learning japanese

[dimitri_can]

My personal guess is any new changes made will be from Pre-Adv 2 [ maybe split PA2 and combine with PA1 ] and above...
Everything else below PA1, should have very little changes, since already mentioned that N4 and N5, is the same as current 3 and 4, in case you don't realise, [ FOWS ] Bunka Int4 is like level3...

I am aiming for N1 next Dec, so will have migraine for the next 14 months...

I wish you all the best in your N1... Not ez...
And you need to pass all sections to pass the whole N1.
======================================================
http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/new-jlpt.html

Attached are some questions.

N1: http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N1-mondai.pdf
N2: http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N2-mondai.pdf
N3: http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N3-mondai.pdf
N4: http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N4-mondai.pdf
N5: http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N5-mondai.pdf

Under the new syllabus,
There will still be 3 sections, mainly

-言語知識（文字・語彙） Knowledge of Language (Vocabulary)
-言語知識（文法・読解） Knowledge of Language (Grammar/Comprehension)
-聴解 Listening

The guidebook is all in Japanese, i will post more info, once i have finished reading the guide book.

Updates:
In the new exam, there will be a base mark (基準点). If one of the sections is not above the base mark, you will fail the whole exam, regardless of how high your total score is.

E.g


-言語知識（文字・語彙） : Marks: 50/60 Base Mark: 40/60 PASS
-言語知識（文法・読解） : Marks: 50/60 Base Mark: 40/60 PASS
-聴解 : Marks: 30/60 Base Mark: 40/60 FAIL

In this case you will fail the exam.

This is very bad news for those people who cannot pass listening.

At least it can be a gauge for employers who employ staff who have the new certificate. That at least your Japanese is really of a certain standard.

 

[sweet_vanilla]

anyone here is a translator?
just asking only.

 

[dimitri_can]

Are you referring to professional translator? Class A, B or C?
--------------------------------------
明日を信じて進みたい
この夕立の中で一人 振り返り立ち止まることもあるけど

 

[dimitri_can]

日本語ムズインスので、ヤメナ。

This is to prepare for real street Japanese.

意味は分からん
説明をください

 

[dimitri_can]

i noticed most schs haven update their website to the new jlpt system? so would there be any changes to the curriculum? like for example elementary becomes 3 levels instead of the original 2 etc. cos my aim is to take jlpt N1 in the shortest possible time.

Hi,
i think most importantly, is the speaking skill that is important, then grammar supported with your writing.

I have seen tons of people who are at JLPT 1 standard, but cannot speak well. Why is that so? Because JLPT is just a test for people, who can cram stuff well in their head, speaking is another thing.

After being in the business Japanese environment for quite some time, i realised 1 thing, your Japanese can be that good, but there will still be natives that will just refuse to speak to you in Japanese.

In a real interview, they are going to test you down a few times to see if you can hold your Japanese well, if you cannot hold it down, out you go.

e.g: what do you like about Japan, have you been to Japan, what do you know about our company, What is your most painful/enjoyable experience in Japan, ask to to read a newspaper article.

There's so many types of Japanese to learn, Business Japanese, Japanese's Japanese, Street Japanese, Yakuza Japanese, u name it, there it is.

Getting JLPT 1 is just the beginning of everything else...

天外有天、人外有人. =)

 

[XasakuraX]

haha. icic. well getting jlpt 1 is just my personal goal, not so much related to work, just my interest. would come in handy when i go japan holiday or wat thou. haha.

heard from my fren jcs only open 1 day for registration? anyone can verify?

 

[celinehgl]

[ NOWS ] Bunka has 2 FREE replacement class per course, additional replacement costs 40++ Most ppl just use up 1 replacement class only, so should be no problem for you.

Going to lesson tmr so will confirm the cost of replacement class again.

I used free replacement classes to take lessons that are close to each other in terms of dates, so no need to take 8 weeks, if you are good, use the system to finish it in 6 weeks and jump to next level. [ Applicable to Ele levels only ]

The senseis are using a fixed format to teach, will have a routine to follow [ they have a checklist if you observe ] so that when you take replacement classes [ usually it's on another day, by another sensei ], you can still follow through. Another thing is,
[ NOWS ] for Ele levels especially, if you have friends taking different days, but same level, you will find that lesson 1 for you and lesson 1 for your frd will be the same, same notes, same words taught, of course, same homework, same for other lessons like 3, 5, 6 etc, although not 100%, even if it's different sensei for you and your friends, but mostly consistent.

The standard stuff that I recall for Ele1 were:

- pronouncing words properly [ pitch / tone / speed ]

- writing exercises [ sensei will actually walk around and see how you write, check your homework and correct them, even if a stroke is slightly longer, curves are larger, for Hiragana ]

- speaking together after sensei explains a word and asks the class to repeat the word

- sensei to student [ sensei asks 1 question per student to answer in Japanese ]

- student to student [ dialogue practising: 3 or 4 questions decided by sensei, and asked and answered between partners using words learnt to apply in context ]

- homework

- tests [ final test and surprise ad hoc test ]

- Romaji will be dropped and Hiragana will be used for teaching for the remainer of the course from a certain X lesson onwards [ you will know when the time comes ]

azumangadaioh, thanks for your advice.

By the way, this forum mentioned something about free japan trip...what is it regarding?

