Hey, Japanese learners
Welcome to my JLPT TUTOR Blog. A lot of you guy may plan to take JLPT N4 and struggle with Preparation. Today We are going to talk about How to pass the JLPT N4 and I will give you some advice about preparation.
What is JLPT and What’s the difference with N5
The JLPT is the most well-known international Japanese proficiency tests. It has 5 Levels with
Level one ( officially called N1 ) is the most hardest and N5 is easy basic level.
Each level requires amount of Vocabulary , Kanji and grammar structures that should know.
Preparing for JLPT N4
So, If you want to pass N4 you need to know about 300 Kanji and 1500 vocabulary and intermediate grammar structures and should understand basic daily Japanese conversation .
What is your strongest point ?
We have several sections to practice on Kanji , Vocabulary , Grammar , Reading , Listening.
If you have only six months until the test what you should do ?
Ask yourself first , what is your strongest point ?
What is you good and have confidence ?
And what is your weak point ?
It’s good to consider and take more time in your study routine.
The method that I used, I have big goal target ( Pass JLPT N4) and I minimize tasks to single day routine and set priority .
JLPT N4 Kanji learning
The most of Japanese learners don’t like kanji.
You have to memorize ON-YOMI and KUN-YOMI. There are too many radicals , It’s hard to remember ETC.
But here is my secret, I used almost of my times with Kanji. Because kanji can be used for a variety of meaning , 1 Kanji 1 meaning or more. If you can memorize 1 Kanji ,
You know 1 word and Kanji can also combine with another you automatically understand the new word.
Example : The word 安心 あんしん relief ; Peace of mind
安 あん safe, Peaceful , Cheap
心 しん Heart, mind, spirit
You will see that when they combine each another it means “Peaceful mind”
A lot of you maybe learn 安心 in Vocabulary section or Vocabulary text book. But I think it is a lot easier to learn vocabulary by 2 Kanji.
You have 300 kanji to learning , only learn 1-2 Kanji per day.
JLPT N4 Grammar
Japanese grammar is different from English, the sentence structure occur some confuse.
A lot of you guys , brought some Grammar books and read it again and again but can’t remember.
The best way to learn Japanese Grammar is to memorize real Japanese sentences.
Hear a couple of sentence repeat it again and again . You learn real Grammar using sentence and also practice listening skill.
The JLPT 4 covers about 100 grammar , also including grammar forms N5.
Only learn 1-2 grammar per Day.
JLPT N4 Listening Test
I think this section is the most easiest for Japanese learner.
There are a lot of videos are available on Youtube and if You practice Grammar Section by Hearing every day. You have no worries about this section.
But This is my tips . I practiced in Question words.
Example : なに、どこ、いつ、だれ ETC.
Why ?
Because in the test you no need to understand all the word. But You have to find the KEYWORD. The famous Five WS (5W1H) Who,What,When,Where,Why and How.
JLPT N4 Reading Test
I would recommend that you have to use your 40 -50 % of your time for reading test practice.
Because You can learn new grammar and Vocabulary through the practice. The Keyword method is also working in this section.
You may read all of the article and look at the answer options and look at the article again and again. You forget all of detail because time is going run out.
Here is my secret , I always look at the question first, find what is the Keyword (5W1H) what are they asking you. Then Look at the detail again to find out the answer.
The Japanese writing style contains with
- First paragraph , first sentence is summary of the article
- Second – third paragraph, is the detail and explanation of article.
- last paragraph , is summary of article.
If the question asks about, What I always look at first paragraph ,
If the question asks about, Why look at the second – third.
If the question asks about Summary look at the last paragraph.
If you are new , for the first time you hear may blur and even don’t understand the articles,
I would recommend you do the Mock test 1-2 or more every day. You will find that you understand more and more.
My advice for you
- Do not focus only the Test
JLPT certification is most value for Japanese learner but it is useless if you can meet the expect requirements of each level. Even if you can pass the test but you can’t communicate with Japanese it is useless. I met many people that they can’t pass JLPT but they are recognized their skill by Japanese.
- Consistency is Key
Why I minimize the goal to small goal and to achieve in daily basic. Because You can’t even memorize basic kanji at one time you learn. You will be tried when you learn 3 hours or 5 hours in one day to memorize 300 Kanji. Do not force yourself if You are tried, Do when you feel full of power and stop when you are bored and tried.
- Anime is the most helpful to learn Japanese
In my study path until I passed JLPT N1, I was watching anime a lot even for the first time I didn’t understand any things. But I realize that I can catch the speed of conversation and Listening part is mind. In JLPT N4, listening test is very slow and unusual. In real life, There have no one pretend their speaking speed to talk with you. ( As I said Do not focus only the Test ) I watched One piece from episode 1 to 400 ( cried when ACE died ) and realized that I can understand bit better comparing with when I was in episode 1. Find out you anime and let keep on.
