2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED

COURSE OVERVIEW
JET Programme Language Courses
Relative Level of Difficulty

PURPOSE: To enable participants to adjust to Japanese

society and improve their Japanese communication skills

PARTICIPATION FEE: Completely borne by
CLAIR (you will, however, have to attach an 80-yen
stamp when submitting your monthly tests)
PARTICIPANTS: Open to all current JET participants
PARTICIPANT CAPACITY: Approximately 2,600
PERIOD OF STUDY: October to May
SEMINAR: There is no seminar for these courses
LANGUAGE: English/Japanese

EASY
BEGINNER
INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED
LINGUISTICS & PEDAGOGY/
TRANSLATION & INTERPRETATION

DIFFICULT

COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE MATERIALS:
Each month, one set of course materials (textbook, CD, answer sheet and envelope) will be sent to your
workplace. You will receive the materials a total of six times. The first set of materials will be sent to
you in October. The materials for the beginner and intermediate levels are written in English and
Japanese, and those for the advanced level are in Japanese only.
MONTHLY TEST SUBMISSION:
A monthly test will be enclosed with each textbook. Please mark your answers on the answer sheet
provided and submit it by the deadline. Each participant will be individually notified of his/her score.
HELPLINE:
A fax/telephone/e-mail helpline will be available for any questions related (only) to these courses. The
helpline will only be available for JET participants participating in these courses.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION:
A certificate of completion will be issued to those who fulfil the following criteria:
1. Four or more monthly tests are submitted by each monthly deadline, with at least four of these
receiving scores of 70 percent or higher.
If you do not meet the submission deadline more than twice, you will not be able to receive any further
course materials.

NOTE

These courses will commence in October. Make sure you select the
level that will be appropriate for you at that time.
JET participant performance evaluations may include a Japanese language study
component, so please be sure to discuss your language study plans with your supervisor.
You CANNOT change levels once you have applied.
You can check the level of your Japanese language ability by taking the test located at this website:
http://jetprogramme.org/e/course/test01.htm
Please DO NOT apply if you cannot commit to completing the course.
Participants who do not complete the course may not be allowed to enrol in a course the
following year.

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED

APPLICATION PROCEDURE & SCHEDULE
The JET Participant Contact Information & Confirmation Form can be downloaded from the JET

Programme homepage.
If you wish to apply for the beginner, intermediate or advanced course, fill in the Language Course
Application section of the Contact Information Form after making any necessary changes to your
contact information, then submit it to your supervisor.
DEADLINE: April arrival JETs: Friday, 10 May 2013
Reappointed JETs: Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Your supervisor will check your form, then submit it to your contracting organisation.
DEADLINE: April arrival JETs: Friday, 17 May 2013
Reappointed JETs: Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Your contracting organisation will submit your form to the prefecture/designated city office.
The prefecture/designated city office will compile all the forms and then submit them to CLAIR.
Your JET Participant Contact Information and Confirmation Form MUST arrive at CLAIR
via the above route by July 19th. Forms sent directly to CLAIR will not be accepted.

COURSE SCHEDULE
APRIL ARRIVALS: MAY 28
REAPPOINTED JETS: JULY 19

JET Participant Contact Information & Confirmation Form

submission deadline.
Submit your form to your contracting organisation via your
supervisor. Do NOT send it directly to CLAIR.

First set of course materials delivered to your workplace

address.

OCTOBER

MAY

Course finishes.

JUNE

Certificate of Completion issued.

NOTE

The application form for the beginner/intermediate/advanced courses is

included in the JET Participant Contact Information & Confirmation Form,
which will be available for download from the JET Programme homepage.
The submission deadline for this form will be strictly enforced. Late applications will not be
accepted.
Make sure you submit your form to your supervisor early so that your supervisor has time to
submit it to your contracting organisation, and on to the prefectural office before the deadline.
Make sure you have checked that all the information on your form is correct, and that you have
signed the form before you submit it to your supervisor.

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Course Objective
This course is designed for those learning Japanese for the first time. The course objective is for you to
acquire the skills required for the basic daily conversation that you are likely to need as a JET
Programme participant. By the end of the course, you should be able to master basic pronunciation,
and greetings, as well as common customs and cultural patterns. The course also introduces the 50
characters of the katakana and hiragana syllabaries, 100 basic kanji characters, and about 1,000 basic
words.

Course Criteria
This course is designed for those in the initial stages of their Japanese studies, and as such, it is
intended for those who wish to learn the language starting from the basics.

