The Japan Foundation Under Attack Over New JLPT Format

Publishers drop reference to the JLPT from their products.

As you probably know from reading this blog, a big part of what I do is helping people prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test through my lessons on eduFire and newsletter. You would also probably know that toward the end of last year The Japan Foundation released details of the new format JLPT to be held in 2010, minus the test content specification. At the time there was an uproar from bloggers and test hopefuls. Behind the scenes also publishers were scrambling to establish their relevancy in a rapidly changing test environment.


When Deer Attack, Miyajima, Japan 

As an affiliate of White Rabbit Press I was able to gain a small insight into this struggle from independent publisher Max Hodges, who was kind enough to share an email exchange he had with a representative of The Japan Foundation Center for Japanese-Language Testing. Here for your benefit I have redacted the conversation.

It starts with Max expressing his disappointment in October 2009 with the decision by the Japan Foundation not to publish the test content specification.

As a producer of Japanese language learning materials, we are very disappointed by the upcoming changes to the JLPT. In past years, a "test contents specification" was produced, which allowed educators and publishers to create content designed to prepare people for the JLPT. But since the Japan Foundation has now decided to keep the contents a secret, we can no longer say that our products "provide preparation for Level X of the JLPT" for example.

Books specifically targeting preparation for the JLPT are among the most popular books on White Rabbit Press and stores like the The Japan Shop. White Rabbit Press' Japanese Kanji Flashcards series is also the top-selling product of its kind in book stores across Japan and in markets like Amazon.com. White Rabbit Press have now redesigned their Flashcard series removing any reference to the JLPT. Max explains;

The reason is because without a test-contents spec, we no longer have any confidence that our material provides appropriate preparation for any specific level of the JLPT.

Max also argues that without reference to the JLPT on his products and and similar materials from other publishers the Japan Foundation loses a valuable source of free advertising and good will.

I think it is a disservice to educators and publishers like me, who now lose the ability to confidently prepare people for the test, and it's a disservice to the students who will now have a harder time structuring and prioritizing their limited study time. Also, as I mentioned above, I think it will hurt the popularity of the JLPT itself.

In reply nearly 5 months later the Japan Foundation copied sections of the FAQ (QA8 and QA9) from New Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Guidebook: An Executive Summary.

The new JLPT is to measure communicative competence required to perform tasks. In the new test,“communicative competence” stands on both practical Japanese communicative competence AND knowledge of the Japanese language.

And;

Though we don’t publish “Test Content Specifications”, we offer enough alternative information to prepare for the new JLPT. “New Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Sample Questions” has all the types of test items for all the levels. Even “Test Content Specifications”, past test items will still do as the former test levels (KYUUs) and the new levels correspond to each other.

Seeing both sides of the argument

I would argue that a paper test really doesn't offer any measure of communicative competence. I can clearly say that 4 out of 5 test levels bear some resemblance to former levels. Those of you that are preparing for the N3 have the difficult task of deciding what to study between the two extremes of the old levels 3 and 2. I don't believe the Japan Foundation offers enough information for people attempting this new level, nor any specific information about test content for other levels.

For me this seems counter-productive. I thought one of the main reasons for providing a new intermediate step between the old 3 and 2 was to bridge a very difficult gap for intermediate students. It certainly doesn't make things any easier for people who are considering moving on to more advanced levels of Japanese.

I can appreciate Max's position, having taken the decision to redesign his products without reference to the JLPT. I can also see that the Japan Foundation may have acted without any consideration of the impact it would have on publishers, and the good will that they had shown up to this point. What do you think? What impact on test popularity do you think this going to have if publishers no longer carry any reference to the JLPT on their products?

How does it affect your approach to test preparation?

As a test taker and educator, it has made things a little more difficult for me. I have decided to see the problem as an opportunity in disguise and apply some creativity to my approach. You can find out more about it in my newsletter.

Tell us what you think about the the lack of content specification in the comments. Perhaps you have a view that differs from mine. How have you found test preparation with out a test content specification?

If you'd like to ask the Japan Foundation about their decision to keep the test content specification secret their email address is jlptinfo@jpf.go.jp.

How to Pass the New JLPT in 2010

The JLPT has a New Level but Test Taking Strategies Remain the Same

I've just run my second JLPT preparation course on eduFire. I thought I would share some of what we covered with you as it was the first session since December when new sample tests for the JLPT were released. Here are the slides, an explanation follows on below.



