The Japanese Learner

It’s That Time Again – JLPT 2011

It’s that time we have all been waiting for!   It’s time to register for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (Otherwise known as  the JLPT or in Japanese; 日本語能力試験 Nihongo Nōryoku Shiken)

For those that may not know what the JLPT is;  it is a test held yearly (or in some countries;  bi-yearly) to test and certify the Japanese proficiency of all non-native Japanese speakers around the world and non-native speakers of Japanese living in Japan.

The JLPT has been broken down into 5 levels instead of the 4 levels from the previous years before the year 2010.   The old 2 level or 2 kyuu (級) had such a huge gap from the 3^rd level (3級) that they decided to split it,  making another level.  The levels are referred to as N5 to N1.

According to the JLPT Wikipedia page,  here is a break down comparison of the old JLPT levels versus the new levels:

• N1: slightly more advanced than the original level 1
• N2: the same as the original level 2
• N3: in between the original level 2 and level 3
• N4: the same as the original level 3
• N5: the same as the original level 4

To find an appropriate level for you,  please visit:

http://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html

Registration for the JLPT exam for the year 2011 starts in most countries from September 1 to October 7.    The expected date for the exam will be on December 4, 2011.

To find out where the JLPT exam will be held in your country,  please refer to this link:  http://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_list.html

I recommend that you contact your local institution as to when their registration period will begin.

In the next few weeks to better prepare yourself for the exam,  we will discuss what Japanese language proficiency is expected for each level.

We will break down each level and give you a better understanding of typical vocabulary,  grammar and kanji;  that may appear during your exam.

I also suggest that you start your JLPT exam review based on your level,  as soon as you can.   This is to prevent cramming in  December.   You will be better prepared for the exam and will have confidence to pass.

Are you going to be taking the exam this year?  What level are you taking? Where are you from and how long have you been studying Japanese?  Have you taken the exam before?  Let our learners know what to expect.

Come on and leave us some comments!   We would love to hear from you!

See you next week!

Tags: exam, Japanese, Japanese language, Japanese Language Proficiency Test, JLPT, Study, test, 日本語能力試験

Concert for Japan – Relief/Benefit Concert in Toronto

As you know, the earthquake and tsunami that struck the North-Eastern side of Japan has left the area with devastating damages worth more than $180 billion dollars U.S.

From September 3 to September 4, there will be a two day benefit/relief concert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; to raise funds to assist with recovery efforts. This will help with the more than 9,000 homeless orphans, elderly and families resulting from the March 11, disaster.

Tickets are available now. Tickets are $75 for a one day pass and $130 for a two-day pass. Children, nine and under, will get free admission with adult with purchase of a ticket. Exclusive VIP tickets include private parking, entrance and restrooms, catered lunch and dinner, and a private viewing platform ($1000 per seat at a table of ten).

Tickets are available through:  http://www.ticketbreak.com/

100% of all net proceeds, through ticket, merchandise sales and donations will go towards Ashinaga, Japan Earthquake Relief Foundation and Global Giving.

Such acts include the Yakudo Traditional Japanese Drummers, Ricky J, DJ Battle and YouTube sensation Sam Tsui.

For more information on the concert or to make a donation, please visit: http://concertforjapan.org/

I hope anyone that is in the vicinity of Toronto can come out and have a good time celebrating Japanese culture while also doing your part in the recovery efforts for Japan.

Ganbare, Nihon! See you next week!

Tags: assist, benefit, concert, donations, earthquake, help, recover, relief, tsunami

Go Ahead And Read Manga!

This week, I wanted to post a quick tip about reading manga.

Reading manga or Japanese comic-books; is not only a great way to recognizing common kanji but you can also pick up on sentence patterns and new vocabulary.

This is best utilized when reading manga that has the hiragana beside the kanji. When I read manga, I read every character slowly to process the kanji character along with the hiragana reading. I also try to make a mental note to see how nouns and verbs are used.

I recommend doing this if you are a high-beginner to  lower-intermediate learner. The reason being, at this point in your studies you should already know how to speak casual Japanese versus polite, as many characters speak in casual form depending on the time period the manga takes place in.

Even reading period-piece manga can be interesting as you can pick up on different kinds of speech patterns. You can observe how they would speak in ancient Japan versus how they would speak in modern day Japan.

Reading bi-lingual manga is also a great tool; as you can get the sense of how to translate a sentence from Japanese into your native language.

Of course, it is fun and relaxing to read a good storyline with great artwork.

