learning japanese

[iolanthe]

It depends on you. If you're someone who uses many functions for your phone, then jap phones are out. I believe you can only make voice calls, sms, take photos... music/video functions have to converted as well. So it's a little troublesome. Pros and cons. If I had the luxury to buy jap phones, I would. But they're really expensive and I can't surf the net or tune in to radio with them. As for jap books or dictionaries, what kind of books are you referring to? Novels, manga or books for self-study? XD I'd definitely invest in an e-dictionary now that I'm taking jlpt2 prep course. Books will probably come in later since I can always read stories or manga-scans online.

 

[Ah_keong]

just curious about everyone's JLPT plans.
Next yr, the format will change.

So are you rushing to take this yr's JLPT or want to wait for new format?

I m at JLPT 2 level (now Advance 3 in Ikoma)but haven't decide if to sit for JLPT 2 this year or not.
Cos if the cert is gg to be outdated, is there any purpose to sit for the exam?

What are ur thoughts?

just take loh...
i aiming 2 take JLPT Level 3 this year, then maybe next year challenge JLPT - N3...

well for me, Cert does not represent everything but something at least...
u know singapore see a lot of papers 1...

its always better to have one more paper...

 

[Ah_keong]

I know that they are changing the system soon. Think from JLPT 1-4 to JLPT 1-5. But I dun really think that this would make the JLPT cert useless. Not sure....*ask the better ppl*

But I trying to chiong for JLPT 4/3 this year. (try to achieve something)

join me!!

i challenging JLPT Level 3 this year!! Woo hoo!!!

 

[Ah_keong]

It depends on you. If you're someone who uses many functions for your phone, then jap phones are out. I believe you can only make voice calls, sms, take photos... music/video functions have to converted as well. So it's a little troublesome. Pros and cons. If I had the luxury to buy jap phones, I would. But they're really expensive and I can't surf the net or tune in to radio with them. As for jap books or dictionaries, what kind of books are you referring to? Novels, manga or books for self-study? XD I'd definitely invest in an e-dictionary now that I'm taking jlpt2 prep course. Books will probably come in later since I can always read stories or manga-scans online.

jap phones ah... i like their design loh... and also practise so i won't dont lose out in the technology chase when i meet my japanese friends then i become like out of tune with their hp culture...

i am refering to self - study japanese books....

i plan 2 get an E-dictionary when i am prepared to challenge myself for JLPT 2 bah....
some of the books i bought i also haven read finish...

 

[Ah_keong]

wondering, if u got choice... would u get more jap books, dictionary or jap phone?

i will get Jap phone!

cause my jap books i boughtm i don have time to finish them and i not ready for dictionary yet...

 

[Adventia]

yah, agree...

really?? i missed again...
thought of browsing some JLPT 3 books...

Yes,i missed it also ...T.T

wondering, if u got choice... would u get more jap books, dictionary or jap phone?

More jap books if not save the money.
I dont know much about jap phones but from what i read here, i dont see the benefit from local ones...

 

[dimitri_can]

耳から覚える　日本語能力試験３級　文法トレーニング　(ISBN:9784757414969)

this book good??

ok la................

 

[PingJun]

...Happy birthday...(delayed greeting)
Only way to know is to check their site regularly or check the book nook section of HWZ.

ur birthday on 31st Jan??

Happy Birthday!!!

Thank You

Yup, my birthday is on the last day of January.

I want to buy some JLPT 2 book materials and Jap manga. But didn't know that they had sales on that day

 

[PingJun]

Hello, Everyone.

Currently, I am studying Pre advance course in Ikoma. Recently, I am thinking of jumping to JLPT 2 Course as I want to learn more about Jap Grammar & Vocubulary. However, I have no wish of taking JLPT 2 end of this year.

Thus, I would like to have some advices from anyone who have been through or are currently taking JLPT 2 Course. How's the course like, as in is the teaching pace quite fast?

Thanks.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hello, Everyone.

Currently, I am studying Pre advance course in Ikoma. Recently, I am thinking of jumping to JLPT 2 Course as I want to learn more about Jap Grammar & Vocubulary. However, I have no wish of taking JLPT 2 end of this year.

Thus, I would like to have some advices from anyone who have been through or are currently taking JLPT 2 Course. How's the course like, as in is the teaching pace quite fast?

Thanks.

Adventia can give u some advice.

Too tired to give advice le.

 

[Adventia]

Hello, Everyone.

Currently, I am studying Pre advance course in Ikoma. Recently, I am thinking of jumping to JLPT 2 Course as I want to learn more about Jap Grammar & Vocubulary. However, I have no wish of taking JLPT 2 end of this year.

Thus, I would like to have some advices from anyone who have been through or are currently taking JLPT 2 Course. How's the course like, as in is the teaching pace quite fast?

Thanks.

I am double taking pre-advance and Jlpt 2prep.

You will eventually learn all the 2kyuu grammar and vocabulary throughout the course.
But like most matters of life,to do well you have to be self-motivated and study hard.
Unless will have geniuses here.

The class is very lecture styled.If you are talking about Kanai sensei,she is faster than your usual teacher.Every week,she will go through a few grammar points,after which you are expected to memorize at least one example sentence for each grammar point.She will revise the points taught next lesson and randomly pick people to test.

