How my JLPT test went
It’s a relief that my JLPT 3 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) test is over. Although I love learning languages, there is a fair amount of stress that comes from mastering a complex language like Japanese.
I tried to set a Japanese study schedule where I would watch a TV show or tackle a few pages of grammar twice or thrice a week, but of course, there were weeks where I just hurried through my homework just a couple of hours before a lesson. I’m sure quite a few of you would agree that it feels like a thorn in your side all the time because language learning is a never-ending process.
In the last five days leading up to the test, I just lived and breathed Japanese grammar and vocab. In a way, I kind of enjoyed it because it was an excuse not to focus too much on blogging and I finally forced myself to remember grammar rules. I was a teesy bit worried that I wouldn’t pass because I haven’t been the most diligent of students.
But all went well and I would have to agree with most people who have taken Level 3 before — it was pretty easy and I should’ve kicked off with this level, instead of with Level 4, which is the lowest level.
Anyway, I resolved to take some pictures this year as the exam was in a special venue — Tokyo University. Yup, the revered number one centre of academia in Japan where your career is taken care of if you had the opportunity to grace its halls.
We were just horsing around outside our exam room where the kangeroo took a picture of me. It made me chuckle inwardly that this must’ve been our nerdiest date ever — it felt like a picnic as we packed bagels, nuts, and fruit with us for our lunch break. I was glad I made the effort because I think conbini offerings are not exactly brain food. And check out the queue at MacDonald’s during the lunch break!
So this was our test room. It had heating but no clock, and since I had no watch (mobile phones were banned and must be kept in our bags), I just ripped through the questions as quickly as possible.
What I loved about the JLPT experience was there were hordes of people from different countries gathered together in this one place. I could hear a cacophony of voices from Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Philippines, America, Britain, France, Germany, Taiwan, Korea…
It felt fabulous to be part of the majority and was probably the most cosmopolitan spot in Tokyo that Sunday.
There was a definite buzz in the air as I could see lots of people doing last-minute revisions over vending machine coffee, sitting on steps, benches, or leaning against a railing. It sounds a little corny but it felt like it didn’t matter where you were from, but you could learn this bloody difficult language if you really put your mind to it.
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