Written Japanese: Communicating Personal Information
This subtopic focuses on the ability to comprehend and compose written Japanese texts that convey personal information, such as names, addresses, dates, and brief biographies, within both social and workplace settings. Learners will develop skills in reading simple forms, emails, and notices, and in writing their own personal profiles, messages, and simple correspondence. Mastery of these foundational literacy skills is essential for effective communication in Japanese-speaking environments and for further language progression.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The WJEC Level 2 Award in Written Japanese: Communicating Personal Information focuses on developing the ability to write in Japanese for practical, everyday contexts. This qualification is designed for learners who have a basic understanding of Japanese script (hiragana, katakana, and some kanji) and wish to build confidence in writing about themselves, their family, hobbies, daily routines, and immediate environment. The course emphasizes accurate use of grammar, vocabulary, and polite forms (desu/masu style) to convey personal information clearly and appropriately.
This award is part of the ESOL & Literacy suite within WJEC-CBAC Vocationally-Related Qualifications, making it ideal for students who want to apply their Japanese writing skills in real-life situations such as filling in forms, writing simple emails, or composing short paragraphs about personal details. Mastery of this topic not only supports progression to higher-level Japanese qualifications but also enhances cultural awareness and communication skills in a global context.
Students will learn to construct sentences using basic particles (wa, ga, o, ni, de), express likes/dislikes, describe daily activities, and use counters for age and time. The qualification assesses the ability to write coherently and accurately, with a focus on conveying personal information without ambiguity. By the end of the course, learners should be able to produce short written texts that are grammatically sound and culturally appropriate.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Use of polite style (desu/masu) for all written communication, as informal forms are not accepted in this qualification.
- →Correct particle usage: wa (topic marker), ga (subject marker), o (object marker), ni (time/location), de (action location).
- →Basic sentence structures: A wa B desu (A is B), A ga arimasu/imasu (there is A), and verb conjugations in present/future and past tense.
- →Kanji recognition and writing for common personal information topics (e.g., 名前, 年, 国, 趣味).
- →Counters for age (さい), time (じ), and people (にん) – e.g., じゅうごさい (15 years old), さんにん (three people).
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Understand texts on personal information in a social or work context, Be able to produce texts on personal information in a social or work context
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for demonstrating accurate reading comprehension of key personal information in authentic or adapted written materials (e.g., correctly identifying name, address, date of birth from a form).
- Award credit for producing a written text (e.g., self-introduction, email) that includes all required personal details with appropriate use of basic kanji (e.g., 私, 年, 月, 日, 人) and kana.
- Award credit for applying appropriate register and politeness levels (e.g., using です/ます forms) in written communication according to the context (social vs. workplace).
- Award credit for correctly structuring the written text, including appropriate salutations and closings where relevant, and for accurate use of particles (e.g., は, の, で) in sentences.
- Award credit for evidence of proofreading skills, such as self-correction of errors in kanji strokes or verb conjugations.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡When reading tasks, underline or circle key information on the question paper to help locate answers quickly; for writing tasks, plan your response by listing the required personal information before composing.
- 💡Show evidence of editing by making neat corrections; if using pen, a single line through an error shows you can self-assess, which is valued.
- 💡Familiarise yourself with standard forms (e.g., 履歴書 - CV templates) and common personal questions to be ready for both comprehension and production tasks.
- 💡Always double-check particle usage and verb conjugations, as these small elements carry significant weight in accuracy assessment.
- 💡Plan your answer before writing: Jot down key vocabulary and sentence structures to avoid mistakes. For example, if writing about hobbies, list verbs like よむ (read) or きく (listen) in masu form.
- 💡Use a range of sentence patterns: Combine simple sentences with conjunctions like そして (and) or でも (but) to show control. Avoid writing only 'A wa B desu' sentences.
- 💡Check particle usage and kanji accuracy: Common errors like missing を or wrong kanji (e.g., 年 vs 才 for age) can lose marks. Practice writing kanji with correct stroke order.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Confusing or miswriting kanji with similar shapes, e.g., 人 vs 入, or 年 vs 午, especially when handwriting.
- Inconsistent use of polite language (e.g., mixing plain and polite forms in the same text) or overusing casual forms inappropriately in workplace contexts.
- Incorrect ordering of Japanese name (family name first) and date formats (year-month-day), leading to misunderstandings in formal documents.
- Omitting essential particles like は or using が incorrectly, which can alter the meaning of a sentence describing personal information.
- Spelling errors in katakana words (e.g., for name or country), particularly with small vowels or long vowels (ー).
- Misusing は (wa) and が (ga): Students often use が for the topic when introducing themselves. Correction: Use は for the topic (e.g., わたしは学生です) and が for new information or with certain verbs like います/あります.
- Forgetting to use polite forms: Some learners write in plain form (e.g., たべる instead of たべます). Correction: Always use desu/masu style in written answers unless the question specifies informal context.
- Confusing に and で for location: に indicates existence or direction (e.g., 学校にいます), while で indicates where an action takes place (e.g., 学校でべんきょうします).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for WJEC-CBAC Written Japanese: Communicating Personal Information
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic knowledge of hiragana and katakana scripts, as the course assumes ability to read and write these fluently.
- •Understanding of basic Japanese sentence structure (subject-object-verb) and the concept of particles.
- •Familiarity with numbers (1-100) and basic counters (e.g., つ, 人, 歳).
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Understand texts on personal information in a social or work context, Be able to produce texts on personal information in a social or work context
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