Anyone Taking the JLPT 3 This Year? (in 2005)

[dc_johnson45]

Is anyone out there taking JLPT 3 this year? If so, how are you planning on studying?

I'm serious about taking it, and here's how I'm planning on going about it:

1. I'm taking ongoing Japanese language class at a local aikido dojo - We are using 'Japanese for Busy People', and cover 4 - 5 chapters per semester. I bought the kana version of the book to get away from romanji. I use the class mostly for listening and talking, as I find JfBP to be a terrible book. The sensei focuses on vocab & drills, making us, for example, do an auction in Japanese to drill numbers. She's real inventive & the class is def. a good thing. Plus, she answers my more difficult grammar/kanji questions before class.

2. Japanese for Everyone - I'm returning to Chapter 3 & covering EVERYTHING. As everyone knows, this book is extremely dense, and 2 weeks per chapter would not suprise me.

3. Japanese for Everyone tapes, Japanese movies and TV shows - I've got quite a few native Japanese language shows and movies. Watching them aids in learning the natural flow of the language. For example, I watched 'Ju-On' the other night and understood several parts. JfE tapes complement the book well, and I'll be using them on a chapter by chapter basis... I also have to digitize them so they can be put on my iPod... who uses a tape player anymore?

4. Kanji - Personally, I like learning kanji, so I'm not to worried about it. I usually learn vocab in kanji, as I find it easier to remember that way. I have the Heisig books, but I think I'm not going to use that method. I'll probably also pick up the White Rabbit Kanji flash cards.

4. Misc - I'll probably use Rosetta Stone & Kanji Gold to drill in my spare time. Linux (KDE) has some japanese vocab programs, so I'll also look into those.

How are others planning on tackling this?

 

[nemesae]

Um, I have no idea =_= I want to take tests 4 and 3 this year (if it's possible to take two in the same year, don't know much about that yet), I think I should be able to manage that. But I'd rather first have the official 'this is what you should know' lists first before I start buying a lot of courses. So far, I only have a kanji dictionary, a lot of online grammar explanation courses and a book course called Colloquial Japanese. Plus, I read Japanese manga and listen to Japanese music, translate lyrics and interviews, and um.. anime ^^; That's a lot of good practice material

 

[rajs20]

I'm thinking of taking JLPT 3 this year.

Well, what I'm doing is:

1. Textbooks:

-Japanese for Everyone: I like the book, like you said it's really dense but it keeps me busy, hehe. I found a place that sells the audio but it was a bit expensive for me. I also started out going really fast through this book but decided to back up and take my time (10-14 days per lesson).

-Genki: Overall pretty good although it goes at a much slower pace than J4E. I have all the audio for it on MP3 though, which helps.

2. Kanji: I use Kanji Pict-o-grafix (sweet book, I like it better than Heisig), 3 pages of it per week (~20 kanji). Anyways from what I've heard, the kanji part shouldn't be too bad.

3. Vocab: I use my own program to drill myself using flashcards. Other than that, just trying to "absorb" as many words as I can as I'm working through the textbooks.

4. Audio: Random online sources, anime (dunno if that counts)... "Let's learn Japanese" videos rock because they speak at full speed. Also I was looking at thejapanshop.net, and they have a book (w/ 2 tapes) entirely devoted to the JLPT3's listening section.

5. Grammar: I have a book called "Japanese particle workbook". It's pretty good, lots of exercises. Other than that, I think the textbooks cover grammar pretty well...

Btw, do you know how J4E chapters map to JLPT exam levels? I am guessing it's something like ch. 1-13 = JLPT 4, and then ch 14-26 = JLPT 3

 

[dc_johnson45]

Um, I have no idea =_= I want to take tests 4 and 3 this year (if it's possible to take two in the same year, don't know much about that yet), I think I should be able to manage that. But I'd rather first have the official 'this is what you should know' lists first before I start buying a lot of courses. So far, I only have a kanji dictionary, a lot of online grammar explanation courses and a book course called Colloquial Japanese. Plus, I read Japanese manga and listen to Japanese music, translate lyrics and interviews, and um.. anime ^^; That's a lot of good practice material

nemesae-san
The test is only offered once per year, and only in major cities here in the US, so you need to decide which one you are going to take

I'm not sure there are 'official' lists as to whats on the test. Check out thejapanshop.net for study guides that will probably fill you in a little more.

 

[dc_johnson45]

5. Grammar: I have a book called "Japanese particle workbook". It's pretty good, lots of exercises. Other than that, I think the textbooks cover grammar pretty well...

Btw, do you know how J4E chapters map to JLPT exam levels? I am guessing it's something like ch. 1-13 = JLPT 4, and then ch 14-26 = JLPT 3

I have that book as well. Seems pretty good, esp. in combination with the particle dictionary.

I'm not sure if J4E 'maps' to the JLPT that well? I'm assuming that if I make it through a majority of the book, I'll be prepared for the Level 3 exam... I probably will pick up some of the study guides at thejapanshop, but not until the test draws closer... probably in the Fall.

 

[nemesae]

nemesae-san
The test is only offered once per year, and only in major cities here in the US, so you need to decide which one you are going to take

I'm not sure there are 'official' lists as to whats on the test. Check out thejapanshop.net for study guides that will probably fill you in a little more.

