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+--- Thread: December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! (/thread-12079.html)
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - gaiaslastlaugh - 2014-10-16
Hinsudesu Wrote:Get an N3 聴解 book. The ドリル＆ドリル books are my current favorites. Nothing but sample problems with detailed explanations. Plus, they sell a combined 読解/聴解 book, so you can practice both skills from the same text. Highly recommended.gaiaslastlaugh Wrote:So, how does everyone feel like their test prep is progressing?I have a burgeoning feeling that I won't pass the N3. I'm still working through the first part of the Kanzen Master grammar book and while I might manage to finish it in time for the test and scrape by reading and grammar my listening will probably not suffice. Getting any good listening training done is a bit hard for me as I'm also busy studying grammar and I'm a bit unsure how to go about it. Does anybody have any tips for listening training at the N3 level?
Kanzen Master is pretty good, if you want a book that covers all of the intricacies of the JLPT test questions and drills you in some foundational listening skills. Not sure what's in the N3 book, but the N2 volume has lots of practice drills on detecting affirmation vs. negation, understanding requests and direction of actions, etc. It's good, but after a while, I found it a little boring.
ドリル＆ドリル: http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4896894936/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=466449256&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=4896894863&pf_rd_m=AN1VRQENFRJN5&pf_rd_r=0KSZQ6CP58T162ETVQAY
Kanzen Master: http://www.amazon.com/Listening-Japanese-Language-Proficiency-Noryokushiken/dp/4883196097/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1413479630&sr=8-5&keywords=n3+listening
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - hyvel - 2014-10-16
gaiaslastlaugh Wrote:So, how does everyone feel like their test prep is progressing?This time my test preparation seems to be the exact opposite of how it usually goes for me. Normally I get little done without pressure such as an imminent exam and therefore have to cram in the period leading up to the exam. In this case however, as I've toyed with the idea of trying the N1 for about a year, I've steadily been preparing little by little over the past few months. Unfortunately, now that the exam is near, I find myself unable to allocate any significant amount of time to prepare and I feel like my skills are deteriorating.
Do you guys have any tips on how to keep one's Japanese alive with minimal time effort (the microwave program
)? Or what would provide the best return for time spent learning regarding passing the N1?I'm well aware of the flaws of the JLPT and the futility of just forcing oneself through the test, neglecting other aspects of the language. However, I'd still appreciate getting the paper certification and call it a day (with respect to the jlpt game).
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - kanon - 2014-10-18
For keeping N1 skills alive (not actual Japanese production skills)
- Anki vocab and Kanzen Master grammar sentences
- Read newspaper and essays
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - hyvel - 2014-11-05
About a month left until the jlpt! How are the preparations going for everybody?
kanon Wrote:For keeping N1 skills alive (not actual Japanese production skills)Does anybody have a recommendation for a good book to train reading speed & comprehension? Ideally I'd like something quite similar to the shin kanzen master dokkai book at the end where it's mostly 1-2 pages of texts with some questions about it.
- Anki vocab and Kanzen Master grammar sentences
- Read newspaper and essays
The reason I ask is because I haven't really read any significant amount of Japanese during the past few months and fear that I will get stuck at the well known reading speed choke point of the jlpt unless I get some practice in now.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ktcgx - 2014-11-05
I'm studying for N2, and feel like I will fail. Though hopefully not as badly as last time. I've been going through Core6k (not nukemarine's one, the other one that was put up somewhere on here) and I have a grammar book I'm going through, as well as some drill books I've borrowed. It's been really tough for me to have the energy to study though, but I really have to do something to improve my Japanese. Some people pick it up great (like a friend of mine who got to N2 ish level within 6 months), but it seems to be hard for it to stick for me. Conversation isn't really hard, and my production in terms of topics I'm used to speaking about is pretty damn good, and fluent. But understanding written Japanese somehow seems to be a sticking point for me. I'm hoping it's just trauma leftover from intermediate/high school/university when I didn't understand kanji.
Good luck to everyone else studying!
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - Aikynaro - 2014-11-05
My efforts of organised study basically fell apart. I'm not exactly surprised, but I did have some hope I could maintain some kind of discipline in the face of a looming test. Still doing plenty of reading, writing, and listening, but my tackle-the-kanji-once-and-for-all plan has been reduced to occasionally doing some kanji practice on my DS and my study-grammar-in-an-organised-manner effort has ended not very far through Tae Kim. Sometimes I skim another page, but at this rate I don't think we're going to get through much more.
