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JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Printable Version

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JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - dudeshane01 - 2015-08-31

These tips are what I am using to improve my reading spead, understanding and getting into a habbit of going to next sentence, even when I encounter an unknown kanji.
If you are using a better method, please give your feedback below.

Method: (3 main missions)
Open the editorial section of your favorite Japanese newspaper.
Try to finish the passage in 10 mins, skipping unknown kanji.
If you finish in 10 mins 900-1000 words, <<first mission>> is complete
Then go through passage again and check unknown words again.
Were you able to catch the meaning without dictionary?
If yes, then you passed the <<second mission>>.
If not, try to achieve it next time.
<<Third mission>>, go through dictionary and add unknown words to anki.
I use rikaikun addon to save words to file with one click for me.

<<Remember>>
The real challenge is not to know the meaning of each vocab in the passage, but answer the questions asked at end. And all this has to be done in the shortest time possible.
If you are using only anki, you will probably get stuck at every new kanji in the passage, thus wasting a lot of time in the test.

Extra tips:
I personally read (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/) because they are not so bloated with ads.
Also, if you are using firefox, you can cut the extra clutter from page by using Stylish addon.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/stylish/
You need to know some css tips to use the above addon as you need to define the style of the page.
You can use my steelsheet for yomiuri to remove all extra elements from editorial page. (like sidebars, navbars etc.)
https://www.mediafire.com/?8gzpoktzg79wpm9

Below is a time limit guide if you want to pass the test.
http://jlptbootcamp.com/2011/06/jlpt-time-time-management-for-the-test/

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Jawful - 2015-08-31

Thanks for the ideas and the stylish suggestion/stylesheet. Easily installed and working like a charm. Will try to read one a day!

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - dudeshane01 - 2015-08-31

Jawful Wrote:Thanks for the ideas and the stylish suggestion/stylesheet. Easily installed and working like a charm. Will try to read one a day!
Very happy to know you implemented and found it useful bro.
Some tips to allow to use the code easily:
1. Install stylish addon (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/stylish/)
2. Press the stylish icon on top right of screen and press manage styles.
3. Press write a new style and add the code I posted in mediafire link above.
(https://www.mediafire.com/?8gzpoktzg79wpm9)
This will give you a clutter free editorial page to read.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Kuroro - 2015-09-01

Thanks so much for your post! I've been looking for a decent news website for quite a while now and I'm glad I finally found one Tongue

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - rich_f - 2015-09-01

Here's a pretty good 社説 site:

http://shasetsu.ps.land.to/

You get an editorial a day from a few different sources, with all of the obnoxious bits stripped out. Usually it's some combo of Yomiuri, Asahi, and Sankei's different editorials on a selected issue.

Archives go waaaaaay back.

Might not be a bad idea to think of some general reading comprehension questions to try to answer when you're done reading, too.

EDIT: Changed URL to http from https, site doesn't seem to support https. Bummer.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - sholum - 2015-09-01

rich_f Wrote:Here's a pretty good 社説 site:

https://shasetsu.ps.land.to/
Is it unavailable for anyone else? Currently unable to connect to the server.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - rich_f - 2015-09-01

Ah, it doesn't support https.

http://shasetsu.ps.land.to/

should work.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Kuroro - 2015-09-01

Doesn't really work for me either (none of the two)

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - rich_f - 2015-09-01

That's odd. I only get connection problems when I try to connect over https. It connects just fine over http.

I'm connecting from the US, on a PC, Win7, Chrome, if that helps. Dunno if maybe it's not compatible with your location, device, OS, or browser.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - yogert909 - 2015-09-01

works fine for me here in LA too.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - sholum - 2015-09-01

rich_f Wrote:Ah, it doesn't support https.

http://shasetsu.ps.land.to/

should work.
That one works for me.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Kuroro - 2015-09-01

rich_f Wrote:That's odd. I only get connection problems when I try to connect over https. It connects just fine over http.

I'm connecting from the US, on a PC, Win7, Chrome, if that helps. Dunno if maybe it's not compatible with your location, device, OS, or browser.
I guess it's my location then Sad I'm on OSX and I tried chrome, firefox and safari but it just won't work, I keep getting '503 Service Temporarily Unavailable', too bad

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - anotherjohn - 2015-09-01

Kuroro Wrote:I keep getting '503 Service Temporarily Unavailable', too bad
Same here, though it's possible to get around it by using google translate as a proxy.

This site has similarly boring content ideal for N1 practice :|

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Kuroro - 2015-09-01

anotherjohn Wrote:Same here, though it's possible to get around it by using google translate as a proxy.

This site has similarly boring content ideal for N1 practice :|
Nice lol I'm not really familiar with reading the news online, especially in Japanese, but they could have at least put a few pictures here and there to break down those text walls Tongue

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - RawrPk - 2015-09-01

rich_f Wrote:That's odd. I only get connection problems when I try to connect over https. It connects just fine over http.

I'm connecting from the US, on a PC, Win7, Chrome, if that helps. Dunno if maybe it's not compatible with your location, device, OS, or browser.
I have problems with the https too and I'm in the US (Los Angeles, Ca) area but http works fine for me.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - dudeshane01 - 2015-09-02

OK, I will post my results after following above technique for just less than a week.
I was completing the reading alone, somewhere between 12- 15 minutes due to a lot fo difficult vocab in editorials.
As of today, I read 2 editorials within 7 minutes each. (Vocab check and addition to anki is done later)
To check If I understood or not, I just make sure that I can reproduce summary of each paragraph in my head.
I think I am doing well at it now as the long type question is to be completed within 12 minutes to complete JLPT N1 or N2 test in time.
7 minutes reading leaves me with 5 minutes for answering the questions.
If I can improve the reading time to within 6 minutes, then It will be the best.

Will love to hear how it is going for other guys.

I have already amassed around 250 words which are used frequently in editorials now.
It is making reading the editorials faster.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - Joebluntz - 2015-09-03

I don't have any resources to share but the jlpt reading bits, at least the long portions, follow a pattern and are meant to trick you. I think the best way to improve your test score is to drill jlpt reading samples from kanzen masters series or something similar. As for speed, I think what you're doing now is a pretty good method of getting your speed up. Just keep in mind that news articles follow a very different format and flow (their main purpose is to simply transmit information) from the jlpt which can sometimes get into some pretty abstract concepts that don't can't necessarily be summarized easily.

JLPT N1 and N2 reading improvement tips - anotherjohn - 2015-09-24

I have a site to recommend for boring stuff: News Picks.

If you register (free), you can choose what kinds of articles you want to prioritise, plus opt in to a weekly digest email.

The top articles tend to have a lively comment section too, which seems to be a rarity.