Japanese language test. Learning Japanese
Learning Japanese is possible in two directions: a general course and a business course. General course Japanese language is intended for both beginners and those who have already studied this language (they will be given an individual written and oral test to be placed in one of the existing groups).
The training consists of 5 levels, at the end of each of which enough knowledge will be obtained to pass the international exam in Japanese Nihongo Noryoku Shiken. This course covers the comprehensive study of the Japanese language: writing, grammar, vocabulary and Speaking, gives everyone the opportunity to join the culture of Japan. In the classroom, Japanese literature, audio and video materials are used, after passing each topic, a final test is written and a new topic begins.
1 level- designed for those who are just starting to learn Japanese. The knowledge obtained at the end of this level is classified as "to a certain extent the basic level of the Japanese language":
- reading - reading and understanding words, expressions and texts written in hiragana, katakana and basic characters used in Everyday life;
- listening - the ability to hear and understand the necessary information, spoken slowly in the form of a short dialogue on topics from everyday life.
- Also possession of vocabulary in the amount of 800 units and hieroglyphics in the amount of 100 units.
After completing this course, students can take international exam fifth level.
2 level- confirms knowledge of the language at the household level in a small amount. The knowledge obtained at the end of this level is classified as "knowledge of the basic level of the Japanese language":
- reading - reading and understanding a text written in basic vocabulary and hieroglyphs on topics from everyday life;
- listening - understanding most information, played slowly in the form of dialogues, on topics from everyday life.
- Knowledge of hieroglyphics in the amount of 350 units and vocabulary in the amount of 1500 units.
After passing it, you can take the exam at level 4.
3 level- Proficiency in the language at an intermediate level. A level sufficient for conducting conversations, reading non-specialized literature. Classified as "knowledge to a certain extent of the Japanese language used in everyday life":
reading:
1) reading and understanding texts of specific content written on topics from everyday life,
2) the ability to understand the main content of the newspaper headlines,
3) the ability to understand the essence of a text of a sufficiently high degree of complexity, written on everyday topics, if some sentences in it are paraphrased;
listening - the ability to hear and understand most of the specific content of a logically completed dialogue on everyday topics, reproduced almost at a natural pace, to understand the relationship between its actors.
4th level- confirms a high level of language proficiency, knowledge of the Japanese language at this level satisfies the requirements of employers when applying for jobs related to the use of the Japanese language. In addition to knowledge of the Japanese language used in everyday life, it is characterized by the ability to understand the language used in a wider range of areas to a certain extent:
reading
1) reading and understanding newspaper and magazine articles, comments, simple criticism written in understandable language on a wide range of topics,
2) reading texts on general topics and understanding the course of the narrative and the meaning of individual expressions; listening is the ability to understand a logically coherent dialogue or news not only on everyday topics, but also on a wider range of issues at a pace close to natural, follow the conversation, understand its content and relationships between participants, grasp the essence.
5th level- The highest level. Shows fluency at the media level. Proficiency in 2000 hieroglyphic units and 10000 lexical units is required. Characterized by knowledge of the Japanese language used in a wide range of areas:
reading
2) the ability to read works that are deep in content on a variety of topics, follow the course of the narrative and understand in detail the meaning of individual statements, listening - the ability to understand a long dialogue, news and public performance at natural speech speed different situations, the ability to follow the course of the conversation, understand its content and the relationship between its participants, understand in detail the logical structure of the conversation and isolate its main content.
Business course only possible if you already have basic knowledge of the language.
The duration of training at each level is 120-150 hours.
Japan. About the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Exam (JLPT)
What is the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Exam (日本語能力試験)?
Nihongo Noryoku Shiken(English, or JLPT) - official exam to determine the level of knowledge of the Japanese language, conducted with 1984 for those who are not native Japanese speakers. The organization of the exam outside of Japan is handled by Japanese Foundation(The Japan Foundation) through its representatives - embassies, consulates, Japanese centers, educational establishments and everyone to whom the Foundation delegates the authority to conduct the exam JLPT in different countries. AT Japan Noryoku Shiken hosted by the Japan International Education Association (Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, or JEES).
Goals pursued by people taking the exam Nihongo Noryoku Shiken differ depending on the level for which the examiners apply. AT JLPT to entry level N5) usually involves the largest number of applicants. These are schoolchildren studying Japanese, students of primary courses. Teachers usually encourage students to take the exam Noryoku Shiken elementary levels in order to get to know firsthand the system for conducting this exam.