I hope everyone is enjoying the con season this year.

Go ahead and treat yourself to some manga!

See you all next Friday!

Tags: comics, Japanese, Kanji, manga, read, Study, vocab

Free Talk Entry 2

Hey there everyone! I hope all of you had a great week.

First, I would like to apologize for the fact that my internet in my area was down for a few hours last week. This is why there was no blog post. Of all weeks, that was the only week where I did not prepare the blog entry a few days in advance prior to it being posted on the site.

In a way, same goes with this entry as work has been quite busy for me.

So I am making this a Free Talk to let you all know what’s been going on with me.

Too bad that the days of the week do not have 48 hours in a day and not 24! Too much to do and so little time to do it, that sometimes getting them prioritized is hard to do.

I have been quite tired from work and I know it is affecting my studies. Well, there is always next week right? We gotta keep trying and to not give up!

Today, is my birthday and I plan on just having dinner and then going to a party with some friends tomorrow.

I am looking forward to it because some of my Japanese friends and former study partners are going to be there. It will be a great chance for me to speak Japanese as it has been well over a week since I said anything in Japanese.

Every week, it seems we are getting more and more learners coming in and checking out this blog. Thank you everyone for your support.

Make sure to drop us a comment or two sometime to share your thoughts on learning the Japanese language! We really love hearing some feedback to create an open dialogue so we can share our victories over the Japanese language!

Is there anything you would like us to talk about? Do you have any techniques you would like to share with us?

Don’t be afraid! Come on out and send us your comments.

I hope to see you all next week at 5PM EST!

Links to Find A Japanese Pen Pal!

Today, I wanted to share some great sites where you can search for a Japanese language exchange partner.

I have personally used these sites to find Japanese people seeking to learn English.

I highly recommend finding a Japanese language exchange partner to help improve your Japanese.

Any level of Japanese can find a partner to practice with. The earlier that you find someone to practice speaking and writing with, the faster your Japanese will improve. This will help with your speaking ability especially if you connect with people via Skype.

Please keep in mind that you are exchanging languages, so be sure to assist your new friend with your native language. Hey, it’s only fair right?

Be careful when sharing your information with anyone online to protect yourself. And of course, have fun!

See you all next Friday! Have a great weekend! And keep learning!

Links:

Lang-8.com -  You can write journal entries in the language you are learning and then native speakers will make corrections. You can also make corrections of other users in your own native language. This site was recommended by one of our learners! Check it out. Thanks for the recommendation, WC!

Japan Guide – you can post language exchange ads to seek a native speaker of Japanese

Skype Japanese Community – A minimum level of Intermediate Japanese is required to navigate this site but you can find forum topics in English for Japanese people looking for language exchange partners.

e-kaiwa.net – This site was made specifically for Japanese people to find language exchange partners. You create a virtual classroom where students can join and you can teach people something about your native language. Some menus are only available in Japanese.

The above sites are simply recommended from Kimberly’s personal use. We are not affiliated with the above parties in any capacity and do not receive any endorsements.

Tags: advice, Japanese, language exchange, partner, Study

Create Your Own Language Exchange Club

Mina-san, konnichi wa! Ogenki desu ka?

Today, we talk about how to create your own Japanese language exchange club.

I was inspired to write today’s blog post from many of those that do not have a language exchange club nearby to go to. So, why not make your own? (Unfortunately, for those that live in very rural areas, this blog may not be very helpful. I’m sorry if that is your case.)

It doesn’t matter if you are not fluent in Japanese to start your own language exchange club. Please do not let that discourage you from making your own.

You just need enthusiasm, hard work, dedication time and patience.

Here are some steps to get your own club started:

• It is a good idea to have a native-Japanese speaker willing to assist you and the club. This way you have someone that can speak fluent Japanese as well as English or whatever your native language happens to be.

• Decide on a time and place. Do you want it to be held weekly, bi-monthly or monthly? And what day of the week do you want to have it on? I would suggest that you speak with everyone to see what day works best.

• Find a place to hold your gatherings. Coffee shops are great, community centres, parks, restaurants, a food court at a local mall etc. Please keep in mind that you must get permission from the owner for you to have the meetings in some of these places. Sometimes they can even give a discount on food or beverages if you can guarantee a certain amount of attendees at each meeting. But if the group is small, sticking to your local coffee shop may do.