I know, I have to travel all the way to Germany (I live in Holland, I heard that place in Germany is the closest) and I knew that it was only once a year, but I had hoped each test was on a different time, so it'd be possible to do more than one. I was just too late for last year's test, so I want to do two this time. But I don't think it's possible then

 

[RockLee]

Um, I have no idea =_= I want to take tests 4 and 3 this year (if it's possible to take two in the same year, don't know much about that yet), I think I should be able to manage that. But I'd rather first have the official 'this is what you should know' lists first before I start buying a lot of courses. So far, I only have a kanji dictionary, a lot of online grammar explanation courses and a book course called Colloquial Japanese. Plus, I read Japanese manga and listen to Japanese music, translate lyrics and interviews, and um.. anime ^^; That's a lot of good practice material

Yep only once, and u will have to move to Paris,for taking the test as there are no institutes in Holland or Belgium dunno about Germany tho :?

 

[Stutz]

Nope. I don't plan on taking the JLPT until I'm ready for the 2nd kyuu. It's a waste of my money anytime before that.

 

[Glenn]

I almost agree with you. I'm not taking it until it's required for me to get a job in Japan, if that day ever comes.

 

[The7thSamurai]

I'm also going for level 3 this year. Here's what I'm doing so far:

- learning Kanji the Heisig way. I plan to have this book completed by around July, then I will start on Vol. 2

- currently taking two beginner lessons a week which focuses a lot on grammar very very basic grammar

- just started taking one or two private lessons a week with a Japanese friend, this is mostly so I can ask questions and practice conversational Japanese

- downloaded the Japanese Basic TV series, I and II. Total of 50 or so 30min episodes in there, so far I'm only up to episode 6. I'm going really slowly through these ones.

- flash cards for remembering vocab

In the next few months, once I get my vocab up to scratch, I want to dive deeply into grammar. I have a heap of Japanese text books here which I picked up second hand, including Japanese for Busy People. Also will (hopefully) be living in Japan by July so that should help greatly.

 

[Index]

This site was put up on another thread somewhere. There is a lot of stuff specifically related to the JLPT 1-4, includng questions and vocab from past tests as well as lots of quizzes.

 

[-Rudel-]

I can only wish I was that advanced now! I'm just now entering the "Japanese For Busy People" book 2 (Kana Edition). I'm very busy and have very little time for actual classes. I think I can passes JLPT 4 as soon as I know some more Kanji.

The link Index posted is a site I go to often to practice.

がんばります！

 

[nhk9]

I know, I have to travel all the way to Germany (I live in Holland, I heard that place in Germany is the closest) and I knew that it was only once a year, but I had hoped each test was on a different time, so it'd be possible to do more than one. I was just too late for last year's test, so I want to do two this time. But I don't think it's possible then

I don't know about the regulations of the Germany JLPT test, but here in Vancouver Canada, one could take either 2 and 3, 3 and 4, and 2 and 4 on the same day, but not 1 and 2. You should try asking them before hand to see if they allow you to take two tests on the same date. Last year I took the 2 and 3 on December 5, and there was absolutely no time conflicts.

 

[McCrutch67]

I'd like to take the JLPT 3 this year if possible. I've seen that site Index mentioned and for a while have used the vocabulary lists they have to focus my attention. Also I found a site that has printable flash cards for the words in JLPT levels.
http://www.coling.de/markus/index.php?content=cards&t=jp-en
The cards are for the JLPT 4 list I think and in japanese to german they have all levels.
I'm not going out and buying anything. Actually I don't think I've ever bought anything for learning japanese. I use the internet . I discovered that the jlpt existed either after the last one or around the time of it I think so I don't know. I don't really have much of a plan but to keep learning.

 

[Index]

I make my own flashcards using MS Word; print double sided and then get a printing place to laminate them for me.

 

[dc_johnson45]

A little information about the test. From About the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

-------------------------------------------

San kyuu - Level 3

About: The next level. For upper beginners who understand the basics of grammar, can make everyday simple conversations and can read easy written Japanese.

# of Kanji: 300
# of words needed to know: 1500
# of hours needed to study:300

PARTS OF THE TEST TIME ALLOTTED SCORE

文字 moji ・語彙 goi
characters (hiragana, katakana, kanji) & vocabulary 35 minutes 100 points

聴解 chou kai
listening comprehension 35 minutes 100 points

読解 dokkai ・ 文法 bun pou
reading comprehension & grammar 70 minutes 200 points

total 140 minutes total 400 points total

You need 60% of the 400 points to pass

 

[nemesae]

A little information about the test. From About the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

-------------------------------------------

San kyuu - Level 3

About: The next level. For upper beginners who understand the basics of grammar, can make everyday simple conversations and can read easy written Japanese.

Oh... that seems quite manageable, 60%. I'm really glad I focused everything on my reading now, then at least I'm further at the 200 points subject already ^^;

 

[dc_johnson45]

Oh... that seems quite manageable, 60%. I'm really glad I focused everything on my reading now, then at least I'm further at the 200 points subject already ^^;

Yup.. it looks 'do-able' at least, given the time frame. Personally, I'll be concentrating a lot on listening comprehension, since I'm weak in that area.

I think I've worked out a pretty good study schedule & I'll post it up here later. I'll be kicking off my 'formal' studying on April 1st (no joke!) :win: