The Waseda CJL Standards for Japanese Language Education describe the targets for each level of the Japanese language education for international students provided by the Waseda University Center for Japanese Language (CJL) from the perspective of what the learner can do in Japanese. There are nine levels from 0 to 8. We referred to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) and the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education when creating the Standards, particularly how they view language education and how they describe the ability to complete tasks.
For details of why and how the Standards were created, please read “CJL Standards no Kaihatsu: Kotoba no Manabi no Chukeiten no Yakuwari wo Hatasu Tameni (Development of the CJL Standards: Being a Relay Point for Language Learning)” in Issue 10 of the Waseda Practical Studies in Japanese Language Education bulletin. Figure 1 shows how the levels correspond to those of CEFR.
Figure 1: How the levels in the CJL Standards and CEFR correspond
For more information about the Waseda CJL Standards for Japanese Language Education, please read the following abridged version (for learners of Japanese) or detailed version (targets for different language skills).
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ◆ I can exchange greetings. ◆ I can reply to simple questions. ◆ I can read menus and signs along with pictures. ◆ I can write simple information such as my name and address in hiragana and katakana. |
| 1 | ◆ I can engage in simple everyday conversations. ◆ I can exchange simple information. ◆ I can read short and simple texts about familiar topics. ◆ I can write about myself using short sentences. |
| 2 | ◆ I can exchange information about everyday matters. ◆ I can engage in basic communication such as expressing my wishes or feelings and asking for or declining a favor. ◆ I can talk and write about my experiences. ◆ I can read and understand texts on familiar topics. |
| 3 | ◆ I can listen to conversations and explanations on familiar topics and understand the main points. ◆ I can read texts about familiar topics and understand the main points. ◆ I can choose appropriate expressions and have a conversation while considering the listener and the situation. ◆ I can write about events, dreams, and desires using simple sentences. |
| 4 | ◆ I can listen to conversations and explanations about familiar and common topics and understand the main points. ◆ I can read texts about familiar or general topics and understand the main points. ◆ I can briefly state my opinions and plans and provide reasons. ◆ I can write in a style that suits my purpose and audience. |
| 5 | ◆ I can listen to and understand conversations and explanations about topics related to my work, specialty, and social life. ◆ I can read and grasp long passages or articles on contemporary issues. ◆ I can clearly explain my thoughts with reasons. I can also have natural conversations with native speakers. ◆ I can write essays and reports based on various information. |
| 6 | ◆ I can listen to and understand long conversations and presentations on social and current affairs. ◆ I can read long and complex texts on social and current affairs on my own and understand the important points. ◆ I can state my ideas and opinions fluently, accurately, and effectively on a wide range of topics. ◆ I can write papers with coherent arguments. |
| 7 | ◆ I can listen to and understand what is being said on a wide range of topics that I normally encounter in the social, academic, and work environment. I can even comprehend the speaker’s attitude. ◆ I can read complex texts and understand the important points on abstract topics in general fields. ◆ I can have lively discussions, conduct effective interviews, and give speeches appropriate for the situation. ◆ I can write detailed texts in a style appropriate to the genre. |
| 8 | ◆ I can listen to and understand information from a variety of media even if it has non-standard expressions. ◆ I can read long and complex texts from a wide range of fields as well as understand the details including the implied meaning. ◆ I can do a presentation on complex topics in a clear and well-structured manner. ◆ I can write creative texts that are clear, detailed, and tailored to the reader. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can an listen to conversations and understand familiar words and some specific information such as basic greetings, numbers, prices, places, days and times in everyday life if spoken clearly and slowly with visual aids. Can also understand simple questions. |
| 1 | ● I can comprehend specific information in everyday conversations and interactions about myself, family, and shopping if spoken clearly and slowly. |
| 2 | ● I can grasp basic information from conversations about familiar topics such as personal or family matters, shopping, work and local areas if spoken clearly and slowly. ● I can comprehend the gist of short, clear, simple messages and announcements. |
| 3 | ● I can understand the main points of conversations and narratives on familiar topics such as work, school, and leisure if spoken in standard speech. ● I can understand the main points of clear and simple messages and announcements. |
| 4 | ● I can grasp factual relationships and important information if it is a brief story about work or familiar social affairs. ● I can understand lectures and talks on topics of personal interest or in which I have background knowledge, or expertise, if presented concisely and systematically. |
