Need help passing language proficiency for study abroad, help please

SEYZJP · 3 Mar 2009

Hi. I originally applied for a Japanese study program for June-July that would get me actually acquainted with the language and give me an idea of living in Japan for when I study there for a whole term. However that program was canceled and now the two programs which I applied to required "One year of college level Japanese". I have just been learning on my own and am not that familiar with the language. I can get around pretty well, order food, count fairly well, and even talk about some random things.

But now I need to focus my learning area from general overall learning to passing the language proficiency test. What can study particularly to make me to better on the proficiency test? It more than likely won't be anything too complex, but what should I focus on in particular from now on.

Please help, I really want to go to Japan but if I don't pass, I might not be able to.

Thanks

Chidoriashi · 3 Mar 2009

What level of the test are you referring to? I am assuming either 4 or 3.. but which one?
In any case I don't think they even make study books for level 4. So I will suggest a couple books that might help you. If you need to gain an understanding of grammar I suggest you get "A Dictionary of Japanese Grammar: Basic Level" by Seiichi Makino. Or you could try a textbook I used back in the day called Nakama, by the same guy. For where you are at right now and what you wanna do, I think you should just learn as much vocab and Kanji as you possibly can, and understand basic some basic grammar constructions. Know all the verb tense changes.. know how to use te-form. start getting used to passive sentences, understand in general how to use the particles wa, ga, ni, de and wo. I think if you get that stuff down you should be fine for passing a basic level test.

MeAndroo · 3 Mar 2009

I thought the next JLPT wasn't until July anyways?

They might be referring to you passing a proficiency test based on your university (if you're a student). Most colleges offer people a chance to test out of lower level language courses if they claim a familiarity with the language. If you pass a test that would prove to them that you are at a level equivalent with what you would know after a year of college language courses, then you'd be fine.

Just for reference, the first year of courses when I was back in college consisted of perhaps 100 total kanji and some pretty basic grammar (-te forms, minimal casual usage, past tense verbs & adjectives...I can't remember if potential forms are used, and I know command forms aren't...no keigo either). An easy way to check up on what you need to know is to find out what book the college uses for the first year, and look at it in the bookstore.

SEYZJP · 3 Mar 2009

MeAndroo said:
I thought the next JLPT wasn't until July anyways?
They might be referring to you passing a proficiency test based on your university (if you're a student). Most colleges offer people a chance to test out of lower level language courses if they claim a familiarity with the language. If you pass a test that would prove to them that you are at a level equivalent with what you would know after a year of college language courses, then you'd be fine.
Just for reference, the first year of courses when I was back in college consisted of perhaps 100 total kanji and some pretty basic grammar (-te forms, minimal casual usage, past tense verbs & adjectives...I can't remember if potential forms are used, and I know command forms aren't...no keigo either). An easy way to check up on what you need to know is to find out what book the college uses for the first year, and look at it in the bookstore.

Yea this is exactly what I need. It would help a lot if I could find a book, but there is no one real book because it is coming from a mix of colleges. The abroad program just says "one year of required Japanese", so I know I need about "one year" of work but I am not sure what that consists of.

SeyzJP

MeAndroo · 4 Mar 2009

SEYZJP said:
Yea this is exactly what I need. It would help a lot if I could find a book, but there is no one real book because it is coming from a mix of colleges. The abroad program just says "one year of required Japanese", so I know I need about "one year" of work but I am not sure what that consists of.
SeyzJP

Well, in my experience, many colleges use either the "Genki" series of textbooks, though I used "Nakama." If you have access to a college bookstore, you may consider going to where their textooks are located and just looking at it to see if you already know what's involved.

FYI, the first year of Japanese at USC consisted of the entirety of Nakama 1. You'll want to have command of the -masu form of verbs, obviously all kana, about 100 kanji (I believe...simple things like numbers are usually the first ones learned), and the like. It's been so long I can't recall what was included in that first year, but your best bet is to check out a textbook. You can also try googling for a random college's Japanese syllabus, which I've done in the past.

myawr · 6 Mar 2009

I find a pretty interesting site for JLPT practice. The link is below :
JGram - The Japanese Grammar database

Hope that it will help in upcoming July test. (this sentence is for me also)

Need help passing language proficiency for study abroad, help please

SEYZJP

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Chidoriashi

In imagination land

MeAndroo

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SEYZJP

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MeAndroo

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myawr

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