A JLPT N5 is the right test for you if you want to improve your Japanese skills. To take the test, you will need to prepare yourself financially as well as mentally. Japanese listening and reading skills are evaluated by the N5 of the JLPT. Also included are grading standards with the answer key. Therefore, in Japanese grammar, there are four choices for complicated grammar.
You just need to follow this step-by-step learning order:
Using the information in this article, you will be able to plan an effective learning route for studying Japanese for the JLP5 N5 successfully through self-study.
How you should proceed will be explained to you step-by-step. What do you say? Are you ready? Here we go!
How do I study for Jlpt N5?
What you have to concentrate on in Japanese might already be known to you. Grammar and vocabulary in Kana (Hiragana + Katakana).
Immersion in Japanese is the best approach to learning it. Your immediate immersion is of the utmost importance.
What are the benefits of immersion? Children learn their languages through immersion only. It is not easy to pick up a language simply through immersion as you grow older.
It doesn’t become useless, however. You will need to study on the side, but it’s still a very good and effective way to learn the language.
To get immersed into a language, you can watch shows, read anime, manga, novels, and visual novels, listen to theater CDs, watch movies, and listen to podcasts.
What’s the best way to learn Hiragana
Obviously, you must learn a script before you can learn a language. It is not possible to say there is an alphabet in Japanese. In its place, there are two syllabaries, Hiragana and Katakana.
It is best to start with Hiragana out of all three writing systems.
There are two ways to learn Hiragana, the first involves learning how to write the characters and remembering them this way, while the second involves memorizing the characters directly and possibly never learning how to write them.
There are merits to both approaches and it really boils down to your goal with the language. Passing the JLPT tests does not require you to write the language in your hand.
Nowadays, handwriting is getting increasingly obscure as computers are replacing it. If you think you won’t actually need to handwrite the language ever, there is no shame in just skipping handwriting entirely.
The reason for me recommending it is that handwriting takes way more time than just memorizing how to read all the characters.
This is not to say that learning handwriting is bad. Rather, it’s a nice thing to learn, it’s just that it’s of little practical use to most learners.
One question might have come to your mind, “How much time does it take to learn Hiragana?”. This is all subjective and there is no definite answer to this.
Some people take a couple of days to memorize them, others take about a week or so. Never try to rush it, though. It’s important that you truly memorize all the characters correctly.
Oh, do you know how much time traditional learning classes spend on this? A few months, usually. Yes, it’s kinda absurd. However, when self-learning, you have an advantage here: You can move at your own pace.
Check out : How can I memorize hiragana quickly?
What is the easiest way to learn katakana?
Katana is another syllabary that Japanese has. You might have realized that Katakana characters seem to be read the same as Hiragana characters.
If you are wondering stuff like “aren’t they redundant then?”, know that Katakana fulfills some special purposes that are different from those of Hiragana.
One major use of Katakana is writing loan or foreign words. These words are written in Katakana to indicate the exotic nature of these words. Think of it kinda similar to how italics are used in English literature to write foreign words that the reader wouldn’t be familiar with.
Some other uses of Katakana are:
- Sometimes, words that are normally written in Hiragana might be written in Katakana to put emphasis.
- Like foreign vocabulary, foreign names are also written in Katakana.
- Katakana is also used for stylistic writing purposes.
- Scientific and technical terms are also usually written in Katakana.
So, as you can see Katakana definitely has its own place in the Japanese language.
Learning Katakana is no different than learning Hiragana, you can use the same methods for those just fine.
Again, for handwriting, you can skip it entirely if you skipped learning handwriting for Hiragana already.
Check out :What is the easiest way to learn katakana?
How many kanji are there in N5?
You just need to master about 100 kanji characters to be able to pass the test.Kanji characters are some of the most difficult things to learn in the Japanese language. Luckily, the JLPT N5 doesn’t have lots of kanji characters. By learning kanji, you will be introduced to numerous Japanese vocabularies that can help you to boost your knowledge of the language. It should be noted that you will not write any Japanese words during the test.