Even though the test has changed the things you have to do to pass it have stayed the same. If you plan on doing the test this year now is the best time to get started.

How the new JLPT compares

The old JLPT only had four levels, so there was a large jump in the amount of kanji and vocabulary you were expected to learn between levels 3 and 2. With the addition of a new level N3 in between the old 3 and 2 there is a smoother transition to the more advanced levels.


The decision by JEES not to publish a test content specification may seem to some like a spanner in the works, but with a few simple assumptions it is easy to see a way forward. Looking at the graph you can see that mid point for assumed kanji/vocabulary knowledge between N4 and N2 provides something to aim for. On closer inspection N3 matches the fourth grade of the kyōiku kanji, for which there are many resources available. N2 matches the full 1006 character kyōiku kanji and N1 the 1,945 character jōyō kanji.

There are lots of past tests for the old JLPT and none for the new N3 so this does pose a small challenge for people who fall some between the old 3 and 2 in finding appropriate practice material. A closer look at the Executive summary shows you that the kinds of questions you can expect and the time allotted to each section is similar to N4 and N5.

So although the test has changed the things you need to do to pass it remain the same: Do plenty of study, Do past tests and Be specific.

How to pass the new JLPT in 2010

The five steps to Ace the JLPT I've covered before, but here they are again in a nutshell.

• Know yourself: To borrow a euphemism from cycling "racing is the best training". This is the priniciple of specificity as it applies to language study. Benchmark yourself now under test conditions and you'll have something to measure your progress against. So where to get the tests? Online you can get the sample tests at the JLPT site. You may want to purchase test booklets for N1/N2/N3 and N4/N5, which also come with a CD of the listening section and a courtesy translation of the executive summary from White Rabbit Press.
  
  
• Know the terrain: Doing sample tests will give you a better idea of what to expect on test day. Checking the guidebook however will give you more than enough information to chart a course of study. Perhaps there is too much information. The most important things you need to know are the Composition of Test Items, Test sections and Test time. The missing pieces of the puzzle are your answers to the practice tests. Once you know these things you can start to tailor your study to be more effective.
  
  
• Train your weaknesses: Small gains in your weak areas can result in big gains elsewhere when you do the hard yards. Doing a sample test will identify your weaknesses so you can target them with specific exercises. I listen to Japanese being spoken everyday, and past results tell me that listening is not going to let me down. It would be pointless to spend time listening to podcasts when I know that my reading comprehension has slipped.
  
  
• Race your strengths: By doing practice tests you know where your strengths are. There is no point hammering out repetition after repetition in your favorite SRS if you know all the kanji for your level when your grammar is still broken. Do enough maintenance for your strengths but don't let them distract you from the much harder work of addressing your weaknesses. Use your strengths to power through plateaus, don't rest on your laurels.
  
  
• Stay fresh: Many people burn out in the early stages of preparing for the JLPT because they don't have a plan and try to do too much too soon. Remember it's just a test and the ultimate aim is fluency in Japanese. Take time out to communicate in real Japanese, exchange tweets with friends on twitter. Log your progress on tumblr. Have someone correct your grammar on Lang8 or post an introduction to YouTube for the Japanese speaking community there.

The New JLPT Official Guidebook with Executive Summary and Sample Tests

White Rabbit Press (I'm an affiliate) have sample tests for N1/N2/N3 and N4/N5 of the New JLPT. The volumes include a CD and script for the listening section of each test. The Official Guidebooks and Executive Summary are written entirely in Japanese so White Rabbit Press provide a print out of the English version.

• New JLPT Guidebook - Executive Summary & Sample Test for N1, N2, and N3 (w/CD)
  
• New JLPT Guidebook - Executive Summary & Sample Test for N4 and N5 (w/CD)
  

The sample tests are the same as the ones that are available on the official JLPT site, but the CDs can't be found anywhere else than with the Official Guidebooks.

If you found this post helpful sign up for the Rainbowhill Language Lab Newsletter to get the best tips for the JLPT. Subscribers also get discounts on private lessons in Japanese on eduFire.

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

New Japanese Language Proficiency Test for 2010

No Test Content Specifications for New JLPT 2010

Earlier in December the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) released further detail about the New Japanese Language Language Proficiency Test. As has been reported elsewhere this marks the first time the test has been offered with five levels, with a extra level intended to bridge the large gap between the previous 3rd and 2nd levels.