* The contents of this course are subject to change at anytime without prior notice.

2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Course Structure
This course seeks to lay the foundation for developing basic communicative competency in Japanese.
Each lesson starts with listening and pronunciation practice then moves into a dialogue. The dialogue is
translated into English for comprehension check, followed by which expressions and grammar points are
explained. Vocabulary used in the dialogues and in the exercises are pre-introduced. Shadowing practice
and an exercise that allows you to practice in the real world what you have covered in the lesson are also
included. Each text comes with a CD as well. Listen to the CD as many times as you can to familiarise
yourself with natural Japanese.

One daily lesson consists of four pages.

One general subject is covered over a one week period (see syllabus on pages 12-15).

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Beginner Level Syllabus (p. 1)
Book/ Week

Situation

Function
Background information
Background information

Book 1 Week 1

High School

Background information
Identification
Question
Explanation, Limitation
Negative
Announcement of topic
Indicative or demonstrative pronoun
Addition, similarity
Information gathering (price)

Book 1 Week 2

Junior High
School

Expressing one's intention

Destination, direction
Means
Information gathering (numbers)

Book 1 Week 3

Elementary
School

Designation/choice
Description
Specific, generalization
Description
Explanation
Companionship
Explanation
Description of past event
Location of action

Book 1 Week 4

Miscellaneous

Description of past event

Assertion, request for agreement, exclamation

Exhibits similarity
High School

Quantity explanation
Limitation
Place assignment
Denotes existence
Denotes existence
Confirmation

Book 2 Week 2

Junior High
School

Book 2 Week 3

Elementary
School

Phone number
Age/Counter [age]
kono/sono/ano/dono
i-A desu
ga (Subject)
na-A desu
na-A na N
to (issho)
i-A+N
mashita/masen'deshita
de Place
deshita
na-Adeshita
yo/ne/nee
Review
Review
Review
nen' ~gatsu ~nichi
itsu
to
Counter ~ nin'
ikutsu, Counter ~tsu
dake
koko/soko/asoko/doko
Counter ~hon'
ni N ga arimasu

Unit of time

Book 2 Week 1

Study Point
Pronunciation
Writing systems
(hiragana, katakana, kanji, romaji)
Basic grammar
N wa N desu
ka?
no desu. (Affiliation, etc.)
Iie, N wa N ja arimasen'
wa?
kore/sore/are/dore
N mo
ikura
Numbers
masu/masen'
o (object)
e/ni ikimasu, kimasu, kaerimasu
de(By means of)
Week of the day

Time statement
Scope of time announcement
Explanation [possession]
Negation of situation
Expressing past situation
(Negation of past situation
Negation of present situation
Negation of past situation
Denotes location
Position explanation
Position explanation

11

ni N ga imasu
yone
ji fun', han' ,ji ni
time/placekara time/place made
no Possession
i-aku arimasen'
i-akattadesu
i-aku nakatta desu
na-a ja arimasen'
ja arimasen' deshita
na-A ja arimasen' deshita
wa ~ ni arimasu/imasu
Counter ~kai
yoko/mae/ushiro
chikaku/tonari/ue/shita

20132014 JET

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Beginner Level Syllabus (p. 2)
Book/ Week

Book 2 Week 4

Situation

Miscellaneous

Function

Study Point

Total negation

Question marker + mo (e.g., nani mo dare mo

doko mo dore mo) masen'

Taste, expressing strengths and weaknesses

ga suki/kirai/jouzu/heta desu
Review
Review
Review

Book 3 Week 1

Book 3 Week 2

Book 3 Week 3

High School

Junior High
School

Elementary
School

Confirmation of negative action/negative situaVmasen' kaNegative question

tion
kara.
Reason
kara, ~.
Indefinite announcement
Question marker + ka (e.g., dokoka, dareka)
~ kara desu.
Reason
dictionary form
Explanation
kon'na/son'na/an'na/don'na
masen' ka Invitation
Invitation
Suggestion
mashou (ka)
Comparison

to to dochira no hou ga
no hou ga

Action with a purpose

ni ikimasen' ka/kimasen' ka

Information gathering
Proportion

wa nihon'go de nan' to iimasu ka

ni Proportion

Choice from three or more

no naka de nani ga ichiban'~

Contrast/opposition

desu ga desu/desu keredomo desu

Description of situation

de, desu
kute, desu

Request/demand

te kudasai

Asking/giving permission
Additional quantity

te mo ii desu ka
mou (+ Amount)

