Japanese Guy Tries JLPT N1

[@ThatJapaneseManYuta]

Learn Japanese with Yuta: bit.ly/38AZbdX

[@franciscodelico]

Yuta-san, I signed up and didn't realize the emails were landing on my spam folder, and now I can't see most of the lessons as they were automatically deleted. Is there a way to start over with the same email? I will be more careful next time!

[@claudiuscaesar]

Hey, I signed up to your email group before, but as someone who is around N1 level I thought it was a bit too basic for me. Do you have content for more advanced learners? If so how would I go about accessing that? I think there are a lot of people like me who read and write relatively well and and who have a large vocabulary, but who have trouble holding a "normal" conversation because spoken Japanese is so different from written Japanese...

[@happybattle26]

I want to become fluent in Japanese. I know some of basic words and grammars but I'm having difficult time during impromptu conversation. Hopefully I can afford your lecture because I'm jobless right now.

[@sigmareaver680]

Dude you look good with the longer hair.... Or should I say? 「長い髪のほうがいいとおもうんだなー」？Actually don't know how to say long ER, nor do I guarantee my output is even remotely shizen.

[@oamioxmocliox8082]

;)

[@artboy598]

JLPT N1 should be you’re locked in a room with an angry Osaka obaachan and you have to convince her to hand you the key by improving her mood using your Japanese skills

[@SystemBD]

I hope bribery is not allowed, because if she is from Osaka, that would be the first thing I would try.

[@1337hacks]

You also have to praise her leopard print clothes and she has to be convinced you are sincere.

[@clairemadeinheaven]

Down bad

[@InternetXplorer]

angry Osaka obaachan -> オバタリアン 😅

[@SamPearman]

No but see I would totally pass that because I live in Kansai and speak almost exclusively slangy Kansai-ben. I don't think I would pass N1.

[@japanesefunnyshorts8584]

9:39 - "If you actually know Japanese and have average Japanese comprehension skills, you should be able to pass JLPT N1" - famous last words before I took the test 😂

[@saliferousstudios]

Yeah..... lol. No. I have dyslexia. I can hold decent japanese conversation, but at this point I doubt I'll ever be able to pass the jlpt.

[@sweaty6158]

Don't worry, I study at an actual Japanese college and even my classmates got stuck on quite a few questions when I showed them the test. They passed of course but didn't get all questions right. Yuta getting 180/180 and saying it's normal is probably just him being modest haha

[@clazzo6231]

@@sweaty6158 Yeah he's megamind

[@uchuuseijin]

@@sweaty6158 there are harder and easier versions of the test. The test is scaled, so the more easy questions there are, the more you need to pass, and the harder the questions are, the more points they give. It's entirely possible Yuta did an easier version and assuming your friends all had problems with the same question, they might be failing on the high-score question. In fact, there are people who got questions wrong and still lgot 180/180 on the real test because they got extra points from getting a hard question right

[@kentozapater8972]

%1 QATAR GUY

[@user-gl8lp8hw2k]

日本語上手ですね

[@Sapphire_Jack]

so happy to see this meme lives on lol

[@vitotigani]

🤣

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

Bravo, bravo.

[@thoru4367]

ダメだねだめよ ダメだねだめよ

[@lainiwakura1776]

I would hope so, he is a native Japanese person.

[@krowkovtuber]

i love how he goes straight into the topic without annoying intros. plus no background music is PERFECT!

[@tntkit]

fancy seeing u here krowko

[@krowkovtuber]

@@tntkit oh hi there uwu

[@cybr88]

omg hi krowko

[@qtcollect4608]

that's cause he's already popular, you can't blame those guys for doing what works.

[@kassyyar97]

Not only JLPT, many japanese language books feel like they were made in the 80’s instead of at least 2010’s. Even my teacher said that they still use words, expressions and vocabulary extremely outdated 😅

[@BicyclesMayUseFullLane]

inb4 they test チョベリバ because "that's what a 17-year-old would say".

[@kassyyar97]

@Mateusz I dont know, I am not from the US so my guess is that the school doesnt feel the need to have recent books? But I dont know why Its the same case with english books in Japan/other countries anyway, the english they teach is very out of touch with today’s lingo

[@DavidCruickshank]

They still teach ESL speakers "it's raining cat and dogs" as if anyone still uses that phrase 😅

[@lainiwakura1776]

@Mateusz Slang and certain expressions go out of usage and new slang and phrases come into rotation. It happens as new generations grow up and you see it happening really fast on the Internet, where memes quickly come and go often within a couple of weeks.

