JPN3 test - letter of complaints

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Printable Version

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JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-09

I finally came up with a letter of complaint for the JLPT. I do not know how to start a new thread so I post here. Forgive me please because it is quite long. THis is the first draft I hope with your comments critics and suggestions to reach a better version than translate it to japanese and signing and mailing to the proper address...
This letter was thought to suggest a more proper treatment of students who attempt to pass the JPN3 test.
Unlike others I personally do not have a deadline or a admission test to some japanese schools that requires me to pass the test. Testing myself is just a way to keep focusing to a target in order to prevent me to be lazy on japanese improvement.
In my first JPN3 test attempt, last July, I had the bad feeling of not receiving any warning about the time ending. That shocked me since there is not logical and propedeutical reason for not doing it, hence I wrote the letter below.
I would love to hear your comments.

****** please you are encouraged to add your thoughts and even your english improvements!!! '( *******
Dear Japan Foundation,

I have decided to address you this letter after long time since I believe it contains a wish to improve your testing method.
Since I came to Japan I tested myself in IELTS test for English twice and for DITALS, Italian Professional certification for teacher. My background is vaste considering I am 47 years old, with a bachelor degree in History of Shows and I lived in U.S.A and London Uk for a while.

According to latest research in teaching and evaluating assessment process, some fundings are quite clear.
A language test is very difficult to prepare but it should not be more difficult than what is really necessary. This means that the language skills are shte solely ones at stake and no other skills must be assessed. For instance a language test conducted while the candidate is swimming in a 20 meteres long swimming pool would be somehow akward. Would you consider the result valid? What exactly the test would measure? The ability to speak or the ability to speak while swimming? And what difference is between those skills is hard to measure.
So the difficulty of preparing the language test is to neatly severe the language skills to other skills that maybe involved during the test .
It is much easier to think of a Language test prepared for a candidate who has got no arms. Would you ask him to write? Of course not, you would calibrate questions, and the way he has to answer in a different way. The finally assesment also would be difficult if you have not prior experience in dealing with such kind of student.
What if you have to assess a different skills than the language skills...say, for instance, the abilty to entertain. What would be your best solution? It is hard to answer but let me be your consulent since I have been working in the theatre field for more than 10 years, both in Italy and in USA. The best way to assess the ability of a candidate to entertain is to make him or her facing a real audience. Recording the audience response will give you a real measure to compare different candidate. Of course composing an average audience is kind of hard but not impossible.
Thank you for following until here, we are approching the problem of the JPN test.
For entartaing an audience for just 3 minutes, for instance, every candidate needs to prepare a short speech, rehearsing it enough times to be sure it does not overpass the duration of three minutes. Doing so he developes a special skill, I would call performing skill which is tipycal of perfomers, especially improvisational performers , that let the performer beaware of the passing time so the perfomer knows with a certain degree of precision when the last line must be addressed. In case of the speesh is already written, the skill entails the rythm, in cas of improvisational performance the skill is even stronger...
I think now you are beginning to understand the relationship with the performer skill and the language test...
During the Japanese proficiency Test time must be checked by each candidate individually, no signs of time passing during each section reach the candidates. In oder to prepare themselves for the test, candidate must train themselves to look at their watches or stopwatches...but, forgive me to ask you, is that a language skill?
For my experience that is a performer skill. Do you need to measure the performances skills of somebody who wants just learn Japanese?
This is of course is rethoric question and if you just look through the international literature about the subject of language testing, you surely would find different approach. Even so nobody will confirm that in order to asses a reading or writing skill or listening skill you need to assess simultaneously the performance skills. Those are relatives to speaking skills to whom you do not assess during the Japanese Proficiency Test.
I beg your pardon but there is one more point.
I know it is a long letter but it took me also more time than I thought to organize it. I tried to write in the simplest way in order to explain what I believe could be a improvement in your very well organized test process.
Since the JPN test are held not only in Japan but in different countries around the world I had the opportunity to raise questions to candidates who took the tests overseas, for instance in Usa, China, Italy or Thailand. The reality is that the JPN has some different standars in different countries. Sometimes, like I would normally expect during a language test, the Official Test Administers gives warning signs of the time passing and sometimes not....
I believe that depends from the different costumes of the places, even so, the language test should test the language skills and not the performing skills. In order to solve this theoric and pragmatic dilemma, I would suggest to chose a precise time warning for each section and give the administers instructions of how to deliver those, in every part of the world the test takes place.
Yours Sincerely

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Dudeist - 2015-10-09

Ignoring the issues with the English this is a screaming case of too long didn't read.

I tried to but you don't get to the point quickly enough and I lost interest. I can't see the people you are addressing this to reacting any different.

