JLPT 2009 – Level 1 Preparation April 15, 2009
Posted by jsalatan in jlpt, lesson plan, study.Tags: ikkyuu, jlpt, level 1, preparation, study guide
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I’m considering taking the JLPT Level1 this year.
As officially announced JLPT will be administered twice this year. The first in July 5 (but limited to Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan) and on December 2009 (No official date from the link below, but basing on dates of previous exams, first sunday of Dec – Dec. 6).
I’ve started with my plan, but not that full yet. Will provide a check point maybe at the end of this month. For the mean time, I’m targetting around June or July to start my studies.
I’ve asked for a colleageu’s (who passed L1 but is Chinese – has an advantage with Kanji) input, and main information I got were:
1) Use the Kanji/Vocab list available in MLC
2) Use Kanzen Master and ALC (will confirm again which specific books)
3) Interleave of Kanji and Grammar study
I also tried looking for other Study Methods/Plans and the most feasible I was able to search was here.
Came across also this site and am now waiting for feedback.
And last, but not the least, will most likely get the input of japanese senseis back in manila for a possible study plan to pass JLPT L1 by December.
I guess that’s my latest update for my japanese studies.
How’s your japanese studies?
JLPT @ RP – Level 2 Take 2 December 7, 2008
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A few more hours before JLPT.
This is my second take, I hope I pass it this time.
I’ll be taking it in De La Salle Universityat Taft. Will post my application form/brochure later.
I passed JLPT Nikyuu! September 4, 2008
Posted by jsalatan in fun stuff, japanese, jlpt, kanji, lesson plan, reading, study, tips.Tags: japanese study, jlpt, language
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Title shocked you! 
) well, that’s the idea.
But I did pass Level 2, although not the official. It’s my very first so I wanted to write a post about it.
What made the difference with this exam from my past exams? Let me write the reasons as I remember them:
- Internal Exam – the exam was just a company internal exam so it was one of the main factors
- Relaxed – since it was an internal exam, I felt relaxed.
- Listening Improved – I attribute this to the way I listened. I wasn’t thinking too much and just focused on: What was being asked, and the options provided. Once you get those two items done, that number is yours. Also, if there was a question I didn’t get, I didn’t dread too much over it and just proceed with the next number.
- Reading Improved – prior to taking the exam we already had a grammar/crash course which I believe I focused more on the grammar lessons which I have left behind in place of kanji. The Reading also got better. The general strategy I took was the one given here. I proceeded with the grammar items first, the went from back to front for the reading (to gain confidence also indicated in the given link)
The points I got were:
- 文字・語彙 : 61/100
- 聴解 : 81/100
- 読解・文法 : 112/200
Well, I guess that’s all.
JLPT 2007 – 日本語能力試験 @ 大阪大学豊中キャンパス December 2, 2007
Posted by jsalatan in fun stuff, japanese, jlpt.Tags: jlpt, nihongo, nikyuu, osaka
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JLPT 2007 Application September 3, 2007
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I’ve bought a JLPT Test Application in Junkudo near Osaka Station and here it is.
The Application Period is up to September 11, 2007 only.
Phonetic Components : Learning to Predict Kanji Pronunciations August 1, 2007
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Okay, this will be my last post for the day. Due to my “Kanji Freeze,“ I thought of reading some light articles for my kanji studies.
If you’ve been in Japan long enough, there are some things in Japanese that eventually you’ll be able to understand. One of these things is how to come up with the reading of a kanji compound. Here’s one link that shows how they do it (I believe I’ve experienced this).
One of the problems I encountered during my Japanese studies is remembering the pronounciation (specifically the on reading) of kanji. The given link could help with that.
Kanji Freeze? August 1, 2007
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Have you heard of such phrase? I haven’t. But basically, I think this is one of the main stumbling blocks of studying japanese. It’s a point in your kanji studies (well, kanji specifically for me) wherein you scramble on your progress. It’s that point where you start doubting your step, your progress, your method, which may eventually cause you to bail out and take another track.
I’m not saying that this is wrong, but I wanted to make the point that when it does happen, and you bail out, basically, it just means that you don’t trust your method of study.
That’s why I’m a firm believer of firm foundations. It is anyway biblically true:
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Anyway, what do I want to point out? I hope I’m not using the Word of God in vain, but it is essential in everything that we do or if there’s anything that we want to build, let’s make sure that we build it on a rock – a very firm foundation.
So with regards to Japanese studies, let’s make sure we have a very good foundation – the kanji, hiragana, and katakana characters. How do we get one? That’s something I’m still not sure, but the closest one is Heisig’s method.
I’ve been broken apart from the group/method because of my mistrust (?) of the system, or just lost motivation due to the difficulty of coming up with stories with the later kanji in the book. I got swayed because of my want to recover lost time by resorting to repetition and because of my goal to study and take the JLPT this year.
If you’re with Heisig, keep up with it. It will be worth it when you go through it. If you’re losing steam or motivation to study Japanese, don’t let it die out. Have a break, look for Japanese fun and clean stuff – watch anime, read manga, etc.
And last but not the least, do your studies out of something, or do it for a cause.
1Cor 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.
That’s all. Hope you had a nice read!
Road to Learning a Language July 25, 2007
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Just a quick and general post on studying a language.
1) Characters
2) Words
3) Phrases/Sentences (group of words)
4) Paragrapsh, etc
What do I want to point or share here? In line with my Japanese studies, I just wanted to somehow present a general order of areas of study.
Why command a language?
I want to function with my current environment. It is mentally or psychologically exhausting to be around Japanese people and not being able to communicate with them. But this is just a minor reason. I am studying because I believe that it may be my calling. I am preparing so that when the call does come, I may be ready.
Thanks and glory be to God always!
Remembering the Kanji July 25, 2007
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I’m still confused, or rather not firm with which road to take in my kanji studies. Whether brute-force or RTK. 
How about hybrid? Let’s see…
