Why I Decided to Take the JLPT
Guess what?! I recently passed the N5 exam! What do you mean "how have you never taken the JLPT when all you do is talk about drama CDs?" Well, let me explain…
On my about page, you can see that I have been "studying" Japanese on and off for over a decade. I started learning Japanese as a requirement for the gifted student program I was in during high school and then went on to get a minor in Japanese. I've been to Japan, experienced a bunch of cultural things, and participated in translation work for the National Atomic Bomb Museum. I did a lot with Japanese when I was actively learning (4-7 years), but had to stop as I progressed in my academics. Because my main expertise is in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), I had to mostly give up on learning Japanese so I could focus on my more time-consuming courses. During this time I was also never encouraged to take the JLPT. It was introduced to me as a hobbyist activity when I was in high school. We had our own exam that I could take for college credit which was more relevant. Japanese is not a valued language in the states outside of international business or international political dealings. Even now I really don't have a use for it in my professional field. Because of its irrelevance in my professional life, I didn't even think about taking it…. Until now.
In the middle of all my moving between undergraduate and graduate degrees, I had become more involved with Japanese media. It was particularly the niche Japanese media that doesn't a chance of ever being localized (Touken Ranbu) that I was getting interested in. I could get by with what I already knew but suddenly the nuance is important. I actually need to be able to do more than just follow the story. The same could be said with the newer drama CDs that, in my opinion, have more convoluted storylines than older drama CDs. I also noticed a lot of fan-translators have straight up disappeared. I'm sure it's because of finances, but fan-translators are an important part of the fan ecosystem. That is why I had renewed interest in studying Japanese.
I started on again, off again practicing, but the problem was that I really can't place where my knowledge is. I'm horrible with kanji but I can follow a conversation well enough. There was some things I got easily and others I really struggled with. I was also not motivated enough. I just couldn't force myself to study everyday or whatever when I have other things that are tied to financial well being waiting for me. That's when I started playing with the idea of taking the JLPT.
I was following a lot of Japanese language creators/academics on social media and it came up a lot more than I thought. It seems to me like the natural progression for people who are self-taught or want to work in Japan. A few things made the JLPT perfect for me at this stage in my life:
The exam is $100. This is a lot for me, meaning I won't waste this chance. I have a reason to prioritize it.
The happens just once in December (in the US). I won't rush myself and a full year leaves a lot of time for if I need to focus on my academics for a week or whatever.
There's a test location near me. This may seem obvious but there are very few locations in the US and it's a big fucking country. I can't afford to fly or stay in a hotel.
There are well defined levels. I can finally get an idea of where I land with my understanding.
It's a popular exam for those learning independently. There's a lot of FREE resources online tailored to this exam. Even if I already know enough Japanese to past one of these exams, I still needed to study for the exam. Standardized exams are terrible for that exact reason.
My plan was just to take the N5 (easiest exam) this last. I probably could've taken the N4 and passed just as easily, BUT I needed a confidence boost. I would have chickened out and never paid for the N4 test. I'm not confident in my Japanese, which is why I rarely translate the summaries in my reviews. I read the summaries on my own (with the help of a dictionary), but I don't feel comfortable translating for others. My goal with taking the JLPT is only to get to N3. If by then I'm feeling like I have a reason to go further, then I will. You really only need to get to N3 to interact with most Japanese media and I have no intention of working in Japan.
There you have it. That's why I decided to take the easiest test in the JLPT after over a decade of studying Japanese. I wrote this to show you all that it's never to late, and that education isn't always linear.
Resources I used to study for N5
Genki 1 - I got my minor with these books. I think they're most common. Hasn't failed me yet. You can find this online, but if you're really dedicated I would recommend at least buying the workbook.
Wanikani - I struggle with kanji the most. This app has changed my life. It teaches radicals, kanji, and vocab. Wanikani has me in tip-top shape with my reading skills. I think the first 4 levels are free.
Definitely need a textbook for this part.
Bunpro - Super helpful but I recommend using this with a textbook. The first month is free.
Tae Kim's guide to Japanese Grammar - I use this as a reference when I'm practicing reading. Again, need a textbook to go with this. Completely free.
If I'm being super honest, reading social media and websites in Japanese is primarily how I practice reading. Probably not a good idea for a beginner.
I literally looked up N5 listening practice test on Youtube. There was actually one question that was on the exam.
Japanese with Shun is a podcast I listen to. He follows the Genki books.
Because I already interact with Japanese media that isn't localized, I just listen to that stuff. If you can find a localized, you can use it as reference AFTER listening to something. Less about what exactly was said and more to check your general understanding.
Lots of resources at Japanese Talk website. They go in extreme detail about how to study for the JLPT.
There are some practice quizzes on the JLPT website.
Bunpro has free timed practice tests.
I used Nihongo Sou Matome for daily practice quizzes. It is made to cover 12 weeks. This is best after you've learned all the material because there is very little reference material in here. It just briefly reminds you about different concepts.
This post is cross-posted on my website