[@KazukiP]

@Mateusz if a language book was made in the 80s, it would be using 70s-80s vocabulary and also keep in mind that back then but regardless of the language used, the ideas of what is relevant learn a language and the best techniques were not what they are today, for example; no one now a-days would ask "where is the nearest phone box?" but you might find something like that in an older book, so its not just about the language being older but also the culture and topics of the book. Hope that helps! :) I remember having a book in school (In the 2010s) that was from the 70s or 80s and it used the N-word to describe black people! Our teachers had gone through every book and scored it out but I definitely think it should've just had the page taken out entirely

[@pandaman1331]

My Japanese professor once told me that he passed N1 after his first two years before he's even done his exchange year. He didn't even understand half of the content but he was very good at guessing the right answers.

[@XymnalaSylph]

Answering tests can be done without specific knowledge of material, and can be a skill all in itself. If anything, the biggest thing multiple choice tests do is test your reading ability mostly, since often many of the choices are completely ludicrous.

[@MisterL777]

I passed N2 in Japan, and while it doesn't seem too difficult for many people, most people in the exam room actually failed. I studied specifically before passing the test (a few months) via textbooks, and it certainly helped because many expressions are actually not so common even though every native speaker understands them : you can spend a lot of time without coming across them "organically", much less often enough to remember them as a non native speaker. When you look into the JLPT material in detail you'll also find kanji you don't consider so common in maybe N3 level whereas some of the N1 kanjis would seem more widespread in daily usage, which is funny.

[@aa-fi9ks]

Hello, might i ask what textbooks you used for n2 and n3?

[@MisterL777]

@@aa-fi9ks I used "nihongo so-matome" (grammar, there are other ones but I felt like this was the most important for me) N2 and N1 (just to be a little "ahead" for N2) and did all the exercices. I didn't pass anything before N3 so I don't know about those.

[@MrTripsJ]

is the 50% the pass rate? Im thinking of doing N2 in July then preparing seriously for the December exam

[@aa-fi9ks]

@@MisterL777 thanks a lot!

[@aleksanderzarzeczny2155]

@@aa-fi9ks hi, I also took N2 this July and I used both Sou Matome and Shin Kanzen Mater. In my opinion, Sou Matome won't get you near the passing score, or you will pass... barely. Unless you do N1 just like Scroubignon did. Shin Kanzen Master will prepare you better for this exam, but keep in mind you should practise your reading seperately because textbooks aren't enough. You need to read as easily and quickly as you read in your native language, otherwise you won't answer all questions in time.

[@user-gl8lp8hw2k]

watching the "japanese people would struggle with the jlpt" myth get taken apart always makes me happy

[@sweaty6158]

I think it's just that Yuta is better at Japanese than the average person, I showed some N1 sample questions to my classmates and even they got some wrong. No one would struggle to pass of course, but everyone would struggle to get absolutely 100% right.

[@Xezlec]

Yeah, seeing people who fail make excuses instead of studying harder really disgusts me. I mean come on. Lots of people pass... what makes them different? It's like all the kids these days who make excuses and bellyache on reddit when they fail embarrassingly easy interview screening questions in my field. They could only fail those questions if they've never made anything more than the most pitifully casual and superficial attempt to learn about the subject!

[@gewdvibes]

@@Xezlec I agree somewhat but also OK boomer

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

Show it to an average japanese person... I witnessed a few struggle with it when I was there!

[@kwicksandz]

Somebody whos job is a japanese language teacher is not a good random sample for this kind of test. i wanna see a overworked salary man who doesnt speak a lick of english try it.

[@minsukim2433]

Japanese native speakers can pass easily JLPT N1 test. JLPT N1 is estimated CEFR B2-C1 level. If you want to be Japanese native C2 level, try BJT test. BJT test is harder than JLPT.

[@totalmadnesman]

Thank you for clarification, I was wondering what Europe level it was lol.

[@alukuhito]

Nobody knows that test though. Everyone knows JLPT.

[@spytastic]

BJT is for business Japanese though. I'd rather say to pursue something like Kanken, unless you want to learn Business Japanese.

[@flowerdolphin5648]

@@spytastic But Kanken is only testing Kanji. Yes, it's hard, but Kanji is not all of Japanese.

[@bodo887]

B2-C1 is absolut bullshit xD JLPT 1 doesn't qualify you for any particular level, it just guarantees the person who passed it can read and understand Japanese enough to start studying at university or work in a Japanese speaking environment without bigger issues. Now, the individual level of each student who passed the test can be very different. There are many Chinese who pass the test easily because they understand the Kanji and just practice the testing patterns but they can hardly hold a conversation in spoken Japanese. So JLPT really is nothing else but a certificate to show that you have enough (written) Japanese knowledge to study at university or to get a job. Nothing more and nothing less. (But that's all you can expect from multiple choice testing)

[@Figgy5119]

I think for Japanese learners it's more an issue of time management. It's hard to go through the test fast unless, like you said you are a person who potentially knows all the Japanese that can occur on the test, so often it's easy to make mistakes when trying to rush, particularly in reading when you try to skim read to go quickly.

