learning japanese

[nash1999]

well, take your time bah... there is no point rushing...

for me, i had my JLPT 4 in 2007. and this year i am aiming for JLPT 3. i stopped my jap for 1 year because of my studies and maybe stopping my jap soon for 2 - 3 years to do my masters before continuing my Jap.

why i can continue is because learning japanese is my interest and so thats why i can slowly learn..

i have seen ppl with tons and tons of certs but no true proficiency... can't speak well... or barely passed the JLPT exams...

so in conclusion, i agree with adventia - Certificate vs Proficiency..
but my aim is both...

are u going NUS? their Jap courses is very good. u can continue learning and build on your proficiency.

Rome is not build in a day so take ur time and be patiient...

Nope, going NTU.

Actually, my posting was to find out how you guys self study when there is no lessons. I wanted to improve on my Japanese during my free time but I do not really know where to start.

But somehow I have vented some of my frustration in that post...But ya, I sort of forgot my real goal and look at the cert as the final goal...

 

[dimitri_can]

Actually...my final goal for now is to be able to play Japanese games and to see anime/manga in their original form. Passing JLPT is more of a way to see how far more to go before I can reach that goal. Speaking would be a plus as I wanted to explore Japan if I got the money...

From my experience, it's best to start slow and steady. JLPT 3 is no easy feat and it really builds up on a solid foundation for JLPT 2 and 1.

 

[Adventia]

after advance you are supposed to be jlpt2 standard. jlpt 2 prep is basically pre advance (1 year) + advance (2 years) cramped into 1 year. at least that's how the ikoma staff mentioned. after advance is further advance. then after that i not too sure already.

I took pre-advance before and is still taking prep now.
Pre-advance and advance is not alike to prep course at all.

Pre-advance and advance will teach you conversational,grammar,vocabulary,listening and writing skills.It has a greater coverage.
It is more towards interactive teaching.

Prep course wise,it is more into grammar,reading and listening.Vocabulary is on your own(resources provided though).
More lecture styled with participation in reading.

Prep course < pre-advance+advance

 

[Adventia]

Actually...my final goal for now is to be able to play Japanese games and to see anime/manga in their original form. Passing JLPT is more of a way to see how far more to go before I can reach that goal. Speaking would be a plus as I wanted to explore Japan if I got the money...

I am the very same...lolz...
Though i want to be able to read Japanese light novels also.

 

[hpoirot]

I took pre-advance before and is still taking prep now.
Pre-advance and advance is not alike to prep course at all.

Pre-advance and advance will teach you conversational,grammar,vocabulary,listening and writing skills.It has a greater coverage.
It is more towards interactive teaching.

Prep course wise,it is more into grammar,reading and listening.Vocabulary is on your own(resources provided though).
More lecture styled with participation in reading.

Prep course < pre-advance+advance

Looks like i'll be continuing with pre-advance after i complete Intermediate2 this year. I wonder how will the new N3 JLPT fit into Ikoma's Prep classes? Will N3 Prep class be 1 year long, or more like the current JLPT3 / JLPT4 prep classes (only 6 lessons).

Based on everyone's knowledge of the N3 exam, would it be feasible to attempt it after i complete Pre-advanced?

 

[PingJun]

so after advanced class is JLPT 2 prep class?
or u taking concurrently with advanced class?

Hello.

I have not thought of that yet.

 

[dimitri_can]

Looks like i'll be continuing with pre-advance after i complete Intermediate2 this year. I wonder how will the new N3 JLPT fit into Ikoma's Prep classes? Will N3 Prep class be 1 year long, or more like the current JLPT3 / JLPT4 prep classes (only 6 lessons).

Based on everyone's knowledge of the N3 exam, would it be feasible to attempt it after i complete Pre-advanced?

Nope..i don't think so...

