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JLPT

jguticon

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Hi. I am planning to take level 3 next summer and level 2 on the next year. I wonder how many of you have taken this test and how you experiences were. Is is possible for western person to take level 1? Or nearly impossible?
In which School were you preparing the test? How efficient was your school?
 

What do you mean impossible? Myself and I am sure many other westerners on this site have passed JLPT level 1. But the real question is why would you think it is impossible? It is just a language... with the right amount of effort, any human being is capable of passing it. If you mean availability, then the answer is yes, the level one test is offered in Western countries.
 
Yes it just a language, but not any language... I could be proficient in italian with the time I just have spent with japanese. Then if you have passed it, I can do, and as you say , with the right amount of effort anyone can do it.
 
jguticon said:
Yes it just a language, but not any language... I could be proficient in italian with the time I just have spent with japanese. Then if you have passed it, I can do, and as you say , with the right amount of effort anyone can do it.
Click to expand...

Well, I am happy to have enlightened you then.
 
I understand what you mean, level 1 takes longer to get to than a language based on similar systems to your own. So for westerners the kanji elements means learning Japanese has an added factor.

If you are dedicated there is no reason why you can't pass level 1, though you will have to put in serious effort with your kanji, it won't just naturally sink in! I think N3/N2 can be done in 1-2 years of good study in Japan, depends on how much time you have to put aside for it.

I did N2 in 1 year, but I already had a basis of Japanese from my relatives.
 
I would agree with Chidoriashi. It's certainly not impossible for a foreigner to learn Japanese to any level of proficiency, if a certain amount of effort is there. The reason why it takes so much longer to learn Japanese at times is that unlike Italian or German, you are completely starting from scratch. No long shared history. No shared alphabet. Few shared ideologies. But, just because it's a different way of thinking, doesn't mean it's impossible. Just make sure you continue to ask questions like you are doing. As for myself, I plan on taking the level N1 JLPT next year. My college didn't really prepare me at all for the JLPT, and I doubt many colleges do. There is plenty of great material out there for free, but if you're really serious about taking the test, I would invest in a good language buddy and a nice study book.
 
I did Level 3 (old system which is N4) in 1 yr from scratch learning japanese. to do that, I actually need to switch from learning in a Japanese group class to private tutoring, and absolutely hammer myself in practising the test paper at least 3 times a day for the last 3 months prior to the Level 3 JLPT.

Now I'm heading to N2 for the end of this year, but for some reasons I couldn't get the comprehension right. I think it is do-able from N4 to N2 or N3 you are saying, but you must dedicate a lot of time. I found that many people who are trying the exam forgot to practice on listening, and especially you need to archieve an average pass mark in the new JLPT, you must practice everything. (I did super well in kanji and grammer, but really bad in listening) so I would say on the sure side, to give N3 to N2 around 1.5 to 2 years.
 
jguticon said:
Yes it just a language, but not any language... I could be proficient in italian with the time I just have spent with japanese. Then if you have passed it, I can do, and as you say , with the right amount of effort anyone can do it.
Click to expand...
There are harder tests than level 1 for Japanese.
 
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