[@filipe2338]

From my experience, I think the time they give is pretty accurate. If you really have that level of Japanese, the time is just right. If you are better than that level, you'll have time to spare. If you are below that level, either you won't have enough time, or you'll skip several questions

[@Figgy5119]

@@filipe2338 which goes to show that it's not a great test of skill level. Certainly if you pass it without struggle than you fit the criteria, but having a challenging time on the test, getting barely above half right...that's also considered a pass and therefore the same level as that really good person. :/

[@Gyokan7]

@@Figgy5119 Which is why if you plan on taking one you have to prepare exactly for it, not just study in general. Actually get wordbooks that follow the JLPT problem structure - it's pretty annoying

[@filipe2338]

@@Figgy5119 I agree. For example, I find it very weird that you have to more or less know what level you are before actually taking the test, even though you are taking the test precisely to know how fluent you are... But that aside, the timing is OK

[@WaaDoku]

@@Figgy5119 There's still a test score to compare but the certificate doesn't show it so... I guess you're right.

[@malenalucero6473]

The worst part about the listening test is that there's no time to think, the track ends and you're supposed to write your answer right away

[@malenalucero6473]

@Memes Seriales You can't hear it twice here, that's another bad thing about it. I wish we could hear it twice

[@ajc94]

Yep I took N2 and you could only hear the audio once. It was mad, I think it's actually pretty unfair

[@malenalucero6473]

@@ajc94 I think so too. Instead of testing your listenings skills, they test how fast your brain can switch from topic to unrelated topic without getting distracted for a second

[@malenalucero6473]

@Soyel Yeah, taking notes in japanese is super easy

[@YameRih]

@Soyel Actually taking notes would make me missed a lot of things they’re saying and missed the whole question. So I prefer to take notes as little as possible and try to remember it on my own.

[@Asahi380]

As a Japanese learner (and teacher for almost 4 years), I am totally agree that passing the N1 (or any kind of test) doesn't mean you can speak with native people. The thing is, N1 mainly focused on vocabulary and most of them are rarely seen in the common communications or passages. The gramma itself is close to N2 but overall harder because those uncommon vocabulary. So passing the N1 only means "you have the skill and knowledge reserve" instead of "you can speak Japanese fluently", not even close to "you know what normal people would say". When communicating with native speakers, the first thing we need to know is how to speak out your first word since even "すみません" has so many kind of usages. And I'm sure there's no test will ask you what's the difference between "薄めだし" and "割り下" (even Chinese students can't tell because we don't use the kanji in this way), or what "ちぎりパン" means. They're so much easier than any language test after you know them. But it takes courages and years and years of practice.

[@mystique-boyoi]

日本人ですが、割り下という言葉を知りませんでした😂

[@yo2trader539]

@@mystique-boyoi すき焼き？

[@mystique-boyoi]

@@yo2trader539 Maybe...?

[@Tzadeck]

I passed JLPT N1 a decade ago, and still have mediocre Japanese skills. Anyone who thinks this test poses any difficultly to a native Japanese speaker is fooling themselves. Thanks, Yuta, for actually showing this with video evidence, haha.

[@CarlosKoji87]

I took the JLPT N2 and passed, but I can never get over how they test you on the exam. I feel like a lot of the sentences just test you on how you use the English word, but in Japanese as you said. I think you should definitely have a look at the 日本語検定 which is made for Japanese people. It's a much more practical and realistic look at how language is actually used in Japan.

[@AllenTsuna]

Passing JLPT N1 doesn't mean you're fluent at all. I've seen people that passed N1 and stuttered like no tomorrow when speaking, but then saw people that "only" passed N3 and spoke pretty fluently. I myself haven't studied for JLPT from the beginning, and that won't change. JLPT is something you should consider if you want to work or go to uni in Japan, but if all you want is to learn japanese, don't bother really.. Or at least don't expect studying according to the JLPT alone will make you fluent, there's more to becoming fluent at utilizing a language than just cramming knowledge into your brain.. I guess it does help with reading though, so if you're into reading manga or light novels, then by all means. I still think there are more efficient ways to learn even if that's your only goal, though.