 

[lerkaile]

Is your purpose of studying Japanese to pass JLPT or to speak?

i'd say my purpose for learning the language would be to get ready for a term or two's exchange in Tokyo. That's 2010-2011, still a long way off. Among other things, I also plan to date a Japanese friend of mine.

 

[dimitri_can]

i'd say my purpose for learning the language would be to get ready for a term or two's exchange in Tokyo. That's 2010-2011, still a long way off. Among other things, I also plan to date a Japanese friend of mine.

i see... がんばってください

 

[demid]

Hello,

Since the two of you are so active on the forums, just thought i might come by and say hi or something... haha

 

[dimitri_can]

Ah! Got found out! =p

 

[Ah_keong]

Nope, going NTU.

Actually, my posting was to find out how you guys self study when there is no lessons. I wanted to improve on my Japanese during my free time but I do not really know where to start.

But somehow I have vented some of my frustration in that post...But ya, I sort of forgot my real goal and look at the cert as the final goal...

oh, u going for science courses (e.g. engineering) or non-science courses in NTU?

i self-study by reading books in MRT, chatting, writing and watching drama during school days...
its tough i would say as i am from a science course...

if u are into business / accounting, etc.. i believe u will have extra time for jap courses...

 

[Ah_keong]

Looks like i'll be continuing with pre-advance after i complete Intermediate2 this year. I wonder how will the new N3 JLPT fit into Ikoma's Prep classes? Will N3 Prep class be 1 year long, or more like the current JLPT3 / JLPT4 prep classes (only 6 lessons).

Based on everyone's knowledge of the N3 exam, would it be feasible to attempt it after i complete Pre-advanced?

think it may not be feasible for N3 after pre-advanced..
maybe advanced 1 will be of a better standing together with the N3 prep class? (if there is one)...

 

[Ah_keong]

Hello.

I have not thought of that yet.

ok... sorry to disturb you...

 

[Ah_keong]

i'd say my purpose for learning the language would be to get ready for a term or two's exchange in Tokyo. That's 2010-2011, still a long way off. Among other things, I also plan to date a Japanese friend of mine.

wow... u can do it... good luck!

 

[dimitri_can]

ah keong, what are u doing? 怠けてる？ LOL

 

[tmxistz]

I took pre-advance before and is still taking prep now.
Pre-advance and advance is not alike to prep course at all.

Pre-advance and advance will teach you conversational,grammar,vocabulary,listening and writing skills.It has a greater coverage.
It is more towards interactive teaching.

Prep course wise,it is more into grammar,reading and listening.Vocabulary is on your own(resources provided though).
More lecture styled with participation in reading.

Prep course < pre-advance+advance

o... well one of the staff took only pre-ad and ad before taking jlpt2 without the prep course so thought it equated but i guess you probably phrased it better than i did. I did it the other way round, took pre-ad and prep together, now taking advance. so far, what i have covered is almost the same as i did in prep course but at a slower pace and with more interaction. won't be as stressed as prep course due to the lack of the many kanji tests, and 赤点 from all the initial mock tests. guess it depends on your priority, if cert is the priority then go for prep but if you got time and want a holistic approach, pre-ad + ad would be good.

 

[dimitri_can]

o... well one of the staff took only pre-ad and ad before taking jlpt2 without the prep course so thought it equated but i guess you probably phrased it better than i did. I did it the other way round, took pre-ad and prep together, now taking advance. so far, what i have covered is almost the same as i did in prep course but at a slower pace and with more interaction. won't be as stressed as prep course due to the lack of the many kanji tests, and 赤点 from all the initial mock tests. guess it depends on your priority, if cert is the priority then go for prep but if you got time and want a holistic approach, pre-ad + ad would be good.

so u managed to pass your JLPT 2?

 

[tmxistz]

so u managed to pass your JLPT 2?

managed to but not proud of it cause i barely scrapped through. hence decided not to jump levels or take jlpt1 prep this year. gonna take my time to revise slowly and advance gradually.

 

[dimitri_can]

haha... 超級まってるぞ。