Among those who give JLPT high level (N2 or N1) a lot of people who intend to tie their professional activity With Japan and Japanese, enroll in Japanese university(although there is a special exam for admission to Japanese universities Ryugaku Shiken), apply for a job in a Japanese firm or take part in a professional internship program in Japan. In such cases, a certificate of success Noryoku Shiken is completely unnecessary.
How often and where is the exam held?
Noryoku Shiken Nihongo held twice a year: first Sunday of July and in first Sunday of December. However July exam JLPT is not held everywhere (in Russia only in Vladivostok and Moscow). Below in the table you can find out the exam location nearest to you (in Russia and the CIS). Full list you can find exam places.
What is included in the exam?
Exam JLPT defines " level communicative competencies required to perform certain tasks", namely: (1) knowledge of the Japanese language, including vocabulary and grammar, and (2) the ability to apply this knowledge in practical communication.
Myself Noryoku Shiken is divided into several sections: Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading and listening.
Exam content is governed by the Exam Content Specification (出題基準, Shutsudai kijun?), first published in 1994 and partially revised in 2002. This document, with the exception of the English introduction, is written entirely in Japanese and contains lists of words, characters, expressions, and grammar for each level of the exam. According to the Specification, the exam is conducted in the form of a test, in which the applicant only needs to choose one option from several possible ones, and the applicant is not required to write anything in Japanese.
Regardless of the level, the exam consists of three parts:
1. vocabulary and hieroglyphics
2. listening and understanding
3. reading and understanding - grammar.
The maximum number of points is fixed, only the time allotted for each section differs.
Vocabulary and hieroglyphics
This part of the exam includes an average of 35-45 questions, in which the applicant is required to determine the correct character, select the appropriate katakana or hiragana entry, and also choose the most appropriate word for the given sentence.
Listening and Comprehension
It consists of two parts, in one of which the applicant, when answering each question, must choose the correct picture from the four proposed, using the information obtained from the dialogue, the recording of which is played during the exam. The second part is similar to the first, except that there are no pictures, and the answer options are read along with the dialogue. The record with the tasks is played once and under no circumstances can be returned to the previous questions.
Reading and Comprehension - Grammar
Contains 20-30 Japanese grammar questions and a similar number of sentence and text comprehension questions. This may include tasks where you need to fill in gaps in the dialogue or answer questions related to the content.
What are the requirements for each level of Noryoku Shiken?
Nihongo Noryoku Shiken divided into 5 levels N5 before N1, and N1- the most difficult. Before 2010 there were 4 levels, but due to too large a gap between levels 3 and 2, it was decided to introduce an additional intermediate level. To distinguish between old and new levels, " N", the first letter of New and Nihongo.
Below are the requirements for each of the levels. New Noryoku Shiken.
CRITERIA FOR NEW LEVELS OF NIHONGO NORYOKU SHIKEN
Fifth level (N5, former 4-kyu)
Despite the prevailing opinion that obtaining a level certificate N5 does not make sense, so many people who learn Japanese begin their ascent to the top Nihongo Noryoku Shiken right from him. Indeed, for serious practical application, in most cases, not enough N5, not even N4, but this does not detract from the value of the exam as such. Controlling activities are one of the most important elements of training, stimulating the student, setting him up for the result and allowing him to reveal previously unnoticed gaps in knowledge in time. So, for example, many applicants who come to the exam for the first time face great difficulties in listening and often receive a low score for this section. Obviously, it is much better to recognize and solve this problem during the academic stage than to suffer its consequences during the higher-level certifications, when a promising position may be at stake.
The first and most important requirement for an applicant for a level certificate N5- the ability to fluently read hiragana, because without this skill it is impossible to meet the allotted time frame. As for words, hieroglyphs and grammar, on the Internet you can find numerous lists that allow you to easily navigate the requirements for knowledge of the material.
Speaking about domestic textbooks, it can be noted that the knowledge and skills sufficient to obtain the fourth level are mostly achieved after studying the 1st and 2nd volumes of the Japanese language textbook edited by I. V. Golovnina or 1st volume of the textbook "Japanese for beginners" L. T. Nechaeva. The material contained in these books does not fully cover all sections presented in the exam, so in the process of preparation it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the content of the tests and work out unclear points with the involvement of third-party literature.