I feel rather optimistic about the test anyway though. This may be unjustified.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - Hinsudesu - 2014-11-06
hyvel Wrote:About a month left until the jlpt! How are the preparations going for everybody?Going steadily forward towards N3, but I also find that I forget a lot of the details about the grammar I have studied. I'm feeling quite sure that I will fail (but hey, you never now!
). After the test I will try to focus more on reading and listening to comprehensible material instead of going forward at a fast pace. I think it will be better for me at this point to really cement what I know instead of just focusing on learning new stuff all the time.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - sunehiro - 2014-11-06
I'm a little worried because I can't find N1 past tests, so I can't evaluate my level, but that aside things are going well.
I'm reading a lot (1 book/week), and it's helping.
For the listening part I found some past tests and I scored between 50% and 80% (no clue on how the actual score would be).
I noticed that it depends a lot on the concentration I put doing the test, and on the silence in the room, too.
I'm not yet sure I'll pass, but going for N1 was definitely a good idea (N2 seems way too easy).
I'll do the test in Milan, if someone else is there let me know!
Good Luck!
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rmpalpha - 2014-11-07
I'll be sitting the N2 exam in San Francisco. From what it looks like, I'll be in the same room with the other test takers this year, but I guess I'll leave early since I won't be staying for the listening part (I'm deaf so I'm exempt from the listening test). I think this is better than the N3 test I took last year since I had my own room with my own proctor, and that was a little awkward.
I haven't really done much studying at all for the test - so I guess the test will be a measure of my current language ability. The vocabulary section on the practice test online seems kind of intimidating though so we'll see whether I pass the test or not.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - AlgoRhythmic - 2014-11-07
sunehiro Wrote:I'm a little worried because I can't find N1 past testsI would be very interested in this as well, in case anybody knows where to find some. I'm taking the test for the first time now in December (N1), and it would be nice to get a feel for how tight the time constraints are by doing an old test or two.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ktcgx - 2014-11-07
You can buy sample tests from amazon.jp, or you can try the google for something else... IIRC, the sample test is about 900 yen. If you contact your local embassy or consulate, the often have a small library which includes JLPT books which you can borrow, but obvs for some people the embassy might be too far away.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ariariari - 2014-11-09
gaiaslastlaugh Wrote:So, how does everyone feel like their test prep is progressing?Thanks for asking. It's going pretty well.
The truth is that the hardest part for me was deciding which level to take. This is my first time taking a JLPT and my gut was that I should take either the N4 or N3 exams. Lots and lots of people (in my conversation club, for example) told me they thought that N4 would be too easy for me, and encouraged me to take the N3. But then I bought an N4 practice test in July and basically bombed the vocab and grammar sections. I just reviewed my old scores:
言語知識（文字・語彙）： ５３％
言語知識（文法）・読解：５１％
聴解：７１％
So perhaps the biggest lesson for me was that people in my social circle really can't assess my level. Especially surprising was that people who were farther along than me (who say had passed N2) seem to have blended together the easier levels in their mind. I realized that with a score like this in July, I could probably comfortably pass the N4 in December but in no way pass the N3. You only need a 60% to pass, right? My total percentage was 58%.
Since then I've taken another class, and we're about to finish Genki 2. So I've learned lots of vocab and grammar since then. I'm off to Japan in a few weeks, and am planning to take some lessons while I'm there too. So I feel like I'm in good shape.
That being said, the practice test book I bought in July only had one exam in it. Does anyone know where I can get other practice exams?
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ktcgx - 2014-11-09
You should be able to find them in most Japanese bookshops for about 900 yen.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rich_f - 2014-11-09
4 weeks until the Real Thing.
I'm trying to minimize the number of tasks in my life in general so I don't feel overwhelmed, and so I don't feel like I have any excuse to pass on studying. I've ditched a lot of what I'd call "Extracurricular Activities" for now, like hobbies and stuff like that, so I don't have anything chewing into my spare time. I decided to be ruthless about it this year.
Also, I'm doing 5-6 online class sessions a week. That's helping, too. Putting some skin in the game makes it more painful to slack off. I suppose I should start gearing up for some practice exams in a week or so.
Keep at it everybody!
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - Zgarbas - 2014-11-09
Not taking the JLPT, but just a random realisation I had here... After taking my first English language test in 5 years, time in which I stressed out immensely every December for the JLPT, I realised that the test itself was often more problematic than the Japanese.