Prohibition

te wa ikemasen'

Action/movement in order

te, (sore kara)

Expression of situation

i-aku~/na-Ani~/Nni
i-aku/na-Ani/N ni naru
i-aku/na-Ani/N ni suru
ga hoshii desu

Change in situation
Expression of wish/desire
Book 3 Week 4

Miscellaneous

Review
Review
Review

Book 4 Week 1

Book 4 Week 2

High School

Junior High
School

Action/movement in order

te kara,

Expression of progressive action

te imasu (Progressive action)

Expression of one's wish/desire

Correction of listener's broad interpretation

tai desu
to itte mo

Completion of change/expressing lack of

change

mou Vmashita
mada Vte imasen'

Comparison

wa yori~
wa hodo~

Simultaneous actions
Total inclusion
Expression of warning/caution
Total amount
Expressing lack of change
Completion of change

nagara,~
naide kudasai
de (e.g., zen'bu de)
mada Vte imasu
mou Vte imasen'

Expression of custom/continuation

te imasu Custom/continuation

Expressing the current situation

Personal relationship

Vte imasu (state of being/action)

~ ni totte

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Beginner Level Syllabus (p. 3)
Book/ Week

Book 4 Week 3

Book 4 Week 4

Situation

Elementary
School

Function

Study Point

Explanation of situation

te,

Expression of time limit

Accomplishment difficulty

made ni
naka naka Vmasen'

Approval of not doing

nakute mo ii desu

Expression of alternative action

naide,

Obligation, enforcement, necessity

nakute wa ikemasen'

Expression of capability, situation

ga dekiru/ ga wakaru

Assertion, explanation

wa koto desu
Review

Miscellaneous

Review
Review

Book 5 Week 1

Book 5 Week 2

Book 5 Week 3

Book 5 Week 4

High School

Junior High
School

Elementary
School

Degree, summary

goro vs gurai

Supplement, addition
Singularity, exaggeration

N mo N mo
N bakari

Explanation of characteristic

wa (Modifier +) N o shite iru

Obligation, enforcement, necessity

nakereba narimasen'

Order of actions

mae ni

Expression of capability, situation

koto ga dekimasu

Experience

ta koto ga arimasu

Addition

ya

Major actions

tari tari shimasu

Order of actions

ta ato de
N no ato de

Favorable choice
Alternative

no hou ga ii
N ka N (ka)

Advice, counsel of accomplishment

ta hou ga ii

Advice , counsel of non-accomplishment

nai hou ga ii

Presentation, offer

o ageru/sashiageru

Expression of opinion

to omoimasu

Receiving

o morau/itadaku

Prediction, conjecture
Emphasized addition

deshou (conjecture)
bakari de naku mo/dake de naku mo
Review

Miscellaneous

Review
Review

Book 6 Week 1

High School

Presentation, offer

o kureru/kudasaru

Comment on topic
Reference of time in a certain situation

wa ga
VSituation/i-A/na-Ana/N no toki

Explanation

(ru/taNoun Modification

Reference of time that s.t. happens

(ta) toki

Explanation of a word
Beginning of action

to iu no wa/~tte
koto desu
te kuru e.g., futte kuru

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO BEGINNER LEVEL COURSE

Beginner Level Syllabus (p. 4)
Book/ Week

Book 6 Week 2

Book 6 Week 3

Situation

Junior High
School

Elementary
School

Function

Study Point

Reference of time that s.t. is done

(ru) toki

Conjecture

kamo shiremasen'

Expression of one's intention

Intentional form

Presentation of question
Strong suggestion, polite

ka dou ka
deshou? (confirmation), deshou ka (polite)

Expressing a question

Question marker ka

Nominalization
Occasional action, situation

no
(ru) koto ga aru

Purpose

tame ni

Plan
Reason of the result

yotei desu
no wa kara desu

Explanation [request]

n' desu (ka)

Expression of dissatisfaction

noni
Review
Review

Book 6 Week 4

Miscellaneous

Review

Review
Review

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Course Objective
This course is aimed at those students who have completed the JET Programme Beginners Level
Japanese Course, or who have otherwise attained a similar level of competence in Japanese. The course
objectives are to help you to acquire the skills required for the basic daily conversation that you are likely
to need as a JET Programme participant, to distinguish between voiced and voiceless sounds, to gain
fluency in intonation, including the use of double consonants and the nasal sound, and to develop your
ability to handle greetings, as well as common customs and cultural patterns that build on what was
covered in at the beginners level. You should acquire 300 kanji and 2,000 basic words above those
introduced in the Beginners Level Course.