Other bloggers were quick to point out other major departures from the the previous test format, including the intention not to publish test specifications or past tests, and the requirement to pass each section of the test for an overall pass. It seems that the Japan Foundation have moved to modernise the test to measure both “Japanese language knowledge, including vocabulary and grammar,” and “the competence required to perform communicative tasks using language knowledge.”

There are also other small changes to the presentation of test sections, and the types of questions within them. Under development is a 'can-do' list of proficiencies which will be provided to help examinees and other better understand the test in practical terms.

What does this mean for you if you want to take the test in 2010?

Some things never change, like the need to do hour upon hour of mind numbing study, but if you want to know if the test is right for you here are some answers to questions I get asked all the time.

Who is it for? The JLPT was devised in 1984 to respond to a growing demand among students of Japanese to evaluate and certify Japanese language ability. It has grown in to a internationally recognised test the results of which have been used for employment screening and evaluation for pay rises and promotions. In 2008 well over half a million people took the test in centres all over the world.

Why should I do it? You should do it if you want to certify that you have passed a standardised test which measures Japanese language proficiency. The Japan Foundation have expanded the aims to inlcude measuring “the competence required to perform communicative tasks using language knowledge”. I don't think a paper based test will never come close to testing your communicative ability without a spoken section. Having said that though, it's always good to have something to aim for and if you need some reason to break open your text books this is as good as it will ever get.

What does it test? Test levels N5 (beginner) through to N3 (lower intermediate) are broken in to three sections; vocabulary, grammar/reading and listening. Test levels N2 (intermediate) and N1 (advanced) include vocabulary and reading/grammar in the first section, and lsitening in the second. Speaking and writing are not measured directly. Answers are machine scored multi-choice as in the current test. More details are provided in the New Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Guidebook - Executive Summary (pdf).

When is it held? In 2009 the JLPT was held on the first Sunday in July, but the level 1 and level 2 tests were held only in Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan. The first Sunday in December is known to most who have taken the test as a day of dread all over the world. If you plan on taking the test this year, nothing less than your full comittment from day one is needed to pass at the level appropriate to your perceived ability now. There is a handy table in the executive summary (pdf) of linguistic competencies required to pass each level.

Where is it held? The test is held in over 150 locations outside of Japan, however in 2009 the July test was only held in China, Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan. Locations for the test are not normally confirmed until test vouchers are received but you can get a good idea if one is close to you by looking at the list of local host institutions. Application forms are not normally published until a few months before the test date either, and outside of Japan they can be a bit hard to come by. Host institutions are the first place you should ask, their phone numbers are published on the same list. For those of you wanting to take the test in Japan here is the list of test sites, and a link to bookstores where you may purchase the application form.

How should I prepare? The Japan Foundation have determined that it is inappropriate to publish "Test Content Specifications", a major departure from previous years. Their reasoning is that rote memorisation of vocabulary, kanji and grammar does not guarantee you are capable of using Japanese for communication. It does go a long way however. I have written about the best way to prepare for the JLPT, and have run some online training on how Ace the JLPT at any level. I plan to run similar training in 2010 and tailor content for the select group of people that sign up for my newsletter that launches in the new year.

How will I know what is on the test? The executive summary (pdf) contains a “Composition of Test Items” at each level of the test, which is something you can use to structure your study. Other things that could prove useful include the “A Summary of the Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level” found in the executive summary (pdf) and the "New Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Sample Questions" found on the official website of the Japanese-Language Proficiency test.

Which level should I take? Since the new test levels correspond to the past test levels past tests are always going to be the best way of establishing your current level. The only grey area is with N3 where the number of kanji and vocabulary required fall somewhere between the old level 3 and 2. Jonathon Waller has created an excellent comparison of the old versus the new JLPT with descriptions drawn from the JEES to help you decide which test to take.

After all that, if you still want to take it, please read on.

Let there be no illusions.

This test takes a fair commitment of time and energy, you must make sacrifices. There are few excuses on test day if you rock up unprepared, and the pit in your stomach is bottomless when you realise all that time has gone to waste in March when results are released. If you want to know how others who have just taken the test are spending their time right now see my light hearted attempt to infuse some joy in to the long wait for results.

It is also clear from reading the executive summary that you must come to the test a well rounded student with no obvious weaknesses.

