Arupan
Member
Registered: 2012-08-05
Posts: 259
So I made a Japanese level determining system and decided to post it. Have a look and feel free to write any kind of comments and suggestions you like. Thank you.
/Attributes and Feats/:
Fortitude
You took your first steps in Japanese and have learned the language for ~1 year. You acquire +1 Reading, +1 Listening, +1 Writing, and +1 Speaking.
Great Fortitude ("Great Fortitude" negates Fortitude)
You've gathered some experience in your ~2 years of learning Japanese. You acquire +2 Reading, +2 Listening, +2 Writing, and +2 Speaking.
Master Fortitude ("Master Fortitude" negates the 2 above)
You've learned a lot of things others haven't and know many things in your ~3 years of practice. You acquire +3 Reading, +3 Listening, +3 Writing, and +3 Speaking.
Epic Fortitude ("Epic Fortitude" negates all of the 3 above)
You've reached the pinnacle – ~4+ years of training resulting in an epic boost of your ability. You acquire +5 Reading, +5 Listening, +5 Writing, and +5 Speaking.
The Unbeliever
You don't believe in making up your own sentences so you concentrate on reading and listening more native material without creating your own sentences. Add +1 Reading and +1 Listening but at the cost of -1 Writing and -1 Speaking because you start lacking creativity.
I don't take English for an answer
You follow the above motto and try to converse in Japanese as much as possible even if you're talked to in English. Add +1 Speaking but take -1 Listening because you don't seem to listen to what other people are trying to tell you.
Never Give Up
You've acquired the ability to speak freely about any kind of topic without falling back to your native language. Add +1 Speaking.
Skype Me
You have (or had) a native Skype friend with whom you speak (or have spoken to) occasionally. Add +1 Listening and +1 Speaking.
The Worker
You've worked in a Japanese company and have gained some confidence in your speaking ability. Add +2 Listening and +2 Speaking.
The Don
You have had a Japanese girlfriend/boyfriend for at least a year. Add +1 Listening and +3 Speaking.
Achiever
You successfully took JLPT N2. Add +2 Reading and +1 Listening.
Greater Achiever ("Greater Achiever" negates "Achiever")
You successfully took JLPT N1. Add +3 Reading and +1 Listening.
The Reporter
You can write a decent article in Japanese resulting in +2 Writing and +1 Speaking.
The Novelist ("The Novelist" negates "The Reporter")
You can write more than 25+ pages long reports resulting in +4 Writing and +1 Speaking.
The Translator
You don't believe in Google Translator and can translate a newspaper / technical material / editorial / contract pretty accurately and in reasonable time from both Japanese and your native language. Add +3 Reading and +3 Writing as you concentrate more on the content than usual.
The Enthusiast
You've completed a JASSO program. Add +1 to all stats.
The Survivor
You've survived a MEXT program. Add +2 to all stats.
Been there, done that ("Been there, done that" can't be taken more than 3 times)
You've lived in Japan for a year. Add +2 Listening, +2 Speaking and +1 Reading.
The Otaku
You've reached a level where you (almost) don't need to consult a dictionary in order to read manga. Add +1 Reading.
The Reader ("The Reader" negates "The Otaku")
You've reached a level where you (almost) don't need to consult a dictionary in order to read a novel aimed for adults. Add +2 Reading, +1 Writing, and +1 Speaking.
The Geek ("The Geek" negates the two skills above)
You've reached a level where you (almost) don't need to consult a dictionary in order to read a newspaper/comic/technical material/editorial/contract. Add +4 Reading, +1 Writing, and +1 Speaking.
The Pro
Your conversation skills are so legendary that people can't recognize you're not a Japanese on the phone even if you speak for more than 10 minutes. Add +3 Listening and +3 Speaking.
/Alignment/:
The Elitist:
You're much better than others without taking classes. Add +1 Self-Learning
Classy:
You prefer studying in a group or class. Add +1 Group-Oriented
... (in progress)...
You can calculate all your main attributes, Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking, and your overall level by summing them.
You can check your alignment through the Self-Learning and Group-Oriented stat.
Have fun.
Last edited by Arupan (2013 March 19, 1:15 pm)
Arupan
Member
Registered: 2012-08-05
Posts: 259
Yes? In my experience (and according to a few others) people who have lower Japanese ability are usually spoken to in English (can't tell you why, it just happens) or somewhat ignored by the shop clerks, for example? Besides, pretty much everyone should clear the first 2 questions in just a couple of months... It isn't that difficult.
