Hi
I hope it is alright for me to add on here, seeking advice. There are some amazing 先輩達 here I hope I can get some good advice from.
I have never studied Japanese formally before. All the Japanese I know is from my time living in Japan and speaking with my extended family members or just absorbing from the environment around me like reading menus at restaurants, supermarket signs or magazines then asking my family or friends. Since I was forced to speak Japanese during school times (from my father), I actually quite disliked the language and refuse to do so. When I was spoken to in Japanese, I answered in English ALL the time. (Sorry it is very "pai seh")
In 2008 I sat for the JLPT 3 exam because my friends were taking it so I wanted to go along. I passed it without buying the preparation books.
Next year, I actually have to use Japanese for research and work purposes like interviewing and I am quite in a panic.
I found out that to be able to conduct research in Japanese you need to be JLPT 2 or 1 level and so I did some mock test and failed a JLPT 2.
I wonder what the best study strategy is for me now.
I now live in Singapore and use English all the time. I think I am between a level 4 and 3 but to my surprise, I had no idea there were different verb groupings and that they conjugated properly.
Do you think I should pick up a JLPT 4 book and re-learn the grammar from start (even though I have no idea how I passed JLPT old Level 3)?
OR
Do you think I should go through a foundation class at the language schools you recommend?
Please give me advice. BTW, I do not know any 敬語 at all other than speaking to my uncles or aunties and since they are from Kansai, they are very casual sort of people. I am very worried about my job assignment in Aug 2012. Thank you for reading this "long-winded" post.
I got the topic I did not want the most. I have 文法 on thursday, and listening+dictation+kanji test on 21, which is also when my school exams starst x.x
