JLPT 2022 thread

Japanese Language
#51

I hope to take N3 by the end of the year (not sure if it’s only here in Italy, but they only held the exam in december).

I went back to studying Japanese in february 2020 (little did I know about the amount of extra time I would have had few months later). When I was in high school I tought myself hiragana, katakana and really basic kanjis, grammar and words (think about the first four, five chapters of Genki I).

In these two years I went into the difficulties I guess everyone gets through, mainly searching for the “optimal” resource to study with. I tried Memrise, Duolingo, online resources, Pimsleur so on so forth.

I really liked Lingodeer when i got it, clean, easy and complete. But still, I didn’t get a good overall retention of what I’ve learned. I literally consumed Genki I and II, started Tobira and went through LOADS of Anki decks in hope to enforce my vocabulary, which I felt being my main problem. All I obtained was getting burned by the sheer amount of reviews, which led me to pause studying last summer.

When I got back in october, I felt like I forgot almost everything I’ve learnt. So here I am, early 2022, going through Genki II again and this time, using Wanikani for the vocabulary and kanjis. I have to say, really satisfied for now.

Good luck everyone for the exam!

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#52

This is a really good point… I really only want to do them for my own satisfaction (I’m already employed in Japan and don’t need the JLPT for my job). It might be worth it to just shoot for the N4 to see what it’s like. I have until July so it could be doable. I’m just a wuss XD

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#53

I emailed the organisers for the Edinburgh JLPT a while back to check if it was starting back up again and they have finally replied to say that no JLPT will be held there in 2022 (so both July and December cancelled) :sob::sob::sob::sob::sob: sharing here in case it’s useful for anyone else (given the website I think still suggests it would be back this July)

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#54

Thanks for checking! I had started to develop mild fantasies of maybe going to Edinburgh in summer for JLPT (and holidays) so thanks for getting me out of that rabbithole again :sweat_smile:

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#55

I guess I will be the one going on a JLPT holiday this year hahaha. I was going to try for N3 in July and N2 December given that Edinburgh is only 45 mins on the train for me but may have to just pick one now! Now to see where actually holds it :eyes:

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#56

If SOAS hold the test in London this summer then I’ll probably put in for N3. I took N5 in December 2019 and then haven’t been able to sit any tests since. (I remember applying for the July 2020 N4 during my first week of working from home…which seems bizarre now but seemed reasonable at the time). As a result I’ve not looked at any of the prep books but I’ll be disappointed if I’m not at N3 level by now!

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#57

I’m debating whether to take N2 or skip straight to N1 this year…N2 has been my plan the last few years even if it got derailed by the pandemic. If I keep up my studying and actually level WK as anticipated (after a level reset a couple months back), then maybe N1 is achievable. Either way, lots of work to be done before then! I do have the 新完全マスター N2 books in addition to WK, so I’ll work through those and see how much time I have left to prepare.

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#58

I’ve heard of people going from nothing to N1 in <2 years so why not :smiley: . Also depends whether it’s a solid N3 and moving onto N2 or just scraping it at N3 and aiming for N2.

I kind of think N2 might be too high for me still, since Tobira covers only most of N3 and barely scratches N2. Also, the test requires listening comprehension, reading at a reasonable speed, etc. On the other hand, I don’t want to settle on N3, cause that feels kinda low at this point :sweat_smile: .

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#59

I’m going to try the N2 December this year. I did the N3 last year mostly to check how the exam feels, either I passed it or not, I’m not sure, I just know that I’m going to try N2 this year and already started studying for it :books: :sparkles: (but for now, I’m mostly reviewing N3 stuff with Tobira and getting some N2 vocabulary)

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#60

Yeah, I’m in the same boat. Haven’t done much listening practice compared to reading, and reading is still slowish. Would probably be better suited for taking N3 in the summer, but N2 level is the aim for this year.

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#61

Thanks for the encouraging words!

In my current state I can probably just barely pass N3 but given that I still have 6 months to go, I should be able to achieve a solid N3.

I’ll try and do my best and perhaps N2 is actually achievable in December :smiley:

Listening is probably going to be one of the more problematic things for me as well.

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#62

As for Germany, both Düsseldorf and Stuttgart updated their websites regarding the JLPT. Also, registration for the July test in Düsseldorf has started.

Düsseldorf is going to hold N5-N3 in July and likely N2-N1 in December.
Stuttgart will likely hold N5-N3 in December.

Guess I’ll have to wait until December to give the N2 a shot :c

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#63

Signing up for N3 in Düsseldorf tomorrow! Looking forwards to the exam. I need to hold myself accountable to study :stuck_out_tongue:

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#64

Thanks for the confirmation! Yeah, seems like N1-N2 are not held in Germany in summer. Maybe other nearby countries might be an option? (Depending on where in Germany you live, maybe Paris or Vienna are alternatives? Or some other places I did not look into yet.)

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#65

Maybe possibly conceivably N3? I hate exams, but I could really use some external measure of my Japanese knowledge. Plus it’ll be a good conversation topic.

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#66

Do you know whether Vienna already opened for N3-N2? I tried looking online, but found no info. Will try to look again later this week.

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#67

TBH that was just a blind guess :sweat_smile: I could not find anything online yet…

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#68

I plan on taking N3 this year, just to check my level. My teacher says I’m between n4 and n3, but not in terms of kanji. I’m using Wanikani+Italki lessons.

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#69

I’m thinking I’ll try for N5 this year, maybe N4 if I actually get to go to Japan with work - it’s been delayed, delayed again, cancelled, restarted, etc - and I wasn’t studying very much last year, but this year I’m going to persevere with it.
I’m a Brit, living in Belgium, so apart from English I speak a bit of French & very basic Dutch. Plus “Janglish” at work :slight_smile:

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#70

I’ve only just started learning, but the next exams in my country aren’t until December, so I think with a huge push and motivation I could maybe attempt the lowest level by then. That’s the plan, and if I’m not ready for it then I’ll just have to postpone. So to specifically answer your questions:

Hopefully!
Level 5 (I think that’s the lowest level?).
For tourism, I have a friend in Japan who I want to visit.
Books, tofugu, wanikani, and will be getting an online tutor within the next few weeks.

So far I can read the hiragana and katakana characters, and I’m about to progress to level 2 in wanikani for the kanji.

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