Job Discussion Forums

Tonester · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:29 pm Post subject:

I took the level 3 test in 1999 and found it really easy but I was undecided as to whether to take level 2 or 3. I took level 3 because I though that I may as well just take the one I know I'll pass and then upgrade to level 2 later. I went back to Australia and took level 2 and flunked it on the 1st try. That reading comprehension killed me! I tried again the next year and passed. The vocab and kanji reading was easy enough but again that reading comprehension stumped me but didn't prove fatal (I passed the test, only by the skin of my teeth)!

I'm not going near level 1 until a good number of years has passed. Besides the pass mark is 70% not 60% so it's even harder to pass because of the raised bar and the extreme difficulty of the test itself.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:33 am Post subject:

Boy Scout Camping Merit Badge

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

BA in English, emphasis in writing
MA in TESOL, did the internship at the American Language Center in Morocco

haven`t taken a Japanese language test yet. Want to try for the level 3 one this year. Is the test only in December?

Tonester · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 11:54 pm Post subject:

Yes, it is only in December but there are various sites you can take the test from what I know. If you go to Tokyo to take it you get to go to the famous Todai to take it. It is a very old university. It's where the smarties of Japan study but doesn't look like a very nice place to do so. Three words: Very ugly buildings!

Li-ka · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 52

BS Biological Sciences - General

Three years work experience in a plant molecular biology lab. Although only this last year was full time. No certificates, but I'm published.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Tonester · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:54 am Post subject:

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Tonester · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:22 am Post subject:

Interesting you talk about him. I have never read any of his stories so I'll have to look out for his works. I may as well tell you my background. I studied Japanese for 3 years in high school, did a 10 month exchange in Saitama, returned to Australia and did a 3-year BA in Japanese (received advanced standing due to level 3 certificate and time spent in Japan- did 2nd and 3rd year subjects in 1st year, 3rd year subjects in 2nd year and did post-grad level Japanese subjects in final year) and I'm back in Japan 4 months after graduation as an ALT. I must admit that it was a hard slog but I felt was worth all the effort I put into it. I'm still far from native-like proficiency but would like to keep going with it. I don't mean to blow my horn but just intend to put things in clearer perspective given the fact that we are all from different countries and walks of life.

I also find that Aera is a good read and did some translation of articles in that magazine in my final year at uni as part of assessment. For you, Lynn it would be easier to read because it is a magazine written so that anyone who picks it up can understand. It has articles about contemporary affairs in Japanese society and other interesting issues like travel, interviews with people and even topics about other countries. Trust me; it's not as hard to read as a Japanese newspaper but can really provide good training for the person who is beginning to take an interest in Japanese media.

Many thanks to you; you've given me some ideas in studying for that dreaded level 1 exam when I eventually get the courage to register for it (I'll tell you now; it won't be this year!).

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

Honours B.A: Art and Art History & Communications, Culture and Information Technology.

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Speaking of interesting Japanese JLPT stories hwen I took 3Q in 2002 and fortunately got it, there were several instances of cheating!

The proctors did absolutley nothing about it! Suprise, suprise... Confused

All of the cheaters where from one South East Asian nation where, by the looks of it , cheating on tests seems to be a way of life. Shocked

They'd be looking at each others test sheets, showing them to each other, opening the booklet too soon, but what really got to me was when this one guy starts staring at my test sheet. He was so blantant about it that I felt he obviously saw nothing wrong with what he was doing... Mad

At first, I thought about calling one of the poohtaro's (student proctors) over but then thought I'd deal with it myself. Idea

Since it was the grammar section worth 50%, and I had budgeted my time well and was pretty much done, I knew I could take care of business.

So I proceeded to make my test sheet highly visible to this guy and erased, all of what I thought to be, the correct answers and filled in what were clearly the wrong answers..

Then as expected he copied all my answers. To the best of his ability I'm sure. Just as we were about to run out of time I erased them all again. Covered my sheet with my forearm, using the smudges as a guide, filled the sheet back in.

The guy had this look on his face of total confusion and shock. Once they collected the papers and we're were let out I just looked at him and laughed and he figured out!

It was the most fun I ever had in a test!! If you're ever in this situation do the same! Exclamation

Anyways I digress...

Tonester · Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:37 am Post subject:

That's teaching those b*astards that cheating accomplishes nothing! I'll rememer that the next time I take the JLPT. I wonder how many people would need to do that for Level 1..................

Hondo 2.0 · Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

B.A. English
B.Ed.

spidey · Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:04 am Post subject: degree...

B of Sc Sociology and Philosophy....hmmmm.... Confused

TESOL Certification