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Independent Japanese Study
SCHEDULE
Presenter introductions
“What is your goal?”
Studying to meet your goal
Kanji tips
Formal & colloquial styles
***TV break***
Studying for tests
Different types of tests
JLPT study regimens
Do Sharon‟s study regimen, time permitting
• From Toronto, Canada
• 2nd year ALT in Yatsushiro
• Has been studying Japanese since high school (uni., study abroad, etc…)
• Passed N2 in July 2017
WHO IS SHARON?!
WHO IS JUSTIN?!
From Perth, Australia
1st year ALT in Amakusa
Studied Japanese since High school and University
Currently studying for JLPT N2
What is your goal?
• Original reason for studying
Japanese:
SHARON’S JAPANESE STUDY GOAL…
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HOW DID SHARON STUDY TO MEET HER GOAL?
Online celebrity stalking
Video games
Language exchanges with real
Japanese humans
Classes throughout HS and university
SHARON’S CURRENT GOAL…
Current reason:
as a hobby
Did N2 just to challenge self
I will probably not attempt N1 for
now…
• Original reason for studying
Japanese: Japanese rock!
• Current reason: To not sound derp
when ordering food
JUSTIN’S JAPANESE STUDY GOAL…
I want to…
Watch anime without subtitles
Look through a menu and order something at a restaurant with confidence
Pass JLPT N__
Improve my accent and carry casual conversation with native Japanese speakers
SOME PRACTICAL, ATTAINABLE GOALS…
STUDYING TO MEET YOUR GOALS
Watch anime without subtitles Practice listening and transcription/translation
Look through a menu and order something at a restaurant with confidence Practice reading and skimming for information
Pass JLPT N__ Regimented studying from JLPT resources
Improve my accent and carry casual conversation with native Japanese speakers Befriend diverse range of people
Practice spontaneous conversation: Q & A
BECOME PART OF A LEARNER COMMUNITY
Surround yourself with both native and non-
native speakers
Utilize online resources
Lang-8 (website) and HiNative (app)
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READING PRACTICE - KANJI
Furigana tools:
Rikai-kun
(Web browser extension – Chrome & FF)
READING PRACTICE - KANJI
Furigana tools:
Google Translate app:
Camera analysis function
READING PRACTICE - KANJI
Furigana tools:
Kana-kun app
- Pros: users have option to write kanji by hand, as well as traditional copy & paste input
- Cons: correct stroke order sometimes necessary for detection
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DICTIONARIES – EJJE/JJ TYPES
“REMEMBERING THE KANJI” SERIES – HEISIG
METHOD
Method in a nutshell:
constructing meaning
out of kanji by creating
stories (in English)
about its design
Meant to be
alternative to rote
kanji memorization
“REMEMBERING THE KANJI” SERIES – HEISIG
METHOD
Example:
REMEMBERING THE KANJI – HEISIG METHOD
People love it or hate it
Pros:
very creative approach to memorizing kanji
collective effort with people all over the world via https://kanji.koohii.com/
Cons:
Don‟t learn pronunciation until second volume
Sometimes more complex kanji make earlier appearance than simpler kanji
Kanji is learned in English, not Japanese
“REMEMBERING THE KANJI” SERIES – HEISIG
METHOD
Example #2:
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ABSURD MNEMONICS ARE HELPFUL!
The story of 稀(まれ)
稀=まれ=rare
まれ=mare
Mare = horse
Rare mare = Rare horse?!
Rare horse = … Unicorn?
… The unicorn is the most 稀 mare of them all
READING PRACTICE –
FORMAL & COLLOQUIAL WRITING STYLES
Formal – Traditional resources
News articles (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/)
Dual language resources
READING PRACTICE –
FORMAL & COLLOQUIAL WRITING STYLES
Colloquial – Unconventional resources
Twitter/Tumblr/Instagram/Other social
media platforms
following celebrities and random, semi-famous
Japanese 一般人 (random humans)
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Let‟s watch some TEREBI !!!!
STUDYING FOR TESTS…
Be strategic!!