• Advertise on social media outlets to inform everyone about your language exchange club.  Try your best to promote the club to both Japanese language learners as well as native-Japanese speakers wishing to learn your native language. Creating a Facebook event is one way to get the word out without paying anything. Some old fashioned word of mouth works too. You can also place ads at your local Japanese cultural community centre. (If you have one.)

• Make sure there is time for Japanese practise as well as your native language. This way, everyone has an equal chance to participate and ask questions about the languages involved. Maybe start with one language for an hour and then switch to the other.

Very Important Point: Please remember to make a set of guidelines for people to follow to ensure the safety of your members.

From my own experience from attending many of the clubs here in Toronto, many people think it is a place to “hook-up” with the Japanese. The intention of these clubs are to promote cultural and language exchange and should not be used to find a date. There are websites and clubs you can go to for that specific reason, so why ruin the fun when someone is trying to learn something?

Of course, if both parties consent then there is no concern (because we are all mature, right?) but that should be done outside of the club so that the club organizer is not held responsible for any fallout that may occur if the relationship goes sour. It can create a bad atmosphere if there is a conflict of interest.

Also, please remember to follow the local laws of your government. This includes the safety of any minors that maybe in the club. This includes giving them absolutely no access to alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, etc. We must consider the different kinds of people that may wish to join regardless of what age, religious background or nationality they are from.

You may also consider making a rule about how personal information such as e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are given out. A lot of groups prefer to not have any information exchanged so that people can feel more comfortable when they attend. You can just see the person again at the next meeting. Some people will be willing to give their contact information once they have known the person for a long while. Which is understandable, of course it is in their own right when to give out their information.

There is a big responsibility in being the organizer of a group; naturally the position should not be taken lightly. Remember, you are responsible for what happens during the meetings. So be safe, be aware and have fun.

If you want to make a group and do not mind paying a membership fee and don’t know where to start, this website great place to start a group: http://www.meetup.com/

This site is designed for those who wish to start a social group of any kind, no matter what the interest may be.

You may even sign up to look for a group that already exists in your area to see if you can become a member rather then being the organiser.

I highly recommend this site. I have been to a few groups from this site and found my experience enjoyable.  Go ahead and check it out!

Well, I hope that these suggestions helped you to create your own ideas. Don’t feel discouraged if at first the club is off to a slow start but once you establish yourself within your community, you will get momentum and have enough people to have a great language exchange club.

You will have a great time meeting new people while you are practising the language you are working so hard to learn. It is a rewarding experience.

If anyone starts a group, keep us posted on your progress. We would love to hear from you!

Ganbatte kudasai! And see you all next Friday!

For liability reasons, I; and those involved with the Japanese Learner, will not be held responsible for any negative outcome from any party making their own language club as a result of the suggestions from this blog post article.

Tags: club, Japanese, language, language exchange, language studies, practise, Study

It’s Okay To Take A Break From Studying

Hey there everyone. How is your Japanese coming along lately?

I am here to remind everyone, that it is okay to take a break from studying every once and awhile. It’s good to be able to relax and not worry about, well anything.

After all, you’re only human.

I find that when I go a few weeks of studying without any breaks, I feel a little overwhelmed; especially when you also have other things you need to have energy for in your life like work, a social life, a relationship, a family etc.

It’s summer! So, take a few days off to unwind, relax, get re-focused and then jump right back into your studies.

Do not take too much of a break because it may have you forget some of the material that you have worked hard on before you took a break.

I would also recommend that you do a quick, small review every day. Even if it is only 15 minutes every day. This will help maintain your current Japanese level until you get back into longer study sessions.

Of course, you can keep studying everyday for long periods, but just remember for every hour of study, it is recommended that you take at least a 15 to 20 minute break in-between to recharge your energy to keep going.

Get out there and enjoy the nice weather while you can!

Anyone planning on going to Japan for summer vacation? Share some travel stories or let us know how your studies are coming along. We would like to hear from you!

See you all next week, where I talk about starting your own language exchange club!

Mata ne! (See you!)

Tags: Break, Japan, Japanese, Study, Summer

Language Partners! They Work!

Language partners are a great way to keep yourself motivated as well as keeping yourself on the right track.

For those that have studied Japanese for more than a year, I recommend finding a study partner or a study group that you can attend to on a regular basis.

I have a virtual language partner that I met on a Japanese language chat while trying to find Japanese people to practice with. We are about the same level and of course; we both have our own strengths and weaknesses.

Having someone to review grammar, vocabulary etc; can really assist with memory retention as well as to have a better understanding of what was recently learned. As an example, my language partner and I would test each other on how a certain word was written in kanji by drawing it over the internet in real time.

