JPLT Results (UK)

For some reason it didn't occur to me that the results might arrive on a Saturday, but there was the envelope waiting to be opened. My heart raced as I opened it and peered in.

I can't tell you the relief and joy of seeing not just the marks sheet but also an A4 certificate inside. A certificate for the Level 1 Japanese Language Proficiency Test with my name on it! Yes, a pass!

It may not have been the greatest passing mark in the world but it was well worth the effort I spent raising my grade by the 5% or so that it did since last year.

I was secretly hoping for a pass but even so, it's just unreal. It's still sinking in.

Thank you to all of you who have helped me towards this achievement, I really appreciate it.

Comments

[Mark]

Wow, congratulations Darren, that's amazing. I can only hope that one day I'll be able to pass 1-kyuu, that's a great level of Japanese you've achieved!

Can I ask how long you've been studying? I thought I remember you saying before that you lived in Japan for 3 years...

But now you've got level 1 what will you aim for next? Kanji kentei? A different language?

[Darren]

Thanks Mark. It was a long road but I definitely haven't reached the end yet. I'm sure you can get to level 1, too, if you really want to pass it.

I studied a little Japanese before living in Japan for three years. I've been back for two and a half years so it would add up to about six years. Wow, time flies!

I'd consider retaking the level one test this year, just to keep myself on my toes. Also, I might look into other tests such as the Kanji Kentei and JETRO.

Other than that, I'd like to start trying to read simple novels and short stories again.

Chinese is a language I'd love to learn but don't intend on starting that project for some time.

[SaffronSaris]

Congratulations!!!! I knew you were going to pass when you commented that this year's questions, especially grammar, were easier than previous year's.
My results have arrived, but I haven't the heart to open it and see how badly I'd failed. This time round, I'm expecting to do worse for grammar than listening.
BTW, did you self-study or enrolled at a language school in preparation for last year's test?
I'm comtemplating whether to continue with self-study (evidently insufficient for Level 1) or to enroll in a language school.

[Darren]

Thanks :)

The grammar was one of the better sections for me but I could easily have failed because of the kanji/vocab paper.

I can't believe you haven't opened your results! I was terrified opening mine but it had to be done.

No, I've never attended a language school for JLPT preparation. At university I did a short Japanese introductory course as a humanities unit but since then have had no formal tuition.

Self-study can get you to level 1 but I imagine a course would certainly help.

I am fortunate in the fact that if I have questions I know a number of Japanese people and always pester my language exchange partner with any questions I have.

[Mark]

I'm impressed you've managed to get to level 1 without formal tuition. That's a great level of motivation you must have had!

I doubt I could progress much without classes of some sort. In London I did twice-weekly evening classes for 6 months before travelling, and the course I joined here is for another year, after which time (next April) I should have (hopefully) passed 2-kyuu and be vying for level 1 with quite a bit more work on my own part.

And although living in a place is a great chance to pick things up, it's hard when you're tired from work. At least with classes you have a formal structure you have to stick to, and a base to build on with personal language experiences.

So I think it's no good relying solely on classes, as a lot of the students at my school do. Outside of school they don't use Japanese; they communicate with their friends/partners in their own language. But as the only English-speaker and living with a Japanese and close to her family I have other chances to use what I've learnt. Hopefully this will help to round my Japanese off a bit so I'm not stuck sounding too much like a text book ;-)

[Darren]

My motivation goes through peaks and troughs but I'm am intent on keeping my Japanese ability intact and, of course, improving where possible.

Being in Japan or being able to communicate with Japanese people is the best way to study. As you say, even though you may be tired each day after work, you are still surrounded by Japanese and will tend to pick up new words by osmosis (there are exceptions to this rule, of course!).

How much did it cost going to an evening class twice a week in London? The cost is something that would make me think twice about attending, particularly when I've managed so far with self-study. It would be good to meet other people with an interest in the language, though.

[Mark]

I learnt at Alpha in Covent Garden, and when I started there group lessons (less than 3 people) were 14 pounds per hour, then later they went up to 17 pounds. However at a total beginner level when I started there, there were 2 people in our class for about 3 weeks and then the other person dropped out leaving me paying group prices for 1-to-1 tuition for the rest of the time I was there :-)

As my only hobby at that point though I was happy paying that sort of money.

Changing the subject a bit, I had my first 'interpretation' experience yesterday in Starbucks as a couple of Japanese ladies asked me to translate questions between them and a load of world champion speed-skaters who are in town for a tournament. Surreal, but very interesting. And despite my low Japanese ability it was a great confidence boost!

[Darren]

I've heard of the Alpha school in Convent Garden as my friend used to go there.

£17/hour? I suppose that's the going rate, if not more by now but it still seems like an awful lot of money. Fair enough if you got a 1-to-1 session for the same price, though.

Well done on your interpreter role! What a great experience. So a whole load of speed-skaters trundled into Starbucks or the ladies saw you inside and called you out?

[Mark]

The speed-skaters were there when I arrived. I just thought they were a load of foreigners over for ski season at first, until I was told otherwise by the ladies.

As for the lessons, when I added them up, they were costing me about 70 pounds a week, which was less than half of my rent at the time, and working in IT like yourself it didn't feel like so much to spend on my only hobby at the time ;-)