SO today I took the lowest of four levels of the government created Japanese test which tests you on grammar, vocabulary aka kanji, and listening ability. It is officially called the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and is given once a year in December. Passing any of the four levels can gain you an advantage in the job market, as well as giving you some sort of self worth for learning one of the most difficult languages on the planet.
I had decided to take the lowest level simply because I didn't know many kanji at the time and for the third level you needed 300 basic kanji, as well as all of the words that come from combining them. Thus I now know 150 kanji and a whole multitude of words formed with them. Looking back on the test I probably should have taken the third level, but I am still happy in progressing in any way. Once I move to Tokyo I will be joining a Japanese school for intensive study in order to pass the second level next December. This is not only due to my desire to continue to improve myself while living here, but also as I want to obtain a Masters in Japanese while I attend business school. Thus having high level Japanese before then only makes that stage of my life that much easier.
NOW I only need to learn the rest of the 20,000 kanji the Japanese alphabet uses...
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5 comments:
Congratulations on doing well...I'm very impressed since Japanese has no relation to English at all and you've just picked it up. Since the youngest is always the smartest in the family, imagine what I'll be able to do when I grow up! Love you infinity times infinity as always!
Congrats on passing Chris. It's kinda weird that they only offer the test once a year. But then again, I don't understand much of why they do the things they do over there, different strokes for different folks. It's pretty nuts that there is some 20,000 kanji in their alphabet. I'd be dead, I can barely speak English. Good luck with that. Hope life is going well.
So, Mary and Greg think you passed, but I don't see that in your post. When do you find out the results? Glad you are continuing to work toward becoming fluent in Japanese. Will you take the GRE in Japan? Could you start grad school while still in Japan? So many questions and you are so far away.
Missing you a lot. Love you lots.
Just wanted to point out that Greg is right in that he can "barely speak English" let alone use proper punctuation. In honor of him, I will use commas, in random places, to signify his use, of commas, to separate, clauses that really, should be, sentences. In all seriousness though, good work taking the test. They probably made the test easier for you since you're so "special" but that doesn't matter. Whatever it takes for you to pass..... :-D
Looks like I'm gonna have to take Greg to health services to get them to look at that BURN Monica just inflicted upon him. Taking after her big brother Matt. Anyways I guess it's a good thing you are finally learning Japanese. Now if anyone comes to visit you they won't have to guess about where the train they just jumped on is heading or what they ordered at a restaurant for dinner. Tell Ayuko hey.
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