They have traditionally had 4 levels, each made up of three sections: Writing-Vocabulary; Listening; Reading-Grammar.  ** Note: Ironically, NO actual speaking skills are tested!

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Well this year (2010), they are adding a new level, and a revised level numbering scheme to go with it.

So instead of levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.  There will now be level N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5.

The new level, N3, was added because for some wacky reason folks thought that the jump from the old level 3 (expected vocab of 1500 words) to level 2 (expected vocab of 6000 words) was too great a gap - go figure. 

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The tests were given twice a year (although not in all countries), basically July and December, with levels 1 and 2 being available at both testings and levels 3 and 4 only being available at the end of the year test period.

Well the new N3 level well also be made available mid year - This works out well for me.  I believe that come July time-frame, I could have a reasonable shot at this new level.  And it’s also nice not to have wait to the end of the year to try a test that I’ll have a chance at.

So my basic plan is to shoot for the N3 exam at the mid-year mark and, if I pass or even get close, aim for the N2 exam at year’s end.

This is all be done via self-study as, due to my chaotic job schedule, I could have to pickup and travel somewhere at any given time AND my experience with traditional class methods lend my to feel that they don’t work that well anyhow.

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So… some folks might be thinking, “What’s the point?”, “The JPLT sounds lame, it doesn’t even make sure you aren’t mute!”, etc.  If you’re really sly, you might also be thinking, “But wait a minute… how good is your Japanese now?!”.

All great and valid points!

For starters, I basically agree that the JLPT is probably not remotely the best judge of skill level.  But I’m taking a page from the world of IT certifications.  Namely:

• You get out of it what you put into it
• Some people really care about pieces of paper and might require them for future employment opportunities
• It gives my a related goal (with a set time-line) to aim for.
• It is an external sign to others (again read *my job, co-workers, etc.*) that I have made definable progress

After over dozen years in the IT/Telecom/Networking/Data Sales industry, 4 (full-time) start-ups, 2 IPOs, 1 crash, 1 acquisition, a couple of big companies, working with global fortune 2000 companies and covering 4 continents to various degrees… there are some universal truth I’ve learned.

• “You’re only as good as your last quarter”
• “Others” have a hard time judging the progress of abstract things
• Setting goals helps - even if you don’t quite hit them.
• Being right can hurt you - Oh wait, that’s a different topic. 

From a studying Japanese point of view (and non-work life in general), last year was mainly a mess.  I spent so much time traveling about to different APAC countries that my study attempts where constantly interrupted and/or derailed.  Some of this you can attribute to time management…. but in general this was not the case.

Trust me, after you continually spend two, to three weeks at a time away from home traveling to numerous countries - each with a different language and culture - and your only consistency is the English language, you’ll probably understand.

Just to see an example of an upcoming trip that I have go here:

Also, less than 5% of my work last year even had a chance to involve Japanese.  So although I “lived” in Japan, due to the demands and structure of my job, my opportunities my the Japanese language were surprising limited.  Additionally, the Japanese that is typically taught in textbooks was woefully inadequate when it came to that “less than 5%”.  More on that another day.

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Anyhow, some things that I did accomplish last year with regards to my study of the Japanese language:

• Accidentally validated my view that the method typically used for teaching Japanese is flawed
• Discovered a series of methods for studying Japanese (and languages in general) more inline with what I think would work (and how I actually learned my native language of English to the advanced degree that I have)
• Finally pulled the RTK (Remember the Kanji) book of the shelf, dusted it off, and gave it a genuine try — completely awesome!  Wish i would have done it sooner!
• Experimented with several of the new techniques - getting a feel for which worked best and how to leverage them

All of this pretty much happened it the last few months of the year.

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So, my company has recently agreed that my role (as far as how much a support which regions) should be a bit more in line with what I have always felt… I may get into the root cause of that change someday.

But bottom line is that nowadays - I have the need, new found focus, and (theoretically) some level of corporate support to spend more “job-time” focused on Japan.

With that in mind, I started thinking about the JLPT exam again.  And as this post is long enough.. go here.

Anyhow.  Once again trying to get life into an organized state.

So next stop - the Convini [コンビニ] (the Japanese shortening of Convenience Store).  But there I found not cash, but a bigger shock - the convini’s ATM would only service ATM cards from certain banks at certain hours.  Admittedly, this is not very convenient.

For those of you who do not already know, Japan is very much a cash country.  Meaning, that as you go through Japan there are many places that using a credit card is either difficult or outright not accepted.  So in Japan, carry cash and probably a decent amount of it.

One last point to put the “Japan is a cash country” in perspective:  In the USA you are typically limited to a daily withdrawal from the ATM of $300.  In Japan the limit is roughly $5000. 

Oh well, lesson learned.

So it is now time to catch up…..

I will be talking about it in posts to come, but I can tell you that although I have been to Japan many times both for business and person reasons, moving here has been a totally new experience.  More to come on that topic.

Through both work and personal exploration I have traveled to many
parts of Asia.  However, most of my time has been spent visiting
Japan.  Currently, I am in the process of relocating to Japan and
should be living there starting next month (Nov. 2008).

My plan for this site is share my experiences in Japan and my opinions about learning the Japanese language.  I’ve got a lot going on
as I get relocated, so bear with me over the next several weeks as I
get situated both here and in Japan.