I need to actually push myself to go for the JLPT this next time around (since I just missed the… - Feed Post by Arachkid
I need to actually push myself to go for the JLPT this next time around (since I just missed the deadline for this summer, that means December 2015). I got the N5 when I first got to Japan, and meant to take it again year after year since then - now it's been 5 years, and I'm sure I could take the N3 (if it weren't for grammar I could take the N2 or even do passably on the N1, according to results on practice tests). But every year life gets in the way or I decide to take driving lessons or yadda yadda yadda... this year I want to take N3... or maybe N2 - September is a long time (when you have to register). Going to go for it, just looking to see if anyone else here is going to take it, too? Maybe we could have a conversation about that. (Funny enough, I started out hating kanji above all else, got to the point where my logic center went... hey... this all makes perfect sense! Let's cram on kanji forever since there are so many apps and websites that make it easy to do)
posted by Arachkid
Comments 17
in this July i'm going to take N3, too :) but i'm not really confident, just 50%. especially my listening skill i think it's bad, listen and understand 全部 what they said are difficult to me ^^ could you give me some advice? :)
whats N3 or N2?
@Huong - For listening? Watch NHK specials, not the news. They use proper Japanese, but on the news you'll probably just get lost. Any other channel, and you're tossing a coin as to whether they're using proper Japanese - as in what you'll be tested on - or not.
@deadmo The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has 5 different levels. As it used to have 4, the levels are now differentiated by having an N (for new) in front of them. N5 is the lowest, all the way to N1 which means you can get a job where you need to speak Japanese fluently. Probably (keep in mind it is possible to cram this test enough to pass without being able to actually speak Japanese or understand it, thanks to there being no speaking or writing sections).- arigatou! hope that i don't have to take it again in December :)
If your everyday Japanese is good, I feel you should be able to pass N2. Plus, as you know, if you want to do something other than teaching, N2 would definitely go a long way.
I passed N4 (was known as 3級 then) before coming to Japan and passed N3 and N2 while here. I'm going for N1 this July, but I have a feeling it's going to kick my butt. The grammar and kanji are difficult. From the mock tests I've been taking, it doesn't look like I will fare well. But I still have some time to study, so I'll be using my time wisely.- I use fairly simple grammar instead of diversifying, which doesn't help things. I need to start pushing myself to use different ways of saying things. What level I take really depends on the free time I have to study between now and September, when I'll have a good idea of what I can do in the remaining three months if I need to. I have a one year old, which really sucks away from free personal time (but adds to happiness immensely) but work as an ALT, which has a lot of downtime, thankfully. We'll see. I need to stop concentrating on vocab and kanji so much and move on to grammar, but of course it's a more difficult path, with less apps that help you power through stuff.
- You hit the nail on the head. The one thing I love about this job is the downtime. Especially in your situation, I would say studying isn't as important at home. This past week I've been a little busy, but I normally have three classes a day, which gives me plenty of time to study. I wouldn't advise taking a test you know you're going to fail, but the passing mark for N2 is 90/180, which I think is more than doable for someone who's lived in Japan as long as you have. You'd be surprise how much you know unless you haven't done well on mock tests if you've been taking them.
- No, I've been doing fine, it's just a... confidence thing. I only have the N5, but really, by the time I took it, I could have passed the N4, I think, just... if I didn't, it would have been a huge blow to my confidence. I'm married, of course, and my wife (well, really, outside of school, my LIFE) is Japanese, so I can guess a lot of what I don't absolutely know. I do have a habit of learning absolutely useless - well, not really, but in terms of JLPT - stuff. I know where the name for Yakuza came from, I can identify any prefecture's flag by seeing it, I know almost all of the geography of Japan including the capitals, but I really should be grinding on more grammar. :P
- so these N5-N1 tests are just vocab? thats not to bad at all lol. who gives these tests?
http://www.aatj.org/jlpt I've taken the N4 multiple times and it's always harder than I think it's going to be. You should have a reason to take it and take a class just for it. The way it's setup is a major psyche out.- http://www.aatj.org/jlpt I've taken the N4 multiple times and it's always harder than I think it's going to be. You should have a reason to take it and take a class just for it. The way it's setup is a major psyche out.
- For the N4? I've gotten my hands on past versions of the N4 and would not say it's set up to be anything but straightforward. Have any examples of what is so difficult?
- Looking at the test at home and taking it are not the same thing. The way the reading part is timed is hard to prepare for and the listening section only plays through once. It's a test of test-taking skill as much as what you know. Also take note you need to a higher correct percentage to pass each level you go up.
You do need to learn kanji for the JLPT tests, right? I was going to respond to Deadmo (above) that it tests not just vocabulary but also listening, reading, grammar, and kanji, but I did a quick blast through the N5 sample questions on the official site and didn't notice any kanji without furigana. (??? unless I just wasn't being very observant...)
http://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/forlearners.html
Maybe I should check on one of the higher levels? I picked N5 because I thought it would be quickest. (I also got 1 of the 15 questions wrong. oops.) :P- Oh wow I'm special. Just realised the very first question was kanji reading "新しい" = あたらしい. I didn't even notice the first time... (and there are 14 sample questions, not 15...) bleh. :S
- You need kanji, grammar, comprehension(reading, and making sure you understand the contents of what you read), and listening for the JLPT. I would only suggest taking N5 if you're like me and think that flunking the first JLPT you take might hit your ego/self-confidence. It's the reason I took N5, and I think most people should be fine above that.
- I was afraid of flunking the N5 tbh but figured flunking the N4 would be less crushing. I think it was a good decision b/c the lower level certificates aren't worth much anyway and my score does improve each time. I was just looking for a way to gauge my self-study but I was not studying specifically for the test which is what you really need to do. Native speakers can fail the upper levels.
