The Japanese Test Thingy...

[Tomii515]

From soem forums I've seen, it said some people passed the Japanese test and whatever, and if you get an A or an A+ you can become an interpriter. Well, what is the Japanese test....what's it all about?

 

[senseiman]

"The Japanese test thingy....and whatever..."

Could you be somewhat more specific?

 

[nice gaijin]

There are a lot of Japanese tests, but you are probably asking about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or JLPT. There are four levels, 4 being novice and 1 being pretty much fluent (on paper at least). Passing level 1 does open some doors; the others are really only useful for knowing your level. Do a search and you'll find more information than you can imagine.

 

[Tomii515]

There are a lot of Japanese tests, but you are probably asking about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or JLPT. There are four levels, 4 being novice and 1 being pretty much fluent (on paper at least). Passing level 1 does open some doors; the others are really only useful for knowing your level. Do a search and you'll find more information than you can imagine.

thats the one i was talking about, thanx. I just wantecd to know what its for and everything

 

[Harvey]

The JPLT doesn't have anything to do with Translation or Interpretation.

 

[senseiman]

Its also worth noting that there is a big difference between translation and interpretation. The JLPT is a written test (multiple choice) that doesn't test any of your spoken skills, so it is completely irrellevant to interpretation. It isn't a translation test either, but it can at least be used by people to show a certain level of proficiency that would be necessary to become a translator.

 

[Silverpoint]

From soem forums I've seen, it said some people passed the Japanese test and whatever, and if you get an A or an A+ you can become an interpriter. Well, what is the Japanese test....what's it all about?

There's no official requirement to become an interpreter. It depends who you want to work for. Agencies or companies might want you to provide evidence of your ability, but your letter informing you of your JLPT grade doesn't come with a job offer attached. Some people just set up on their own and do freelance intepretation. I've been offered money on a couple of occasions, once to accompany a party of Japanese golfers to England, and once to assist an English businesswoman on a trip to Japan. I didn't take up either offer (although if I hadn't been busy at the time I would have liked to have done the second one - it was money for old rope), so further than that I can't really comment.

 

[Ewok85]

I've always thought about moving into interpretation for foreigners in Japan, ie. business people and professionals. Sounds like fun but wouldn't be very consistant work IMO.

 

[Silverpoint]

Do you mean that it wouldn't be regular work? i.e. there's not enough of it to keep you in full time employment, or do you actually mean what you wrote? i.e. it's different every time you do it.

If you mean the former, I'd say it depends who you work for. If you mean the latter, I'd suggest that would be one of the appealing aspects of the job.