For grammar, I used mostly Kanzen Master and I would recommend it. The vocab is hard and a lot of it isn't even on the JLPT 2 list (although it's still probably useful for the test). The first time I went through the book, I was searching for a lot of words so it wasn't really productive but the second time was a breeze. I liked how they grouped all the similar structures together and had these tricky mini tests at the end of each section. I think it would be hard to finish this book and not do good on the grammar part.

Quote:"I found just looking at Kanzen Master to be more difficult than taking the actual test. The reading book is ridiculous! It is magnitudes harder than the real test and the time limits are just silly. In that regard it's a good challenging resource for actually learning Japanese (which is why I kept my set), but if your immediate goal is to just pass JLPT then there are better books out there in my opinion."

I have to agree with you on that. The reading book looks like they just took parts of native level material and never bothered to tone them down or find some that would be easier than average. If anything, the texts are actually harder than average Japanese. I'm sure even people who passed 1kyuu would still find some parts of the book challenging (like the placement test) Still, it doesn't mean that it's impossible to get the correct answers or that it makes for bad practice. I actually like practicing with native texts and not knowing what all of the words mean. But if you're just starting out studying for JLPT 2 it's probably going to be way above your head.

The UNICOM reading book is much easier. It has short texts and nice little explanations after each text. The downside is that it's not nearly as challenging. I would recommend getting both books and just doing them one after the other.

Transparent_Aluminium Wrote:I actually like practicing with native texts and not knowing what all of the words mean

...and for JLPT2 it's a good idea to get practice like that at some point, because the reading test is much easier if you have the knack of reading quickly and not worrying too much about bits you didn't quite understand or had to guess. You need to be able to understand it enough to answer the questions correctly, and no more :-)

(I didn't use the KM reading book, so I have no opinion on its texts in particular.)

I have found this list of books:

JLPT 2

新日本語の中級 本冊 　(ISBN:4883191613)
新日本語の中級 分冊英語訳 改訂版 (ISBN:4883192849)
新日本語の中級 文法解説書英語版 (ISBN:488319230X)
中級から学ぶ日本語 (ISBN:978-4327384432) /Yano
中級を学ぼう―日本語の文型と表現56 中級前期 (ISBN:9784883194476)
中級へ行こう (ISBN:4883193276)
日本語能力試験1・2級語彙対策標準テキスト(ISBN: 9784798016658)
徹底分析日本語能力試験文字.語彙2級 (ISBN:4336047340)
耳から覚える 日本語能力試験2級 文法トレーニング (ISBN:9784757412286)
完全マスター2級 日本語能力試験文法問題対策 (ISBN:9784883190881)
完全マスター2級 日本語能力試験読解問題対策 (ISBN:9784883194032)
完全マスター漢字 日本語能力試験2級レベル (ISBN:9784883192298)
実力アップ!日本語能力試験2級 文法編 (ISBN:9784896894301)
実力アップ!日本語能力試験2級聴解問題 (ISBN:9784896894516)
実力アップ!日本語能力試験2級 読解編 (ISBN:9784896894530)
日本語総まとめ問題集 [2級語彙編] (ISBN:4872176162)
日本語総まとめ問題集 [2級漢字編] (ISBN:4872175719)
日本語総まとめ問題集 [2級読解編] (ISBN:4872175700)
日本語総まとめ問題集 [2級文法編] (ISBN:4872176154)
出題傾向対策１．２級文字・語彙
突破日检2级听力 (ISBN:9861454888)
パターン別日本語能力試験2級徹底ドリル (ISBN:4757412851)
あなたの弱点がわかる!日本語能力試験2級模試×2 (ISBN:9784896894486)
JLPT 2 2000-2006 Exam Papers


JLPT 1
パターンで学ぶ日本語能力試験１級文法問題集(ISBN:9784901429252)
パターンで学ぶ日本語能力試験１級文字・語彙問題集(ISBN:9784901429443)
パターン別日本語能力試験1級徹底ドリル (ISBN:4757412843)
新基準対応日本語能力試験対策日本語総まとめ問題集(ISBN:9784872174823)
実力アップ!日本語能力試験 1級文法編(ISBN:4896894391)
実力アップ!日本語能力試験1・2級対策 文法・語彙編 (ISBN:9784896894318)
完全マスター1級 日本語能力試験文法問題対策 (ISBN:488319356X)
完全マスター漢字 日本語能力試験1級レベル(ISBN:9784883192823)
上級で学ぶ日本語 (ISBN: 978-4327384470)
日本語能力試験20日で合格文字・語彙1級 (ISBN:4336047774)
日本語能力試験出題傾向対策１級文法(ISBN:9579672083)
これで合格!日本語能力試験1級過去問と予想問題集 平成19年 (2007) (ISBN:4565081946)