"examinees must now exceed the minimum acceptable score for both the total as well as each scoring section. Failure to exceed the minimum acceptable score in any scoring sections will result in a fail for the entire test."

I'll be going into much greater detail about how to prepare for the test for those that sign up for the newsletter. In the meantime check out past posts on preparing for the JLPT, including an hour of exam preparation training on eduFire, and the series 'Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level'.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
  
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
  
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
  
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
  
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh
  

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

How will this change your approach in 2010?

Are you taking the test this year? Do you plan to do things differently this time around?

How to put the fun back in to Japanese now the JLPT is over

5 ways to enjoy learning Japanese beyond JLPT

Congratulations! You've just come through the grinder that is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It probably doesn't feel so bad now, but in the next few days you're probably going to have some withdrawal symptoms. Cramming for tests takes up a lot of your time and energy, and no matter how you look at it, it's not much fun. In this post we'll look at some ways to fill the time between now and test results, and hopefully put some joy back into learning Japanese.

Some of you may feel quietly confident at first but then the nagging doubt will creep in. Some of you will know that you botched parts of it, and now you're only waiting to find out by how much. I put the following question out there on Twitter yesterday because I know what some of you must be going through right now.



Thank you to everyone that responded on Twitter, I'm glad to have found a such an interesting bunch of people to follow!

1. Remember the reason you started studying.

When you started studying Japanese did you have a clear idea why? For some people its because they want to learn enough Japanese to read manga or understand anime, for others because they have work or travel plans that involve extended periods of time in Japan. For some, its just for fun and to keep their minds nimble.



Studying for a test usually has the unwanted side effect of destroying your internal motivation. The constant repetition may be good for boosting your vocabulary, or aiding your kanji recall, but how well does it prepare you for interactions with people? My guess is not very well.

If you rely on an external motivator to achieve your goals, when that external motivator changes or disappears, you  risk losing focus on why it is you started studying in the first place. Kevin's advice is simple, rediscover your motivation for learning Japanese. What is your version of Japanese?

2. Read stuff.

Preparing for a test is different to using Japanese naturally to engage in culture. Reading is one of the most direct ways to experience culture, and even more important if you can't immerse yourself in it physically.



In the lead up to the test you may have wanted to read manga, but you probably focussed on reading lots of very boring textbooks with short disconnected passages and obscure grammar. This is good in the short term, but practice tests fall well short of what I call exciting reading.

Get back to basics, find something you really enjoy reading. You'll probably find that reading something for the second time you're able to get through it much more smoothly. There are lots of good reasons why reading can be good for your Japanese. Harvey came up with a fabulous link to an almost limitless supply of reading in Japanese with the 青空文庫 (Aozora Bunko). I'm a big fan of blue sky learning too!

3. Find something fun to study.

Chill out, relax, spend the evening on YouTube Japan or ニコニコ動画 (nico nico douga). Have a good laugh, so it brings you back to earth. Play games, learn like a child, do a bit of bottom grabbing on twitter.



Do something a little different, it will help you find new ways to explore your new found confidence with Japanese. Be creative with your time and remember, learning is meant to be fun. Thanks Katie!

4. Concentrate on a weakness.

Having now done the test you will have an acute sense of where your weaknesses are. Use this to refocus your attention on improving these weak areas when you turn back to the books. Doing so will not only provide you with fertile ground for improvement it will help you weed out bad habits in your study technique.



Outline a plan to improve in this area, remember that hard won gains in an area of weakness unlock large gains in other areas. Tone has identified clearly her weakness, and isn't afraid to share it. Where do your weaknesses lie? What are you going to do to correct them?

5. Start studying for the next level.

Have you heard the best way never to fear falling off a horse is to get right back on after you fall off? It might be painful initially, but now that you have the momentum why waste it?



Make sure you have some measurable goals, but never lose sight of why you started studying in the first place. Matigo may seem the masochist here, but I bet he makes good ground on the next JLPT level while the rest of the world is sleeping.

Update: Go on! Get away from that computer and get out of the house already!

I noticed this response from Philip a day after the original post went up. It is worth mentioning because of its sense of urgency. My sentiments precisely, get out there and use it! Its not Latin you know!



How will you spend the next few months before results are released?

Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation

Are you preparing for the JLPT this year?