Going to the Toefl, which any English language learner will know is a fairly simple English proficiency test, was really stressful for me. I didn't get any sleep the night before, and during the test I had trouble concentrating and just wanted it to be over with. This despite the fact that I had no qualms about not scoring high on it; failing it does not register as a possible option for me. The English itself had absolutely no relevance. Yet, the JLPT stress was still there with me throughout. There's something about having to wake up early, offer timed responses (in the case of the Toefl, *recorded* timed responses... ugh) and know that this is after all a test and its implications (financial investment, time investment, the fact that if you fail you will have to wait to take it again, potential missed opportunities in case you do fail, etc.) that just automatically results in stress. What's on the test, what your stakes are, what your skills are, etc. have little to do with it.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - Bokusenou - 2014-11-09
Yeah, it's more like part endurance test, part Japanese test. I remember at the end I was so drained after N1 & N2 that all I could think about was resting...I'm sure my Japanese skills got worse the more tired I got.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - Taurus - 2014-11-10
ktcgx Wrote:You should be able to find them in most Japanese bookshops for about 900 yen.Something like this for example?
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8%83%BD%E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93-%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E5%95%8F%E9%A1%8C%E9%9B%86-N1-%E7%8B%AC%E7%AB%8B%E8%A1%8C%E6%94%BF%E6%B3%95%E4%BA%BA-%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E4%BA%A4%E6%B5%81%E5%9F%BA%E9%87%91/dp/4893588176/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415595648&sr=8-1&keywords=%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8%83%BD%E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93+n1
Or this?
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8%83%BD%E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93N1-%E6%A8%A1%E6%93%AC%E3%83%86%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%80%884%E3%80%89-%E5%8D%83%E9%A7%84%E3%83%B6%E8%B0%B7%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E6%89%80/dp/4883196526/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1415595648&sr=8-11&keywords=%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8%83%BD%E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93+n1
Does anyone know if these books are arranged as the actual test is? The second one seems to say it is a 'mock' test, but the first one seems to be a compilation of questions...
One of the things that I struggled with the last time I took it a few years ago was simply the format of the test (it was shortly after they introduced the new grades so there were new types of question etc.).
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ktcgx - 2014-11-10
Yes, the first one is the 'official' practice test questions, and I believe they're laid out like the real JLPT, the second I'm not so sure about, I've not really looked at those ones.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rich_f - 2014-11-10
The second one is designed to be "just like the real thing." I picked up a few of that series to practice with next week. With only 4 weeks left, I don't think it can hurt to try either one. Part of it, IMO, is practicing keeping your stamina up through the whole test. So pretend like it's the Real Thing. (And find an uncomfortably small desk/chair to work in.)
Practicing in any way you can for the real thing is really useful. I have learned that I have some bad habits that pop up when I feel like I'm running out of time: I'll skim the wrong things, and closely read the wrong things. (Reading section!!!!) So I'm working on making sure I read the questions really carefully-- not skimming them-- and if anything gets skimmed, it's the main passage, so I can find the right answer. I'm finding that that helps a lot.
My online classes helped me figure that out, too. Online teachers can be really great in that regard. One of them pointed out that with some questions, if you read them carefully enough, you don't even have to look at the main passage. (But you should to confirm!) For example, if the question asks for an example of some kind of 具体的被害, and only one answer is 具体的, then there you go.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ariariari - 2014-11-10
rich_f Wrote:The second one is designed to be "just like the real thing." I picked up a few of that series to practice with next week. With only 4 weeks left, I don't think it can hurt to try either one. Part of it, IMO, is practicing keeping your stamina up through the whole test. So pretend like it's the Real Thing. (And find an uncomfortably small desk/chair to work in.)rich_f, do you have nay online school/teacher you recommend in particular? I get the feeling that there are a lot of them now, and it's hard to tell quality.
Practicing in any way you can for the real thing is really useful. I have learned that I have some bad habits that pop up when I feel like I'm running out of time: I'll skim the wrong things, and closely read the wrong things. (Reading section!!!!) So I'm working on making sure I read the questions really carefully-- not skimming them-- and if anything gets skimmed, it's the main passage, so I can find the right answer. I'm finding that that helps a lot.
My online classes helped me figure that out, too. Online teachers can be really great in that regard. One of them pointed out that with some questions, if you read them carefully enough, you don't even have to look at the main passage. (But you should to confirm!) For example, if the question asks for an example of some kind of 具体的被害, and only one answer is 具体的, then there you go.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rich_f - 2014-11-10
I like JOI, because I've had good experiences with them. You can do an intro of 3 lessons for 900 yen, and take them pretty much whenever you want. They cover levels from N5-N1, in speaking, grammar, and vocab. (Separate classes for each, usually.) Yeah, their website looks a little cheesy, but I've had nothing but good experiences with them so far.
The pricing structure depends on a few things: if you're a dollar person, you can pay in dollars, but I find it's cheaper to pay in yen, because the yen is really weak these days, and they don't update the payment site quickly enough to reflect the changes.