I believe on the other thread, someone had some advice that you should consider. Quick polite opening and closing and straight to your point.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - yudantaiteki - 2015-10-09

I agree. Short letter that clearly explains your problem.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-09

Thanks all.
I shortened a bit but I think it could be shortened more. I would love to
give motivaed reasons with solid background, like reaserachers names and books on the subject in order to cut the rhethoric styles - lately I have been reading Austin and Searle books (language philospers). I remember something about the IELTS preparation but I forgot it. Anyway here below a 2nd version.
****
Dear Japan Foundation,

I am writing in reference to the JPN Test method I experienced in Japan. Please consider this letter a contribute to ameliorate your well organized and highly efficient tests sessions.

According to latest research in teaching and evaluating assessment process, some fundings are quite clear. A language test should not be more difficult than what is really necessary. Only the language skills should be tested and no other skills must be assessed. For instance a language test conducted while the candidate is swimming in a 20 meteres long swimming pool would be somehow akward. Would you consider the result valid? What exactly the test would measure? The ability to speak or the ability to speak while swimming? And what difference is between those skills is hard to measure.

During the Japanese proficiency Test time must be checked by each candidate individually, no signs of time passing during each section reach the candidates. In oder to prepare themselves for the test, candidate must train themselves to look at their watches or stopwatches...but, I have not find anywhere that this is a language skills, infact that is a Performance skill. It would be perfect to test a candidate in that regard if you have to hire an anchorman for either a radio or a TV program.
Since the JPN test do not test the speaking skills why should it be testing the performances skills?

In order to solve this theoric and pragmatic dilemma, I would suggest to chose a precise time warning for each section and give the administers instructions of how to deliver those, in every part of the world the test takes place.

Furthermore since the JPN test are held not only in Japan but all around the world I had the opportunity to raise questions to candidates who took the tests overseas. Answers were shocking. The reality is that the JPN method has different standards in different countries. Sometimes - like I would normally expect during a language test - the Official Test Administers gives warning signs of the time passing and sometimes not in a erratic way.

I hope to have you bring up reasons for a slight modification of the JPN process. Thank you for your cooperation

Yours Sincerely

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Dudeist - 2015-10-09

My comments between the *** and ***
Some editing I don't comment on.
No doubt it could be improved further but I am not getting paid Wink

If you cut and paste everything together without my comments you will probably spot further areas of improvement.

Dear Japan Foundation,

I am writing in reference to the JLPT I wrote in Japan.

According to latest research in teaching and evaluating assessment process, some findings are quite clear. A language test should not be more difficult than what is really necessary. Only the language skills should be tested and no other skills should be assessed. For instance a language test conducted while the candidate is swimming would lead to questionable results.

****You said must be assessed, much is pretty strong language that probably overstates what you have read
The point you make with swimming pool is pretty obvious ***

During the JLPT time must be checked by each candidate individually, no signs of time passing during each section reach the candidates. In order to prepare themselves for the test, candidate must train themselves to look at their watches or stopwatches but this is not a language skill.

*** shortened the point further. However surely you don't consider time management the same level of distraction as swimming while doing a language test. One could also argue that every person using their own watch in silence is less disruptive than having someone count down minutes for you. However that addresses your argument, not how it is presented.***

I would like to suggest a time warning should be provided by the test administrators in a standard method globally.

In discussions with people who have taken the JLPT overseas I have found out that the test is conducted in different ways in different countries. The use of time warnings is one such way things differ. I find this a bit shocking.

*** I am assuming there are other ways the test method differs, if not than it isn't really all that shocking. I'd list them if there are, or edit things further if there are no other differences. ***

Thank you for your attention.

*** the other bit sounded a bit argumentative. Politeness to the point of grovelling FTW. Perhaps add "I hope to hear back from you on this issue.***

Yours Sincerely

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Dudeist - 2015-10-09

*** I put it together without comments, made a small change or two. I am not an editor, just some poor SOB who has nothing better to do on a Friday night***

Dear Japan Foundation,

I am writing in reference to the JLPT I wrote in Japan.

According to latest research in teaching and evaluating assessment process, some findings are quite clear. A language test should not be more difficult than what is really necessary. Only the language skills should be tested and no other skills should be assessed. For instance a language test conducted while the candidate is swimming would lead to questionable results.

During the JLPT time must be checked by each candidate individually, no signs of time passing during each section are given to the candidates. In order to prepare themselves for the test, candidate must train themselves to look at their watches or stopwatches but this is not a language skill.

I would like to suggest a time warning be provided by the test administrators in a standard method globally.

In discussions with people who have taken the JLPT overseas I have found out that the test is conducted in different ways in different countries. The use of time warnings is one such way things differ. I find this a bit shocking.

Thank you for your attention.