Sometimes it's hard to know where to start when it comes to preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, how is your preparation going? There is a lot you can do to make sure you are well prepared for the test. It's also important to remember the test is not the ultimate goal, communication in Japanese is.


Testing by JanneM, on Flickr | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The JLPT can be a real motivator to learn the language and get exposure to a wider vocabulary, even so it's a very one-sided way to develop your language skills. Having the 10,000 word vocabulary expected of you to pass level 1 is only a fraction of what the average high school graduate learns, and that is only a fraction of the total number of words in the language. This Japanese dictionary has over 500,000 entries (JP).

Get out there and have fun, there is life after exam hell. Here is a simple review of the JLPT topics I have covered on this blog.

Review your test preparation strategy.

A while ago I covered things I did to ensure success at the JLPT, an idea which developed further this year into an eduFire class and series of blog posts. September this year, in How To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level, I delivered five essential techniques for doing well on test day.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

Use the right tools.

Choosing the best Japanese dictionary when you start out is very important, but as your Japanese improves you'll want to make sure you're using a monolingual dictionary. Here are 3 Good Reasons to Use a Monolingual Japanese Dictionary:

1. Monolingual dictionaries contain authentic grammar and vocabulary.
2. Monolingual dictionaries reinforce vocabulary and make it easy to discover more.
3. Monolingual dictionaries give clearer clues to context.

Eventually you'll want to know how to use dictionary-like power of using explanatory phrases to describe something you don't know the name of. But first you'll need to know how to use a Japanese monolingual dictionary to discover meaning.

There is also plenty of software that can help you master Japanese. One of my favourite is Nihongoup, you'll find a full review of this game-like tool for learning the written Japanese language. I also encourage people to learn how to read japanese kanji with Read The Kanji a spaced repetition service.

You can really start to get the most out of a spaced repetition service when you can build your and collaborate on other people's lists. Smart.fm does this really well, they might be going through a few changes at the moment but I'm looking forward to what they come up with. I've invested a lot of time and energy into creating a bunch of lists to help you learn Japanese, so I really hope they sort things out soon.

Learn Japanese with the right people.

There is nothing like finding the right people to share your enthusiasm for learning Japanese with. I go into much greater detail about how to prepare for the test on my newsletter. In the meantime check out past posts on preparing for the JLPT, including an hour of exam preparation training on eduFire, and the series 'Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level'.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

How will approach your JLPT study in 2010?

Are you taking the test this year? If you've done it before, do you plan to do things differently this time around?

3 Good Reasons to Use a Monolingual Japanese Dictionary

Why Your Monolingual Japanese Dictionary is a Secret Weapon

A friend of mine recently told me that they had been learning Japanese vocabulary the wrong way. They had set up their profile on a popular kanji learning tool so it would display the English word alongside the kanji and an example Japanese sentence.

asbestos :: lost :: dictionary by jackace, on Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0

They found they were getting trained to know what the English word was and the translate that word into Japanese. When they turned off the English translation suddenly they had no idea what any of the readings were, even though they knew the meaning. Now they are using all items in Japanese all of the time and gaining a more natural understanding of the language. In this post I'd like to show you some good reasons to lose your bilingual dictionary and go native with a Japanese monolingual dictionary.

Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level - Step Five

How do you stay fresh, during study and on test day? In the fourth step in the series Ace the Japanese Language Proficiency Test we look at how important it is to maintain good health and fitness in the lead up to the JLPT.


Dutch Biker by Stuck in Customs, on Flickr

The brain is an organ that relies almost entirely on blood sugar and oxygen for normal functioning. When regulating the body's energy needs it will cover its own comparably high energy requirements with high priority. Because it doesn't store its own energy it relies on the circulatory system to get it there, on demand. If that blood sugar isn't forthcoming, it will induce physical fatigue to ensure it maintains adequate levels of oxygen and blood sugar.

The only way to ensure that the levels of both of these things don't drop during study, or worse still, during the exam, is to maintain good health and fitness.

Get some exercise.

Go on, get outside! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Dull in the sense that the intellect is no longer a keen blade, ready to cut through 100's of kanji repetitions. Steer clear of sugary foods that are prone to inducing energy spikes and sleep inducing insulin rebounds.

Sleep is good too. Not too much not too little. If you can manage free running sleep, even better. You know the old adage, "early to bed early to rise..."? Well there is some truth to that. Sleep when you are tired and wake when you are ready; no alarm clocks, no coffee, no alcohol. How bad do you want it?