Fourth level (N4, former 3-kyu)
Usually easily passed a year after receiving a level certificate N5 subject to regular practice. It is not uncommon for people who have just started learning Japanese to successfully pass the level exam. N4 after only one year of study. The volume of material in the first approximation corresponds to the 3rd and 4th volumes of the Japanese textbook edited by I. V. Golovnina or the 2nd volume of the textbook "Japanese for beginners" L. T. Nechaeva.
Third level (N3)
It occupies an intermediate position between the former levels of 3-kyu and 2-kyu (in a new way N4 and N2). Introduced to compensate for a too serious gap in complexity between them.
Second level (N2)
This level is already disproportionately more difficult than the previous one, and the topics covered in it are so diverse that it is very difficult to recommend literature that at least to some extent meets its requirements. In the case of regular and sufficiently intensive study, it is possible to achieve a second level certificate two years after receiving the third, although many Japanese learners often take longer.
In most cases, the requirements for employment related to the knowledge of the Japanese language begin precisely with the level N2.
First level (N1)
Assumes fluency in the language. Getting it without constant language practice associated with regular communication with native speakers seems to be a very difficult task.
Certificate of Nihongo Noryoku Shiken
International exam certificate The Japanese Language Proficiency Test(JLPT) is considered by all employers Japan and many university ami (except for those who take Nihongo Ryugaku Shiken). When applying for a job in Japan the first thing that the vast majority of companies require is to provide a certificate of acceptance The Japanese Language Proficiency Test first level. it minimum requirement presented to a foreign applicant. Certificate Nihongo Noryoku cannot be falsified: on all forms there is an individual number that can be checked against international registers.
Organization of the exam
Nihongo Noryoku Shiken held twice a year on the first Sunday of July and the first Sunday of December; within the territory of Russian Federation it can be taken in Moscow, St. Petersburg (since 2008), Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Perm, Khabarovsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. It is necessary to register for participation in the exam in the 10th-20th of September, and those applicants who cannot personally appear at the registration point and plan to send documents by mail must do this even earlier. In order not to be late with the submission of documents, it is recommended to follow the information on the website of the embassy Japan starting from the end of August. For full-time registration, you must have a passport and two 3x3 photographs.
The exam is paid, in Russia in 2010 the cost of the questionnaire was 100 rubles. The fee for the exam of the fifth level is 300 rubles, the fourth - 500, the third - 700 rubles, the second - 900 rubles, the first - 1100 rubles. (prices, today, due to inflation, may increase)
On the day of the exam, it is strongly recommended that you arrive early at the exam site, as due to the large number of applicants, there may be problems with the registration procedure and, as a result, long queues in which you can spend a lot of time. However, exam participants should not worry anyway, as each applicant has a personal seat prepared in advance, marked with a number that matches the number of his voucher. During the exam, you are only allowed to have two simple pencils for filling out the examination questionnaires and an eraser.
Exam results are sent by mail and usually reach applicants in late February - early March of the following year.
How to behave in an exam
During the exam, you must follow the rules established by the organizer. First, never be late. Second, respond quickly and accurately. But this, rather, refers to the rules of good taste. It is hopeless to dream about what can be written off or peeped into a cheat sheet, such attempts are mercilessly suppressed and minimized in advance: for example, all bags are folded at the entrance, and only a pencil and an eraser can be on the table. Answer options indicated by circles must be carefully painted over with a pencil. All forms are collected immediately after the allotted time of each part of the exam.
When learning foreign language highlight several language levels, most often basic, intermediate and advanced. An even clearer criterion for the level of knowledge of the language is provided by the international exam. For Japanese it is Nihongo Noryoku Shiken(Japanese 日本語能力試験, English Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)) is a Japanese language examination conducted in all countries by the Japan International Exchange Foundation.
As of 2010, this exam has five levels of difficulty (5N). Each level implies a certain set of knowledge and skills in the field of knowledge of vocabulary, hieroglyphs, grammar, reading and listening. Let's take a closer look at their requirements.
The Nihongo Noryoku Shiken exam is held twice a year, in winter and summer.
N5. A basic level of
N5. The basic level implies a partial understanding of everyday Japanese.
