focus of each book. In Katsudoo, you will practice your listening and speaking more. In Rikai, you will practice reading, writing, and Japanese characters more.

The Marugoto website says that you can use both books simultaneously or even separately. In my experience using Marugoto, serious learners in a classroom setting would get the most benefit from using both books. Of course, if you are just looking to level up your speaking and listening skills, then only focusing on Katsudoo is fine. And if you just want to practice reading and writing more, then Rikai is all you really need.

Content is broken up into topics (chapters) and each topic contains two lessons. Each lesson has a variety of activities and features that help learners practice listening, speaking, conversation, reading, and writing. At the end of every topic in the Katsudoo book, there is a whole section dedicated to life and culture in Japan that is based on the topic. This is explored further by culture videos you can view on the accompanying website, which we'll get into more later.

After getting through the first five topics, there is a "Test and Reflection" section. Another Test and Reflection is presented at the very end of the books as well. This is probably more important for instructors who want to implement assessments into the course. An actual assessment is not presented in these sections; they only describe what kinds of questions and activities a student would see on an exam based on the Marugoto curriculum. And while the recommended test section timing and questions differ between each book, each test is still recommended to take place in 120 minutes. The Katsudoo test recommends activities that assess a student's proficiency in Japanese characters, reading, and speaking skills. The Rikai test suggests test activities that assess a learner's listening comprehension, kanji recognition skills, particle knowledge, word ordering, passage-based reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. The Rikai test seems to be more in-depth and covers more areas of language. Some of these recommended activities are also similar to what one would see on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). However, no actual test questions are presented in the books; it is up to the instructor to make and conduct all assessments and activities. But of course, any self-learners out there could use the example questions to make their own assessments and test themselves at a later time.

Now that I walked you through the organization of the textbooks, you might be wondering what kind of topics Marugoto: Starter (A1) covers. Can-Dos for the A1 level include basic interactive skills like self-introductions and asking questions about others. Marugoto: Starter (A1) features skills such as "talk briefly about your family" or "talk about your favorite food." For more details, check the table of contents for Katsudoo and Rikai to see if it fits your level and what you want to actually get out of it.

The next set of books is very similar to the Starter set in terms of organization and digital resources. There are two books (also called Katsudoo and Rikai) with one focusing on linguistic output and the other focusing on linguistic input. The main difference is a jump in difficulty and complexity of topics. Oh, and romaji is gone as well. Plus, an extra "Discover the Rule" feature has been introduced. In Discover the Rule sections, students will attempt to pick out and understand a particular grammar point that the lesson highlights. The Test and Reflection sections also reappear in the same way that they did with the previous set.

Of course, the Elementary 1 (A2) books are a step up in difficulty from the A1 books. You will learn slightly more complicated grammar patterns, words, and phrases. Some skills that the Elementary 1 (A2) books promote include things like, "describe features of buildings seen in the distance" and "read a message from a colleague in the overseas office when you return home from a business trip." And despite it not being a test-prep series, it is also worth noting that by the time you finish this level, you should be well prepared to pass the N5 level of the JLPT.

Like the A1 website, A2 MarugotoWeb is a fantastic place to practice the Can-Dos amongst other aspects of language. Each Can-Do topic contains a Challenge Drama that lets you actually practice your skills, similar to the challenge videos on the previous set's website. There is also an impressive Life and Culture Lab where you can view a multitude of videos and posts not only about Japanese culture, but other cultures as well. The articles are set up like social media posts with "comments" and the ability to like posts. It's an interesting way to immerse yourself in Japanese language and culture. You can also try the Conversation section, as well as the grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and listening sections to practice those skills.

The organization and setup of this set is identical to the previous set. The only difference is a jump in complexity of the content. If you ever wanted to visit a Japanese restaurant and read a vertical menu, then Can-Do 6 in chapter 2 would suit your needs well! And for any museum lovers out there, Can-Do 39, "tell a friend in simple terms what the description of an exhibit in a museum says," would prove useful. All of these skills, and forty-seven others, form the outline for content at this level.

From this level on, the content organization and setup drastically changes. For starters, there is only one book for the level. Furthermore, you will notice that this book corresponds to both the A2 and B1 levels. It acts as a bridge between both levels, which is why Marugoto labeled it as the "Pre-Intermediate" book. All types of activities have been included in this text: reading, writing, speaking/conversation, listening, and so on. The portfolio feature is also brought back to help you keep track of your learning.

In this textbook, the two-lesson structure contained within a single topic is replaced by a single-topic structure with only one lesson. According to the Features section of the book, each topic (there are nine in total) should take a learner approximately six to eight hours to complete. Within each topic, there are five or six parts. Part 1 is a Preparation section designed to garner interest in the topic using pictures, and presents the vocabulary and Japanese characters necessary for understanding the topic. Part 2 eases the learner into the topic through short listening and conversation activities. Part 3 continues listening practice in the topic by introducing a longer listening activity along with a script. Longer conversations and note-taking are also encouraged. Part 4 focuses on short readings and grammar pattern practice. And finally, Part 5 (and sometimes Part 6) finishes the topic with a longer reading passage and conversation activities related to the corresponding reading.

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