| 5 | ● I can understand the contents on topics related to work, expertise, or familiar social affairs if clearly structured. ● I can understand the contents of most audio materials from a variety of media if spoken in standard speech. I can comprehend the speaker’s mood and tone. |
| 6 | ● I can understand the contents on current topics such as social and environmental issues. ● I can understand long conversations and presentations on a wide range of topics commonly encountered in social, academic, and professional contexts. |
| 7 | ● I can understand the main points of lectures, talks, reports, and academic/professional presentations that are complex, both in terms of content and language, on a wide range of topics that are usually encountered in social, academic, and work contexts. ● Not only I am able to understand information, but I can also comprehend the speaker’s implied attitude toward the topic. |
| 8 | ● I can understand information that has a complex development such as lectures, discussions, and debates with relative ease. ● I can understand audio materials in various fields transmitted from media, such as television, radio, and online broadcasting, which even have some non-standard expressions. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can recognize familiar words on menus and notices with visual aids such as photos and illustrations. ● I can understand very short and basic expressions in common and everyday situations phrase by phrase while employing techniques such as re-reading. |
| 1 | ● I can understand short and simple descriptions on familiar topics such as family, food, or hobbies if written in short and simple sentences with basic words while employing techniques such as re-reading. |
| 2 | ● I can understand simple information about familiar topics such as family and shopping if written in frequently used words. ● I can extract the necessary information if the topic is familiar and the content is simple. |
| 3 | ● I can understand the important points of topics of personal interest or in which I have background knowledge or expertise, if written concisely and systematically. ● I can understand texts about familiar topics and gain new information. |
| 4 | ● I can grasp the main arguments on topics related to everyday social life or that relate to my personal expertise or background knowledge if written clearly and logically. |
| 5 | ● I can gather information to complete a given task by skimming through long passages. ● I can understand the contents on contemporary issues from articles and papers that hold a particular stance. |
| 6 | ● I can understand long and complex sentences without help. ● I can gather information from appropriate sources for various purposes and understand the main points by strategically choosing the appropriate reading method depending on the type of material. |
| 7 | ● I can understand important points of abstract and complex narratives, both in terms of content and language, not only in the field of personal expertise but also in general fields. ● I can understand information, ideas, and opinions from highly specialized sources in the field of my own expertise. |
| 8 | ● I can understand, to a reasonable level of detail, long and complex texts in various subject areas. I can understand statements of opinion, as well as the details, including implied opinions and positions. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can exchange simple greetings. ● I can ask and answer questions about myself and my daily life using short and basic expressions. I can also supplement the questions or answers with more information using gestures or some other means. I can also have short conversations with the help of the other speaker in the conversation. |
| 1 | ● I can engage in simple conversations and exchange information using familiar words and expressions with the help of the listener in an everyday conversational setting. |
| 2 | ● I can engage in short social interactions. ● I can convey simple ideas, exchange information, and answer questions on familiar everyday topics that are predictable. |
| 3 | ● I can express my opinions and exchange information on topics such as daily life, family, hobbies, work, travel, and current affairs. |
| 4 | ● I can confidently discuss and exchange information on topics of personal interest or in which I have background knowledge or expertise. |
| 5 | ● I can provide relevant explanations and express my points of view by providing evidence, highlighting events, and sharing experiences of personal significance. ● I can interact fluently and naturally with native speakers to the extent that conversations and relationships can be maintained without causing stress to one another. |
| 6 | ● I can use the language fluently, accurately, and effectively to explain or state ideas and opinions on a wide range of topics. ● I can present and respond to complex arguments persuasively. |
| 7 | ● I can follow lively debates, grasp the logic of both sides, and express opinions. ● I can conduct interviews smoothly and effectively. I can pick up interesting responses from the interviewee and elicit even more interesting answers by changing the prepared questions on the fly. |
| 8 | ● I can structure arguments to make plans or a course of action in a group as well as report on what others have said and summarize, synthesize, and evaluate multiple aspects. ● I can follow debates on abstract, complex, and unfamiliar topics. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can state basic information about myself, such as my name, address, family, nationality using few words. ● I can give simple descriptions about people or places using words or expressions at hand. |