[@natsukijones1759]

This. I know so many people who have n3 and can't even put a sentence together. I recently found a friend of mine who I thought was n5 has actually passed her N2 . I've never taken a jlpt and people are surprised i can speak so well

[@viniciuslima1311]

@@natsukijones1759 about reading, what do you recommend for beginners?. In my case, I've already studied Hiragana and Katakana

[@viniciuslima1311]

about reading, what do you recommend for beginners?. In my case, I've already studied Hiragana and Katakana

[@AllenTsuna]

@@viniciuslima1311 Give crunchy nihongo a try, they have small stories written fully in hiragana/katakana and it's cut up in paragraphs.

[@RetroSnoop]

For someone who has N2, I agree with you but studying for N3 isn't exactly going to hurt your Japanese, it has a lot of fundamental Japanese you need to know.

[@spellbunny]

i was surprised the N1 test had furigana on simple kanji names like yamashita

[@jaquelinerg4919]

THIS, MAN!

[@name3583]

Yuta, can the Japanese write fast what someone dictates? For example, if a student records what the teacher dictates, can he write quickly?

[@badsocks756]

Wondering this too, I suppose it depends on how much Kanji (and which ones) they decide to write out vs just writing them in hiragana (????)

[@bobfranklin2572]

No idea what you're trying to ask

[@juncheok8579]

If its anything like Chinese, symbols can be used for short forms, I also assume using hiragana instead of kanji helps

[@name3583]

@@bobfranklin2572 You have to learn and memorize thousands of kanji. Some kanji are complicated to write. This of course will take a lot of time. Also, sometimes you forgot to write kanji for some words, even Japanese people forget too. So how are you going to quickly write down the information someone conveys? Sometimes someone even talks a bit fast.

[@bobfranklin2572]

@@name3583 I mean, I'm not sure what your intitial question is asking. Starting with a explanation of the Japanese writing system isn't helping

[@MaxDCapo]

Never thought I would watch someone do something as boring as taking a test... and enjoy watching it😂

[@usagination]

Max you should try it too 🤣

[@MaxDCapo]

@@usagination maybe I’ll take TOEIC as an English speaker haha

[@りんご-q7r1i]

As a native Japanese, those questions are not easy because most of answers for questions are more likely learn in an actual life situation, not from a textbook! I probably will cry while taking it especially if it is not a first language…huge respect for people who will take that exam 🥲🤞

[@holliswilliams8426]

taking language tests when it's not your first language can be really intimidating

[@BubblegumKoi]

@@holliswilliams8426 yup, 'cause you don't wanna fuck up then feel like a failure 🙃

[@Paragoti]

I was actually too dumb to realize that you were supposed to take notes during the listening section until it was too late...I barely managed to pass the N1 with 105 points 😅

[@maar2001]

How long did it tske for you to reach from N5 to N1?

[@Paragoti]

@@maar2001 This was my first (and final) JLPT exam. I've been learning Japanese for over 10 years now.

[@BubblegumKoi]

@@Paragoti w o w . I only know basic sentence structure @-@

[@pendragnx]

watching Yuta-san's will to live slowly fade during the test was relatable

[@hajarjourhlala830]

I'm struggling with N5 😂😂. I'm a beginner in Japanese 🤓

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

Shoot for N3

[@yum.47]

i was struggling with it too, until i've started to study N4. now when i look back at N5 it feels like it's nothing but a piece of cake lol. i guess that always happens when you improve and get yourself used to handle harder stuff.

[@o0...957]

I passed N5 with 157/180 marks this year. Full marks in listening section🙂

[@hajarjourhlala830]

well done, hope I'll do fine too.

[@hajarjourhlala830]

@@yum.47 you're right 👍

[@yoanjapan6751]

Thanks! This video really demystifies N1. It's usually perceived by foreigners as this legendary Japanese level even out of reach of native speakers when in fact it brings you to the level of proficiency of an average high school student... You can get it guys!!

[@bm1259]

i feel like any person that isnt learning solely through textbooks would understand this almost after reading an actual book or two

[@user-gl8lp8hw2k]

if you're taking the n1 you are probably not even comparable to a high school student proficiency-wise to be honest

[@harrynsonhidalgo3906]

Well, a high school student has being taking lessons on most aspects of the language for about a decade, so many of them are actually at the peak of their life level of understanding of it.... so sorry, but no. JLPT won't get you even close to it. That being said, after high school people would gradually start to forget the aspects of the language are of no use to them, hence you get your occasional Japanese adult that fails some questions of N2....

