Enriching your resume, reading manga in the original language, or communicating with locals on your next trip to Tokyo: for most people, these are some of the most common reasons for starting to learn Japanese.
Whatever your reason for learning Japanese, know that this adventure can bring you many benefits. However, we would be lying if we said that Japanese is an easy language: the grammatical structure is very different from what we are used to, not to mention that it has three different alphabets!
Therefore, regardless of your current level, it is essential to test your proficiency in the Japanese language. We have prepared a very intuitive quiz for you to assess your skills in this language. Shall we get started? Let's go!
Quiz
Quiz :
Why Is It Important to Take a Japanese Proficiency Test?
If you have ever studied a foreign language, you know how proficiency exams can be an important tool for measuring your mastery of a language objectively and consistently. Sometimes, simply “feeling” that you are making progress is not enough: it is necessary to assess different skills such as vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening comprehension. After all, only when we know exactly what our weaknesses are can we improve and map our progress!
In Japanese, as with any other language, assessing your level is essential for learning strategically. By making a clear diagnosis, you can adapt your resources and approach to learning the language, increasing your efficiency and focusing on your gaps.
The Japanese language uses three writing systems simultaneously: Hiragana (native words, grammar), Katakana (foreign words, onomatopoeia), and Kanji (main meaning of the word).
In addition, certifying your Japanese language proficiency can open doors not only academically but also professionally. How? Through exchange programs, scholarships, or Japanese companies that use these tests as a reference for recruiting and evaluating candidates. Even if you have no intention of working in Japan, having a Japanese language certificate can be proof of your discipline, commitment, and, of course, linguistic ability, qualities that are valued in many fields.
Official Japanese Language Proficiency Test
When it comes to Japanese language proficiency certificates, the benchmark exam is undoubtedly the JLPT. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test - 日本語能力試験, nihongo nōryoku shiken is a qualification test created in the 1980s to assess and certify Japanese proficiency for non-native speakers of the language. This exam has become so popular that in 2008, the Japanese government announced that it would start using the JLPT for foreigners who wish to obtain a residence or long-term visa.
All instructions on the JLPT are written in Japanese, and the exam has five levels, from N1 to N5. The exam is divided into 3 sections and is structured as follows:
| Level | Section I of the Exam (Duration) | Section II of the Exam (Duration) | Section III of the Exam (Duration) | Total Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | Vocabulary / Grammar Reading and interpretation (110 min) | - | Oral comprehension (60 min) | 170 min |
| N2 | Vocabulary / Grammar Reading and interpretation (105 min) | - | Oral comprehension (50 min) | 155 min |
| N3 | Vocabulary (30 min) | Grammar Reading and interpretation (70 min) | Oral comprehension (40 min) | 140 min |
| N4 | Vocabulary (30 min) | Grammar Reading and interpretation (60 min) | Oral comprehension (35 min) | 125 min |
| N5 | Vocabulary (25 min) | Grammar Reading and interpretation (50 min) | Oral comprehension (30 min) | 105 min |
“I Hate Formal Exams. How Can I Test My Japanese in Real Life?”
Okay, foreign language exams aren't for everyone. Some people hate taking exams and avoid them like the plague, preferring more practical methods. The good news is that there are ways to test your proficiency level in everyday life. Although less rigorous, these approaches are more spontaneous than a traditional exam:
- Talk to a native speaker, face to face or over the phone
- Watch movies, TV shows, anime, and videos in Japanese, gradually turning off the subtitles
- Read news, articles, books, or any other text in Japanese
- Write a diary or exchange messages with a native speaker
- Play games in Japanese
For these tips to work, it is essential to pay attention to your own performance and gradually increase the difficulty level. A useful tip: establish your own evaluation criteria to measure your performance—communication efficiency, fluency, speed, adaptation, comprehension, etc.—and use a scale (from 1 to 5, for example) to self-assess.
Academic Skills vs. Real Proficiency
As with many other languages—especially those with a different alphabet that are more difficult to assimilate—the main focus of learning naturally falls on the theoretical and academic aspects. For example, knowledge of specific grammar rules, recognition and reading of kanji, standard and neutral vocabulary, or writing formal texts.
However, to be as effective as possible, language learning must take place in its four dimensions: reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking. The latter two components are particularly important: often, the content and opportunities to practice speaking skills are in a formal and controlled context, which does not always correspond to real-life situations.
Real proficiency corresponds to what happens outside the classroom: conversations at faster speeds and with abbreviations and jargon, dialogues with different cadences and accents, in very informal contexts, etc. In real situations, there is no time to “think about grammar,” and it is necessary to deal with more informal vocabulary and grammatical structures.
As such, it is crucial to balance a solid theoretical and formal foundation with real proficiency that allows you to feel confident in understanding and expressing yourself spontaneously in real-life situations.
How Can I Improve My Japanese Level?
“I've discovered my Japanese level, now what?” If you are already familiar with the Japanese language but don't know how to proceed to progress in your learning journey, it is best to draw up an action plan to start improving your Japanese language skills right away. The following tips may help you on this journey:
- 🏋🏽♂️ Practice regularly: Regardless of your approach, it is essential to devote enough hours per week to learning Japanese. This number varies depending on your level and goals, among other factors. Regular contact with the language is essential, and total immersion would be ideal.
- 📚 Choose the right resources: Whether it's online content or textbooks, it's important to choose resources that are suited to your level and learning style. It's easy to get lost in the abundance of videos, podcasts, grammar guides, textbooks, and other Japanese content out there, so take some time to find the right resources for you.
- 👩🏻🏫 Take courses or private lessons: Yes, it is possible to learn Japanese on your own more or less independently, especially if you have the discipline and the right resources (as we saw above). But keep in mind that having the help of a language teacher is usually a more proactive and effective approach when it comes to language learning. The good news is that on Superprof, you can easily find a Japanese teacher who is right for you!
- 🎯 Set goals: Let's be honest, learning Japanese is not an easy task, let alone a quick one. Therefore, having clear and achievable goals is the key to staying motivated in the long run on this journey! Check frequently to see if you are meeting your goals, and adjust them as necessary.
Good luck!
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