Kind of like an arcade, you buy packages of lesson "tickets." You can buy as many or as few as you want.
I usually pay around $200 or so for 30 group lessons. That's $6.67 a lesson. For the JLPT, I'm burning through 5 a week, but usually I might do only 1 or 2 a week. Also, depending on the package, tickets have a fixed expiration date.
The lessons are generally 50 minute group lessons, with 2-6 people there. They are set up to be independent "chunks" so you can come and go as you please. (Extremely useful, but lacks the review ability... but I get why. It's more convenient for everyone that way.)
Classes are all in Japanese. (At least they are at N1 level. Dunno about other levels.) You can check ahead of time to see what topics the teacher plans to cover, so you can select classes that will do you the most good.
The classes are done in a Java chatroom program that they run when you log in. The teacher will start up a webcam, but you don't have to watch it if you don't have bandwidth. It's mostly voice/text chat, plus she'll use a Powerpoint-like whiteboard to present materials. Afterwards, you can save the chat window (which some teachers will put all of the relevant notes into), and/or the teacher will send you a lesson PDF. Varies by teacher. Generally, it's like a moderated chat. Keep your mic off until it's your turn to talk, otherwise it's chaos with feedback and echoes.
In grammar classes, the teacher will usually cover two topics at the level you want to study. Usually, a basic introduction to the topic (meaning, formation), some examples, some questions, then come up with your own sentences, and she'll correct them. It's a good way to "get" a grammar bit you don't know.
If you have the Kanzen Master books for whatever level you want to study, then you have all the textbook you need. (You don't really need one, but it's handy to have if you want to follow the teacher.) They have an agreement with 3-A, the publishers of KZM, so that's reassuring, too. 3-A makes good stuff!
The kanji/vocab classes are also really useful, because sometimes they'll cover stuff I never bothered to learn, or just never got to. I've done a few conversation classes, but I already have a conversation partner, so I don't really use those. I might use those after the N1. The ones I've taken have been good, though.
They also have a weekly N1 exam course, but it's almost over. They usually do it for the December N1, and it's really good, IMO. It finds a lot of my weak points. Argh.
You can also do private lessons, too, but I've never done those.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - ariariari - 2014-11-10
@rich_f Thanks so much. That's really good to know. I can't believe how cheap online classes are. It's just insane.
I know that self-study here is very popular but I really like having a class. This might be a good option for me. I'm taking an in-person class right now but I found that while the pace was too slow in the beginning now it's too fast. I had a number of big projects occur at work recently so I couldn't keep up with the class. A self-pace like that might be better. My class is also at night after work and it makes me so tired. If I could schedule something on the weekends that might be better for me.
BTW Do any of these classes have graded homework? I find that my teacher always finds important grammar mistakes when I submit homework, and that kind of feedback is useful.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rich_f - 2014-11-10
Nope, no graded homework. The idea is that you learn when you can, what you can, with no pressure to go to a set class at a set time. Homework would mess that up, because it would require some kind of continuity, which would screw up the "Drop in anytime" concept.
You get immediate feedback in class on the exercises done there, so there's that. And generally, teachers will answer other questions after class, but they have a schedule to keep, too.
But yeah, having homework is really useful. I have drill books I use for that, mostly.
Depending on what you want to do, you might also want to look into iTalki or JOI for private lessons, if you really want homework. You could always set up a weekly/bi-weekly with a private tutor there, and s/he can assign you homework. I have a separate tutor I work with weekly, and she keeps me straightened out on a lot of things, and she keeps my on my toes, verbally. And I can always ask her questions about grammar, which is really helpful.
Do whatever works.
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - sunehiro - 2014-11-11
I've found online past tests (actually they are simulations) for N1, they don't have the answers but they give you a % score when you submit your test. They even have an integrated timer.
The con is they're OCR'd so there are occasional errors, and probably someone could not like them for this reason.
Anyway, they seem totally legal but since they are on a chinese site (and I don't know Chinese) I prefer to not post here the links.
If you're interested let me know via PM
December 2014 JLPT signups coming soon! - rich_f - 2014-11-12
I've been working with a 聴解 training book for N1, because surprisingly, I have trouble with the JLPT version of it, and so far I really like it, mainly because it breaks down listening questions for you into chunks, so you can learn how to deal with them better. I figured I'd mention the book here, just in case someone is prepping for N1 and is having trouble with the listening questions. It's 耳から覚える日本語能力試験聴解トレーニングN1 by ALC.
I'm not sure if they do N2 or N3 versions, but it couldn't hurt to check.