Studying Japanese long-term: beyond the JLPT

This post was inspired by a great article by blogger and japanophile Rainbowhill. For me, it’s been almost a year and a half since I decided to undertake the JLPT, and more concerted Japanese studies than I did in the past. I passed the JLPT3 (now N4), and am progressing toward the new N3 test. What amazes me is that I managed to stay with it this long, as many failed projects of mine don’t last long, but also how my approach to studying has changed. While some aspects have fallen by the wayside, the overall study continues. I think this reflects in large part more long-term concerted Japanese studies, as opposed to cramming for a specific test or goal.

Originally, when studying for the JLPT3 (now N4), I studied much like any student: memorization, set material, and so on. This helped me with the immediate goal in 2009 with passing the N4, but on my most recent trip to Japan, I still found my Japanese far short of what I wanted to be. The N4 is only a beginner certification, but I still found even basic conversation still somewhat difficult.

Early this year, my wife and her best friend in the US (also Japanese) have been providing lots of helpful advice about how to improve my Japanese in general, and the overall consensus is too much time spent memorizing stuff that isn’t really practical on a day to day level. She noted that I knew lots of words but didn’t really know the write context, or how to explain even basic ideals easily. If I can’t explain basic ideas smoothly, why even bother with business terms, keigo and so on?

So, over the course of this year, now my second in terms of dedicated study of Japanese language, the approach has gradually changed. First, I set aside Anki for good, and deleted the massive desk I’d been building up for a year. Anki is an awesome tool, and I still used it recently for studying for the RHCE exam and for other smaller side-projects where cramming and set-memorization are useful, but for long-term language learning, I was fixating too much on memorizing vocabulary, and not enough on reading, listening and conversation. Also, I am spending less time on JLPT-specific material than previously¹ and focusing either on reading Japanese itself (via manga), watching TV with the little one, and studying general Japanese language books on adjectives, particles, etc.

I realize, more and more, the JLPT in its ideal sense, especially when you get into upper levels, really is a worthwhile test when you can genuinely demonstrate Japanese language skills, and have some level of experience already. There’s plenty of cramming material, but all that does is help you pass the test (maybe), and still have no ability to communicate to Japanese people well. After studying as long as I did, I really thought I’d do better until I realize I was studying and practicing in a very lop-sided way. If I wanted to learn how to communicate in Japanese, and not pass tests, I needed to broaden my approach. I still intend to take the N3 this year, but if I pass, I am not distraught over it, because my overall goal of improving Japanese remains the same. The JLPT serves as a milestone, and not the end-all-be-all, but I think the test is best appreciated when seen in this light.

Anyway, big thanks to my wife for the advice this year.

P.S. Post scheduling-mishap again this week. Previous post got published before it was finished. Apologies for that. :p

¹ Sadly, I did buy a lot of material though, which I’ve hardly opened. I want to wait until I get closer to taking the N2 before cramming with various books. Until then, I want to broaden my practical Japanese as much as I can.