Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture Intermediate 1 B1 – JF Standard Coursebook

Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture Intermediate 1 B1 is a Japanese coursebook for adult learners who have progressed beyond the elementary level and want to build stronger real-life communication skills.

Based on the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education, which is aligned with the CEFR framework, the course focuses on practical communication, cultural understanding and the ability to use Japanese naturally in familiar situations.

At the Intermediate 1 B1 level, learners aim to understand the main points of familiar topics and express their intentions, feelings and opinions together with simple reasons and explanations.

Rather than relying heavily on long grammar explanations, Marugoto encourages learners to understand how Japanese is used through practical situations, conversations and topic-based activities.

Product Features

• Intermediate Japanese coursebook for adult learners
• CEFR B1 level
• Based on the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education
• Focuses on practical communication skills
• Uses Can-do learning goals
• Helps learners express opinions, intentions and reasons
• Develops listening, speaking, reading and writing
• Strong emphasis on natural Japanese audio input
• Approximately 3 hours 23 minutes of audio materials
• Full-color pages
• Rich photographs and illustrations
• Includes cultural and intercultural learning
• Portfolio-based learning progress management
• Suitable for classroom and independent study
• 9 practical topics
• Recommended course length: approximately 80–120 hours

What You Will Learn

At this level, learners develop the ability to communicate in more detail and handle a wider range of situations in Japanese.

The course helps learners practice how to:

• Introduce themselves appropriately in different contexts
• Describe food and recommend dishes
• Talk about music and personal interests
• Discuss travel and accommodation
• Share recent news and personal updates
• Talk about manga and popular culture
• Discuss traditional Japanese martial arts
• Explain and recommend useful products and tools
• Talk about festivals and cultural experiences
• Write short practical messages, inquiries and descriptions
• Give opinions and explain the reasons behind them

Topics & Contents

Topic 1 – Meeting People for the First Time

1. Hello, Everyone
2. Excuse Me, But…
3. Nice to Meet You, My Name Is Mai
4. Please Feel Free to Follow Me
5. Writing a Profile

Topic 2 – Recommended Dishes

1. The Fish Here Is Especially Good
2. As for Okonomiyaki Flour…
3. Please Give It a Try
4. Adding Potatoes Is the Key!
5. How to Make Easy Sukiyaki

Topic 3 – My Favorite Music

1. Enka Is the Best, After All
2. Good Songs Never Get Old
3. What Is So Great About Her Is…
4. I Went to a BEGIN Concert!
5. Want to Go Together?

Topic 4 – Let’s Go to an Onsen

1. I’m at a Hot Spring Now
2. This Is My First Time at a Japanese Ryokan
3. The Place I Want to Visit Most Is…
4. I Was Very Satisfied
5. An Inquiry About Meals

Topic 5 – How Have You Been Lately?

1. Hey, Listen!
2. Work Has Been Busy Lately…
3. I’ve Really Gotten into Yoga Recently
4. An Update from Our Family
5. How Have You Been?

Topic 6 – Let’s Read Manga

1. It’s a Very Famous Manga
2. This Is Chopper’s Hat
3. It’s a Story About a Giant Who Loves Drinking
4. You’re Always Reading Manga…
5. Advice for a Worried Mother

Topic 7 – Try Japanese Martial Arts

1. I Practice Judo
2. What Day Is Practice?
3. I Learned It at School When I Was a Child
4. Japanese Martial Arts Spreading Overseas
5. An Inquiry About a Class

Topic 8 – Useful Tools

1. I Can’t Go Anywhere Without My Smartphone!
2. I’m Thinking About Buying an Electronic Dictionary
3. I Bought Something Really Good
4. Which Doraemon Gadget Would You Want Most?
5. Please Sell It to Me

Topic 9 – Traditional Festivals

1. The Festival Continues Until the 7th
2. I Danced Too
3. The Highlight of the Festival Is…
4. My First Christmas
5. A Festival Experience

Learning Approach

Marugoto focuses on learning Japanese through use and experience.

Grammar and vocabulary are introduced in the context of real situations, allowing learners to understand not only what a form means, but also when, why and with what nuance it is used.

The course is especially suitable for learners who already have a basic foundation in Japanese and now want to improve their ability to communicate naturally and understand more complex spoken and written language.

Free Online Learning Resources

A variety of supplementary materials are available online.

For Learners:

• Audio materials
• Multilingual vocabulary lists
• Scripts
• Multilingual text translations
• Multilingual study record sheets
• Writing worksheets

For Teachers:

• Teaching guides
• Vocabulary lists
• Sample test questions
• Oral test evaluation examples
• Writing test evaluation examples

Product Information

Product Name: Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture Intermediate 1 B1
Japanese Title: まるごと 日本のことばと文化 中級1 B1
Level: Intermediate 1 / B1
Framework: JF Standard / CEFR-based
Target Learners: Adult intermediate learners of Japanese
Number of Topics: 9
Audio Materials: Approximately 3 hours 23 minutes
Recommended Study Time: Approximately 80–120 hours
Format: Full-color Japanese language coursebook
Main Focus: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and intercultural communication

Who Is This Book For?

This book is recommended for learners who already have a solid elementary foundation and can manage everyday Japanese conversations.

It is especially suitable for students who want to move toward more independent communication, understand the main points of natural Japanese and express their own thoughts, feelings and reasons more clearly.

Important Note

This is the Intermediate 1 B1 volume of the Marugoto series.

For learners moving up from Pre-Intermediate A2/B1, this book provides the next step toward more confident and independent Japanese communication.