Thanks all.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-10

This is so effective! Thanks. I have to read it again and feel that anything valuable is not missing.
Reading philosophers gave me a tone of somebody who wants to prove what he says...I still keep an eye on that regard, as I would love to find the researchers that I mention only in a vague way.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - anotherjohn - 2015-10-10

The JLPT exams also test your ability to turn up on time. Perhaps you could add that to your complaint Smile

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Zgarbas - 2015-10-10

Can't you just say

Dear Japan Foundation,

I am writing in reference to the JLPT.
When taking the the JLPT in Japan, the time must be checked by each candidate individually, with no alerts or information offered by the supervisors.
In discussions with people who have taken the JLPT overseas, I have found out that the test is conducted in different ways across countries. I would like to suggest that a standardised time warning should be provided by the administrators in order to facilitate the test-taking process.

Thank you for your attention.

Best Regards,

Or, I don't know, buy a watch or something. Is it that problematic to look at the time every now and then?

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Dudeist - 2015-10-10

uaifestival Wrote:Reading philosophers gave me a tone of somebody who wants to prove what he says...

I didn't say it before, but your writing did have that clunky academic feel to it.
Good academic writing and good real world writing are two different things.

I'm a horrible writer myself but I can spot good writing in others.

Zgarbas version is even better although adding a line about how providing time warning removes a non language aspect from the testing would complete what you are trying to say.

I do agree with the others though. This screams first world problems. Quite frankly other than a 2 minute warning, I'd rather use my watch than be bothered and disrupted by constant time reminders.

Also they probably should do it the same way everywhere, but from what I have read that is the least of the standardization problems. Some locations are more disruptive to the test taking process than others. Time warnings vs no time warnings is the least of their problems... again if my understanding is correct.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - TheVinster - 2015-10-10

The one I go to in Chicago has clocks in the room, so...

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-11

Thanks all for you consideration, that helped me a lot to clarify my intents.

I have two ways of seeing it and both are fine, as long I do not know the reader.

Wanting to prove an argument is pointing to me toward an academic writing.
Wanting to just write a complaint, plus a suggestion the Zgarbas version is superb.

I would like to politely ask you
1) if you believe that the mixture of skills inside a test is not a problem.
2) if you have an idea of the situation of what is the JPN test in Japan.

To me 1) it is more than a problem, it is a mistake , I should call it technical/academic mistake, but until I cannot prove it is just an opinion.
2) here are coming student basically from all over Asia, struggling and studying hard to get a pass to a decent life - visa included - westerns are an impressive minority. It is not a hobby for them, and when I saw see those hundreds young guys, attending to a JPN test day, I was moved. The Japan Test is one of those cornerstones of their life. Thus they should be treated in a fair way. If 1 is not a mistake than they are. If it is then they are not.

The clocks are everywhere fellas....the point is another. Let me try explain in other way.
Get you interviewed by a journalist about something that you know very well. If the interviewer says to you that you have 90 seconds to speak, unless if you are prepared - or you ave memorized 90 seconds speech - it is more likely you are not saying what you wanted to because you run out of time or you ending some time before the 90 seconds. A performer not. That is a skill. A trained skill, not so easy to learn.

to the letter:
I believe that if you want to persuade a japanese you need to be persuasive, and let him/her seeing the advantage of the move you are suggesting. I think the letter miss that point...(Negotiationpowerpointdocument)
to Dudeist: "Some locations are more disruptive to the test taking process than others. " Could you elaborate that a bit, I am not getting it.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - yudantaiteki - 2015-10-11

To be perfectly honest, your letter will be ignored no matter how it's written, but it has a slightly higher chance of being read if it is short and to the point, like Zgarbas.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-11

Thanks Yudanteki, that makes perfect sense. It is also a suggestion to go personally to the Japanese Foundation office and signing the letter there in front of the desk secretaries... Smile

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - James736 - 2015-10-11

What's so hard about checking your watch?

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - rich_f - 2015-10-11

James736 Wrote:What's so hard about checking your watch?

Yeah, that. I have a simple analog watch I wear for JLPTs. Always have, always will. Set it to noon when they say start, that way I know how much time I have left.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - jimeux - 2015-10-12

I have a vague memory of being told there were 10 minutes remaining when doing N1 in London, but I can't be sure. It's meaningless anyway given that you have to manage your time per question. You have little chance of ever passing the higher levels if you don't practise doing this, even if your Japanese is better than the test requires.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Zgarbas - 2015-10-12

We had a clock in the room, and they gave us a 5 minute warning, too. However, I was too busy doing the exercises as fast as I could too bother looking up much. I don't think that looking at the watch counts as a skill. We didn't get a time warning for any other language test I've taken, though. Or for most things in life.

