If you are learning in a classroom setting, you probably would have been introduced to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). As the name suggests, JLPT refers to a popular Japanese test that is designed to evaluate every student’s understanding of the Japanese language.
This Japanese language test comes in 5 different levels. While N1 is known as the most difficult level of the test, N5 is undoubtedly its easiest level. However, when learning Japanese, many students often ask a wide range of questions about the relevance of the JLPT N5.
So, this takes us back to the topic of this article – how fluent are you with JLPT N5? The truth is that JLPT N5 is just an introductory level of the Japanese language. Therefore, with JLPT N5, you only have a basic understanding of the language. So, your fluency is still rudimentary with lots of limits in what you can say, listen to, read, write, and understand in Japanese.
What are you expected to know with JLPT N5?
To have a better understanding of how fluent you are with JLPT N5, we need to consider what the test itself is all about. Simply put, the main objective of the JLPT N5 is to ensure that you can hold some simple conversations in Japanese. With the N5, you are expected to be able to hold basic conversations with others, introduce yourself, describe your day, shop in most places without much hassle, read simple information on vehicles, signposts, stores, etc.
In addition, when you have the JLPT N5, you may be able to read and understand books that are meant for kids. Also, the subtitles of kids’ anime should not be too difficult for you to understand.
With this, you can read and comprehend basic sentences and expressions as long as they are written in hiragana, katakana, and simple kanji characters that you have been taught. Similarly, with the JLPT N5, you should be able to listen and understand simple conversations that you usually come across in classroom situations as well as your day-to-day life. Also, you are expected to pick up some important information for simple and short chats. However, such Japanese conversations must be short and spoken slowly. Once it is long, you will likely be lost.
Nonetheless, you should note that your understanding is only based on the foundational Japanese language. Hence, you cannot speak, read, or write any document in professional settings. You won’t be able to hold advanced conversations such as expressing your opinion about a subject, describing a situation, telling a story, or teaching others. This shows how limited your understanding of the language is at this particular point.
However, all these still depend on your commitment to learning. For instance, someone who dedicated lots of time to study and passed the N5 test with flying colors would probably have a better understanding of the language than someone else that only studied sparingly and got the required minimum pass mark.
What does the JLPT N5 cover?
The JLPT N5 covers some basic areas that are explained below:
You will probably know the basic grammar that you can use every day. This will come in the basic present, past, and non-past forms that can be useful for simple conversations.
With N5, you should be able to recognize as much as 100 kanji characters. While the test itself doesn’t involve writing the characters, writing them during your practice is recommended.
Also, at this stage, you will be introduced to common words that you will likely need during your conversations in class or when telling someone about yourself.
- Reading and listening
With the JLPT N5, you are believed to be able to read and listen appropriately to simple conversations. However, only common sentences that are spoken slowly will be within your understanding level at this stage.
With everything described above, it is clear that you only have an overview of the Japanese language with the JLPT N5. In fact, in some cases, you may have the JLPT N5 and not be able to speak the Japanese language at all. N1 is believed to be proof of the highest level of fluency in listening, reading, and grammar of Japanese. N1 is close to native fluency.
Based on this, the JLPT N5 doesn’t put you in a good position to get a job that requires Japanese proficiency. Most jobs will require foreign applicants to have the JLPT N1 or at least N2. So, N5 is far from what can get you the majority of jobs in Japan. In addition, the JLPT N5 is not enough to be submitted as a part of your credentials when applying to most Japanese schools.
So, what is the JLPT N5 good for?
Considering the fact that N5 may not help you to get any good job or school admissions in Japan, you may start thinking that this level of the test is not useful for anything. However, this is not entirely true as the JLPT N5 may still come in handy in some cases.
Firstly, the JLPT N5 can assist you to show your commitment to learning the Japanese language. With a good grade in the test, it is easy to show anyone that you are truly serious about learning Japanese. Also, taking N5 is a great way to climb up the ladder of knowledge of the language. After passing N5, you can take N4 and other more difficult levels. Without N5, you may not know the right things to do as you prepare for these tougher levels.
Similarly, the JLPT N5 can help you lay a good foundation for learning the Japanese language. Therefore, having the JLPT N5 is good for a few things.
In a nutshell, it is worthwhile to understand that you only have a fundamental understanding of Japanese when you have N5. Resultantly, your fluency is quite basic and only good for simple conversations that you can use in classroom settings and other foundational day-to-day chats.