Japanese textbooks and practice books containing syllabus for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 level were released here on Sunday. The books were brought out by S & N Hayakawa Enterprises.
The city based S & N Hayakawa Enterprises is a Japanese language school and cultural center, offering Japanese language classes at all levels. Established in 2005, it has published Japanese textbooks for the N5 and N3 levels in the past. It has now released the textbook for JLPT N4 level along with Kanji (characters used to write the language) Practice Books, which is a requirement for the JLPT N4 level examinations.
Speaking to City Express, S P Chenthil Kumar, Director, S & N Hayakawa Japanese Language School & Cultural Center, said, “These books are prepared by native Japanese scholars and Indian linguistic experts. The lessons in these books are structured to cater the needs of Indian students”. He added that, “In Chennai we have so far trained around 8,000 students in Japanese language of all levels of JLPT”.
Shimizu Yuko, a trainer in the center said, “While many Japanese companies are starting their ventures in Chennai in the recent years, knowing the language becomes an added advantage. Once the students complete JLPT N2 level, conducted by Japanese Consulate, they would have gained enough proficiency and able to employed as translators, interpreters or any administrative personnel in various Japanese companies”.
Releasing the books, Kayoko Furukawa, Consul, Consulate-General of Japan, Chennai said, “Every year the learners for Japanese increases in Chennai. Last year we had 3,000 candidates applying for the JLPT exams”.
During the event the first issue of in-house bilingual newsletter ‘Chakura Times’ was also released.