Even when the N5 is the first level of JLPT, passing it is a considerable achievement. This is because of the fact that Kanji is the most perplexing language to be learned. Kanji has two different types of reading- Onyomi and Kunyomi; This is because it originated with the Chinese hanzi characters, which was then adopted by the Japanese. As per the description of N5, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or JLPT expects you to know around 100 Kanji characters to pass. The test anticipates that the test takers should know 100 most commonly used Kanji for time, places, people, numbers, adjectives, verbs, and directions. Therefore, it is quite beneficial to know the rudimentary Kanji radicals to frame the composite vocabulary.
The most elementary level N5 demands you to know some primary Japanese language. In the ‘Reading’ section, the applicant is expected to read and understand the customary sentences in the three writing systems, namely, Hiragana, Katakana, and simple Kanji. A point to be noted here is that Kanji is quite complex in comparison to its other two counterparts. Thus, simple Kanji knowledge is tested in N5. When it comes to the ‘Listening’ section, the test taker should be able to listen and comprehend the fundamental conversations about daily life situations. N5 is the most initial test; the conversations are played very slowly so that the applicant understands and judges it better.
Check out : JLPT N5 KANJI LIST YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PASS JLPT N5
What is the best way to study vocabulary JLPT N5?
There are ‘ways’ and there are ‘best ways’ to study something. The Japanese vocab and kanji are known to be stressful to learn but they are considered to be the necessary foundation for learning the Japanese language and so, there is no way you can escape learning them. Your first 1-2years of learning Japanese, you basically concentrate on learning Japanese grammar but thereafter, you move onto the Japanese vocabulary and Kanji, memorizing every word one after the other because you need to.
Create your own study list and set study goals
This strategy will help establish a good foundation for your mind and brain to cooperate and absorb every information you take in. When setting your study goals and creating your study list, be sure to be realistic about what you want to learn and how you intend to go about it. For example, you can decide to learn 100 vocab and 30 kanji in 2 weeks. That’s a pretty achievable goal. To help your study process, write down all the 100 vocals and 30 kanji out and practice them at your set study time. This is definitely convenient than trying to learn everything thing you see in your study materials.
Start reading
Read any material written in Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji that you can get your hands on. When reading you are consciously attracted to the content of the material but subconsciously, you get to learn more words and kanji characters. To stay interested, you can read materials like comics, magazines, and novels. Also, cartoons and movies with subtitles can help you learn as well. Unless you read and see either kanji or vocab in context, you may never really learn and understand how to use them in real-life situations when you need to write or speak the words yourself.
Write down vocab and kanji in your own handwriting
Learning both vocab and kanji the old school way is the best study trick to remember each character including kanji’s correct strokes. This is because writing down things has a positive impact on your memory.
Engage spaced repetition system (SRS)
Spaced repetition system (SRS) is a learning technique used for reviewing whatever you’ve learned at increasingly spaced intervals to ensure that you don’t forget it. This technique causes you to encounter words or information just at the right time to help you remember it. There are a few tools associated with a spaced repetition system that can help your vocab and kanji study. These include:
flashcards
Flashcards are one of the best ways to learn the Japanese language. This method has proven to be easy to use, and effective when used. You can easily bring out a flashcard to learn the vocab or kanji written on them or check up what you are almost forgetting. Another good thing is that you can create your own flashcards by writing down every vocab or kanji you want to learn or remember on them.
Anki
This is the software version of the physical flashcard. When you study with the Anki app, it automatically cycles through your flashcards and shows you a mix of old and new information each day.
Ask for help from native speakers
What better way to learn than to allow natives to teach you? These native speakers grew up speaking, reading and writing the Japanese language and so, engaging in conversation with them will help brush up your vocab and kanji skill. They may teach you what you need to know in an unconventional way but at least, the information is made available to you in a way that you will understand and may not easily forget.
Review your study materials endlessly
You don’t need to get stuck when learning before you go back to your study materials. Set time aside to go over everything you have learned. You can even set a test for yourself to know how far and how well you’ve come. Both Japanese vocab and kanji require lots of time and practice before you can achieve any form of fluency. Therefore, take your time and don’t rush your study process.
Make the Japanese Wiktionary your buddy
Apart from the fact that it comes in handy, the Japanese E-dictionary has proven to be efficient and effective for learning the Japanese language. Its features include the following:
- Handwritten input which enables you to learn how to write the strokes of difficult kanji
- Voice recognition dictation
- Pronunciation function
- A backlight screen and high resolution that makes it easy to read more complex kanji.