Course Criteria and Required Knowledge

The basic criterion is that you have mastered the Focus Items introduced in the JET Program Beginners
Level Textbooks, including the hiragana and katakana syllabaries, the approximately 100 kanji, and the 800
words covered (or a similar level of Japanese). This course is designed to begin with that knowledge as a
starting point. Please refer to the Beginners Level syllabus.

Basic conjugations of verbs, adjectives, and nouns

Basic Particles

Basic Structures

How to count basic things, and counters

10

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Course Structure
This textbook focuses on developing communication competency, including conversational skills, in Japanese.
Using the CDs together with the printed text materials will ensure that you are getting maximum benefit from
your efforts. Listen to the CDs as many times as you can and familiarise yourself with natural Japanese.

One daily lesson consists of four pages.

One general subject is covered over a one week period (see syllabus on pages 18 to 21.
Here you will fill in
the blanks after
listening to the CD.

Here you will find

basic practice drills
of the key points.

This section gets

you used to
Japanese
pronunciation and
intonation by
repeating after the
CD.
Talk to the
people around
you using what
you have
learned.
Listen and repeat,
following what you hear
on the CD by about half a
second (a technique
known as shadowing).

The key points

of each lesson
are found here.
Before you listen to the
dialogue, review the new
vocabulary items found in
this section.

Here you will go over the

key points for this lesson
using example sentences.

Here you will find conversations

in a variety of contexts that you
are likely to encounter in real life.

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Intermediate Level Syllabus (p. 1)
Week/Day

Situation/Topic

Function

Study Point
Review
Review
Review

Affirmative assertion, suggestion

Book 1 Week 1

Book 1 Week 2

Book 1 Week 3

Miscellaneous

High School

Used to transmit information efficiently,

among persons already familiar with one
another
Distinguishing between in-group and outgroup relationships based on how you address or refer to your family members

Terms of address for family members

i-A + (size, cold, etc.)

Description/explanation

(plain form)

Focusing on a particular characteristic

A,V

Indicating/referring

Pronoun in Context: "ko, so, a" words

Partial negation

Try and see

Expressing the reason(s)/the situation

S1S2

Direction of an action

V (movement)
V (movement)

Expressing intention

V (present form)

Qualifications/role

Expressing an excessive condition

Expressing one's point/assertion, confirmaJunior High School tion

Elementary School

Shortened forms

noun forms of adjectives

(plain form)/

Expressing unexpected/negative reasons

Explaining your plan/intention

Expressing the reason why/explaining the

situation
Indicating respect regarding a superior's
actions

Book 1 Week 4

//

(plain form)

Change in future condition/situation

V (change)

Showing (someone) around

Low-key suggestion regarding unexpected

events

(plain form)/
Review
Review
Review

Expressing when something is completed/

done
Expressions of duration: "until" and "by (the
time)/no later than"

Book 2 Week 1

High school

completion
V vs V

Sudden changes/start

V/V

(Go)-ing through a place

route

Just as you expected/thought

Explaining

V + N

Replacing the word previously referred to

i-A/na-A

Explaining

Way of doing something/how to do something

V (stem)

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GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Intermediate Level Syllabus (p. 2)
Week/Day

Book 2 Week 2

Situation/Topic

Function

Study Point

Explaining the way something is

Intransitive Verbs 1

Explaining the way something is

Intransitive Verbs 2

Junior High School Explaining the way something is

Explaining the way something is

Transitive Verbs 1
Transitive Verbs 2

Expressing your surprise when the unexpected occurs

Providing information

12

Change occurring from then to now

V (change)

Explaining the way something is

Intransitive Verb +

Expressing when something is different from

your expectation
Book 2 Week 3

Elementary school Giving reasons/explaining situations

Explaining what an event/situation is

SN

Limited action: "only V-ing"

Expressing a decision/choice

Expressing events in the near future

Doing something that results in a continuing

state
Doing something ahead of time/in preparation
Book 2 Week 4

Miscellaneous

Within a set period of time

Transitive Verb +

Review
Review
Review

Book 3 Week 1

Book 3 Week 2

Book 3 Week 3

High school

Hearsay

Becoming something

Expressing when a condition is fulfilled,

then

supposition

Making an effort (to do)/determination

Showing surprise whensomething is more

than expected (as many/much as)

Numeral/counter +

Presenting an extreme example

Planned action when certain conditions are

fulfilled

Hearsay (according to someone)

Expressing a very small quantity/number

Junior High School Expressing when only doing a certain thing is

V
not enough
When certain conditions are met, then

(natural consequence)

Elementary school

Tendency/situation

Expressing change

Showing surprise when something is more

than expected (as many/much as)

numeral/counter

Explaining an objective situation

Perception/awareness

(sound, voice, smell, taste, etc.)

