Studying Japanese in
Japan
By: Caroline Zeiher, Meghan Bhagat, Georgina
Armstrong
Our Story!
Caroline: Fukuroi Shogyou HS (now advanced
level)
Meghan: Kawane HS, (now advanced level)
Georgina: Fukuroi HS, (now intermediate level)
Today:
A. Studying through JET
B. The JLPT
C. Print Resources
D. Online Resources
E. Unofficial Study
F. Facing Discouragement
G. Study to benefit you
Study Through JET
CLAIR Courses:
Beginner, Intermediate,
Translation/Interpretation
Pros and Cons vary depending on level
How to supplement your learning with
additional resources
How to actually learn the language with
them!
The JLPT (NOT the NK!)
Dates: first Sunday of December/July
Fee: 5,500 yen
Five levels:
JLPT Scoring
JLPT Pass/Fail:
JLPT Application
Sample Questions to test yourself:
http://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/forlearners.html
Application:
JLPT Post-Application
About a week before the test: voucher arrives
in the mail
Test site will be a school or center in your area
You can’t park there, and you have to be on
time!
JLPT levels
N5: some basic grammar, Kanji, slow simple
conversations
N4: more basic grammar, Kanji, faster basic
conversations
N3: everyday Japanese, more difficult
readings like newspapers, near-natural
conversations
N2: variety of circumstances to a degree,
many different readings and conversations
N1: variety of circumstances, many different
readings and conversations
Print Resources
Books for general study: Genki, 501 Verbs,
Japanese for Busy People, Remembering the
Kanji (Heisig Method)
Books for the JLPT: Nihongo
Challenge/Somatome, Kanzen Master, Official
books (can download online too)
Best books for beginners are Genki and
Nihongo Challenge (“classroom” Japanese)
Online Resources: Anki
Downloadable software
pre-made decks, searchable on
the website
can edit to adjust for how much
you want to review per day
make your own flashcards
Online Resources:
Memrise
Use/make flashcards on the website
compete against your friends
iphone app to study on your phone
more interactive than Anki
Use visual/verbal clues to help
memorize
Online Resources:
Internet cont.
Games: Slime Forest Adventure
Add-ons: Rikaichan, Perapera (Firefox only)
Dictionary: Imiwa App, electronic denshi jisho
Online: jisho.org for Kanji dictionary, Tofugu for
studying advice/cultural background
Writing help: Lang-8, connects with native
speakers
“Unofficial” Study
Read books you know in English!/ Listen to
books on tape
Dramas/ variety shows on TV/ Crunchyroll
Watch Japanese movies/overseas movies
dubbed in Japanese (from Tsutaya, etc)
Japanese Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Vine
users
Everyday Life
Without thinking, you use Japanese to:
make friends at work
make friends in extracurricular activities
connect with students
get food, pay bills...literally everything!!!
You learn/use more everyday
Facing Discouragement?
Sometimes...
You will get frustrated (A LOT at first)
It will be hard to see your own progress
Some schools want you to speak English
only
you will fail a tests/ many tests
you will forget what you don’t use (over and
over)
But!
Don’t quit!!! (taking breaks are OK)
Talk about it to other people (ALTs or
Japanese people)
Have group study sessions
Even Japanese people have problems with
Japanese study (especially Kanji)
Think about puppies
Make A Study Plan for
YOU!!!
What has worked before and what
we are doing now...
Caroline:
Meghan:
Georgina:
Effects of Your Study
Will open doors to more opportunities
People will appreciate your efforts
Will help you keep your mind active
Able to do more things independently
Will be able to take Japan back with you after
JET
Work Cited
JLPT website: http://www.jlpt.jp/e/
JEES website: http://info.jees-jlpt.jp/
Anki: http://ankisrs.net/
Memrise: https://www.memrise.com/welcome/