I'm going to take JLPT N3 this December (truly sorry for the misleading title. I can't edit it), but still new to JLPT's question's pattern and such. I only have 7 months from now on, so I'd like to ask if you think it's possible to pass N3 with just 7 months of study (I have around 12 hours of free-time everyday)? Also, I'd like to know the best book to studying for N3 level.

Maybe just additional information, I've learned RTK halfway (1700 kanji including 2010's new joyo kanji) but stop in the middle because I prefer to learn how to read them than what's the meaning every single of kanji (although it has helped me learning 1700+ kanji's meaning). And currently I've started using Basic Kanji Book 1 although only up to lesson 10. In summary, I focused on Kanji more and at least know almost all of N5's vocabs (haven't check N4's vocabs though).

[RawToast]

N4 or N3? The title and your post conflict xD

It's probably worth completing the RTK lite kanji (~1000 of them) that you haven't covered. It's likely to be around ~100 extra kanji for you.

I don't think there is a single book that will get you to N3 or N4.

Basically you're looking to learn a vocab of: ~1500-2000 (N4), or ~3500-4000 (N3). In addition to grammar to that level, which you could get from a variety of sources such as: Tae Kim (the entire site is close to ~N3), imabi, the lists on tanos, etc. You'd then need to polish on reading/listening.

It's tight, but probably doable. You could try going through Nukemarine's guide to N3 level and see where you get. Note that the guides 'around NX level' doesn't mean you will pass the test! They'll be some test specific grammar points and vocab to pick up.

I guess for a single book you'd be best getting an N3 specific grammar guide with exercises. Alternatively the DoBJG or Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication may be decent books for grammar, if you dislike the online resources.

RawToast Wrote:N4 or N3? The title and your post conflict xD

It's probably worth completing the RTK lite kanji (~1000 of them) that you haven't covered. It's likely to be around ~100 extra kanji for you.

I don't think there is a single book that will get you to N3 or N4.

Basically you're looking to learn a vocab of: ~1500-2000 (N4), or ~3500-4000 (N3). In addition to grammar to that level, which you could get from a variety of sources such as: Tae Kim (the entire site is close to ~N3), imabi, the lists on tanos, etc. You'd then need to polish on reading/listening.

It's tight, but probably doable. You could try going through Nukemarine's guide to N3 level and see where you get. Note that the guides 'around NX level' doesn't mean you will pass the test! They'll be some test specific grammar points and vocab to pick up.

I guess for a single book you'd be best getting an N3 specific grammar guide with exercises. Alternatively the DoBJG or Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication may be decent books for grammar, if you dislike the online resources.

Lol I know, sorry about that. I can't edit the title, so, yeah .. xD;

I'm trying to go for N3 (but if I can't make in time, then I'll just take N4).
How many kanjis do RTK provided actually (the one with additional 2010 joyo kanjis)? I learned it through Anki, and although I've reached the 1700th kanji, it still says that there are still 1000+ new cards (and this is also one of the reasons I quit RTK Lol).

What is DoBJG? Actually yeah, I dislike online resource (since I can't online all the time xD), but I heard it alot that Tae Kim is really good, maybe I should really check it. Do you personally think that 7 months (12 hours studying each day) is enough to study till N3 level?

[RawToast]

Jrc01 Wrote:I'm trying to go for N3 (but if I can't make in time, then I'll just take N4).

That's my method If you don't feel confident for N3, you should smash N4.

Jrc01 Wrote:How many kanjis do RTK provided actually (the one with additional 2010 joyo kanjis)? I learned it through Anki, and although I've reached the 1700th kanji, it still says that there are still 1000+ new cards (and this is also one of the reasons I quit RTK Lol).

The 6th edition has ~2100 kanji, I think the deck will have >3000 because it contains RTK3's additional kanji. If you have a standard 4th edition deck with over 3000 kanji, you should be able to suspend any kanji above 2100.

Jrc01 Wrote:What is DoBJG? Actually yeah, I dislike online resource (since I can't online all the time xD), but I heard it alot that Tae Kim is really good, maybe I should really check it. Do you personally think that 7 months (12 hours studying each day) is enough to study till N3 level?

Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Basic...4789004546

I'd say this would cover grammar up to N4 and a few N3 points. You'd need to find those it doesn't cover online. Whilst it's a dry read (it's a dictionary!) the grammar descriptions are the best around. You could probably get away with the Anki deck for it:
http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=10723

Personally, my goal was N4 after 9 months (I had to do RTK and kana in these 9 months) which would finish this July. I have the vocabulary (~16xx atmo), my grammar and reading ability is in between N4 and N5 and have 2 months and a week left.

I added vocab quite slowly after a while -- started at 15 a day, but moved to 6 to keep reviews under control, and currently do only 3 because I am focusing on grammar -- so you could easily progress faster than me. Note that I work full time and often on weekends too (sucks ) so I tend to do 1 hour a day plus any listening (radio/music).

RawToast Wrote:That's my method If you don't feel confident for N3, you should smash N4.

