The Japanese Learner

A Breakdown of N4 (Lower-Intermediate)

Here is what you need to know about the N4 (Lower-Intermediate)

 
Here are the times for each section for the N4 exam:

Vocabulary 30 mins

Grammar/Reading 60 mins

Listening 35 mins

Total test time: 125 mins

The level N4 exam is for those to have the ability to understand basic Japanese and daily conversation. One who takes this level is expected to know how to read Hiragana and Katakana, as well as some basic kanji. Their knowledge of grammar is limited to conversations relating to daily life, class room situations, every day scenarios like shopping, going to the bank, etc. They can pick up information from simple every day conversations if the speaker uses common expressions and grammar.

Kanji Knowledge: 180 basic Kanji Characters
Vocabulary Knowledge: Approx. 680 words (Includes nouns, verbs and some adjectives)
At least 350- 500  hours of accumulative study time at a lower-intermediate level course.

Please visit the following link to review the vocabulary, kanji and grammar that may appear on the JLPT N4 exam.

http://www.jlptstudy.com/N4/

I hope that you have been finding these little descriptions for the levels to be helpful so far. This should help you determine approximately what level you should be taking when exam time comes around in December.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line here or on our Facebook page.

Visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/tjlpodcast to get updates as well as your word-a-day with example sentences today.

See you all next week and good luck on your studies!

Tags: exam, Japan, Japanese, Japanese Proficiency Test, JLPT, N4, Study, test

A Breakdown of N5 (Beginner)

The JLPT exam is divided into sections. First they test your knowledge of vocabulary, then they test your reading ability and grammar. And lastly, they test your listening comprehension.

Here are the times for each section for the N5 exam:

Vocabulary 25 mins

Grammar/Reading 50 mins

Listening 30 mins

Total test time: 105 mins

The level N5 exam is for those to have the ability to understand some very basic Japanese. One who takes this level is expected to know how to read Hiragana and Katakana. And some very basic kanji. Their knowledge of grammar is limited to conversations relating to daily life, and class room situations. They can pick up very basic information from simple short sentences, and can comprehend very basic conversations from short conversations if spoken slowly.

Kanji Knowledge: 103 basic Kanji Characters
Vocabulary Knowledge: Approx. 725 words (Includes nouns, verbs and some adjectives)
At least 150 hours of accumulative study time at a beginners level course.

Please visit the following link to review the vocabulary, kanji and grammar that may appear on the JLPT N5 exam.  I found this site to be very useful.

http://www.jlptstudy.com/N5/index.html

Next week, we will give a breakdown of the N4 level; Lower-Intermediate.

Please send us some comments about how your studies are going, or visit us on our Facebook page for daily the “word-of-the-day” plus example sentences.

Together we will get to our goals of becoming fluent!

日本語の勉強は頑張って下さい！「Good luck with your Japanese studies!」

Tags: Japanese, JLPT, N5 study

What to Know For the JLPT (2011)

This week, we talk about what to expect when you register for the JLPT.

When choosing a test site to take the exam, choose wisely, as once you have registered for a particular exam site, it cannot be changed for any reason.

The same goes for the level you choose as well. Please ensure you are choosing the right level for your exam. If you have never taken the exam before and want to know get a sense of how it works, then choose a lower level that is most comfortable for you.

There is a non-refundable registration fee to process your application before you can get your Test Voucher. In most countries, the fee can be around $70 USD. (This fee is technically refundable if a natural disaster and/or a transportation strike occurs preventing you from going to the test site. As you can imagine this is rare, so don’t count on getting your money back.)

Here is the complete process:

1)      Application Period Begins (Usually from end of August to early October)

2)      All examines will get their Test Voucher by mail (or in person if you are in Japan)

3)      Test starts on December 4, 2011. Contact your local institution where you got the application form for more details on orientation times etc.

4)      On Test Day, you are only allowed to bring your Test Voucher, writing utensils only limited to No.2 or HB pencils (no pens etc.), and at least two pieces of official government issued identification like a passport or driver’s license.

5)      You have to get a passing grade in each section of the test to receive a certificate of completion that is mailed to your household. This year’s examines should receive them by end of March 2012.

6)      Once you get your certificate in the mail, you are now officially certified in that level of Japanese. If you intend to live and work in Japan, most companies prefer if you have passed either N2 or N1 (Native level.)

For a complete in-depth look into the JLPT exam and application process, please visit this link: http://buna.yorku.ca/jlpt/guideline2011.pdf

Please avoid the following to ensure you will not be disqualified on Test Day:

• Turn off all cell phone sounds and even avoid digital wrist watches that may go off during the test, or they will ask you to leave.
• Do not talk about what is on the test during the test, during breaks or even after the test. You cannot post anything about the contents of the test on the internet.
• Do not bring any Japanese study material with you.
• Only use a No.2 pencil or a HB pencil. Do not write anything in pen.
• Zero-tolerance for cheating.
• No talking during the test.

This is all pretty straight forward, especially if you remember taking tests and exams in High School or University.

Over the next 5 weeks, we will cover each level and look at what knowledge is expected for you to know in order to pass.

Next week, we talk about N5 (Very Basic – Beginner level)

又来週！(See you next week!)

Tags: Japanese, JLPT, JLPT 2011, learning, register JLPT, Study

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