Mariko Sensei’s Japanese Learning Books
Mariko Sensei Japanbooks 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.




Reading Level Descriptions
Beginner Level (Book Level 1 - 3)
- Words & Phrases Level ・ Simple です・ますSentence
- Written in Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji with Furigana
- Equivalent level to the Australian Curriculum Japanese Language, Foundation - Year 6 Achievement Standards
Level 1
-
Words and Phrases
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Foundation to Year 2
Level 2
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Modeled sentences with です and ます endings
-
Present and interrogative forms
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Year 3 to 4
Level 3
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Basic sentences withですand ます endings
-
Present, past, and interrogative forms
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Year 5 to 6
Intermediate Level (Book Level 4-6)
- ます・て・たい Form 文章 & 五段活用 Godan grade conjugation
- Written in Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji with Furigana (Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 & N5: 170 Kanji + Japanese Senior Syllabus: 300 Kanji)
- Equivalent level to the Australian Curriculum, Year 7-10 Achievement Standards
Level 4
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Sentences, including additional information with です and ます endings
-
Present, past, and interrogative forms
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Year 7 to 8
Level 5
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Sentences with ます, てandたいforms
-
Present, past, and interrogative forms
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Year 9
Level 6
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Sentences withます, て, たい, and plain forms
-
Present, past, dictionary, interrogative, plain negative, potential, command, and volitional forms
-
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum – Japanese language/ Year 10
Advanced Level (Book Level 7 - 9)
- Equivalent level to the N4 & N5 Japanese Language Proficiency Test and above
- Equivalent level to the Year 11-12 Senior Japanese Syllabus
- Written in Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji with Furigana (Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 & N4: 170 Kanji + Japanese Senior Syllabus: 300 Kanji)
Level 7
-
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
-
In alignment with the Senior Japanese syllabus (Year 11)
Level 8
-
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
-
In alignment with the Senior Japanese syllabus (Year 12)
Level 9
-
Sentence Pattern
-
Equivalent to the required grammar for level 3 JLPT plus 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