Your formal education is a deciding factor of your ability... If you've learned something else as well in the mean time that's a different story but nobody really discourages you to do so. How many professionals have you seen without any kind of a diploma or a certificate?
Having a native girlfriend/boyfriend makes you experience lots of situations and teaches you many unknown everyday words. It fixes your grammar, etc... Saying that it doesn't matter is pretty naive.
Again thank you for the above suggestion though.
Last edited by Arupan (2013 March 12, 6:01 am)
nadiatims
Member
Registered: 2008-01-10
Posts: 1676
some more relevant questions (in no particular order):
Can you understand and follow television/radio playing in the next room while you're reading in english on your computer?
Do you find yourself eavesdropping on people's conversations in cafes, buses etc?
Can you understand country bumpkin japanese?
Could you shadow the above?
Could you do a reasonable job interpreting the above in real time?
Does the meaning of song lyrics stand out? or do you have to pay attention to it? or check the lyrics.
Can you pick up a novel and read it without a dictionary and without it feeling like it requires effort?
how about a newspaper, comics, technical material, editorials, forums, contracts...?
Could you translate the above accurately and in reasonable time?
can you speak freely about any topic without falling back on your native language?
When you speak on the phone, do people realize you're not japanese?
Do you sometimes forget that you can speak Japanese? and that that might be unusual.
Do you have to remind yourself that foreigners (family etc) don't understand japanese?
Arupan wrote:
Your formal education is a deciding factor of your ability... If you've learned something else as well in the mean time that's a different story but nobody really discourages you to do so. How many professionals have you seen without any kind of a diploma or a certificate?
that's because diplomas, certificates are very often legal requirements for professions (doctor, lawyer, architect etc) or are assumed by industry as the only reliable way to assess ability. It doesn't necessarily follow that you couldn't reach the same/better level through self study. It also doesn't follow necessarily that someone with a diploma/degree has reached the level that is necessary or useful. I believe certifications will become more reliable assessments of ability as certification is decoupled from education. ie. You study/learn at uni (or wherever) and then go to some other certifying institute to get your certificate.
Last edited by nadiatims (2013 March 12, 6:07 am)
Arupan
Member
Registered: 2012-08-05
Posts: 259
nadiatims, I added some of your questions. Feel free to comment on them if you like.
I think that even if you're studying X at a university, this doesn't ultimately make you better at it (like programming) but you'll have better chances for entering a big company, for example, does improving your level. Like I said, nobody stops you from studying ahead of the material in the mean time.
Stian, I don't have such and I made the above questionnaire out of boredom although it should be somewhat accurate. Participate if you want.
Last edited by Arupan (2013 March 12, 6:24 am)
Stansfield123
Member
From: Europe
Registered: 2011-04-17
Posts: 799
You know a language test sucks when a native Nobel laureate in Lit. would probably come in lower than the guy who wrote the test.
You should just get to the point and add "Is your username Arupan? : +1000" at the end. Everyone who would ever pick a username other than Arupan clearly sucks at Japanese. It's been objectively determined to be so.
Last edited by Stansfield123 (2013 March 12, 9:08 am)
Stansfield123 wrote:
You know a language test sucks when a native Nobel laureate in Lit. would probably come in lower than the guy who wrote the test.
You should just get to the point and add "Is your username Arupan? : +1000" at the end.
*laughs* Sounds like the basis of a lot of statistics driven tests I had to do way back in highschool. Testing to see how well people can take the test.
On a side note, I have my own system of "leveling" in the making, only it is really only for the individual that makes the system, works a little like a jrpg (only without the massive weapons), and is in entirely done a tongue in cheek thing to keep the motivation for arbitrary things in motion.
Then again, would such a system really be any different from the one presented here, I wonder?
Growl
Member
Registered: 2013-03-03
Posts: 87
@Stansfield123 Thank you, I had one of those deep lol's.
So, wait are you a nobel laureate? wtf
…
"I can read a Japanese novel backwards looking in the mirror" +2
"I can handwrite a Japanese novel backwards so that it will look correct when read looking in the mirror blindfolded while solving a Rubik's cube by inputting the move coordinates in Japanese in a Japanese Rubik cube simulator" +10
"I can speak 20 different Japanese dialects and have already invented 3 of mine". +7
Also can I play an Elf?
Last edited by Growl (2013 March 12, 9:31 am)