What is the best way to learn grammar JLPT N5
Japanese grammar is very interesting and can be challenging especially if your mother language is widely different from the Japanese language. To take on this challenge we are going to review a series of tips you can use. Note that it is crucial to get professional help if you want to advance quickly or in some cases get stuck.
Grasp and understand a grammatical form and exercise around it
While learning Japanese grammar, you are going to learn several structures and these vary from the level at which you are. Part of learning has to do with understanding what the rule or structure means and then you can apply it. If you are using a textbook or other sources, there will be examples for every structure. Use the examples given as a guide and then play around it to see if you comprehend the concept. To do this, make use of any senior in the language depending on your level. Simply put, find a native or advanced Japanese speaker to correct and check the way you used the new learned forms. Make sure to leave your comfort zones and exercise around the structure in all possible ways, the more mistakes you make the more you will learn new tips and get better over time.
Get a detailed grammar book that works for you
You are going to need a memorable grammar book to make it easy for your learning. Different books are designed for different levels and specifically for classrooms or self-learning. You have to understand how your course will be in the beginning and do the research for a preferable book. There are recommended books such as Genki, but the top recommendations might not work for you. After having a solid long-term plan for your language learning, start reviewing suggested best books and see whichever best fits your needs. It’s not uncommon to combine two or more books as you learn grammar if they compliment each other. The trick is to build sustainable momentum. Let yourself discover one structure at a time and practice with it then move to the next. It’s recommended by seniors and teachers to take one pattern a day, and tune it to the way native speakers say and write it. Don’t be hasty, take one step at a time.
Obtain a detailed Japanese grammar dictionary for reference
When you get a Japanese grammar book, it’s usually laid out in topics. A Japanese grammar dictionary is in alphabetical order and thus used as a reference. When you learn grammatical forms from your textbooks and tutorial, you will need to grasp the many examples of its use in writing and speech. This is where the reference grammar dictionary comes in handy. These dictionaries are packed with many examples from every possible angle. This will help you in learning how to use the grammatical structures. As a recommendation, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese by Seiichi Makino and Michio Tsutsui is a great place to start. It comes in three different variations, these being basic, intermediate and advanced. Use it as a reading book to pick up inspirations while you practice new grammatical forms. And as a working tip, keep coming at it to familiarize yourself with various structures over time.
Anticipate using other sources rather than your grammar book
For illustration, if a language was a sport, then grammar would be the rules of the game. And we know that knowing all the rules of the game is not what makes a great player, they have to play. The same applies when learning Japanese grammar. If you’ve completed all the book’s assignments on the pattern, it’s best to practice them with native speakers and get a real sense of the use. The best way to easily connect nowadays is on the internet. Online Japanese forums such as Jgram can be of great help. Other recommended forums are, maggie sensei, take Kim’s guide to Japanese, etc. With the correct keywords, you can research communities that match your level and integrate them for your practice. Mobile apps are also helpful in giving you tons of sentences and daily use examples.
Use different ways to practice listening and reading with native
This is the part where you test your Japanese grammar knowledge. We can all agree that it’s no fun if you spend all your time revising and never see any real-world use for what you learn. Part of learning Japanese grammar means taking your time to test yourself on real-world content. Use video or audios of your favorite content and see if you can spot grammatical forms that you have already learned. It is much better if you hang out with Japanese natives and try to listen when they engage in conversation. It for sure will be impossible to follow at first but, as you learn more your ear will start to tune in to real-life grammar. In this way over time you will learn more. Practice makes perfect. If you can’t find Native Japanese in your area, use online media. One great practice to get your grammar fast is using subtitles in Japanese. As you read the subtitles you will match the meaning from what’s been said in the scene and patterns will start to make more sense as you do this. A lot of mobile apps like FluentU offer great grammatical courses using media to make the learning much more memorable. Make sure to do your research on which real-world method is best suited for your Japanese grammar practicing.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the road to Japanese language learning is certainly challenging. But this is normal as all learning requires effort and brings adversity along the way. Make sure you learn and practice at a pace that you can handle. Once you take sustainable action to learn your Japanese grammar, one way or another you will succeed.