Beginner #170 = Upper Intermediate?

[watermen]

Peter said somewhere in Beginner #170 that this lesson level is somewhere near upper intermediate....is the real Upper Intermediate series going to be at this level?

[Psy]

I just had a listen to it, and while I wouldn't say "upper intermediate," (too much of the dialogue is in English for that) there's no question that, given the grammar and increasing complexity of the sentences in the dialogue, it really is approaching intermediate-level material. It's interesting to note that Peter said "intermediate level" in Japanese but "upper-intermediate" in English-- maybe it was just a slip of the tongue?

Anyway, I'll join them in saying that, if you're reached lesson #170, you should feel really good about yourselves. You've come a long way from "konnichi wa" and "watashi no namae wa."

[watermen]

I just had a listen to it, and while I wouldn't say "upper intermediate," (too much of the dialogue is in English for that) there's no question that, given the grammar and increasing complexity of the sentences in the dialogue, it really is approaching intermediate-level material. It's interesting to note that Peter said "intermediate level" in Japanese but "upper-intermediate" in English-- maybe it was just a slip of the tongue?

Anyway, I'll join them in saying that, if you're reached lesson #170, you should feel really good about yourselves. You've come a long way from "konnichi wa" and "watashi no namae wa."

After looking at the first intermediate lesson again, I guess it is understandable why Peter said that, the intermediate lesson is very easy. It is easier than lower intermediate and higher beginner.

[NickT]

The first intermediate lesson was very easy, but it gets a lot harder. Don't be fooled. If I recall, Peter spent the whole lesson talking in English, about how the Intermediate level was going to be mostly in Japanese.

It settled into mostly Japanese after the first 2-3 lessons, and then stayed roughly the same difficultly untill lessons 15 or 20, when it seemed to get a lot harder.

Generally speaking, season 2 is more challenging that season 1, and also personally I found the standalone lessons much harder than the regular storyline lessons. For example, the fairlytales dotted through season 1, and the "destruction of nature" type lessons dotted throughout season 2 were very hard for me

It is the same with every series - If you go back and listen to lesson one of beginner series, and compare it to the last lesson, there is a world of difference.

[watermen]

The first intermediate lesson was very easy, but it gets a lot harder. Don't be fooled. If I recall, Peter spent the whole lesson talking in English, about how the Intermediate level was going to be mostly in Japanese.

It settled into mostly Japanese after the first 2-3 lessons, and then stayed roughly the same difficultly untill lessons 15 or 20, when it seemed to get a lot harder.

Generally speaking, season 2 is more challenging that season 1, and also personally I found the standalone lessons much harder than the regular storyline lessons. For example, the fairlytales dotted through season 1, and the "destruction of nature" type lessons dotted throughout season 2 were very hard for me

It is the same with every series - If you go back and listen to lesson one of beginner series, and compare it to the last lesson, there is a world of difference.

I do feel that too, it is getting harder, not easy at all. That's why I am revising Beginner S1, S2 and Survival again.

[markystar]

hahahahaha, the last part of the original beginner lessons (not season 2) were OUT OF CONTROL.

i'm not sure how that happened, but that kind of massive deviation from the intended target won't happen again as long as i'm around. i promise!

but i really like what Psyさん said, if you made it that far, you've really accomplished something. i know watermenさん has been working very hard. that said, i think the Beginner Lesson 170 is a nightmare if you just tuned in and were looking to get a solid grounding in japanese.

as for Upper Intermediate, the Upper Intermediate structure will be in 90% or more Japanese. we're gonna try to keep the grammar explanations and vocab in japanese, while the lower intermediates will still be peppered with enough english not frighten you away. hopefully!

[watermen]

hahahahaha, the last part of the original beginner lessons (not season 2) were OUT OF CONTROL.

i'm not sure how that happened, but that kind of massive deviation from the intended target won't happen again as long as i'm around. i promise!

but i really like what Psyさん said, if you made it that far, you've really accomplished something. i know watermenさん has been working very hard. that said, i think the Beginner Lesson 170 is a nightmare if you just tuned in and were looking to get a solid grounding in japanese.

as for Upper Intermediate, the Upper Intermediate structure will be in 90% or more Japanese. we're gonna try to keep the grammar explanations and vocab in japanese, while the lower intermediates will still be peppered with enough english not frighten you away. hopefully!

Actually I like the way it is uncontrolled. It is exciting. Too much control is no good. Beginner #170 was tough when I first listen to Jpod101 3 months ago, but it is not tough to me anymore. I actually like the beginner series S1, because it start off from things like 初めまして to things like 置いておきました。It is really amazing how much a student can learn from this series. That is why I liked the way it is uncontrolled.

[Javizy]

The last few Beginner lessons were mostly tough because they used some grammar points that hadn't been covered up to that point. In the Problem on the Pitch lessons the negative ending ~zu and causative were used without any mention, curveball style. Aside from that, I don't think they were especially difficult after having done 160 lessons.

People have been moaning about the difficulty of the lessons lately, but I don't exactly agree that they're much more difficult than usual, and certainly don't think it's anything to complain about. Nothing on this site even comes close to the difficulty to something like a news report, so I think some people need a reality check.

I find myself understanding a massive portion of the dialogues in the intermediate lessons, whereas I can only pick out a handful of words from a news report, or even this podcast about films that I listen to. The less I can understand, the more I can learn so I can't imagine why people would want to continually repeat stuff they already know: I like to learn something new, which is why lessons like Destruction of Nature and Food Bank are so good.