 

[Ah_keong]

haha. icic. well getting jlpt 1 is just my personal goal, not so much related to work, just my interest. would come in handy when i go japan holiday or wat thou. haha.

heard from my fren jcs only open 1 day for registration? anyone can verify?

just PMed u information regarding JCS...

 

[Ah_keong]

I think other than the cost per hour, you must also look at the flexibility for the time slot you are intending to take, if you want to learn long term without major disruptions with your time management.


Take JCS for example, don't see any quoting of amount for individual levels. Based on what is found on the website, if you sign up for any particular levels, seems once you pay up [ lump sum or installments ? ], you have to commit to those days you signed up for the rest of the year.

- Are there any free X number of replacement classes if you are absent ?

- Anything greater than X number, what is the amount you need to pay per replacement class ?

- Minimum percentage of class attendance to be considered as attended the course...

- What happens if you don't have the minimum attendance ? [ let's ignore failing the promotion test aside first ]

- and issues like you are moving faster than your coursemates but stuck with them for the rest of the year, or you are falling behind in progessing but have to force yourself to keep up for many weeks more...

Maybe someone who is currently there [ schools other than Bunka ] can let us know ?
Info from current students would be preferred...

a) u can choose to pay one lump sum or by terms (each year got 3 terms) in JCS

b) u can choose any 1 other classes that teach roughly similar stuff the same week

c) there is no extra replacement classes in JCS

d) without minimum attendance of 75%, may not be able to recieve certificate if s/he passed all stipulated exams. anyone absent successively for 3 lessons without giving prior notice in valid reasons will be deemed as withdrawn from class in JCS

e) in JCS, the course is for one whole year, so u can change class at the end of each term, should you dislike the class for whatever reason depending if there is vacancy at other classes...

f) currently a student in JCS and IKOMA, maybe BUNKA soon!!!

 

[XasakuraX]

wah how come u join 2 schs?

if say i pass the placement test of jcs n exempted to ele 3, so meaning i have to wait until sep 2010 for my class?

jcs got intensive course right? how much is e rates?

 

[azumangadaioh]

Getting JLPT 1 is just the beginning of everything else...

"beginning of everything else" の 世界, 楽しいみたいです...

Suffer the migraines first, before enjoying the pleasures.

 

[azumangadaioh]

e.g: what do you like about Japan, have you been to Japan, what do you know about our company, What is your most painful/enjoyable experience in Japan, ask to to read a newspaper article.

Sounds like GCE 'O' level Japanese oral...

 

[azumangadaioh]

If some students are holding back the class, it is on the onus of these students to seek the teacher out after class.

Problem is if they do not realize they are holding back everybody else, we have to consider other options... It's painful watching them read the words 1 hiragana by hiragana, and have to handhold them during dialogue speaking [ topic with partner ], ending up not enough time for my turn... It's one thing if it's just once or twice, but every lesson for 8 weeks ?

Not to mention talking among themselves while sensei is teaching, or giggling about some words that sound funny or similar to words [ crude words ] in the local languages.

 

[azumangadaioh]

wah how come u join 2 schs?

Why not ask ourselves why do we don't have more financial resources to do the same thing ? Since learning from different schools with different styles will accelerate your learning faster, improve the foundation, resulting in more robust ability in using the language.

I would do the same thing if I have more discretionary income...

 

[dimitri_can]

Sounds like GCE 'O' level Japanese oral...

worse than that. LOL

 

[dimitri_can]

I am taking 3 classes. Online.

-Japanese Culture
-Sapporo Dialect
-Speaking

 

[dimitri_can]

Problem is if they do not realize they are holding back everybody else, we have to consider other options... It's painful watching them read the words 1 hiragana by hiragana, and have to handhold them during dialogue speaking [ topic with partner ], ending up not enough time for my turn... It's one thing if it's just once or twice, but every lesson for 8 weeks ?

Not to mention talking among themselves while sensei is teaching, or giggling about some words that sound funny or similar to words [ crude words ] in the local languages.

In that case, i think it's important that the sensei guides them through for the 1st lesson, and test the students on the hiragana on the 2nd lesson. The 1st lesson is very important. It's where the sensei builds up the impression how he/she wants the class to move ahead. If the sensei finds anything amiss, he/she has to step in to warn the student that they are holding the class back.

 

[dimitri_can]

For those thinking of taking up Japanese for career-purposes, the market rate from what i know:

a Degree holder with Business Japanese Cert+JLPT 1=$6-7k
a Degree holder with JLPT 1=$3.5-6k
a Diploma holder with JLPT 1=$3-4.5k

NOTE: this is subject to nature of job and speaking ability

 

[XasakuraX]

haz. i m having even problems sustaining one sch, tt's y i m taking so long to decide. haha.

 

[Ah_keong]

wah how come u join 2 schs?

if say i pass the placement test of jcs n exempted to ele 3, so meaning i have to wait until sep 2010 for my class?

jcs got intensive course right? how much is e rates?

errm, the placement test is for the course, not terms...
meaning if u pass the placement for intermediate, u can start straight in intermediate cours...

there are intensive courses for elementary and intermediate only... rates are the same as in the PM... may rise next year due to inflation, GST, etc...

i join JCS to finish where I left in 2007, i join IKOMA because i am sponsored...