sweet_pez Just wanna ask, is the Japan Foundation at Mid Valley a good place to learn Japanese?

i got JLPT 4 cert 10 years ago, do i need to start over again from N5? or take N4 / N3 next?

tasukete kudasai senpai tachi~

loll you don't have to start over again... there's no requirement stating you must pass/ have taken a level below to move up. If you're confident, can even jump straight to N2 paper/ test

But 10 years ago vs now - if you rarely practice Japanese, may want to do more revision to refresh your memory. Dont worry, you have 5 months - next JLPT is in December.

oh i see, no such requirement, but i rarely practice so not really confident lol.
not only need to do more revision to refresh, i need to improve as well because I'm heta desu kara
thank you for your advice.

kansha shimasu

Later I'll update some info on Page 1 on JLPT, i think it'll benefit people who are interested to kickstart Japanese.

Revision will be the first stepping stone. You can do it. 頑張ってね！

It came to my attention that the info updated by @sweet_pez on the main post is not correct. While I'm arranging my links in my personal notes, here's what I can offer to everyone what you should study from zero all the way to advanced level. There is actually no fixed recommendations beyond N2 level, so feel free to pick any books that you feel you're able to cope with.

Please visit Kinokuniya's Advanced Search page for searching these books.

JLPT N5
Published by Japan Times
Genki 1 Textbook: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (9784789014403)

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1 Textbook [2nd Edition] (9784883196036)
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [2nd Edition] (9784883196043)

JLPT N4
Published by Japan Times
Genki 2 Textbook: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (9784789014434)

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 2 Textbook [2nd Edition] (9784883196463)
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 2 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [2nd Edition] (9784883196647)

Note: For Minna no Nihongo Elementary level, if you're struggling to memorise the vocabulary words, try to use my Anki deck to aid your early studies.

JLPT N3
Published by Japan Times
QUARTET: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills I (9784789016957)
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE (9784789013079) [Note: This may be out of print and possibly to be replaced by QUARTET. To buy this book, check Amazon or other sites.]

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 1 Textbook [First Edition] (9784883194681)
Minna no Nihongo Intermediate Level 1 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [First Edition] (9784883195619)

Published by Kurosio Publishers
TOBIRA Gateway to Advanced Japanese Learning Through Content and Multimedia (9784874244470)
TOBIRA: Grammar Power - Exercises for Mastery (9784874245705)
TOBIRA: Teaching Intermediate Japanese - Teacher's Guide (9784874245293) [Note: Comprehension text translations included inside]

JLPT N2
Published by Japan Times
QUARTET: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills II (Coming Soon)
Authentic Japanese: Progressing from Intermediate to Advanced [New Edition] (9784789014625) [Note: This may be out of print and possibly to be replaced by QUARTET. To buy this book, check Amazon or other sites.]

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 2 Textbook [First Edition] (9784883195909)
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 2 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [First Edition] (9784883196142)

Note:
To download Official Audio for QUARTET: http://bookclub2.japantimes.co.jp/download

Grammar Resources for your studies
A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns for Teachers and Learners (9784874246788)
Essential Japanese Expressions Grammatical Points Dictionary (JLPT N1-N5) (9784757418868)
A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar (9784789004541)
A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese Approach to Learning Japanese Grammar (JLPT N4 + Pre-N3) (9781495238963)

Practice Kanji?
Use Japanese Kanji Study - 漢字学習 to practice writing with the stroke-detection system. It is not entirely free, you only need to pay once. However, there is a custom premade set that you can study with. Includes JLPT sets, Kanji Kentei, Kodansha and Kanji in Context sequence.
I recommend Kanji in Context Reference Book [Revised 2nd Edition] (9784789015295). Although this 2136 kanji sequence is not JLPT oriented, the sequence is arranged from the most elementary, most commonly used, and technical kanji for advanced level. Tandem this book with Kanji Study app to maximise your knowledge efficiency.

If there are other good books, feel free to add more recommendations. I may not aware of other alternative books outside. These are the best routes I can suggest to everyone!
Thank you and good luck!

The information your provide on Page 1 is truly useful. Thank you 

Whats not correct ya? Please clarify. JLPT info is from official site so it should be accurate.

The link that I provided for Japan Times, the one you've tagged my name in the list is not for N1 and N2. The first QUARTET volume is served specially for N3, second QUARTET is catered for N2. That's why I have rewritten the post above for everyone's reference.

Alao the new QUARTET book catalogue listed under Online Download is only for audio files usage with the textbook itself. Take note that we have to buy the hard copy by ourselves, the books will be in the bookstore soon.

