Anyone taking the JLPT this year?

[Bairen]

So is anybody else taking the JLPT in Dec? I've been studying pretty hard for the last couple months. I'm feeling pretty good about it so far.

My intention in studying for it wasn't actually to learn any Japanese, as I already speak and read it reasonably well, but I've actually been quite surprised to find that I'm learning a lot of stuff I didn't previously know. Nice little side effect!

[jljzen]

Who are you?
I'm taking 1 on Dec. 7th - nice choice for a test day. I'll keep an eye out for kamikaze bombers.
I took 1 last year, and failed it miserably. Maybe more so this year as I've been pretty lacadasical about studying and shit.
Got a blog now with some grammar stuff on it.
http://otokorashii.blogspot.com/
Check it out.

[Bairen]

Good luck - I'm not ready for 1 yet myself. But I'm intending to take it in either June or December (or maybe both, if I take it in June and fail).

As for who I am, well I sold your buddy a t-shirt one time. That should probably give you a hint.

[Zzonkmiles]

Jljzen,

I've been following your progress for a very long time regarding learning the language. I have to say I am particularly impressed with how far you've come. I remember when you were stranded in the wilderness between 3-kyu and 2-kyu. And now look where you are.

Keep going! And best of luck to you!

[jljzen]

Thanks man!
And ditto with you and the hot prof!

[sakaya_slag]

I'm way too far off 1kyu to even try this year. Although it is now twice a year, I only found out recently that the April exam is in Japan only. So December 2009 for me I guess...

[randomcow]

Jljzen,

I've been following your progress for a very long time regarding learning the language. I have to say I am particularly impressed with how far you've come. I remember when you were stranded in the wilderness between 3-kyu and 2-kyu. And now look where you are.

Keep going! And best of luck to you!

Yeah dude, I've also seen how far your Japanese has come along since we first met. You're not exactly the guy who busts ass studying and becomes fluent in six months, more like the slow-and-steady. Good on you for sticking with it.

If they ever have an exam specifically for the finance industry I'm sure to pass. I know about 10 different phrases for "place an order."

RC

[sakaya_slag]

OK I got the date wrong. It is indeed July 2009 for 1kyu and 2kyu. Might be worth a shot after all

[Bairen]

So Im at the test now. I just finished part 1, and part 2 starts in 25 min. All I got to say is daaaamn there are a lot of hot Chinese chicks here! And they got all the Japanese staff to dress up in suits, and there are some smoking Japanese chicks as well. I may have to take level 1 in the summer whether Im ready or not.

[Bairen]

Thanks man. Im not so worried about passing - I got that in the bag. But I dont think Im going to get the 95% I was aiming for. I had about 10 questions on the vocab/kanji section that I was a little unsure on. I just finished listening now, reading section starts in 45 min.

[Bairen]

I'm pretty sure I passed. But I definitely didn't do as good as I intended - I didn't bring a watch, so I had no idea of the time, and I ran out of time in the last section with 12 questions to go. I chose 'c' for all of them

[sakaya_slag]

Good luck with that dude. Sounds like you have it in the bag though.

One of my mates is taking the 1kyu this time and says that the art of answering their questions is as important as your actual nihongo ability. Sort of defeats the point but I can believe it.

We should make a level 1 thread if anyone is interested in taking it next July. Would give me more motivation anyway

[Bairen]

Just got my results. I passed with a pretty good mark, though as good as I was aiming for.

[jljzen]

My results were two points lower than last year! I didn't even break 60 percent. Fucking test.

[Bairen]

Shatty man! But, in this case, practice makes perfect. Five more months until the next round.

To tell the truth, I think I'm going to do level two again in July.

[jljzen]

i dunno. that was my second time taking 1 kyuu, and to tell the truth, i didn't take a whole lot from it. 2 kyuu was much more valuable for me. On the other hand, I did here a coworker use 止むを得ない yesterday...

[Bairen]

I definitely picked up a lot in studying for 2Q. I learned a whole lot of stuff that I hear my co-workers use regularly that I hadn't identified before that point. ___を得ない is one that I hear all the time now, that I never caught before I studied it!

[yooklid]

Right now I have zero nihongo. In December, I will take JLPT 3. Any bets against me? The bet is $10000. (US)

[sakaya_slag]

Are you in Japan? If so, it's totally doable if you put regular time in.
3kyu is not all that bad. Get the "yellow" dictionary of basic Japanese grammar and read it cover to cover.

I went to Japan with very little Japanese and was comfortably at that level after 6 months.

[jljzen]

jlpt 3?
Passing that means you'll be able to speak at the same level as a brain-damaged 4-year-old.
Way to shoot for the stars!