Writing: knowledge of the hiragana and katakana alphabets and the 100 simplest kanji.
Vocabulary: about 700-800 words related to everyday situations.
Grammar: general construction sentences, questions in Japanese. Bundles, cases, conjugation of adjectives and verbs, pronouns and numerals.
For successful delivery of this level, it is enough to go through the first part of the Minna no Nihongo textbook, or sign up for.
Complete understanding of everyday Japanese. "Japanese for beginners".
Writing: 300-400 simple kanji in total.
Vocabulary: 1400-1500 words related to everyday situations (including those previously studied).
Grammar: most of the verb forms (condition, command, intention, obligation, permission, possibility, prohibition, desire, assumption, aspect and voice forms, action orientation forms, polite speech keigo) and etc.
To successfully complete this level, it is enough to complete the first and second parts of the Minna no Nihongo textbook.
The level requires a complete understanding of everyday Japanese. Approximately requires knowledge of 600 hieroglyphs and 3000 words.
Grammar of this level - various suffixes, conjunctions, particles and stable grammatical constructions, as well as verbal postpositions. (At all levels above N3, new conjunctions, particles and suffixes with different shades of meaning will also be added).
Level "Intermediate". Understanding everyday Japanese and simple newspaper articles.
The second level is much more difficult than the third level, because at this level a fairly wide and varied range of topics is covered. Subject to regular studies, you can expect to pass this level two years after receiving the third level of Noreku Shiken. Most Japanese companies require a candidate to have knowledge of Japanese at this level and above when applying for a job, so obtaining the second level of Noreku Shiken is especially important for those who want to work in a Japanese company.
Hieroglyphs: 1000 hieroglyphs
Vocabulary: about 6000 words
Advanced level. Requires perfect Japanese language skills and implies a full understanding of complex newspaper articles, scientific texts, etc. This level is quite difficult to pass if you have not had experience living in Japan or long-term communication with native speakers
Hieroglyphs: 2000 hieroglyphs
Vocabulary: ok. 10000 words
Each level involves learning a lot of words. Our course will help you with this.
At the basic, fifth level of learning Japanese, students get acquainted with the basics of grammar, vocabulary and writing. The teacher pays special attention to the development of basic conversational and grammatical skills. At the end of the level, students are familiar with two alphabets of the Japanese language (hiragana and katakana) and can use them when reading simple texts and writing, they know more than a hundred hieroglyphic units. About 800 lexical units are assimilated, which allows you to maintain a conversation on the topics studied. Much attention is paid to pronunciation. After completing the course, students can take the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Level 5 International Exam.
Jap 4(A2)
Students can understand texts that use basic vocabulary and characters (everyday Japanese). Vocabulary increases to 1500 lexical units. They can understand spoken language and participate in dialogues if the interlocutor speaks slowly and clearly. At the end of this course, you can take the international Nihongo Noryoku Shiken exam for the fourth level.
Jap 3 (B1)
The Japanese language is studied in depth. The main accents are made on grammar, vocabulary and hieroglyphic material, written speech and listening comprehension of Japanese speech are worked out. Students can read texts of a high level of complexity, can understand most of the dialogues on everyday topics, which are given at an almost natural pace. New vocabulary is given in a large volume, various aspects life in modern Japan. To fully understand everyday Japanese, you need to know about 600 characters and 2500-3000 words. At the end of this level, you can take the international Nihongo Noryoku Shiken exam for the third level.
Jap 2(B2)
Listeners perceive authentic materials - newspaper and magazine articles, media reports, audio and video materials. The grammar and vocabulary studied at the previous levels are skillfully used, thanks to which discussions are successfully conducted. The vocabulary is about 6000 lexical units and 1000 hieroglyphs. At the end of this level, you can take the international Nihongo Noryoku Shiken exam for the second level.
Jap 1 (C1)
On the this stage students are able to speak fluently and fluently in Japanese, read complex unadapted texts (newspaper articles, literature). Understanding the speech of the interlocutor at a natural pace is available. The practice of communicating directly with a native speaker is important. There is an acquaintance with the business sphere of the Japanese language. Approximately 2,000 hieroglyphs and up to 10,000 words are assimilated. At the end of this level, you can take the international Nihongo Noryoku Shiken exam for the first level.
The duration of training is from 96 to 216 academic hours, depending on the level.