Quote:Wanting to prove an argument is pointing to me toward an academic writing

I hate to be mean, but your letter is not academic writing. At all. Doesn't even qualify for the sloppy academic writing category. It's overtly long, misses the point, and does not really say anything aside from the fact that you like to see yourself write. It fits with the stereotype about academic writing, where incomprehensibility is seen as a given, but I doubt you could find any person who would not frown upon it. There's nothing wrong with being verbose (lord knows yours truly has that problem) or giving out examples, but yours are just kind of irrelevant and a bit holier-than-thou.

Regarding the 'knowing the time you have in advance' bit, the JLPT test explicitly states how much time you have before the exam, and any student should know the time limit. What is the problem?

'Yo dawg looking at the clock is mendokusai can ya give us a warning or somethin' would be more to the point.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - hyvel - 2015-10-12

I fear that this complaint is quite pointless, and you could invest your time much better. I suspect your main motivation is a bad personal experience, so maybe venting your complaint will help you to get over it. However, don't loose sight of the big picture and get back to studying Wink

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - James736 - 2015-10-12

I think you have more hope of persuading them to change the way they do things if you don't contact them at all. You seem to be a non-native English speaker, and your writing is--forgive me--not good: it's rambling, vague, and disjointed. But even if you had someone else draft a (much, much shorter) letter for you, and even if that letter was in perfect Japanese, they're not going to change the way they do things.

Also, your claim that having to glance at your watch in order to ascertain the time remaining is an unreasonable hardship akin to being forced to take a language exam while swimming in a pool full of sharks is utter nonsense. No reasonable person would consider that a hardship.

(Ok, I made up the part about the sharks, but I think it demonstrates the silliness of your claim.)

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - Splatted - 2015-10-12

As far as I can remember, here in England there has been a clock in every formal exam I've taken and key times have been called out by the invigilator. It's not a big deal to have to bring a watch (though it erks to have to buy one just for the test) and keep track of things yourself, but the key is knowing well in advance that this will be necessary. I think any student who turned up expecting the exam to be administered in the way they are accustomed and did poorly as a result has a right to be peeved.

@uaifestival: If that's what happened to you then I think you should just put that in your complaint. You seem to be trying to present an air of detachment in the hope that an objective view will be taken more seriously but I think you've got it backwards. The organiser's need a reason to even consider your views and sadly, "this person seems really insightful!" is never going to be it, no matter how well written the complaint is. An unsatisfied customer explaining what the problem was is surely far more compelling to a business, so I would aim to convey that you are personally invested in the issue while being polite and succinct.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - uaifestival - 2015-10-14

So the final letter now is this version Zgarbas proposed,

Dear Japan Foundation,

I am writing in reference to the JLPT.
When taking the the JLPT in Japan, the time must be checked by each candidate individually, with no alerts or information offered by the supervisors.
In discussions with people who have taken the JLPT overseas, I have found out that the test is conducted in different ways across countries. I would like to suggest that a standardised time warning should be provided by the administrators in order to facilitate the test-taking process.

Thank you for your attention.

Best Regards,

So far, two of you says had time warnings during the test, Splatter and Zgarbas, Jimeux not recall well ...I remember somebody from Thailand said they gave them the time warning...if somebody else would add his or own experience in that respect please go ahead and post it.
Thank all, I will work on the japanese version of it.

The hypothesis of time awareness skill It does not seem have lodged well here ...good to know.

* going toward an academic writing means toward ...a new letter to write - not the first draft -, as you have clearly noticed.

JPN3 test - letter of complaints - James736 - 2015-10-14

I still don't see why it's such a problem for you, but if it is then why don't you ask them at the testing site to please make announcements?

RE: JPN3 test - letter of complaints - angelneko - 2015-11-24

(2015-10-12, 6:14 am)hyvel Wrote: I fear that this complaint is quite pointless, and you could invest your time much better. I suspect your main motivation is a bad personal experience, so maybe venting your complaint will help you to get over it. However, don't loose sight of the big picture and get back to studying !

I know right. I thought this complaint would be one the more common and pressing complaints such as "this test is unfair if Chinese is your first language"

By the way, I think it is pretty pointless to complain to the JLPT foundation because if you haven't noticed, Japanese love self-torturing themselves with wrote memorization exams (kanji kentei anyone?).

RE: JPN3 test - letter of complaints - kraemder - 2015-11-28

I enjoyed the letter but I don't agree with your point about the time. I personally just go as fast as I can and when they say there's 5 minutes left or whatever, 2 minutes, I just guess the rest. I know it's timed so I go as fast as I can. If you can't get through enough of the questions without guessing before the time is up then your Japanese skills were not good enough for the section is my opinion.