Theme 4: Future Aspirations, Study and Work
Topic: Using Languages Beyond the Classroom (Forming Relationships, Travel, Employment)
Welcome to this comprehensive study guide for Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Japanese (1JA0). In this topic, you will learn how to talk about the practical, real-world value of Japanese outside school. Whether you are aiming for Foundation (Grades 1–5) or Higher (Grades 4–9), mastering this topic will give you fantastic phrases to showcase across all four papers: Paper 1 (Listening), Paper 2 (Speaking), Paper 3 (Reading), and Paper 4 (Writing).
1. Essential Core Vocabulary
To express yourself clearly, let's break down the essential vocabulary into four digestible clusters. Don't worry if some kanji look difficult at first—focus on recognising their shapes and core readings.
A. Language & Communication (言葉とコミュニケーション)
• 外国語 (がいこくご / gaikokugo) – Foreign language
• 日本語 (にほんご / nihongo) / 英語 (えいご / eigo) – Japanese / English
• 言葉・ことば (kotoba) – Words / Language
• 話す・話します (はなす / はなします / hanasu / hanashimasu) – To speak
• 使う・使います (つかう / つかいます / tsukau / tsukaimasu) – To use
• 役に立つ (やくにたつ / yaku ni tatsu) – To be useful / helpful
• 上手［な］ (じょうず / jouzu [na]) – Good at / Skilled
• 下手［な］ (へた / heta [na]) – Poor at / Unskilled
• 得意［な］ (とくい / tokui [na]) – Strong in / One's forte
• 苦手［な］ (にがて / nigate [na]) – Weak in / Not one's strong point
• 練習する (れんしゅうする / renshuu suru) – To practice
B. Forming Relationships (人間関係を作る)
• 友だち (ともだち / tomodachi) / 友人 (ゆうじん / yuujin) – Friend / Acquaintance
• メール (meeru) – Email / Text message
• 手紙 (てがみ / tegami) – Letter
• チャット (chatto) – Online chat
• インターネット (intaanetto) – Internet
• 会う・会います (あう / あいます / au / aimasu) – To meet
• 知る・知っています (しる / しっています / shiru / shitte-imasu) – To get to know / To know
• コミュニケーション (komyunikeeshon) – Communication
• ホームステイ (hoomusutei) – Homestay (staying with a host family)
• 交流する (こうりゅうする / kouryuu suru) – Cultural exchange / To interact
C. Travel & Practical Exploration (旅行と観光)
• 旅行する (りょこうする / ryokou suru) – Travel / To travel
• 海外 (かいがい / kaigai) / 外国 (がいこく / gaikoku) – Overseas / Foreign country
• 観光 (かんこう / kankou) – Sightseeing / Tourism
• 案内する (あんないする / annai suru) – To show around / To guide
• 切符 (きっぷ / kippu) – Ticket
• ホテル (hoteru) / 旅館 (りょかん / ryokan) – Western-style hotel / Traditional Japanese inn
D. Employment & Future Careers (仕事と将来)
• 仕事 (しごと / shigoto) – Work / Job
• 働く・働きます (はたらく / はたらきます / hataraku / hatarakimasu) – To work
• アルバイト / バイト (arubaito / baito) – Part-time job
• 会社 (かいしゃ / kaisha) – Company / Office
• 将来 (しょうらい / shourai) – Future
• 給料 (きゅうりょう / kyuuryou) – Salary / Pay
• 経験 (けいけん / keiken) – Experience
• 資格 (しかく / shikaku) / スキル (sukiru) – Qualifications / Skills
Quick Memory Tip: To remember 役に立つ (yaku ni tatsu), picture a useful tool that "stands up (立つ)" to take on a "role/service (役)".
2. The Three Sub-Areas: Practical Application
Area 1: Forming Relationships
Language is first and foremost about connecting with people. In the UK and in Japan, knowing Japanese lets you build friendships that bridge cultures.
• ペンフレンドとチャットします。 (I chat with my pen-pal.)
• 日本でホームステイをして、ホストファミリーと話したいです。 (I want to do a homestay in Japan and talk with my host family.)
• インターネットで日本の文化について交流します。 (I engage in cultural exchange about Japanese culture on the internet.)
Area 2: Travel and Tourism
When traveling in Japan or helping Japanese tourists in the UK, practical Japanese makes everything smoother.
• 駅で切符を買う時、日本語を使います。 (When buying a ticket at the station, I use Japanese.)
• 旅館に泊まって、日本料理を食べたいです。 (I want to stay at a traditional inn and eat Japanese cuisine.)
• 外国人を案内することは楽しいです。 (Guiding foreign visitors is fun.)
Area 3: Employment and Career Benefits
Employers value foreign language skills because they open up international business opportunities and customer service roles.
• 将来、日本の会社で働きたいです。 (In the future, I want to work at a Japanese company.)