I have a bad memory when it comes to stroke order so it’s nice to know that someone is there to make sure I do not make a mistake. And if I do, he immediately corrects it so I can learn from it.

That’s just one simple reason but you get the idea of the benefits of having someone study with you.

The only downside would be is if you both come to a question that neither one of you can answer. So, if you do not have any Japanese friends; it maybe a good idea to either find one on the net or find a person that knows Japanese at a higher level than both of you.

Asking questions to those that are at a higher level is great because they can give you some tips on how they became successful at their current level.

This can also be very inspiring. They are a constant reminder of what we are working so hard to accomplish; Japanese fluency. If they got there, so can you!

Depending on how dedicated you are with this idea, try your best to find a partner that you can get along with; to keep the sessions fun and exciting.

Maybe one day you can watch anime with no subtitles, watch Japanese television streaming from the net. You can even roll play by practising the sentence patterns that you have recently learned. How about going out to a sushi bar with staff that speaks Japanese and see if you can place your orders without using your native language? Sound fun?

Either way, having someone you can study with will make the experience that much more enjoyable.

Ganbatte, mina-san! See you all next Friday!

Do you have any comments or suggestions about this blog? We would love to hear from you!

Tags: anime, Japan, Japanese, language, partner, Study, TV

Free Talk Entry 1

Today, I decided to just let my words flow and talk about how I have been progressing with my Japanese since I started again over.

It’s been pretty hard to be consistent with my studies when work has been busier than usual. This has been eating up a lot of my free time during the day, so I have been studying in little bits throughout the day. My study sessions would be short and intense.

I have been finding that if I have two days in a row where I do not study, I can forget the way a kanji is hand-written. I can still remember how to read it, but I seem to forget how to write it by hand. This is because it has not been committed to my long term memory yet.

I have been watching some videos in Japanese with no subtitles in order for me to listen to Japanese at a native speed.

I am a little behind on schedule in where I want to be with my studies. But I know I can get back on track  if  I make the time for my studies and be consistent. It has always worked for me in the past.

I plan on finishing my textbook by the end of September, so I can start reviewing for the JLPT exam in December. I know it sounds silly to have that in my mind already but it doesn’t hurt to have a plan in place.

I have not spoken Japanese in almost three weeks. I find it hard to speak with my friends on Skype because of the time difference and my friends in the city are usually too busy to meet up.  Tomorrow I am going to a BBQ for a Japanese friend’s birthday, so that will be a great opportunity for me to brush up on my speaking skills.

I hope to have some more exciting material and techniques to share with you all in the up-coming weeks.

That is pretty much about it, I am afraid. Working full time and trying to make time to study has proved to be very challenging.

We all need to keep going with our studies and to never give up,  even when things in life do not seem to go the way he had planned.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments on what they would like to read/talk about, please feel free to contact us. We love your comments!

See you all next Friday! Have a great weekend!

Tags: free talk, Japan, Japanese, Study

Mongensho! Is It A New Pokemon? No! It’s A Technique!

Mongensho, doesn’t mean anything now but once you are done reading this, you will know what I mean.

While studying with my virtual language partner from the Ukraine, we have come up a great way to review Japanese vocabulary while giving it a snappy name! (Which is not a name of a Pokemon.)

“Well….what is it?”  It’s Mongensho! (Mongensho =聞言書 = Listen, Say, Write)

We use this little technique to review new vocabulary we have studied.

So, how do we do we review?

Follow these steps:

1)      With accompanying audio, hear how the word is pronounced in native Japanese.

2)      Say it out loud to mimic the native pronunciation.

3)      And finally, write it out on a piece of paper.

4)      Repeat this process for every word you want to review.

Remember to pause the audio in-between each word to give you plenty of time to repeat it and write it out before moving onto the next word

Also, be sure to know your full Kana tables and stroke order of the Kanji characters before you write it out. (As I would already assume that you are somewhat already familiar with writing the word before you review it.)

A great place I like to go to for stroke order diagram is to go to:

http://www.jisho.org/kanji/

I have found that this technique helps me with visualize the word when I hear the audio without the textbook accompanying it.

I am almost certain that if I had started this technique from the beginning, I would be able to hand-write more Japanese in letters and my journal a lot more proficiently.

I feel to really understand a language, one must study all aspects for the language, which includes being able to read and write it.

Try it out and see if it works for you. See you all next Friday!

Tags: Japanese, Kanji, review, studying, technique