Reading novels would also be a good activity, I think. Trying to read Murakami’s 1Q84, myself. Not looking up too many words, just reading what I can. Only made to the 2nd chapter so far, even though I already read part 1 in English. But that is mostly because of not picking up the book often enough.
Whenever I picked up a japanese book so far, I’ve always felt like there are too many words (and kanji) that I don’t know for that to be enjoyable. So I guess, chipping away on WK is the best for now 
. I agree with you though, reading is great.
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At least it’ll train you to not dwell on unknown words too long! Or else you might waste too much time and won’t be able to finish the test. Make sure your reading speed is up to par. Though I am guessing that won’t be a problem.
Just looked at the test site in düsseldorf. It‘s still 60€ 
definitly a better price.
I didn‘t even realice that the application is already open 
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Do they still use the paper forms? I just looked at the signup process for the test sites in Japan and it states that from 2020 you can’t apply on paper any more, only online. So I was wondering about how the process is now for overseas countries and what the old-fashioned Germans do about it…
At least for the testsite in düsseldorf, germany, you still have to use paper forms. I hate it Xd an quick online application would be so much easier
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Except for Hamburg, you apply online. 
…and that’s why I decided that I will actually try N3 in summer and not take the test in December in Düsseldorf because I just remembered the application process for Düsseldorf and I don’t know… but that just makes me not want to sign up for the December test there at all. 
If I fail N3, I will take it again in summer 2021 in Hamburg unless Düsseldorf manages to incorporate an online sign-up until the test in December.
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I always use the jlpt in düsseldorf as an excuse to go shopping for japanese stuff and visiting nice restaurants there 
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Haha, for me it’s just the other way around 
I applied for my last JLPT online, and not only did they ask the exact same questions, so I had to fill in the same amount of data (= same amount of tediousness), but it was also an online form 
I mean, I’m a software developer, and I see (and suffer from) so much shitty software every day (as a client !), including software in businesses where it is really important, like banks and stuff, I just don’t trust that and I always expect it to freak out in the middle or choke on some input or silently drop something or whatever. These things have never happened to me with paper forms 
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I was only halfway through Minna no Nihonggo I (the first book) last year January. Planned to take N4 last July but a sensei at my school who occassionally helps me with Japanese pushed me to go for N2 instead so I did that in December and barely passed (119/180). Now she’s telling me to take N1 this July but I feel like there are serious gaps in my Japanese and N1 is too much to aim for in such a short amount of time.
After Minna no Nihonggo, I went straight to N2 Soumatome, N2 grammar and Kanzen reading and boy was it a steep learning curve for me. There are N4/N3 level words and grammar I haven’t even mastered and only gotten acquainted with through N2 grammar and reading practices. I don’t practice writing Kanji either. 
Tbh, I feel like I didn’t deserve passing the exam at all. Not too proud to tell people I did pass because they equate it to fluency and I’m worlds away from that. My speaking is N5/N4 level lol.
Yeah, so I’m not sure if I should go for N1 soon when I feel like I’m barely N2. 
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My registration for N5 in July got confirmed.
Let the grind begin!
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Wow, where is registration already open?
Exam day: Sunday the 5th, July 2020
Venue: The Russell Square campus, SOAS University of London
The application for JLPT July 2020 London will open on: Tuesday 17th March 2020
London registration opens 17th March for folks interested
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Wow bargain!! Maybe I should brush up my German it’s been 24 odd years since I last went. 
I think I even still got some unspent Deutsche Mark hiding somewhere! 
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I’m going for a practice N1 run in July. Hoping to better my first N2 attempt which was 54 points… Took me two years to pass N2. I was studying Japanese a couple years before that, but probably not even enough for N3 the first time I took N2 haha. Scored a gnarly 7/60 for reading. Anyway, just goes to show that with a little elbow work and perseverance anyone can pass 
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In Duesseldorf, Germany yes.
And it costs 60 Euros there.
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If you were going to use them, Germany started using € in 2002 ^^
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Shows how old I am! I’ll hang on to them to remind me to brush up on my German! 
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So that’s where they are!
According to this German article, there are still more than 12 billion (!) Deutsche Mark in circulation (as of Nov. 2019).
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Opps that’s my fault! …Though sadly it’s not 12 billion hidden in there.
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