Hi people...I'm planning to take JLPT next year, I learned Japanese back in uni (degree time) for two years but only hiragana and katakana. Haven't touched kanji yet. After about 2 years of not touching japanese, I'm aiming to continue now. My reading is still quite slow but I'll push myself within the next few months to recognize faster. I watch a lot of dramas, anime and so basic everyday japanese should be fine for me.

May I know when is the exam usually held each year? I saw at the official site, July and December? So only twice a year?

I'm planning to skip N5 actually, and straight to N4. Anyone knows if the kanji in N4 is a lot? I kinda regretted not being chinese ed now lol...but it's okay, I'll just have to start from scratch.

thank you for the info and advice!

As for me, I was exposed to J-pop/drama about more than 10 yrs ago (primary school). But drg secondary school, I didn't follow much, kinda stopped and then end of form 5 I discovered my fav j-band and so I began listening to Jpop, watch anime and dramas till now. I love their culture, like...a lot. It's just something that draws me towards them, I can't explain what.

I'm planning to go kinokuniya this weekend to get some books for practice/study. However, when I surveyed last week, I saw quite a few choices so I didn't know which to choose. Any recommendations for the books that you guys used? especially for N5/N4 level?

This post has been edited by avanpiper: Jul 1 2013, 07:57 PM

I get where you're coming from...yeah, we're luckier now as it's very easy for us to get anime/dramas/jpop now on internet. But I do support my favorite j-pop bands/singers by buying their singles/albums/dvds But anime...anime is just toooo expensive for me. I mean, one boxset can cost up to hundreds Oh..I think it was around 2000 that I first discovered jpop/drama stuffs...but then they're slowly or rapidly you can say, being overtaken by hallyu...which was kinda sad. At least, to me.

Saw your thread and so you worked in Japan before? This will be bit out of topic so I'll spoiler it.


This post has been edited by avanpiper: Jul 1 2013, 08:50 PM

I actually like the whole separating garbage system, saw that a lot in dramas. Thought it'd be nice to have it implemented here but realized it's just not possible for our country yet. That's nice if your company paid everything. I'm currently still studying, probably another 2 years maximum to finish post-grad. And since I'm in research field, it's prob tough for me to find job there, even if I wanted to, unless, if I can find a company that has collaboration perhaps with Japan research centers.

That aside, may i know if there's writing required in the tests? I saw at the website that oral/conversation and composition are not included...so does that mean, the reading and listening is for us to choose the answers from multiple answers and select the right one? Sorta like our ABCD? Are we required to write sentences?

Haha lots of options there but still tough I know one of the most common job for gaijins is to teach English in japanese schools/institutions. I guess for me, I'll just graduate uni first and take a graduation trip to Japan, hopefully 2014 or 2015. Then from there, I'll find a job here, preferably a research company with some ties there. I'll see how it goes.

yeah hopefully So I started learning kanji yesterday...and the on/kun yomi is kinda giving me headache.

@ Flame Haze
I browsed through the official website and it's stated there as this:

Does the JLPT include a conversation or composition test?

No, neither is currently included.


Are all JLPT answers computer scored?

Yes, the JLPT uses a multiple-choice computer-scored answer sheet. There are four choices for most questions, although some "Listening" questions have only three choices.

So there's no conversation and writing. Like what oe_kintaro mentioned above, it's a multiple-choice question.

I'm currently 25 and still in uni, so after about 2 more years max, hopefully I'll graduate. However I'm bonded for 5 years due to scholarship (although some said it's not necessarily true) Either way, I'm gonna hunt for suitable jobs related to my field that have branches in Japan, hopefully after brushing up my language skills drg period I'm able to transfer over there. Even if short-term, good enough for me to experience the culture I've come to love a lot.

Flame Haze - I collect figures too...but not like your case. RM500-1k per month is a LOT for me to handle , even with scholarship. Considering I have car expenses, rent and my own expenses (don't get allowances from parents since undergraduate). I just get my favorites characters from fav anime

This post has been edited by avanpiper: Jul 3 2013, 11:02 AM

^ Wow...that's such dedication. I totally get it with Idols being one of the reasons. I was into MM too last time, well not much of a fan at all, but I love watching their shows (my fav member was Yossie, yoshizawa hitomi). And from their shows, I learned quite a lot of words/vocabs and just the way they normally speak. Anyways, that was amazing...that you can even translate their blogs. I hope to one day, able to translate like you too.

Either that or help one of the fansubbers to translate my favorite dramas etc..because sometimes, it's frustrating when nobody's translating certain shows you love to watch, so might as well learn the language yourself and do it xDD

Thanks for sharing~

Well for me, I plan to take JLPT N4 next July. Not gonna make it this Dec, just started studying Kanji this month. So far, I probably can only recognize about 80 kanji and write 70+. two weeks worth of study, but it's getting tougher with more to memorize. And I need to continue brushing up my grammar/vocab. I kinda regretted abandoning it for two years. I'm not taking any classes, self-study but almost everyday, so it's quite fun actually, at my own pace. Bought several books at Kinokuniya last week. Not cheap but for the sake of improving.

Since you guys are talking about reasons for JLPT, as for me, I'd like to challenge myself and see how much I can score or just to test my level of understanding. I also plan to one day maybe work in Japan so the certificate might help a little (hopefully if my future company wishes to send people over to Japan branch or anything like that). However, I do agree that speaking wise, you gotta have people to talk to only then you'll improve.

Recently, I met some Japanese fans (thanks to a certain fandom) on Twitter and I began to type in Japanese, I find it quite fun and trains me to express myself (sadly only in the form of writing). Nobody around me has liking in the language or share any interests in Japan so I've got nobody to talk to. But sometimes, I utter Japanese words or phrases subconsciously

Man...I'm jealous of you Chinese-educated people, much easier in learning kanji. This is probably the only time and moment I regretted not learning some Chinese back in my school days (even my sis went for tuition for a bit). So I gotta study Kanji from scratch now. So far, I can only write up to 80 kanji. Still tonnes more to cover.
T__T

And I find my listening better because I've been watching dramas/anime for the past 10 yrs, but reading is still slow So I'm training now.

This post has been edited by avanpiper: Jul 13 2013, 09:47 PM

I'd recommend you to just take the Japanese lesson in your local uni. I'm a banana and don't read or write any chinese characters as well, but that shouldn't stop you from learning Japanese. Imagine those from West who doesn't know a single Chinese but can still work in Japan, speak the language and write. I do agree it's a huge challenge esp for those who doesn't have prior knowledge of Chinese characters, since Kanji is similar, it was really tough for me too (even now) but if you really like Japanese, then that should not stop you.

Maybe you should try a semester and see whether you wanna continue or not. Btw, may I know what's the reason of your interest in Japanese? For me, I watch lots of Japanese dramas/movies/anime, love the culture and listen to J-music too. I think reading manga and watching their shows really help in improving your understanding (I'd say my listening is better than reading/writing atm).

So all the best and I hope you enjoy your lessons!