Expressing the capability/condition/possibility Potential forms

Termination/change of action

Explaining the ease/comfort of an action

V (stem)

Indicating a comparison

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Intermediate Level Syllabus (p. 3)
Week/Day

Book 3 Week 4

Situation/Topic

Miscellaneous

Function

Study Point

Hearsay

Like this/that/what

Explaining the difficulty/discomfort of an

action

V (stem)

Difficult action/result/resignation

Review
Review
Review

Condition, custom/habit

Forcing to do

V (causative)

Expressing when someone does kind deeds

/
to you
Book 4 Week 1

Book 4 Week 2

Book 4 Week 3

Book 4 Week 4

High school

Junior High School

Elementary school

Prohibition

Strong negation

Asking someone to do something for you

Request/demand

Permission

V (permissive)

Conditions

Offering to do kind deeds for someone

Warning, command

Giving advice/recommendations

Expressing a third party's wishes/hopes

Expressing a decision/resolution

Compromise, conditions

Expressing your opinion

Asking for suggestions/advice

Providing suggestions/advice

Trouble, offence

V (passive, negative effect/

inconvenience)

Purpose

Neutral description

V (passive: neutral description)

Miscellaneous

Review
Review
Review

Book 5 Week 1

High school

Being troubled by outside forces

V (causative-passive forms)

Expressing your regret/feeling sorry

V/

Expressing natural consequences

Expressing action to be done while in a current situation or before a change in state

plain form (present))

Guessing

Similarity, comparison

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL COURSE

Intermediate Level Syllabus (p. 4)
Week/Day

Situation/Topic

Function
V

Asking permission

V
V

Asking permission
Book 5 Week 2

Book 5 Week 3

Study Point

Junior High School

Decision regarding your habit

Depicting some unfavorable condition

Surmising from your experience

(conjecture)

For the duration

At one point in time

Informing others of instructions

Elementary school Expressing expectation/speculation

Explaining social/ethical/psychological limita- V

Book 5 Week 4

Group/social custom

Action just about to take place

Expressing your opinion modestly

Miscellaneous

Review
Review
Review

Book 6 Week 1

High school

Action one is in the middle of doing

Action one has just done

Indicating a typical example

NN

Expressing strong certainty

An event that seems about to happen

Expressing the idea that when someone was

V
about to do something, something else hap-

Book 6 Week 2

Junior High School

Expressing that when someone was about to

V
do something, something else happened
Conjecture based on hearsay

Indicating something that is not likely to

Apparently/seemingly

Colloquial expression of ""

Indirect description/avoidance of responsibil-

Command/encouragement
Book 6 Week 3

Elementary school Prohibition

Reporting command/encouragement/
prohibition

Imperative forms
V+ (negative imperative forms)
Imperative form/negative imperative form +

Honorific/respectful expressions

Humble expressions

Review
Review

Book 6 Week 4

Miscellaneous

Review
Review
Review

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

JET

800

3,500

41

51

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

CLAIR 5002,000

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2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

Advanced Level Syllabus (p. 1)
Book/Week

Book 1 Week 1

Book 1 Week 2

Book 1 Week 3

Book 1 Week 4

11

24
ANN/

V
/

V/

12

Book 2 Week 1

Book 2 Week 2

Book 2 Week 3

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

Advanced Level Syllabus (p. 2)
Book/Week

12

Book 2 Week 4

Book 3 Week 1

Book 3 Week 2

Book 3 Week 3

Book 3 Week 4

Book 4 Week 1

Book 4 Week 2

24

V
VV

2013-2014 JET PROGRAMME JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE GUIDE

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

Advanced Level Syllabus (p. 3)
Book/Week

Book 4 Week 3

Book 4 Week 4

Book 5 Week 1

Book 5 Week 2

Book 5 Week 3

Book 5 Week 4

Book 6 Week 1

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20132014 JET

GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE

Advanced Level Syllabus (p. 4)
Book/Week

Book 6 Week 2

Book 6 Week 3

//

Book 6 Week 4

26