Additional Grammar Books for JLPT 1/2

ポイント整理日本語文法 [1・2級直前問題集] (ISBN:9784872176193)
日本語能力試験20日で合格文法2級 (ISBN:4336048150)
日本語能力試験 漢字ハンドブック (ISBN:487234314X)
日本語能力試験20日で合格文字・語彙2級 (ISBN:4336047529)
新基準対応漢字・語彙問題 日本語能力試験1級・2級 50日完成 試験に出る漢字と語彙

(ISBN:4342881721)
日本語能力試験1・2級文法対策標準テキスト (スーパー合格) (ISBN:4798013056)
どんな時どう使う 日本語表現文型500―日本語能力試験1・2級対応 (ISBN: 9784872345896)
どんな時どう使う 日本語表現文型辞典 (ISBN:4757412355)

From what I read, it seems to be lower and upper JLPT2.

LOWER JLPT2:
-Unicom Series 実力アップ!日本語能力試験2級
-ASK Series 日本語総まとめ問題集

UPPER JLPT2:
-完全マスター
-どんな時どう使う

I am at lower JLPT2, I need to choose between Unicom and Ask, what do you think?

Get both the Unicom and どんな時どう使う, but make sure to get the right version. You'll be able to use どんな時どう使う for JLPT1 if you buy the version that has all the grammar points from all 4 levels of the test. It's a great grammar reference in general. The Unicom book will help direct your studies for just JLPT2 grammar points, and you can look up anything you don't understand in どんな時どう使う. I used both for my studying, and I passed. Not that there aren't other ways to pass, but I thought it would be useful information.

I have the kanzen master and I'm working through that. I like the sentences quite a bit and they break down the different usages of grammar points fairly well. It's seems it's a good prep for the JLPT tests.

I have the dictionaries of basic, intermediate and advanced grammar also. I love these books. I don't use them all the time, but when I really need something explained well no book does it better. In particular I really like how well they explain the differences between similar grammar points. I'd recommend getting the basic and intermediate, not just the intermediate. If you can, look at them before you buy them. They aren't JLPT study material, but they are excellent references. They are expensive, but worth it if they look useful to you.

Alright, screw this.
Here's my solution:
Buy Kanzen Master, どんな時どう使う and Unicom and I'm set.

chuubaka Wrote:Unfortunately, the definitions are sometimes too brief to convey the nuance of the structure, and distinguish it from similar sturctures, a problem that is compounded by meager cross-referencing. For example, there are 8 or 9 variations of かぎる, and the various 上's-- 上に、上で、　上では、 with different meanings depending on whether they combine with nouns or verbs, present or past tense, etc.

Wow, the various 上's are actually considered grammar? the first couple of pages of Kanji in Context use those in sentences :\ wtf :| I thought I was just learning words.

Sigh there is such a fine line between 'grammar' and 'vocab'

I'm taking 2kyuu next december.

My study method:

-Add Unicom's 2kyuu grammar book sentences and audio into anki (started recently)
-Since past december that I've been adding Nihongo somatome grammar in anki too.
-Vocab from 2kyuu list (anki)
-Unicom 2kyuu vocab/kanji book (anki)
-Listen to podcasts all day, listen to the news and add vocab in anki

'I also have donna toki, and will also start mining it, already with 1kyuu grammar points too. Does this book have all grammar points for 2 and 1 kyuu?

I'm still beggining to add unicom's books sentences in anki, but already have a good grasp of most 2kyuu grammar thanks to somatome.

To practise reading/listening I use yahoo's video news. Oh and shadowing.


I'm so glad I started using anki, thanks to this forum (started using the sentence method in march 2010)! Anki is now my main source of study, instead of boring textbooks (which I also intend on using). I didn't believe in any of this, but it does work. One just has to continue reviewing, adding etc.　「継続は力なり」ですね。

*push*
Hm, I must say since I could not get the follow-up volume of the Genki series in time, I decided just getting the Unicom Preparatory course for the (old) JLPT3. The grammar points are neatly explained, everything is kept simple. What do you think about using this book mainly for teaching myself grammar? Is it appropriate? (It does contain the practice section, but no conversations or stuff like that.)

@CarolinaCG: Wow, don't you overdo it a bit? I could not manage working with so many sources simultanously. I would get more confused rather than informed. In summer I will probably hit the Unicom Preparatory course for the (old) JLPT2 as well and would be awefully grateful to have your Anki deck for mining. I haven't learnt grammar this way, besides I tried Tae Kim which wasn't my cup of tea, and would like to try with this book as a ressource, as it's really really good (I think at least).