| 1 | ● I can briefly explain familiar topics, such as people, places, plans, and hopes, if I prepare in advance. ● I can answer a few simple and straightforward questions after speaking. |
| 2 | ● I can make short, basic presentations on familiar topics, if allowed to rehearse in advance. ● I can list or briefly state opinions and plans with simple rationale. ● I can react to a few simple questions after speaking. |
| 3 | ● I can make simple presentations on topics directly related to my life or on topics in which I have expertise or background knowledge. |
| 4 | ● I can give presentations, of a reasonable length that have a coherent structure on topics in which I have an interest/background knowledge/expertise if allowed to prepare in advance. ● I can explain similarities and differences between things, countries, regions, and plans in a prepared presentation. |
| 5 | ● I can clearly explain and maintain ideas and opinions on a wide range of topics related to my field of interest. ● I can present advantages and disadvantages with rationale for or against a perspective. |
| 6 | ● I can make clear and systematic presentations on social issues and current affairs. I can support arguments by addressing key points and relevant details. |
| 7 | ● I can react to what interests the audience with fluency and ease beyond the realm of contents prepared in advance. |
| 8 | ● I can make clear and well-structured presentations on complex topics. ● I can explain in detail the relevant examples, supplementary information, and rationales as well as develop and demonstrate an argument. ● I can naturally handle unexpected comments from the audience, including difficult or even combative questions with little effort. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can convey basic information such as my name, affiliation, major, grade, family, as well as my likes and dislikes using short phrases and sentences with the help of a dictionary. |
| 1 | ● I can exchange basic information such as my name, affiliation, major, grade, family, likes and dislikes using short phrases and sentences. |
| 2 | ● I can exchange necessary information via email or social media using short phrases and sentences. |
| 3 | ● I can write emails in a style appropriate for the recipient with the right amount of information. I can appropriately reply to emails. |
| 4 | ● I can exchange the necessary information via social media or email in a style appropriate for the recipient with ease. I can also have more social interactions. |
| 5 | ● I can write polite and considerate e-mails with attitudinal expressions such as making a request or an apology. ● I can write short messages asking for simple information or expressing my opinion on abstract topics found in essays and reports. I can make the reader understand what I think is important. |
| 6 | ● I can read other people’s reports, effectively summarize facts and key points, and comment on contrasting viewpoints and key topics. I can make the reader understand my comments and ask for the their opinion. |
| 7 | ● I can write emails and letters that convey a range of emotions and care for the reader’s current situation and thoughts, emphasizing the personal significance of events and experiences. |
| 8 | ● I can express myself clearly and accurately as well as use the language flexibly and effectively with emotive expressions, innuendos, and humor in personal correspondence. |
| Level | Description |
| 0 | ● I can write basic information such as my name, address and nationality with the help of a dictionary. ● I can write about myself using simple and straightforward sentences. |
| 1 | ● I can write simple sentences about myself, and describe myself and my surroundings in very simple terms. |
| 2 | ● I can write simple sentences with simple conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “then”) on familiar subjects of interest. |
| 3 | ● I can present topics in the form of short reports or documents using photos and short excerpts. ● I can summarize everyday facts and convey in writing my own opinions, including discrepancies from others, using a structured format. |
| 4 | ● I can write medium-length essays and reports on topics of interest. ● I can summarize and report factual information gathered on topics in which I have an interest or expertise. |
| 5 | ● I can summarize information and arguments gathered from various sources. ● I can argue for or against a point of view with rationale when writing essays or reports. I can also explain various advantages and disadvantages. |
| 6 | ● I can evaluate different ideas and solutions to problems and maintain opinions with rationale. ● I can write reports by coherently developing main arguments. I can appropriately highlight the important points and relevant supporting details. |
| 7 | ● I can describe the details of complex processes. ● I can write clear and detailed descriptions of real or imagined events and experiences in a style appropriate to the genre. |
| 8 | ● I can write about complex topics in a clear and well-structured manner, highlighting important and relevant points. ● I can write descriptive and creative texts that are confident, clear, detailed, well-structured, and well-developed for the intended audience. |
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