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Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Printable Version

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Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - timewastin - 2009-08-22

Hi everyone!

I'm currently learning for JLPT2, and I will be done with the vocabulary list in 2 days (of course I have to repeat afterwards). I just checked the Reading/Grammar exercises of a past JLPT, and I noticed that I need much more reading practice. I could understand almost all the words, but it took me way to long to read the text.

Does anyone know any good sources of real-world reading material for my level? I don't want to practice using the past JLPT papers (I need them later to practice the test as a whole), and also I'm not looking for a textbook. The problem with most real-world Japanese (like the 朝日新聞 RSS feed etc.) is that it's too difficult for my level. I tried playing Chrono Trigger and Zelda for SNES, and it was okay, if not a little easy (except for the "fantasy" kinda words).

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Delina - 2009-08-22

Not sure if they're too textbooky for you, but I'd try Read Real Japanese and Breaking Into Japanese Literature. Check Amazon for details. The best part is they come with audio (free online in the first case, and included in a 'free' CD with certain editions in the second case).

For JLPT, Read Real Japanese Essays is probably a good start, since it is nonfiction. Kanji have furigana, and there is a facing page translation that's easy to hide (and easy to reference if you need help). Read Real Japanese Fiction is a similar format. Breaking Into Japanese Literature is a little different - vocabulary notes are provided at the bottom of each page, but kanji do not always have furigana.

If you can find it in a university library, ちょっとひとこと is a collection of letters to the newspaper, with a vocabulary guide and questions about each letter. It is out of print though so it may be difficult to find.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - wccrawford - 2009-08-22

If someone doesn't recommend reading manga, I think the world explodes, so here I go:

I don't know what JLPT level I am, but One Piece and Naruto are just -barely- above me right now, so they are really really good reading for me. I can read enough to enjoy it without a dictionary, but not so much that a dictionary is useless. I'm also reading Tsubasa Reservoire Chronicles, which is a little higher yet and I pretty much need a dictionary.

I recommend finding some mangas that interest you (because you're seen the anime, or the plot sounds good, or whatever) and flipping through them. If you can read most of what you randomly find, it's probably a good match.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - zazen666 - 2009-08-22

Delina Wrote:Not sure if they're too textbooky for you, but I'd try Read Real Japanese and Breaking Into Japanese Literature. Check Amazon for details. The best part is they come with audio (free online in the first case, and included in a 'free' CD with certain editions in the second case).

For JLPT, Read Real Japanese Essays is probably a good start, since it is nonfiction. Kanji have furigana, and there is a facing page translation that's easy to hide (and easy to reference if you need help). Read Real Japanese Fiction is a similar format. Breaking Into Japanese Literature is a little different - vocabulary notes are provided at the bottom of each page, but kanji do not always have furigana.

If you can find it in a university library, ちょっとひとこと is a collection of letters to the newspaper, with a vocabulary guide and questions about each letter. It is out of print though so it may be difficult to find.
I actually think thoses are great books, but too high for JLPT. Why dont you try the japanese graded readers? I don't remember the name of the company off the top of my head but a search will yeild them. They line up better with the tests in terms of selected grammar and kanji use

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - blackmacros - 2009-08-22

Really? I just picked up my copies of Read Real Japanese and didn't find them all that difficult. Are you sure they're above JLPT2 level?

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - chamcham - 2009-08-22

Do you mean these Japanese readers:
http://www.thejapanshop.com/home.php?cat=344

There's actually a Unicom book with 100 reading passages for JLPT 1 and 2.
I have it. It's not easy to find though. ISBN is 4896891619.

Kinokuniya now has it at their San Francisco and San Jose stores:
http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?KEYWORD=4896891619&AREA=02

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Jarvik7 - 2009-08-22

Those graded readers are barely even JLPT3 level even at the top end from the looks of it.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Tzadeck - 2009-08-22

wccrawford Wrote:If someone doesn't recommend reading manga, I think the world explodes, so here I go:

I don't know what JLPT level I am, but One Piece and Naruto are just -barely- above me right now, so they are really really good reading for me. I can read enough to enjoy it without a dictionary, but not so much that a dictionary is useless. I'm also reading Tsubasa Reservoire Chronicles, which is a little higher yet and I pretty much need a dictionary.

I recommend finding some mangas that interest you (because you're seen the anime, or the plot sounds good, or whatever) and flipping through them. If you can read most of what you randomly find, it's probably a good match.
Reading manga is great, but I'm not sure it will help you very much past JLPT3 other than helping you learn some vocab.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - timewastin - 2009-08-23

Thanks everyone! Smile I ordered Breaking Into Japanese Literature because it's educational (嘘) and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Thank you also for the other recommendations! Although I'm not really after Manga because I'm looking for long, uninterrupted blocks of text for practice.

