Sakura Saku

Japanese NAT-TEST: Taking the April 2022 Exam

Are you preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)? If you are, consider taking the Japanese NAT-TEST to gauge your current skill level.

Since the JLPT in July is fast approaching, I decided to take a practice exam to accustom myself again to a real testing environment. Unfortunately, Level 1 of the NAT-TEST (equivalent to JLPT N1) isn’t available for the April schedule, so I decided to take Level 2 (JLPT N2) instead.

Although I already took and passed Level 2 in October 2021, I wanted to take the opportunity to properly document the process of taking the NAT-TEST, so I hope this short and simple post about my experience will be a useful reference for you.

Why Mock Exams are Absolutely Needed to Score High on the JLPT

Have you studied Japanese for the past few months and now aiming for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)? Attending classes, reading textbooks and handouts, and answering some practice questions should be enough to pass the test with a good score, right?

Well, not necessarily.

In my article about JLPT test scores, I discussed extensively that the JLPT is a demanding test. You’ll need to do very well just to get a passing mark. Guessing the answers will not help, even if the JLPT is a multiple-choice test.

The key to passing the JLPT is practice. The adage, “Practice makes perfect,” still holds true. And one of the essential components of practice is a mock exam.

If you are serious about passing the JLPT, then I hope that this article will help you understand and appreciate mock exams. I highly recommend that you include them as part of your study regimen.

What Does It Feel Like to Study at NCF? Part 2: Intermediate Japanese

Intermediate Japanese has been an exciting and challenging phase of my Japanese language study. I was strongly motivated to finally venture out of basic Japanese (JLPT N4), and I began to actually feel my progress in Japanese the more I studied intermediate material.

If you are looking to improve your Japanese language skill beyond the basic level, consider enrolling at Nihongo Center Foundation (NCF). It is one of the few institutions in the Philippines that offer higher-level Japanese classes.

In this personal blog post, I will talk about my experience studying intermediate Japanese at a top-tier language institute. I will also provide key information such as:

The course content and coverage of Intermediate 1 to 6;
The comparison of the scope with the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT); and
The learning experience under a one-on-one tutorial with a native Japanese instructor.