When you turn up on test day you want to be fully rested, and able to get through the marathon of testing without succumbing to fatigue. If you are confident that your performance, both physically and intellectually, is up to the task then you'll be much more capable of an Ace on test day.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths

Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level - Step Four

Race your strengths - the fourth step in the series Ace the Japanese Language Proficiency Test goes hand in hand with the third - train your weaknesses. Today we'll learn why it is just as important to acknowledge your strengths as it is your weaknesses. I'll show you how to excel where you can and not beat yourself up over the things you can't do very well.


Zabriskie rocking by Frank Steele, on Flickr

A good time-triallist will hold back and stay relaxed during sections of the course where they know they'll lose time. When sections come that suit them best they'll be able to let loose and make ground. This helps them conserve energy and make the most of their innate abilities.

This may sound like the antithesis of everything you've learnt about sport, but like a zen koan the strength and weakness must be considered as a whole if you are to come to the right understanding.

If you have an extensive vocabulary, one that never leaves you short of a word, It's very tempting to put more energy here in training. If you love ramping up repetitions on your favourite flash card site to prove something to yourself, don't. Let it go.

Save your best for test day.

Use the things that give you confidence to get started when you don't feel like studying, but don't do any more than that. You can't get any more than 100% in the sections that you're good at. Big efforts here don't mean much, it's the law of diminishing returns at work.

Resting on your laurels will free up precious time for the things you really need to work on. I guess you never expected to hear me say "don't study" did you? It's all about being honest with yourself, and not focussing too much on the things that are easy for you.

When you have put your demons to rest, and you've left some in reserve you can then focus on staying fresh.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses

Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level - Step Three

In this third step to Ace the Japanese Language Proficiency Test we take a good hard look in the mirror. Hopefully you've had a look at the past tests, and know which parts are difficult. If you're anything like me there are things you'll feel like tackling right away. But before you do, think about the real purpose of the practice tests. Are you using them to confirm what you already know? Do you sneakily flip from question booklet to answer sheet when you come across a difficult question? If you want to improve your performance on test day it's going to take a little more discipline. It is time to face your demons.


Catford Hill Climb by bareknuckleyellow, on Flickr

It's time to break out of your comfort zone, to extend the cycling analogy, train your weaknesses and race your strengths. When you are weak on hills, then you train on hills. When it comes to race day, if you are good in the sprint this is where you must focus your energy, having successfully made it over the hills.

Do the hard yards.

Having good diagnostic tools are essential to this approach. Practice tests are going pin-point your weaknesses if you take them seriously enough. But the that's the easy part, now you have to get on intimate terms with them.

The past tests allow you to really drill down into those areas where you lose the most marks. Use this knowledge of your weaknesses to find gains. After each practice test, review the ones you got wrong. Write them up, study them again, and think about changing gear or trying a new study technique.

Difficult things are easy to put off doing in favour of doing more enjoyable things, it's only human nature. Resist this temptation. Spend most of your time in the areas that give you the most trouble. Small gains here will open up larger gains in other areas. Call it leverage, or the 80/20 principle, whatever, but put it to work for you so you can tap into your hidden potential.

You have limited time, you don't want to spend too much of it covering stuff you know well. Find out what works for your friends when they have to breakthrough a learning plateau. But more importantly, find out what works for you in overcoming your demons.

When you know what really works for you, race your strengths.

Update: Early in December 2009 the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) released further detail about the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test for 2010.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain

Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level - Step Two

In this second post of the speed blogging series Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level, humour me as I extend the cycling metaphor a little further. On any day on tour, you study the map, you assess the prevailing conditions and prepare accordingly. You want to use up every last ounce of energy before you hit the line at the end of day, while still making sure that you've set aside enough for the nasty category 3 climb just before the end. Today we'll study the terrain and discuss what to expect on test day.


Cycle tour of French Alps - Mountain Road Descent by velodenz, on Flickr

There should be no surprises to you as far as the format and the content of the test is concerned when you finally get to the testing centre. You should already know the test is broken into three sections: Writing-Vocabulary; Listening; Reading-Grammar. With points allocated to them respectively: 100; 100; 200, for a total of 400 points.

Did you know however that there are 4 different types of questions in the Writing-Vocabulary section? Or that the two different styles of question in the Listening section are answered differently on the answer sheet? Don't let this be a surprise to you.