Actually I would be interested in reading のだめカンタービレ, but I think I can't get the Japanese versions here in Germany (without shipping from Japan/USA)... Sad Can someone point me to a torrent? Smile

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - chamcham - 2009-08-23

timewastin,

Have you heard of mangahelpers.com? I'm sure you can find のだめカンタービレthere?
Note that this is no furigana in that manga.

If you're looking for long blocks of uninterrupted text, how about "light novels"?
Some light novels even become manga. The vocabulary and grammar is way above manga, but the plot is much less complicated than a "real" japanese novel.

Here are a couple that I would suggest:

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=9980418397&AREA=02&LANG=J

From Wikipedia:
"The series has been called a "unique fantasy" by Mainichi Shimbun due to the plot focusing on economics, trade, and peddling rather than the typical staples of fantasy such as swords and magic."

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=9977008280&AREA=02&LANG=J

"The story follows the title character, Haruhi Suzumiya, a high school girl who can unconsciously change reality, and her strange antics with her school club, the SOS Brigade, which she founded to investigate any mysterious happenings. Haruhi forcibly drafts her cynical classmate Kyon who narrates the series, and similarly recruits three additional members into her club: the silent bibliophile Yuki Nagato, the shy and timid Mikuru Asahina, and the friendly "mysterious exchange student" Itsuki Koizumi. These members soon reveal themselves to Kyon as the extraordinary characters Haruhi is seeking, sent by their various organizations to observe her and hold her reality warping powers in check by maintaining the illusion of a normal life."

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - chamcham - 2009-08-23

http://www.lightnovel.org is a good light novel news site.

There are even "light novel" magazines in Japan (similar to
how there are Shonen Jump magazines in Japan).

Here are some links:
http://www.lightnovel.org/magazines

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Tobberoth - 2009-08-23

I'd say Japanese wikipedia is pretty much JLPT2 level, at least in terms of grammar.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - bombpersons - 2009-08-23

I don't know if it's at JLPT 2 or not but I think this light novel series is really funny, 撲殺天使ドクロちゃん

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Tobberoth - 2009-08-23

I went ahead and downloaded Read Real Japanese and Breaking Into Japanese Litterature because of this topic. Interesting books I must say... very good for mining.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - DrJones - 2009-11-02

The Metantei Conan series of manga are real though and it's what I use as a practice for JLPT2&1. One would think they would be easier to understand as there is an anime for kids, but it's more like detective novels, with really intrincate words and expressions. There are a lot of volumes and they are really cheap! I've got about 40 and I'm currently reading the 7th volume. It's really fun, too.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Jarvik7 - 2009-11-02

If you are aiming for JLPT practice, fiction isn't what you want to be reading, since there is absolutely none of it on the test. You want to be reading essays, news articles, biographies, and the like. The kind of expression are very different between fiction and nonfiction. Really the best reading practice you can do for JLPT is previous tests and the test prep books.

Of course for actual practical benefit, you should be reading both fiction and nonfiction.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - ocircle - 2009-11-05

Jarvik7 Wrote:fiction isn't what you want to be reading, since there is absolutely none of it on the test. You want to be reading essays, news articles, biographies, and the like.
As much as I dread having to read Japanese news articles, this is sadly the case. A lot of the short and long articles are usually snippets out of biographies, popular essays, and mock-news articles and editorials. I think of all the things I am doing to prepare for the JLPT, reading the news has been probably as helpful as doing a few pages of kanzen master every day. When reading a news article and writing down the words you don't know in it to look up, you kind of end up memorizing words of a similar theme together (if the article is about the economy, you learn all these words, like 不景気(bad economy), 経済(economy), 失業者(unemployed person), 制度(policy), 政府(government), 就職(seek employment), 物価(cost of living), 低迷(recession) ...etc) so it is also helpful for memorization.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Evangelo - 2009-11-22

I'm currently reading 夢をかなえるゾウ by 水野敬也　「みずのけいや」.

It's fairly light, simple reading that uses a lot of vocab dealing with work and relationships. It might be a little easy for JLPT 2, but it's entertaining enough to tear through in a couple days.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - kazelee - 2009-11-22

@Evangelo

Have you given the series a look. It's a bit cheap on the budget side but it does have some hilarious moments.

Good real-world reading material for JLPT2 level? - Evangelo - 2009-11-22

kazelee Wrote:@Evangelo

Have you given the series a look. It's a bit cheap on the budget side but it does have some hilarious moments.
Yeah, I love the series. It makes for great practice for my 大阪弁！

Also, if you don't already, there is LifeHacker available in Japanese. Good reading material as well.