The 6th edition has ~2100 kanji, I think the deck will have >3000 because it contains RTK3's additional kanji. If you have a standard 4th edition deck with over 3000 kanji, you should be able to suspend any kanji above 2100.

Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Basic...4789004546

I'd say this would cover grammar up to N4 and a few N3 points. You'd need to find those it doesn't cover online. Whilst it's a dry read (it's a dictionary!) the grammar descriptions are the best around. You could probably get away with the Anki deck for it:
http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=10723

Personally, my goal was N4 after 9 months (I had to do RTK and kana in these 9 months) which would finish this July. I have the vocabulary (~16xx atmo), my grammar and reading ability is in between N4 and N5 and have 2 months and a week left.

I added vocab quite slowly after a while -- started at 15 a day, but moved to 6 to keep reviews under control, and currently do only 3 because I am focusing on grammar -- so you could easily progress faster than me. Note that I work full time and often on weekends too (sucks ) so I tend to do 1 hour a day plus any listening (radio/music).

3000?! That's why I'm getting bored w/ RTK since it feels as if the kanji'll never end Lol.

It kinda confuses me since it's a dictionary but the one it covers is grammar, not vocab. I'll search for its pdf then. Thank you for the suggestion!

Oh, you're going to take the test this July? Good luck for you! And N4 in 9 months sure take alot of time. But I think while you're doing grammar, it also helps you learn the vocab since the sentences must've contain some new vocabs. And yeah, listening to music helps alot, especially if you often watch anime (I learn most vocabs and pretty good in listening because of these).

You can get to N3 level in 7 months, yes. You can even get a little above N3 (but not N2), if you study hard and then also spend most of the free time left in a Japanese immersion environment.

As for the methods, look around this site (and others - I would suggest sites that discuss language learning in general, not just Japanese), try out some of the methods that look appealing to you, and eventually pick the ones you're gonna stick with. There's no point in someone telling you exactly what to do. This whole site is full of people giving that kind of advice: you have to pick from among them yourself.

Why are you taking the N3, btw.? Is it for a specific purpose, or just to test your Japanese ability? Even if it's important that you pass, you should leave JLPT specific material for the last month before the test. Before that, just try to study Japanese.

And if it's just to test yourself, then there really is no point to studying JLPT specific material at all: why game the test that you're evaluating your language skills with? It defeats the purpose.

Stansfield123 Wrote:As for the methods, look around this site (and others - I would suggest sites that discuss language learning in general, not just Japanese), try out some of the methods that look appealing to you, and eventually pick the ones you're gonna stick with. There's no point in someone telling you exactly what to do. This whole site is full of people giving that kind of advice: you have to pick from among them yourself.

That may be the best advice I've ever read here.

Stansfield123 Wrote:You can get to N3 level in 7 months, yes. You can even get a little above N3 (but not N2), if you study hard and then also spend most of the free time left in a Japanese immersion environment.

You mean like spending time chatting/talking using Japanese in social network?

Quote:As for the methods, look around this site (and others - I would suggest sites that discuss language learning in general, not just Japanese), try out some of the methods that look appealing to you, and eventually pick the ones you're gonna stick with. There's no point in someone telling you exactly what to do. This whole site is full of people giving that kind of advice: you have to pick from among them yourself.

Why are you taking the N3, btw.? Is it for a specific purpose, or just to test your Japanese ability? Even if it's important that you pass, you should leave JLPT specific material for the last month before the test. Before that, just try to study Japanese.

And if it's just to test yourself, then there really is no point to studying JLPT specific material at all: why game the test that you're evaluating your language skills with? It defeats the purpose.

I've found some books that people usually use to reach N3/N4, but in case there are still some really great books/material that I'd consider to use, I also ask some suggestion here. But yeah, I do really agree with what you say.

I'm going to take Monbusho scholarship, and the requirement in my country is that if I can't reach the minimum score of the national exam, I'm still eligible to apply if my JLPT level is around N4 (for specialized training program) or N3 (for undergraduate program). Actually N4 is already fine since I'm going to take the specialized training one in the end, but I thought if my JLPT is more than that, maybe it'll be a bonus score and I'll get higher chance to receive the scholarship.

Jrc01 Wrote:You mean like spending time chatting/talking using Japanese in social network?

Once you're able to, sure. But you can't really chat with someone in Japanese, before you're even N3.

I mean everything that means immersion: listening to music or radio, reading, watching television and movies. Early on, you have to watch stuff with subs a few times (or listen with a translation), to figure out what's going on, and then rip the audio for repeated listening. With reading, early on you have to also read with the help of the translation.

Later on, that's not necessary, you can read easy materials (especially with furigana) straight up, and you can watch stuff with Japanese or English subtitles and learn from them. You will know when you're at that point, because you will be able to understand a lot of what people are saying in Japanese with the help of the English subtitles (as opposed to just reading the English subtitles and ignoring the Japanese).

Immersion gets easier and easier the more you learn. Obviously. It's the same as with everything else really.