I also think that the Kanzen Master 2kyuu grammar book is a good reference. In addition to the mentioned book above, it's really practical (comparing example sentences.)

After finishing unicom's grammar book I'll re-add grammar but from donna toki. I like to use several sources, otherwise I'll get bored fast. : p

I once studied grammar using Kanzen N5-N1, but it wasn't interesting enough to keep at.

Personally, I'm doing video/music decks right now and I draw my grammar from that - I've learned, literally, a dozen or more structures I didn't know from this alone, plus solidified my knowledge of the basics. It's definitely less structured than doing Kanzen or an equivelent, but if you have the basics down (say upto N3 - Tae Kim + Genki for me) and some decent grammar books or the internet as a resource, you can't go wrong with it.

(As a side note, I've learned a lot of stuff that is just pure 'man-slang' or old school as well. This isn't so useful for real life, unless you're anime obsessed or like 12 years old or something, but makes it heaps easier to understand what I desire so strongly to understand: Manga and Anime.)

Tip: When you start out on grammar study set out 3 months where you let everything else but grammar boil (review only). It's best to be like an arrow sailing towards its target when it comes to grammar learning: reduce any wind currents to a minimum that might take you off target (like any other projects). Trust me, you want it done and gone - get yourself to N2 as fast as possible (3-5 hours of study for 3 months should do it, then 6 months of reviews, much like RTK) and then don't look back. (You can then take on another project or series of, but hold off during your grammar study as it's dang tough work.)

*I mean N2 in grammar only. Obviously, vocabulary, listening and reading to that standard can come later on.

中級を学ぼう―日本語の文型と表現56 中級前期

We just started using this in class last week, so I'm only one chapter in, so I can't give a good assessment on it just yet. There's this one and then a similar one with a blue cover (this one's orange) for the next level up.
Anyone got any experiences with it?

Quote:Tip: When you start out on grammar study set out 3 months where you let everything else but grammar boil (review only). It's best to be like an arrow sailing towards its target when it comes to grammar learning: reduce any wind currents to a minimum that might take you off target (like any other projects). Trust me, you want it done and gone - get yourself to N2 as fast as possible (3-5 hours of study for 3 months should do it, then 6 months of reviews, much like RTK) and then don't look back. (You can then take on another project or series of, but hold off during your grammar study as it's dang tough work.)

That's exactly what I'm planning to do. I have 6 weeks summer break and until then I would like to finish off the core6k deck (or at least everything till JLPT2 tag) in order to get the hang of most of the grammar as you suggested.
Concerning learning grammar I must say that it feels like you described above: I started, got distracted, lost interest and continued with Anki. I wonder if you have some grammar decks left and could share them with me, as it would spare a lot of time typing in everything. Also I would like to know how your grammar decks look like.*
Wonder what you mean by "studying" grammar? How did you study grammar?

Would you advise me going after Genki 2 with Kanzen Master 3, then 2 and then 1 for grammar (including the Exercise books for listening comprehension etc.)?

*(Why don't you open up a blog where you can post everything, answer questions like this one, cranks? It seems like you have tried a lot of stuff already and had success!)

Thanks for your precious advise in advance, man!~

Gingerninja Wrote:中級を学ぼう―日本語の文型と表現56 中級前期

Which one did you use before? Would you say, looking at the content table, one could use it after the Genki series, too?

Tori-kun Wrote:

Gingerninja Wrote:中級を学ぼう―日本語の文型と表現56 中級前期

Which one did you use before? Would you say, looking at the content table, one could use it after the Genki series, too?

I used Minna No Nihongo 1+2 before this. (well my class did) I think Minna no Nihongo and Genki are similar tho.

Thanks for the reply, gingerninja. I must say I *really* like the systematical way the jlpt preparatory books are designed, talking of the Kanzen series and the one called 日本語能力試験対応文法問題集 １級・２級. Just the question if they are appropriate to learn new grammar with..

When you want to test your grammar knowledge with JLPT style questions I recommend using 実戦問題で合格力を身につける、日本語能力試験対策　N2文法模擬テスト　published by Sanshusha. I bought it while I was studying for the exam in Japan. It was only ~1000 yen and is a really good way to test your grammar knowledge. Each unit has 20 multiple choice and 5 of the style with four blanks where you put the words in the correct order. They also provide explainations of the correct grammar in the answer pages. It is definitely the kind of thing to do after you have already studied all JLPT2 grammar from Kanzen Master etc though.