Find out exactly what is on your test
Find out how much you need to pass
Find out what level you are
tanos.co.uk/jlpt/levelcheck
Use materials designed to help you
study for that test
• Japanese Language Proficiency
Test (JLPT)
• Kanji Kentei Test
• Business Japanese Proficiency
Test
SOME JAPANESE TESTS YOU CAN TAKE…
漢字検定 (KANJI KENTEI)
12 levels in total
10 (easiest) to 3, pre 2, 2, pre 1 and 1 (hardest)
Reading, Writing, Meanings, Sentence use and Stroke order is assessed
Grades 10-8 is 40 minutes
Grades 7-1 is 60 minutes
Passing grade from 7 to pre – 2 is 70%
Whereas from Grade 2, pre 2 and Grade 1 need 80%
THE KANKEN LEVELS
Level Pass Rate Need to Know
Level 10 Pass rate ~96% 80 Kanji
Level 9 90% 240 Kanji
Level 8 83% 440 Kanji
Level 7 76% 640 Kanji
Level 6 72% 825 Kanji
Level 5 52% 1006 Kanji
Level 4 47% Read 1300, write 900, 300 daily use
Level 3 36% Read 1600, 4 kanji compounds, 600 daily
Level Pre-2 23% Read 1940, Write all kanji from HS
Level 2 Read and write 2136 daily, All kanji from HS
Level Pre-1 Read and write 2965, on & kun, proverbs
Level 1 Read and write 6355, proverbs, modern and ancient forms,
difference between countries
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THE BUSINESS JAPANESE PROFICIENCY TEST
Number of
questions
Duration
Listening 35 questions 50 minutes
Listening
and reading
30 questions 30 minutes
reading 35 questions 40 minutes
•Tests communication using
Japanese for a business
environment
•Scored out of 800 and is awarded
levels on your mark
•J5 lowest, J1+ highest
- Levels N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest)
- Multiple choice
- Four sections:
- Vocabulary
- Kanji
- Reading
- Listening comprehension
JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST (JLPT)
Level Kanji Vocabulary Listening Hours of
Study
N5 ~100 ~800 Beginner 150
(estimated)
N4 ~300 ~1,500 Basic 300
(estimated)
N3 ~650 ~3,750 Lower
Intermediate
450
(estimated)
N2 ~1000 ~6,000 Intermediate 600
(estimated)
N1 ~2000 ~10,000 Advanced 900
(estimated)
Let‟s
ganbarimashou
…………..
Most textbook series have…
• A kanji book
• A grammar book
• A vocabulary book
• A reading comprehension book
• A listening book
• A drill book
STUDYING FOR JLPT
For a very structured study regimen:
Sou Matome series
(総まとめシリーズ)
From L to R
(kanji book not shown) :
文法 (ぶんぽう) - Grammar
聴解(ちょうかい)- Listening
読解(どっかい) - Reading
語彙(ごい)- Vocabulary
SOU MATOME – ENGLISH AIDS (ALL LEVELS)
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For very comprehensive explanations:
Kanzen Master series
(完全マスターシリーズ)
From L to R:
文法 (ぶんぽう) - Grammar
漢字(かんじ) - Kanji
読解(どっかい) - Reading
聴解(ちょうかい)- Listening
語彙(ごい)- Vocabulary
KANZEN MASTER N3 – ENGLISH AIDS UP TO N3
KANZEN MASTER N2+ – NO ENGLISH AIDS DRILLS AND PRACTICE
JLPT past exam („09)
http://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/sample09.html
Textbook series – Drill books
Sharon‟s JLPT study regimen
YOU TRY!!!
SHARON’S STUDY REGIMEN – SOU MATOME
LISTS
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SHARON’S STUDY REGIMEN – SOU MATOME
LISTS SHARON’S STUDY REGIMEN – FLASHCARDS
Flashcard apps:
AnkiApp Flashcards
(the free version!!)
(the not free app)
Word Reading English Meaning
住所 じゅうしょ (house) address
経験 けいけん experience
相手 あいて partner
完了 かんりょう completion, conclusion
休業中 きゅうぎょうちゅう closed (e.g. store),
business holiday
下車 げしゃ getting off, alighting
稀 まれ rare
欸乃 あいだい sea shanty
蘭摧 らんさい The death of a splendid
individual
縊死 いし death by hanging
OUR VOCABULARY FOR TODAY… OUR GRAMMAR POINTS FOR TODAY…
~ところです (expresses a time point in an action or a change. Dictionary form “+ところ” indicates a time point just
before the action gets started.
“ている+ところ” indicates a time point in a continuous action.
“た form+ところ” indicates a time point just after the action has been completed. (Kanzen Master N3)
1. あ、試合(しあい)が始まる(はじまる)ところです。はやく、はやく。
2. 今、インターネットで店の場所をしらべているところです。
OUR GRAMMAR POINTS FOR TODAY…
~ととたんに (したら、直後(ちょくぜ
ん)に意外(いがい)なことが起こる(おこる) – Kanzen Master)
1. 夫(おっと)が結婚前(けっこんまえ)は優しかった(やさしかった)が、結婚しとたんに、態度(たいど)が変わった(かわった)
2. 山での頂上(ちょうじょう)ワインを一口飲んだとたんに、めまいがした。
Thank you for
listening!!
:‟)