Books & Levels

Earle sensei’s books do the following:

  • Are not only “made easier” for non-native readers but also contain carefully selected words and sentence patterns based on the reader’s reading level to teach authentic Japanese.
  • Contain visual clues, such as photographs and illustrations, to enable readers to easily follow the story.
  • Contain cultural aspects to enable the readers to “feel” and experience the Japanese culture.
  • Include ten levels so that the reader can progress at their own pace.
  • Are in alignment with the Australian Japanese Curriculum and the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
  • Include over 250 Kanji with furigana (all Kanji from the Senior Japanese Syllabus).
  • Use textbook fonts for the beginner levels and gradually introduce various fonts as the reading level progresses.

My aim is to help readers to experience successful reading so that they say, “I could read a story by myself” and “I enjoy reading Japanese books now.” I want to help readers to enjoy the journey of becoming more confident and avid readers in Japanese.

READING LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS

Beginner Level

Level 1

  • Words and phrases
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji with Furigana

Level 2

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, and information reports
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji with Furigana.

Sentence Pattern:

  • です ending
  • Present and interrogative forms

Level 3

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, information reports, narratives, recounts, etc.
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern:

  • Basic sentences withですand ます endings
  • Present, past, and interrogative forms

Intermediate Level

Level 4

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, information reports, narratives, explanations, recounts, etc.
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern:

  • Sentences, including additional information with です and ます endings
  • Present, past, and interrogative forms

Level 5

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, information reports, narratives, explanations, recounts, etc.
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern:

  • Sentences with ます, てandたいforms
  • Present, past, and interrogative forms

Level 6

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, information reports, narratives, explanations, recounts, etc.
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern:

  • Sentences withます, て, たい and plain forms
  • Present, past, dictionary, interrogative, plain negative, potential, command, and volitional forms

Level 7

  • Factual descriptions, literacy descriptions, information reports, narratives, explanations, recounts, etc.
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern: equivalent to the required grammar for level 5 JLPT e.g., ～のがすき、～たことがある、～より～のほうが、～でしょう、～にする

Advanced Level

Level 8

  • All text types
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana (some books do not currently have Furigana)

Sentence Pattern: equivalent to the required grammar for level 4 JLPT e.g., ～かもしれない、～ことができる、～みたいに、～のように、～にくい

Level 9

  • All text types
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana (some books do not currently have Furigana)

Sentence Pattern: equivalent to the required grammar for level 3 JLPT e.g., ～ば～ほど、～ばよかった、～によって、べつに～ない、～たらいい、～くせに

Level 10

  • All text types
  • Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji with Furigana

Sentence Pattern:

Equivalent to the required grammar for levels 1 and 2 JLPT
e.g., ばあいによっては、～ではすまない、～はおよばない、なるべく、～ですら (level 1)
e.g., ちっとも～ない、～だけのことはある、～かのようい、～にもとずいて、～ごとに (level 2)