From zero to JLPT N4 — the same 11-month rhythm.

A typical week

• Mon

  Kanji + vocabulary drills

• Tue

  Grammar patterns + writing

• Wed

  Listening (NHK / dialogues)

• Thu

  Speaking practice with tutor

• Fri

  Mock section + review

The 11-month arc

Two semesters of five months each, with a rest month in between. JLPT targets rise every phase.

1. Phase 1

   Month 1 · Sept

   Intro

   Semester 1 · Foundations (JLPT N5 start)

   Hiragana, Katakana, greetings, and Japanese sound system.

   • ·Hiragana & Katakana mastery
   • ·Basic greetings & self-introduction
   • ·Pitch accent & pronunciation
   • ·Numbers, days, time
   • ·Cultural orientation for healthcare workers

2. Phase 2

   Months 2–3 · Oct–Nov

   N5

   Semester 1 · JLPT N5 core

   Basic grammar, ~100 kanji, everyday conversation.

   • ·Particles は・が・を・に・で
   • ·です／ます forms, negatives, past tense
   • ·N5 kanji (~100)
   • ·Shopping, directions, daily routine
   • ·Listening: slow natural speech

3. Phase 3

   Months 4–5 · Dec–Jan

   N4

   Semester 1 · JLPT N4 build-up

   て-form, plain speech, ~300 kanji, hospital vocabulary intro.

   • ·て-form and its many uses
   • ·Plain / casual forms
   • ·Conditional ～たら／～ば
   • ·N4 kanji (~300 total)
   • ·Basic patient interaction phrases

4. Phase 4

   Month 6 · Feb

   —

   Break · February

   Rest month with anime/drama immersion and kanji review.

   • ·Daily NHK Easy News
   • ·Anki kanji reviews
   • ·Japanese drama with subtitles

5. Phase 5

   Months 7–8 · Mar–Apr

   N3

   Semester 2 · JLPT N3 core

   Intermediate grammar, keigo intro, ~650 kanji.

   • ·Passive, causative, causative-passive
   • ·Keigo (敬語) — polite / humble intro
   • ·Complex sentence connectors
   • ·N3 kanji (~650 total)
   • ·Healthcare scenarios: intake, symptoms

6. Phase 6

   Months 9–10 · May–Jun

   N3+

   Semester 2 · JLPT N4 → N3 consolidation

   Fluent everyday speech + workplace Japanese fundamentals.

   • ·Full keigo: sonkeigo & kenjougo
   • ·Reading: short essays, workplace notices
   • ·Listening: hospital dialogues, announcements
   • ·Writing: shift reports, patient notes
   • ·Mock JLPT N4 full test

7. Phase 7

   Month 11 · Jul

   N4

   Semester 2 · Test-ready (JLPT N4 certified)

   JLPT N4 mock exams, error analysis, EPA/Tokutei Ginou prep.

   • ·Timed full-length N4 mocks
   • ·Weakness-focused revision
   • ·Nursing Japanese: 看護 vocabulary
   • ·EPA & Specified Skilled Worker pathway
   • ·Interview & visa orientation for Japan