My Road to JLPT

   As a Japanese learner, JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test or 日本語能力試験) is not something new. Every year thousands of people worldwide are taking this exam to prove their ability in Japanese Statistics from Japanese Foundation (JF)*, in 2009 it was approx. around 770,000 people were taking JLPT in 54 countries around the globe. In Malaysia, based on my observation, most of the JLPT candidates consist of Chinese candidates. This, without a doubt is due to the vast similarities (but not exactly the same) as well as connection between Japanese Kanji and Chinese hanzi. Because of that fact, I really have a very high respect to the determination shown by those non-Chinese candidates that sit for this exam.


Learning Japanese is not easy. It requires determination and hard work for students who start totally from zero. Frankly to speak, I started learning Japanese since my second year in the university (2007) and only started sitting my first time JLPT exactly after my graduation at the end of 2009 for level 4 (right now N5).The motivation to sit for JLPT varies, as for me, in order to gain entrance for postgraduate student in Japanese University, I really need to have JLPT but there are also some people who take this exam for fun and satisfaction. In 2009, I saw an old women and a very young girl (more likely a kindergarten kid) were taking this test.


In 2010, JLPT syllabus has been updated. During the old days, they were only 4 levels but with the new revamp, another one level has been added to closer the gap between Level 3 and Level 2 in which called N3. So, currently JLPT consists of 5 levels range from N5 to N1. I also have experienced the first hand for the first year of JLPT 2.0 in 2010 when I just for the purpose of reckoning took N4 paper (Last known as Level 3). According to Japanese Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), there are four points of the new JLPT:

Point	Changes
1	Increased focus on communicative competence
2	Examinees can select more suitable level with the introduction of new level
3	The scoring method was revised to ensure a more accurate measurement of Japanese-language proficiency
4	What you can do in Japanese is easily visualised

*Source: Japan Foundation

Whatever the reason is, JLPT has proven to be among the toughest exam suitable for the so-called a built-in tough language such Japanese. Most people might learn this language as maybe a university's course requirement for third language, but too small from those number consists of people who are really using and strive for the deep understanding in the language.


For more info pls visit: http://www.jlpt.jp/