Should I wait to take a JPLT test (specifically 2kyuu for me) until I have completed Heisig 1 or do you all think it would be acceptable to study readings and ect. for the exam before completing Heisig 1 as the test does only come once a year? I think if I work hard I could maybe pass 2kyuu this year because without studying 3kyuu already looks relatively passable to me (though of course I would study some for it if I chose to take it). I just thought maybe taking 3kyuu this year would be kind of a waste for me if I might be able to take 2kyuu by working hard on kanji and readings until December. Thoughts? Thanks for the input.
2007-08-23, 7:25 pm
Doesn't 2-kyu test kanji compounds? If that's so, RTK vol. 1 probably won't be enough since you're still just learning the meaning of the jyoyou kanji as solo kanjis and not combining them.
Course, I have never done a JLPT test yet. I'm spending my free time getting ready for 4-kyuu, so better wait for a veteran to give you imput.
Course, I have never done a JLPT test yet. I'm spending my free time getting ready for 4-kyuu, so better wait for a veteran to give you imput.
2007-08-24, 12:46 am
I've done (and failed barely) the 3kyuu a few years ago. I did a lot of review, thought I knew the material cold, and the test just totally ambushed me. What killed me wasn't kanji-- that was actually the easiest part of the test. What killed me was listening comprehension, and grammar that should have been taught in school, but wasn't. After that, I took an 18-month or so break. I'm getting back into the swing of things again myself.
The listening comprehension part sounded like it was voiced by the Japanese version of Mushmouth from the old Bill Cosby cartoon.
If you haven't already, get an old official test with the crummy cassettes that have the listening comp part on it. Play those cassettes through the worst piece of stereo equipment you have. Maybe have small animals chew on the speaker wires or something. Hire a guy to use a jackhammer outside, and another guy to bang on things with a hammer. That'll give you an idea of what my listening comp experience was like. Ugh.
But yeah, if you can easily pass one or two of the old 3kyuus, then you might as well shoot for 2kyuu, because 3kyuu doesn't seem to be worth much, or so it seems. I've been debating whether I'm going to try 3kyuu again or just wait a year and try 2kyuu after a year of solid obsessive studying. The closest place I can take it is in DC, and that just adds more to the cost. It's a tough decision either way-- having 3kyuu at least shows potential employers that you speak some Japanese, but it doesn't really have that ringing endorsement that 2kyuu will give you.
Heisig will help you some, but it's hard to say how much depending on your current knowledge of Japanese. I find that it helps me a great deal in recognizing kanji I knew previously and having a better feel for them, but just doing volume 1 alone won't teach you enough by itself to pass even the 4kyuu. I think of it as a very useful tool that helps me to learn Japanese faster, but without the rest of the study material, it's kind of useless.
The listening comprehension part sounded like it was voiced by the Japanese version of Mushmouth from the old Bill Cosby cartoon.
If you haven't already, get an old official test with the crummy cassettes that have the listening comp part on it. Play those cassettes through the worst piece of stereo equipment you have. Maybe have small animals chew on the speaker wires or something. Hire a guy to use a jackhammer outside, and another guy to bang on things with a hammer. That'll give you an idea of what my listening comp experience was like. Ugh.
But yeah, if you can easily pass one or two of the old 3kyuus, then you might as well shoot for 2kyuu, because 3kyuu doesn't seem to be worth much, or so it seems. I've been debating whether I'm going to try 3kyuu again or just wait a year and try 2kyuu after a year of solid obsessive studying. The closest place I can take it is in DC, and that just adds more to the cost. It's a tough decision either way-- having 3kyuu at least shows potential employers that you speak some Japanese, but it doesn't really have that ringing endorsement that 2kyuu will give you.
Heisig will help you some, but it's hard to say how much depending on your current knowledge of Japanese. I find that it helps me a great deal in recognizing kanji I knew previously and having a better feel for them, but just doing volume 1 alone won't teach you enough by itself to pass even the 4kyuu. I think of it as a very useful tool that helps me to learn Japanese faster, but without the rest of the study material, it's kind of useless.
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2007-08-24, 11:54 am
Thanks for the replies. Because you do not have to directly know how to write the kanji for the JLPT test, just recognize them, I think with some hardcore practicing in the next few months I may be able to take 2kyuu. I'm still not sure what I will do, but I do appreciate the input.
2007-08-24, 4:42 pm
Well, look at the "bright" side-- even if you don't pass 2kyuu, you'll have a very good idea of what to expect for next year.
In the end, though, I think it all boils down to how comfortable you feel with your progress in Japanese. Good luck with whichever one you choose. ^_^b
In the end, though, I think it all boils down to how comfortable you feel with your progress in Japanese. Good luck with whichever one you choose. ^_^b
2007-09-14, 12:42 am
As a follow-up, I did decide to take 2kyuu and have been studying for at least an hour a day for the past few weeks. I think I will be able to do pretty well on the test in December, or hope to at least. Anyway, now I was wondering how difficult the jump from 2kyuu to 1kyuu would be. I know there are far more kanji and such, as well as vocab and some grammar, but I think that using my current methods it doesn't seem so bad. Can anyone give me some first-hand insight on those test differences? Is it possible in one year with a decently good work ethic (I am studying at least 5 hours/wk for test prep along with Japanese classes and homework at school )?
2007-09-28, 2:36 am
Hi..I will also give 2 kyuu this year I pretty done the same thing as you did I've started preparation not for too long but I've studied at a min 3 hours a day maybe more ...and my feeling is that it's not hard 
..I will give 1 kyuu next year it's not so difficult if you keep the pace going .. thanks
..I will give 1 kyuu next year it's not so difficult if you keep the pace going .. thanks