The JLP... what?

Before I left Japan for my summer holiday in America, I registered for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The JLPT is offered once a year, but is really the definitive tool to gauge (or prove) your abilities in Japanese. The test is somewhat expensive and covers a span of 4 levels (4 being the lowest, 1 the highest). Therefore, when registration forms were due at the end of August last year (less than a month after moving here), I made the decision to forego taking the exam the first time in order to give myself ample time to study and get more colloquial Japanese under my belt (so I could just take a higher level the next year). Makes sense, ne?

Well, time flies and somehow “next year” is already here. The good news is that we took a practice test in Japanese class last night and I was very comfortable with the material on the lowest test (I’m sure there’s still more to learn, but I have a foundation there and could definitely pass without much studying). The bad news is that I am signed up for a higher level. I wanted to challenge myself a bit and thought it would provide motivation to study. Somehow I neglected to realize, though, that the study period (basically needed to pass this beast) would conflict with my application period (basically needed to, well, get into school). I think it might be better to study for the higher test when I can (it’s the kanji, or Chinese characters, that I am most concerned about) but see if I can still switch to level 4… I’ll let you know what happens, though.

On the subject of tests of strength within a language, I also have some very good news! While I have heard rumors that my school once participated in speech contests (years ago & through a local Rotary Club sponsorship), there has not been further involvement in those sorts of activities.... until now! I am happy to tell yo that one of my second years, "Mass", entered a speech contest and was accepted! We spent a lot of time working on his speech (about Animal Rights and P.E.T.A.) and pronunciation the first week I got back to Japan, but he was so nervous about entering. I am so proud of him. Of course this means that we have more preparation ahead of us (the best school in the area is hosting the event although I don’t know what his competition will be), but more than anything, I am excited that my school is once again getting involved in speech contests.
The contest will be held the same day as our Charity Halloween party (first event!), Nozaki Sensei and I just got tickets to go to a Noh play in Osaka that week, I am helping with a kids Halloween party the same weekend and it’s the weekend before my first applications are due... so I am sure it will be a busy period for me. At the same time, I feel like I’m also investing in really worthwhile, meaningful enterprises and I am looking forward to it.