Study the test, not just the Japanese.

The New JLPT Official Guidebook with Executive Summary and Sample Tests for N1/N2/N3 and N4/N5 have answer sheets, use them. Get to know the terrain intimately, and under test conditions. Use a stopwatch and time yourself when doing past tests. There is a rhythm you need to get into, especially in the third part of the test where there is barely enough time to finish let alone review. Understand how you strike this rhythm.

You'll be able to anticipate questions on the final exam, if you've done similar questions in practice week in, week out. If these five steps to ace the JLPT are your elaborate and systematic plan of action, then how you answer each question is just a well practised manoeuvre you put in place during the test. Anticipation is key, if you don't want to be drawing blanks on test Sunday.

Do a practice test, find out where you lack, because in the next post we focus on your weak points.

Update: Early in December 2009 the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) released further detail about the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test for 2010.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself

Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level - Step One

There are plenty of good resources to help you study for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test but none more important than doing past tests. I want to share with you what has worked for me in a speed blogging series to help you Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level. The first step is to know yourself, but before we get started I'm going to share with you a story from my cycling days at University.


Philadelphia Bike Race - flying off Lemon Hill by joiseyshowaa, on Flickr

I was part of the University of Queensland Cycling Club and was pretty competitive at state and national level. Every weekend I used to get together with the guys for "simulated race training", which meant belting around the lower part of the campus near the river, past the duck pond, over a small hill, and then sweeping back down a steep curve on to a long flat alongside the river. We had to share space with cars, joggers pedestrians and sometimes ducks, but I diverge. We weren't allowed to have "actual race training" let alone "actual racing" because that would involve a whole lot of red tape and officiation that we weren't particularly fond of. But I knew then, that racing was the best training for racing.

I learnt that just as specificity is central to training in athletes, it is also essential when preparing for a test. You may have a favourite language learning website, flash language learning game or spaced repetition system, but without doing tests in the lead up to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test you'll really have no idea of what you are capable of.

Do past tests.

So where do you find past tests? White Rabbit Press have a wide selection of past JLPT tests, from 3 year sets of the 2004-2006 Japanese Language Proficiency Tests, Level 4, Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1. To the 2009 Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 and 2. All of them come with a complete answer booklet, CD's and script. I have six volumes of these neatly bound publications which are also filled with useful statistics about the JLPT.

The JLPT has changed for 2010, even so, past tests provide the best method of gauging your ability. If you are not sure if you should be taking the new N3 level test, which falls somewhere between the old Level 3 and Level 2, new sample tests have just been published. The New JLPT Official Guidebook with Executive Summary and Sample Tests for N1/N2/N3 and N4/N5 include a CD and script for the listening section, plus answers.

The official guidebooks are written entirely in Japanese so the folks at White Rabbit Press have gone the extra step in printing out the English version of the executive summary for anyone that purchases through them.

• New JLPT Guidebook - Executive Summary & Sample Test for N1, N2, and N3 (w/CD)
• New JLPT Guidebook - Executive Summary & Sample Test for N4 and N5 (w/CD)

The sample tests are the same as the ones that are available on the official JLPT site, but the audio on the CDs can't be found anywhere else.

Go get them! In the next post we look at the test content in greater detail.

Update: Early in December 2009 the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) released further detail about the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test for 2010.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire

Five Steps to JLPT Success

5 Things you can do right now to improve your JLPT score.

 

Only one month out from the Japanese Language Proficiency Test now, and if you're not feeling a little apprehensive about then you should be. A lot has changed, even since last year, and a lot will change in the future, but one thing never does, the commitment required to succeed.

I should know, I failed once, last year at the level one test. There were other things going on in my life, like losing my job, preparing for the birth of my daughter, and making a move with the family back to Australia after 5 years. It retrospect though, it all boils down to one thing, I lacked the singular focus required to do well in my study.

Even so, I reckon I had a pretty good system for balancing the different types of study that you need to do to pass the test. In 2005 and 2006 I passed levels 3 and 2 comfortably. From 2005 to 2006 my overall score didn't drop, and in some areas it actually improved.

My approach was something I borrowed from my days cycling competitively at university; train your weaknesses - race your strengths. In this post I hope to set out 5 things you can do, between now and the first Sunday in December, to improve your confidence and hopefully your score.

