university recommendation/JLPT

[syusyu]

Hi. I was wondering if it is possible to take JLPT Level 1 without taking JLPT Level 4, 3 and 2. I know it's going to be tough but I am going to take one year off to study for it - self study. I have learn bahasa indonesia, malay and chinese [self study too] within one year so I am praying and hoping that this would not be a problem for me too.
Could anyone recommend a good university for someone who is interested in economics and computer engineering? A friend of mine recommended Keio, Waseda and Meiji.
And is USD1500 per month enough for a student?
I am thinking of studying and staying put in Japan in two years time

 

[leonmarino]

Hi. I was wondering if it is possible to take JLPT Level 1 without taking JLPT Level 4, 3 and 2.

I certainly hope so!! I plan to do the same this year..

 

[nice gaijin]

You should take whichever level you feel comfortable with; it does not matter if you have taken any other test before. Have you been studying Japanese long, or are you just starting? You would be quite a demon to pass level 1 after only a year of study.

I would recommend doing a bit more research into universities, and what kind of programs they offer for non-native students. If you intend to compete with native Japanese students, you have your work cut out for you.

 

[GaijinPunch]

You would be quite a demon to pass level 1 after only a year of study.

I do not think this is possible. There are bits in the test that require knowing intricacies that the human brain cannot memorize in a mere year. There are parts of the test you must "feel", and you're not going to get that out of a book.

That, mixed w/ the fact that everyone I know that's passed it lived in Japan for years doesn't help.

 

[JimmySeal]

I heard about a guy who passed after about 2 1/2 years of study. I was pretty incredulous, but apparently it's true. 1 year does sound impossible to me.

 

[Glenski]

If you are just starting out to study Japanese, it will be a miraculous feat to pass 1-kyu. I don't think there is any restriction against people taking it, but you have to be some sort of wizard or have tons of time on your hands to pass within a year through self-study.

USD1500 amounts to about 178,000 yen at today's exchange rate. Bare subsistence wages, but I don't know what dormitories ask, or if you plan to stay in your own apartment. Go the latter route, and you may have to pay 5 times that amount just to move into a bare apartment (that means nothing there, from appliances to light fixtures). You're going to need pretty high level Japanese to attend those schools, too, but I think you already realize that and may just be planning ahead. If so, I'd say plan further ahead.

 

[syusyu]

Hahahahaha...
Thanks guys for the information =) Maybe one year seem very short but I am taking the entire year off from school to study intensively for this exam with help from my Japanese friend. At current moment, I could only speak and hold a full conversation but writing and reading ... that's a whole different story unless of course it's in romanji.
I am no demon by the way... hehehehe. I started out 5 months ago with LOTS of help but sadly, my grammer still need alot of brushing up. Easiest way to learn it is to use it in your daily conversation. It's fun when you speak and others gave you the confused look =)
And yeah, I know that Keio, Waseda and Meiji are hard to get in but who knows ... might not be impossible but I would never dream of getting into Todai - I think its way off my limits. But plan of studying in Japan are not finalize yet. I may just start working before you know it after sitting for the JLPT exam as in my country, those who have the ability to speak in Japanese are well sought after and the income are quite lucrative – from what I heard ah.
But I just want to know if it is possible to take JLPT Level 1 without the need to take Level 4, 3 and 2 because I find taking each Level per year rather time consuming and I do not think I have that. At most two years.
So.... is it possible??

 

[nice gaijin]

Even with a lot of work, considering your current level of literacy, level 2 would be quite an accomplishment. Again, you can sign up for any level you want, but you should look at the sample tests and decide which one is the most appropriate.

 

[Mike Cash]

Why is it that seemingly everyone who has huge plans for coming to Japan also is in one hell of a hurry?

 

[leonmarino]

Why is it that seemingly everyone who has huge plans for coming to Japan also is in one hell of a hurry?

Maybe they're afraid the novelty will have worn off by the time they finished the preparations?

 

[GaijinPunch]

I think a year of intensive university (3 hours a day of class, plus study time) would still not be enough for a passing 1-kyu grade... regardless of history of other langauges.

I can buy 2 1/2 years if the person lived in Japan the whole time. Took me 10, but I didn't really study (well, not much) for years 4 through 9.

 

[syusyu]

No harm trying to accomplish it within one year. If I failed, atleast I tried and there is always a second try
Good question ... why am I in a rush? I don't know. Maybe pressure from my family? I am the youngest and I am the only one who knows four languages while the rest know more than that. Trying to keep up with the family I guess.

 

[JimmySeal]

Well, having learned that many languages you'll probably have an easier time than someone who only knows only one, but it still sounds farfetched. You said you learned Chinese in one year so I assume that means you can read about 3000 Chinese characters, yes? You need to know about 2000 to pass JLPT 1, but Japanese of course does not use them exactly like Chinese does. Good luck, at any rate.