Nihongojouzu

2007 Japanese Language Proficiency Test application forms out

Application forms for the 2007 JLPT are now available at major bookstores. People who live in the inaka can order a copy online from Kinokuniya. The application form will set you back 500 yen and the test fee is 5,500 yen. The test will be held on Sunday December 2 and final day for applications is September 11. More details can be found on the Japan Educational Exchange and Services site and for people wanting to sit the test outside Japan the Japan Foundation has information on cities where the test will be held. If you have been living under a rock and have no idea what I am talking about you can read about the JLPT here. Sample questions and results for past years are here. This post has some hints on passing Level 1 (the hardest level, also referred to as 1kyu, ikkyu, 1Q and "that %$#?}#&! test"). For lots of free study material check out the MLC Japanese website.

漢検DS: Kanji Kentei on the Nintendo DS

There is a God. September 28 will see the release of a Kanji Kentei (漢字検定) training  application for the Nintendo DS. Check out an overview here. A full review when I get my hands on it.

男らしい blog

Otokorashi (full title: 男らしい: For the questions that bug ya. Questions, commments, complaints about the ol' nee-hon-go) covers grammar points aimed at people taking the JLPT Level 1 or 2, like the difference between わけではない　and わけがない、the various uses　for 気, how to use 限り、discussions of kanji compounds and advanced vocabulary. Very readable posts and informative comments. Worth a gander.

JLPT Late Applications

Tomorrow is the last day for Japanese Language Proficiency Test applications - if your application envelope is postmarked no later than September 5 you are in.

However, even if you miss this deadline all is not lost - the late application period extends from September 12 to October 4. During this period late applications will be accepted IF there are seats available at the the test sites, but no late applications for Sapporo, Tokyo, Shizuoka or Takamatsu.

To make a late application call the application centre (03-5220-3431) to see whether there are any seats available and if so, to get a reservation number. If you have yet to get your hands on an application form you can pick one up from Bonjinsha in Tokyo or Osaka or fax an order to Bonjinsha with the following information 1. Name in kanji, katakana, and Roman letters 2. Address 3. Phone number 4. The number of copies required 5. Your reservation number

Oh - the kicker - a late application will set you back 8500yen - a 3000yen increase on the normal fee.

2006 JLPT Application deadline

Applications for the 2006 日本語能力試験　Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) close on September 5th - a week away - so if you have been procrastinating it is time to get your arse into gear and pop down to your local high-end bookshop (eg Kinokuniya, Maruzen) and pick up an application form.  The Japanese Educational Exchanges website has a list by prefecture of bookshops carrying the application form.

People outside of Japan are cutting it fine but check out the Japan
Foundation website for details of the Host Institutions you need to apply to for an application form.

JLPT Level 4 Vocabulary Quiz

Charles Kelly, hot on the heels of his adjective quiz, has just put out a new  vocabulary  quiz for Level 4 of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The quiz is based on 727 words of vocab from the JLPT Level 4 Vocabulary List put together by  Peter van der Woude, who scored a guernsey in my post about his JLPT study page. Charles Kelly points out that a chap from the The Japan Foundation (which publishes the Test Content Specifications) suggested he put a disclaimer on the site stating:

"...that it does not offer any official information on the JLPT. In fact there are no official lists of vocabulary to choose from. Your lists should be viewed as useful tools, not a comprehensive guide."

I mentioned a similar caveat in my post on the test specs- the vocab lists can be a great start but don't be surprised when words NOT on the list appear on the test. You have been warned.

The JLPT Level 4 Study Page

Attention beginners! Peter van der Woude has done people a big favour and typed up a mass of grammar points, vocab and grammar for Level 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (the easiest level). The JLPT Level 4 Study Page has the grammar points for the years 1992 to 2002 - it doesn't have 2003, 2004 and 2005 but the past papers for these are available anyway. There are also Level 3 and Level 2 pages but Level 4 is the most complete.

Tags Japanese Language Proficiency Test | study Japanese | JLPT

J.Test Applications 2006

The next J.TEST Test of Practical of Japanese (J.TEST実用日本語検) is being held on April 16 and the application deadline is March 22.  Perhaps taking a dig at the JLPT the official website explains that the J.TEST  "effectively gauges practical proficiency in Japanese".
The test is not pass/fail. like the JLPT but operates like TOIEC, awarding a grade based on a score out of 1000.

To get the application form contact the J.TEST Office via its website. Most of the site is in Japanese but there is a lone English page which despite uninspiring spelling ("J-TEST Measuring Practical Efficiensy in Japanese") has a decent explanation of what the J.TEST is all about.

The application costs 2,800 yen for the higher A-D Level test and just 2,300 yen for the lower E-F level.

The next two J.TESTs will be held on June 11 and September 10

Trial Japanese Proficiency Exam

I received an email from JET Programme Assistant Language Teacher Brian Futagaki in Chiba the other day, asking me about the trial Japanese Language Proficiency Test in March. What trial? I knew nothing about it and a quick spot of Googling left me none the wiser so here is Brian's account of the trial test:

About two weeks after the 12/4 test I got a small postcard from the Japan Foundation. They said that they will be conducting a practice test for the JLPT in order to more effectively administer it in the future. If you sat for the most recent test, you qualify. You show up at the University of Tokyo, Komaba on March 19 at 10am and take the trial test exactly as you would the real thing, the only difference is you have to take a questionaire afterwards. Upon completion you receive 5,000 yen, which is cool because I would actually pay them for such an opportunity! The registration is super simple. No picture needed, just fill out your name, address, level you want to take and registration number from the last JLPT. This almost messed me up because after I took the 3 kyu I forgot about my test voucher, which is where the number is printed. I finally tracked it down. Definitely important to save that voucher!

It sounds like a fantastic opportunity to have a trial run at the exam and find out how much you still have yet to learn but unfortunately it looks like participants are picked from the pool of last year's test takers only. And I'm guessing that being in Chiba - just a short ride from the test centre - didn't hurt.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Test Content Specifications

I picked up a copy of the 日本語能力試験出題基準 - the specifications for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test from Kinokuniya in Shinjuku (2,100yen, Bonjinsha). The specs list the kanji, grammar and vocab for each level of the JLPT but be warned - the foreword explains that the specifications were developed as a guide for those compiling test questions for the JLPT and were NOT designed as a study or teaching guide. In particular the foreword also points out that 20% of the kanji appearing in the JLPT may be kanji which are not contained in the lists and can be selected at the discretion of the test compilers from amongst kanji of a similar level of difficulty.......