If possible, kindly tweak the numbers that you've placed on the main post to N3. Many thanks!

Hi All,

Sorry but noob here, do u guys know whether which learning centre that are offering course that we can use EPF monies
to pay for it? thanks for the spoonfeeding ya..

So far I haven't heard of any, but if language incentives yes.

MNC companies tend to be MORE generous than Japanese companies for the language allowance in my experience.
You can try checking with your HR to see if there are such perks or subsidy for picking up an extra language.

Other variations are being allocated extra allowance based on your JLPT level.

It doesn't really answer your question, but its worth a try

Ooh I just noticed this thread exists! I'm recently hired in a Japanese client based company so my JLPT cert was dusted and put to use.

Haven't practiced for years so in a way my language has karat-ed plenty, but 'm self studying on the side to catch up. Business level Japanese classes in ICLS has already started so I couldn't hop in.

I actually live in Setapak, and was a student at ICLS Bukit Bintang many years ago. When I took N3 (current N4) there was only 4 levels, the next year they increased it to 5, but I skipped N3 and went for N2.

For the most part N2 is sufficient to get employed, but the hard part isn't passing JLPT. It's daily conversation in a corporate environment. I'm having plenty of trouble here.

If you're talking about career options, a very good speaker with N2 has decent job prospects here.

i have been to chiba prefecture before

nothing to shout about..

It came to my attention that the info updated by @sweet_pez on the main post is not correct. While I'm arranging my links in my personal notes, here's what I can offer to everyone what you should study from zero all the way to advanced level. There is actually no fixed recommendations beyond N2 level, so feel free to pick any books that you feel you're able to cope with.

Please visit Kinokuniya's Advanced Search page for searching these books.

JLPT N5
Published by Japan Times
Genki 1 Textbook: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (9784789014403)

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1 Textbook [2nd Edition] (9784883196036)
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [2nd Edition] (9784883196043)

JLPT N4
Published by Japan Times
Genki 2 Textbook: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (9784789014434)

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 2 Textbook [2nd Edition] (9784883196463)
Minna no Nihongo Elementary 2 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [2nd Edition] (9784883196647)

Note: For Minna no Nihongo Elementary level, if you're struggling to memorise the vocabulary words, try to use my Anki deck to aid your early studies.

JLPT N3
Published by Japan Times
QUARTET: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills I (9784789016957)
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO INTERMEDIATE JAPANESE (9784789013079) [Note: This may be out of print and possibly to be replaced by QUARTET. To buy this book, check Amazon or other sites.]

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 1 Textbook [First Edition] (9784883194681)
Minna no Nihongo Intermediate Level 1 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [First Edition] (9784883195619)

Published by Kurosio Publishers
TOBIRA Gateway to Advanced Japanese Learning Through Content and Multimedia (9784874244470)
TOBIRA: Grammar Power - Exercises for Mastery (9784874245705)
TOBIRA: Teaching Intermediate Japanese - Teacher's Guide (9784874245293) [Note: Comprehension text translations included inside]

JLPT N2
Published by Japan Times
QUARTET: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills II (Coming Soon)
Authentic Japanese: Progressing from Intermediate to Advanced [New Edition] (9784789014625) [Note: This may be out of print and possibly to be replaced by QUARTET. To buy this book, check Amazon or other sites.]

Published by 3A Corporation
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 2 Textbook [First Edition] (9784883195909)
Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 2 Supplementary Translation & Grammar Notes [First Edition] (9784883196142)

Note:
To download Official Audio for QUARTET: http://bookclub2.japantimes.co.jp/download

Grammar Resources for your studies
A Handbook of Japanese Grammar Patterns for Teachers and Learners (9784874246788)
Essential Japanese Expressions Grammatical Points Dictionary (JLPT N1-N5) (9784757418868)
A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar (9784789004541)
A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese Approach to Learning Japanese Grammar (JLPT N4 + Pre-N3) (9781495238963)

Practice Kanji?
Use Japanese Kanji Study - 漢字学習 to practice writing with the stroke-detection system. It is not entirely free, you only need to pay once. However, there is a custom premade set that you can study with. Includes JLPT sets, Kanji Kentei, Kodansha and Kanji in Context sequence.
I recommend Kanji in Context Reference Book [Revised 2nd Edition] (9784789015295). Although this 2136 kanji sequence is not JLPT oriented, the sequence is arranged from the most elementary, most commonly used, and technical kanji for advanced level. Tandem this book with Kanji Study app to maximise your knowledge efficiency.

If there are other good books, feel free to add more recommendations. I may not aware of other alternative books outside. These are the best routes I can suggest to everyone!
Thank you and good luck!