I took the test for the 5th time this July and I don’t think I’m going to pass this time. The only reason I keep taking the test is because I’m a perfectionist who doesn’t like to give up, but recently I’ve begun to think N1 might not be realistic for me.
I use Japanese in my work, but I’m not fluent. I’m maybe at the level where I could probably live in Japan and handle the difficult stuff on my own (tax, apartment hunting etc.), being the resourceful little goose that I am.
Recently a lot of Japanese people I work with has remarked that there’s no actual need for me to get the N1, mainly because my job is more conversational heavy, and I already know enough to do my job. Not only that, but my company also offer neither monetary assistance no incentive for passing N1.
I spent more than 2,000USD in classes and materials for N1. I missed hangouts, relationships, time with my family, and time to work on side jobs just to prepare for the N1. If I stop taking the JLPT I could work on getting a master degree, or get a second job that will actually make me money. You could say I could study even harder, but I already was studying 1-2 hours after an 8-6 fulltime job, so I don’t think any more than that is realistic.
What do you guys think?
8 comments
I think I’ll take the route of just learn Japanese at your own pace and resources and maybe try N1 years later if you still felt like trying it? Perhaps it’ll feel still great if you got that worked out then.
I’m Japanese learning English, and I was never really good at exams, but I became fluent through experience and now my score is pretty good. There are many who only takes about a few years to get to where I did, but most of them aren’t fluent – so I think it depends on where you set the goal. I learn slow and steady, and I’m okay with that because that made me fluent in the language to the point I don’t have to take exams to prove my fluency. I still feel like taking exam for some reasons, and I’m saving that fir much later when I actually need them or I have too much time to waste.
Do you have N3 or N2? I worked in Japan with an N3 no problem. N1 is something to passively work toward, in my opinion. The delta between it and N2 is pretty massive and N2 opens enough doors as-is.
I’d take a break at least. Invest in other areas of your life. Try to keep reading in japanese, whatever you are interested in, and maybe in a few years come back to it. But it sounds like you currently have other things you’d rather spend your time on, and the current model isn’t working
I’ll never give up. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t rearrange time to focus on other things while slowing pace on japanese for a while.
It doesn’t matter what we think. What matters is how important it is to you that you achieve N1 status?Are you trying to get there for a job or just because it’s a personal accomplishment you want to achieve? Ultimately, if you really want to master the language, you’re going to have to immerse yourself in the country at some point. It’s also important to remember that most Japanese people don’t remember every single Kanji. N1 involves obscure or professional level terminology, so unless you’re going into academia and feel comfortable in day to day contexts, that’s an achievement in of itself. Fluency will come with time and practice. You just need to put yourself in situations where you use Japanese exclusively. If you want to master it, immersion is ultimately the best teacher as you have to
use the language in a variety of contexts, but again, at the end of the day, the real question is how important it is to you that you achieve N1?
N1
Reading
One can read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques, and comprehend both their structures and contents. One is also able to read written materials with profound content on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively.
Listening
One can comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures, spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings, and can follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. One is also able to understand the details of the presented materials, such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points.
I’m guessing the issue is Kanji. I’ve been studying for 30 years and speak daily.
I have a 5 year plan for N1. Mostly to keep my brain active. Passed N2 years ago. Went to law school and practice law. Going to retire with Japanese spouse in Japan.
Take a break, live life, challenge it when your 60 like me if you want to.
My seasoned advice is don’t worry about it and enjoy every day.
Tokini Andy on YouTube passed without expressly studying for it. He just read manga and VNs and played video games. He certainly put a LOT of time into it, but it proves that you don’t necessarily need to load up on textbooks to get N1
take a break. it’s not necessary. and hyperfixating on anything to the detriment of your mental health and personal relationships is not an emotionally responsible thing to do.