JLPT update for April/May 2010: will take the N3

Posted: May 6, 2010 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Japanese, JLPT | Leave a comment »

Hi all,

My monthly JLPT update slipped the last couple weeks due to jetlag and also all the travelogue posts recently, as well as work issues, but I wanted to provide an update for anyone still keeping track.

Like many folks this year, who passed the former JLPT3 in recent years, the change in test structure and format for 2010 caught people by surprise especially as no test specifications will be provided going forward. Also the test format has changed somewhat to better gauge actual language skills and avoid people just brute-force memorizing the test content.¹ This leaves many people like myself in a quandary about whether they should jump straight into the JLPT2/N2 or take a more cautious approach and take the more intermediate step of the new N3 test.

The good folks at the Japan Foundation, Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), have provided a nice range of sample tests, questions, listening, etc. If you haven’t looked at this already, and are thinking about taking anything harder than the JLPT5, you really should get started. The samples are much shorter than the actual tests of course, but seem to provide a good sample of what to expect.

I took these tests in the past and realized that the N2 is really quite hard, but after a few months of study, plus being in Japan for 3 weeks, I wanted to see again if I made sufficient progress in my studies to do better on the N2 sample. I was happy to see that I could answer some questions on the N2 sample fine, but clearly I still had a vocab shortfall, as well as grammar. So, make no mistake, you can’t cram for the N2 in a few months. You really have to be pretty solid in your basic to intermediate Japanese, and have a good breadth to take that test comfortably.

So, as of now, I officially will throw my hat into the ring and take on the N3 this year. The sample test for this was considerably easier, and I was able to get most questions right, probably just enough for a passing score as-is. With 7 months more to study, I can polish this up, and get a proper passing score I believe.

Now, with seven months, I had thought about cramming for the N2 anyways, and settling for a passing score, even if barely, but I still have other things I am studying for this year:

• Red Hat engineer’s certification (RHCE) in June.
• Online Jodo Shinshu Buddhist courses throughout the year.

So, I can’t devote myself entirely the JLPT this year, and probably won’t have enough time, energy, arms, waking hours to cram for the N2. Instead, I should focus on polishing up, and practicing what I know for the N3 and focus on going strong next year for the N2. Next year, I will have fewer things overall to study for, and can focus solely on the N2.

Also, the omikuji fortune I got at Shinto Shrine of Yushima Tenmangu in Tokyo predicted great luck for me this year (more on that in a later post), but also stated that for my studies, I would succeed in my endeavors if I don’t rush things.²

So, all signs point to setting reasonable goals and focusing on the N3 test instead, and that’s what I’ll do. So going forward, this blog will countdown toward passing the N3, while 2011 will be all about the N2.

Thanks!

¹ Anyone who can successfully brute-force memorize the content of the old JLPT2/N2 probably should still get a consolation prize. I pride myself on my memory, but WOW, that’s a lot to memorize successfully.

² Translated by my wife, “the bodhisattva“, anyway.

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