1 - Know yourself.

Sun-Tzu, a Chinese general in the 4th Century B.C. wrote "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt". The JLPT is a battle within yourself that is won long before the test starts.

When I first decided I was going to do the JLPT, I didn't know which level would suit me best. So I took a pragmatic approach, and did a practice test at level 4, passing easily.

When I did the practice test for level 3, I didn't pass the first time, but I was certain it was the right level of challenge for me. I didn't stop doing practice tests there. They formed part of my diagnostic testing in the lead up to all three tests I attempted.

Unfortunately, it is much harder to find practice tests online these days and even harder to find answers. If you haven't done so yet I strongly suggest buying a copy of Bojinsha's series (in Japanese), and doing one ASAP.

2 - Know the terrain.

Did you know the second part of the listening test, has two question types? Each type is marked differently on the answer sheet. Don't let this be a surprise to you. The practice test booklets have answer sheets in the back, photocopy them and use them.

Use a stopwatch and time yourself when doing the practice tests. There is a rhythm you need to get into, especially in the third part of the test where there is barely enough time to finish let alone review. Put a 'do not disturb' sign on the door and free yourself from distraction.

You'll be able to anticipate questions on the final exam, if you've done similar questions in practice week in, week out. Anticipation is key, if you don't want to be drawing blanks on test Sunday.

3- Train your weaknesses.

The JLPT is broken down in to three parts, as you should already know. Within those three parts, it is broken down into further sections. The past tests allow you to really drill down into those areas where you lose the most marks.

You know where your weaknesses are right? They are the bits you hate to study, the ones you put off doing for other things that are more enjoyable. You need to get on intimate terms with them. After each practice test, review the ones you got wrong. Write them up, study them again, and think of ways you can address your weaknesses.

Spend most of your time in the areas that give you the most trouble. Small gains here will open up larger gains in other areas. It's called leverage, and once you understand this principle you'll wonder why you ever shirked doing the hard yards.

4- Race your strengths.

If you have something you are good at it's hard to find a reason to stop doing it. If you love flipping through your kanji cards, to confirm your extensive knowledge of yojijukugo then good for you, but it's not going to help your grammar.

Your strengths are the things you love to do, the things that help you gain confidence when you mark your practice tests. Use them to get started when you don't feel like studying. They'll defeat the inertia you feel when you first sit down with your books each night. Most importantly though, don't overdo it. You can't get more than 100% in the areas that you are good at, big efforts here don't mean much, It's the law of diminishing returns at work.

5 - Stay fresh.

Your mind is an organ that relies almost entirely on blood sugar and oxygen for stamina. The only way to ensure that the levels of both of these things don't drop during study, or worse still, during the exam, is to maintain good health and fitness.

Stay away from sugary foods, and go for foods that are low on the glycaemic index. This will ensure that you have sustained levels of energy throughout the day, and no sleep inducing sugar spikes and insulin rebounds.

Sleep is good too. Not too much not too little. The guys over at supermemo swear by free running sleep. I don't know how possible this is for you, given your other commitments but it's worth trying. Basically you sleep when you are tired and wake up when you are ready; no alarm clocks, no coffee, no alcohol. Sounds tough, but how badly do you want this test, right?

What ever you do, you need to have that singular focus, and the mental image of confidence when you rock up to your testing centre. Being fresh is all about be prepared and positive that your performance is up to the task.

Wrapping up.

It's only a test, and some would argue that it barely represents proficiency, there are some glaring omissions and the best score in the world won't make you a good communicator in Japanese. It is something to aim for however.

So go for it, there's still time if you launch into your study now. Let me know in the comments if this was helpful and share some of your tips if you can.

Update: Early in December 2009 the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) released further detail about the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test for 2010.

I go into more detail about test taking strategies in the online video seminar 5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level on eduFire. Subscribers to the Rainbowhill Language Lab newsletter get great study tips throughout the year. If you need some good tips on preparing for the JLPT, please read on.

• Take the first step to Ace the JLPT - Know yourself
• Take the second step to Ace the JLPT - Know the terrain
• Take the third step to Ace the JLPT - Train your weaknesses
• Take the fourth step to Ace the JLPT - Race your strengths
• Take the fifth step to Ace the JLPT - Stay fresh

5 Steps To Ace The Japanese Language Proficiency Test At Any Level is a Free Online Seminar at eduFire