Vocab wise, it is self-initiated. Every week you have to learn 4 pages of vocab. Every week there will be test on the pronunciation of the words. Paper test. For non-Chinese,no kanji lesson,sorry to disappoint.

You will also be given Grammar homework to apply what you have learned in class. Passage reading homework to practice your reading,she will go through this homework in class line by line,fast.

 

[Adventia]

Adventia can give u some advice.

Too tired to give advice le.

You lazy....

 

[dimitri_can]

You lazy....

LOLLLLLLLLLLLL

 

[surfuz]

Hello, Everyone.

Currently, I am studying Pre advance course in Ikoma. Recently, I am thinking of jumping to JLPT 2 Course as I want to learn more about Jap Grammar & Vocubulary. However, I have no wish of taking JLPT 2 end of this year.

Thus, I would like to have some advices from anyone who have been through or are currently taking JLPT 2 Course. How's the course like, as in is the teaching pace quite fast?

Thanks.

Hi Ping Jun,

I strongly suggest you talk to Kanai sensei first if you are switching. She will be able to advise you.

I spoke to her at length during my placement test in Ikoma (I went to Pyaess, found that school's pace so sloooooooooow that I switched back to Ikoma)...
her JLPT class is very intensive. No offence to you but if you are a person who is not a very fast learner, you are better off staying in the usual ikoma classes as Kanai sensei teaches very fast and she won't have time to explain things in detail... to you.

By the way, if you found ur current classes too slow, you can request skip to Advance. Frankly i found Pre-Advance a very unnecessary level and feel Ikoma is just trying to add levels and making more money.

 

[surfuz]

I have been through this phase twice in my whole life. So i can understand how u feel.

The cert would not be outdated...

In real life, companies not only see your certificates, but also your speaking skills..

Ask yourself this question, do you want to be "worthy" of your JLPT 2 certificate or just get the certificate and be lost when people start asking you to say "What do you like about Japan?" in Japanese?

It will still take a while for them to know the new 'N' system, meanwhile, what they know is JLPT 2, not N2.

I've been through 3 rounds of Japanese interview just to get my current job....

1st interview: I was asked about myself. Self-introduction in Japanese, my hobby, what i do during weekends,etc

2nd interview: I was asked about "What do i like about Japan? Why study Japanese? How much do you know about Japan? Do you know that opposite Mount Fuji is what mountain? etc..."

3rd interview: I was asked to troubleshoot an IT problem in Japanese.

Not trying to scare you or boast, just stating the facts about Japanese companies. They want you to know them as much as possible. When you know them better than the other candidates, you are at a upper hand. If you are deciding on a Japanese job, be prepared to answer things like that.

I didn't have my JLPT 2 cert back then, but i got employed, based on my speaking skills, my knowledge about Japan and my sincerity to learn more about Japan.

Fair enough, with that, i earned myself a free trip to Japan for 2 weeks for training.

Now i am back, i am more willing than before to share with people my experiences working with Japanese. Really a fantastic experience.

Hope it helps you make a decision. =)

Thanks a lot to everyone especially dimitri_can for ur lengthy explanation above. It really helps put things into perspective.

I think now i wont care if the cert is outdated or not =)

Really appreciate everyone's opinions/comments!

 

[crystalight]

wow!!! that was a lengthy explanation by dimitri_can!!! great that you get the chance to go to Japan.

I have to save more $$$ to go there. haha

 

[dimitri_can]

wow!!! that was a lengthy explanation by dimitri_can!!! great that you get the chance to go to Japan.

I have to save more $$$ to go there. haha

I was quite lucky as my expenses were all paid for by my company and allowances were given for my daily lunches and dinner. I got to stay in this hotel (http://www.newotani.co.jp/en/group/index.html)

I was told this is a 5 star hotel in Japan. Per night is about 450 Sing dollars... I was like... WOW!
Really happy to be in this company.

And what's more, i got to gain experience about how the Japanese work in Japan, etc. And learn things outside the classroom. e.g

How do you say cold water in Japanese?

つめたい水？

In Japan, it's not being said like this. it's called おひや.

how about warm water?

あたたかい水？

In Japan, no body call it by this way, it's called おゆ。

How about fish? さかな？ Nono... the Japanese respect the fishes a lot (LOL) and it's being called おさかな。

Everybody knows what's かいてんずし、but anyone knows what's ながれずし？

I was told there's a store in Singapore, but in Japan, it's very hard to find.

http://www.uogashizushi.co.jp/movie/nagare-1.wmv

Looks like all my efforts through the interview and forcing myself to "sing" on buses since 3 years all paid out...

 

[dimitri_can]

Some other stuff to share.

Romance car in Japan


Mount Fuji


Onsen Tamago (These eggs are being cooked by the remains of the volcano in Mount Hakone)


Guy collecting the onsen tamago


Mr Kuukun

 

[iolanthe]

Hey dimitri Thanks for helping to buy the dictionary.

Ooh... have you tried the onsen egg? :O What's the difference in taste between that and normal eggs? XD From pictures I've found on the net, they look like your regular half-boiled egg.

 

[dimitri_can]

Hey dimitri Thanks for helping to buy the dictionary.

Ooh... have you tried the onsen egg? :O What's the difference in taste between that and normal eggs? XD From pictures I've found on the net, they look like your regular half-boiled egg.

It's about the same. =)

But when u try to break it open, it's not so easy to break it...