By: G. Vinuri U. Perera
As students of APU, many of us dream of working in Japan after graduation, and as such we often hear of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Although APU’s curriculum itself is not geared towards JLPT, many students sit for the exams as they tend to boost their chances during job hunting. However, most tend to not know what to study for these exams or even how to start. This article will introduce APU lecturer Hiromi Kuroda and her study group aimed towards students who wish to sit for JLPT
So, What Exactly is JLPT?
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test, better known as JLPT, is a standardized test jointly administered by The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It is held twice a year in July and December and is offered in five levels of proficiency, the lowest being N5 and the highest being N1.
These exams essentially have three sections, Language Knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), Reading and Listening. While the general structure of N1 and N2 exams are similar, the number of kanji, grammar patterns, and vocabulary required to know are drastically increased. In order to pass, you must have at least 90 marks for N2 and at least 100 marks are required for N1. In addition to this, you must have at least 19 marks in each test section.
Sitting for an additional exam while juggling projects, assignments and part-time work is by no means an easy feat. So, it is understandable why most students forgo sitting for JLPT. However, there may be quite a few benefits in doing so.
Are There Benefits to it? Yes Of Course
The most prominent benefit of JLPT is that it comes in handy when job hunting. During
recruitment, most companies look for a minimum of N2 level proficiency in their applicants. It’s undeniable that having JLPT N2 or above listed as a qualification on your CV is very likely to reduce the odds of being cut during the document screening. This increases your chances of landing a job. Due to the pandemic, the success rate of job seekers has been decreasing, especially in the case of international students. APU’s own job placement rate for international students has decreased by 7.6% in the past year. So, having a few extra qualifications to boost your chances may not be a bad idea.
Furthermore, due to a lot of office-related scenarios and vocabulary being included in JLPT questions, the content of these exams may also help you learn common phrases used in companies as well as how to handle certain situations. It may also help you comprehend conversations and the roundabout way in which they are sometimes held.
APU’s Japanese curriculum, on the other hand, focuses on things that cannot be measured by JLPT such as conversation skills and fluency. Thus, it’s best if you keep in mind that some aspects of language cannot be measured by standardised examinations.
Need Some Help? How About Joining a Study Group
“If I do decide to sit for JLPT where do I start?” you may ask. Well, that’s simple. Japanese lecturer Hiromi Kuroda who generally teaches Intermediate and Advanced Japanese classes here at APU, conducts a weekly study group for those who wish to sit for JLPT N1 and N2. In these study group sessions, Kuroda Sensei usually goes through past JLPT questions and gives explanations on answers as well as tips on how to find them. What’s more, the study group is completely free of charge and anyone is welcome!
There are no requirements to join and you may join the level that you think will fit you be it N1 or N2. Kuroda Sensei stresses that she aims to see more people take an interest in JLPT and she hopes that it will give them higher chances of landing the job that they want. She also states that you don’t have to be sitting for JLPT to join and that some of her students have been attending for years with no intention of sitting for the actual exams. She wishes for more students to make use of the opportunity and attend the study group.
“I’ve been holding the study group for three years now. I hope that students who find that studying alone is too hard or students who can’t figure out how to study join me in the study group.”
At present, due to the pandemic, the sessions are conducted through zoom for about two hours per week. A usual session consists of going through past exam questions and answering them both for the sake of practice and for students to understand how to answer each type of question. A mock exam is also held in person for both levels before the actual exam so that the students get an idea of what to expect at the test centre.
We also spoke with some students who participated in the study group last semester. Their opinion was that the study group helped them find time for studying amidst classes and helped them understand the contents of the exam and how to answer.
“She teaches with patience and the weekly study lessons helped motivate me to prepare for the JLPT as I am busy with other classes on weekdays. Listening to her explanation on each past question is better than doing them by myself and wondering why that is the answer… But I also believe that we have to spend time studying by ourselves too. Or else it will not be enough, especially grammar.”
-Selena Yuan, fourth-year APS student
The study group is set to start in late September and the time and date of the sessions will be arranged according to student feedback. To join, all you have to do is send Kuroda Sensei an email (email address provided below).
Links and further information:
Kuroda Sensei’s Email Address: hiro0226@apu.ac.jp
JLPT registration: https://info.jees-jlpt.jp/?lang=english
(Registration dates Aug 26th - Sept 16th)
Info on JLPT: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/
Image sources:
https://www.tofugu.com/learn-japanese/
https://info.jees-jlpt.jp/?lang=english
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