• アルバイトで外国語を使うと、いい経験になります。 (When you use a foreign language in a part-time job, it becomes good experience.)
• 日本語のスキルは仕事の役に立ちます。 (Japanese language skills are useful for work.)
3. Key Grammar Patterns for Theme 4
1. Expressing Purpose (Why you do something)
There are three main patterns to show intention and purpose:
A. Verb Stem + に行く / に来る (Going/Coming to do something):
• 日本へ日本語を勉強しに行きます。 (I am going to Japan to study Japanese.)
B. Plain Form Verb + ために (In order to do [deliberate action]):
• 将来、外国で働くために、日本語を習っています。 (In order to work abroad in the future, I am learning Japanese.)
C. Noun + のために (For the sake of / For):
• 将来のために、いろいろな経験をしたいです。 (For the sake of my future, I want to gain various experiences.)
2. Expressing Reasons and Conditional Benefits
A. Reason: Sentence + から / ので (Because / Since):
• 外国人の友だちを作りたいですから、日本語を勉強しています。 (Because I want to make foreign friends, I study Japanese.)
B. Condition/Natural Result: Verb Plain Present + と、〜 (When/If ..., then ...):
• 言葉が分かると、旅行がもっと楽しいです。 (When you understand the language, travel is more enjoyable.)
3. Expressing Ability and Development
A. Plain Verb + ことができる (Can do):
• 日本語で話すことができます。 (I can speak in Japanese.)
B. Potential Verb + ようになる (To reach the point of / Become able to):
• もっと上手に話せるようになりたいです。 (I want to become able to speak more fluently.)
4. Describing Past Experiences
Past Plain Verb (た-form) + ことがある (Have had the experience of):
• 日本でホームステイをしたことがあります。 (I have experienced doing a homestay in Japan.)
5. Expressing Wishes and Intentions
A. Verb Stem + たい / たくない (Want to / Don't want to):
• 旅行の時に、日本語を使いたいです。 (I want to use Japanese when traveling.)
B. Plain Verb + つもりです (Intend to / Plan to):
• 来年、日本へ旅行するつもりです。 (I intend to travel to Japan next year.)
Section Key Takeaway: Linking your reasons (〜から) with your future aims (〜たい / 〜つもりです) makes your speaking and writing sound sophisticated and well-structured.
4. Common Pitfalls & Examiner Warnings
Edexcel examiners frequently point out these specific errors in Theme 4. Keep an eye out for them:
1. The Particle with "Meeting Friends":
• Incorrect: 友だちを会う ❌
• Correct: 友だちに会う ✔ (To meet a friend) OR 友だちを作る ✔ (To make friends).
Why? The verb 会う (to meet) always marks the person you meet with the particle に.
2. Incorrect Particle with 役に立つ (To be useful):
• Incorrect: 日本語を役に立ちます ❌
• Correct: 日本語は役に立ちます ✔ (Japanese is useful) or 将来に役に立ちます ✔ (Useful for the future).
Why? 役に立つ is an intransitive verbal phrase and does not take a direct object with を.
3. Mixing up 〜ために and 〜ように:
• Incorrect: 話せるために ❌
• Correct: 話せるように、勉強します ✔ (I study so that I become able to speak) OR 話すために ✔ (In order to speak).
Rule: ために follows deliberate actions (plain active verbs). Potential verbs (indicating ability, like 話せる) must use ように.
4. Style Consistency in Paper 4 (Writing):
Do not mix plain forms (だ / だった) and polite forms (です / ます) randomly within the same piece of writing. Stick cleanly to the standard polite です / ます register unless an informal format is explicitly requested.
5. Over-relying on Katakana Transliterations:
Avoid making up katakana words when standard Japanese vocabulary exists. For example, use 友だちを作る (make friends), NOT フレンドを作る.
5. High-Scoring Model Sentences
Review these model sentences to see how grammar patterns, connectors, and thematic vocabulary combine smoothly:
Example 1 (Travel & Utility):
日本語が分かると、日本へ旅行する時、とても役に立ちます。
(When you understand Japanese, it is very useful when traveling to Japan.)
Example 2 (Relationships & Homestay):
去年、日本でホームステイをしました。ホストファミリーと日本語で話すことができて、いい経験になりました。
(Last year, I did a homestay in Japan. I was able to speak in Japanese with my host family, and it became a great experience.)
Example 3 (Future Employment & Skills):
将来、外国の会社で働くために、今一生懸命外国語を練習しています。
(In order to work at an overseas company in the future, I am practicing foreign languages hard now.)
6. Quick Revision Checklist
Before moving on, make sure you can:
• Recall the Japanese terms for foreign language, useful, homestay, experience, and future.
• Form a purpose sentence using Verb + ために and Noun + のために.
• Express your aspirations using 〜たいです and 〜つもりです.
• Use the correct particles for 友だちに会う and 〜の役に立つ.
• Maintain a consistent polite (です / ます) writing register.