[@AkamiChannel]

@@bm1259 Not really. I've been in Japan the last 10 years and was probably N2 about 8 years ago. The stuff on N1 almost never comes up in ordinary conversation, and it will from time-to-time come up in books. To put it in perspective, I learned 3000 N1 vocab words from a book, then went to go read and see how much I recognized. In 40 minutes of reading (I had the audio book and physical book in front of me), I came across 1 word from my studies. Granted, that was unlucky. Usually in 30 minutes of reading at my pace I will come across 2-10 words from the several thousand N1 words I have studied in the last few months. 8 years of talking in Japan with girlfriend and daily life etc. did not propel me from N2 to N1. You probably have to do a lot of deliberate study. 300 hours of reading is probably not enough if you're only reading. Even 100 hours of studying might be enough if done strategically, but the info will be forgotten later. Over 3 months I did probably 200 hours of study, mainly with textbooks devoted to N1, and improved my N1 practice exam score by about 15% and passed a practice exam a few days ago with a 110 score.

[@user-gl8lp8hw2k]

@@AkamiChannel somewhat late response but congratulations on your pass. the thing is that there's far more utility to Japanese than everyday conversation. this applies not only to Japanese but also to every language.

[@hori166]

The Japanese only test for passive knowledge, i.e. reading, listening, and grammar. Almost nobody takes the writing and speaking portions of the TOEIC which requires actual communicative ability. The other thing is, the purpose of tests in Japan is not to indicate mastery but to separate winners from losers. This is a tradition inherited from the ancient Chinese civil service system, where candidates seeking government positions would be asked about obscure poets. It has nothing to do with management or organizational skills. You see this manifest in college graduates who often wind up in jobs outside their majors.

[@bleach.for.my.eyes.]

I don't like Listening Comprehensions either, they're just so boring haha - thanks for the video, it was very interesting to hear about the JLPT from a native speaker's point of view.

[@daintygamer]

Yeah it was struggle for me same as Yutas because your brain wants to switch off but you have to keep it at full capacity for an hour even though it's the easiest part of the test

[@flowerdolphin5648]

I always liked listening comprehension for higher levels (not Japanese). They tended to use actual recordings of real podcasts or radio shows or sth. I always found them pretty interesting.

[@bleach.for.my.eyes.]

@@flowerdolphin5648 We had those real recordings too, I still hated them tho because it makes me uncomfortable if I can't see the person talking - but good for you if you found them interesting! :)

[@flowerdolphin5648]

@@bleach.for.my.eyes. oh, I understand. I don't have that issue with listening comprehensions, bc I still have a connected visual (the questions) to look at, but I don't like phone calls for that exact reason.

[@0zone247]

Jlpt N5 listening compre was so fast an unnatural. they were speaking in 2x

[@JSharpie]

Hire Anime Voice actors to make Listening Section more enjoyable.

[@TheJoshuaAstray]

I learn Japanese for roughly half a year and then score 120/180 in the JLPT-N2 test. However, when I visited Japan, I found myself unable to communicate with ordinary Japanese people because I cannot properly speak Japanese. Although I can read Japanese, I really struggle to put those Japanese vocabulary into a sentence. Guess no speaking and writing tests is a huge flaw for the JLPT system to evaluate one's Japanese level.

[@ThatJapaneseManYuta]

That's impressive but would you say you optimised your learning for tests instead of real-life communication?

[@kiradus]

then i would recommend yuta's E-mail group where you learn the kind of Japanese, japanese people actually use xD

[@gv.a.n9055]

I think it's not surprising to struggle at the begging. When you don't have daily communication with native speakers. It's actually manageable, because human brain adapts pretty fast, if you know the language, a little practice will and you'll be able speak pretty decently. I'm speaking from experience, some people even forget native language while living abroad for a long tome and struggle to find appropriate words when getting back, or trying to speak their mother tongue. In my opinion it's only natural for non native speaker to take their time while adjusting to a new linguistic environment 😁

[@kazemaru6133]

Thats a problem with every language. You can learn languages passively (reading, listening, understanding) and actively (speaking, thinking). Most adult learners have trouble with the latter one because adults are afraid of failure and embarassement. Thats why children learn faster. Just keep going, make mistakes, learn from them and immerse yourself :)

[@MrCmagik]

For the listening it reminds me when I passed an english test. Got high mark on reading, comprehension, grammar etc. Then there was the listening part which had 4 sections, short quick sentence, unformal sentence, formal sentence, long story. I nailed the 3 first and almost failed the last one. I still remember, it was the story of misses Watson which had an appointement, but it got canceled, while going back home she met a friend, then something else happened, and something else happened. "Misses Watson first appointment was at, 2pm, or 4pm?" ... how am I suppose to remember, like she changed her schedule 50 times in 2mins

[@spoddie]

I failed TOIEC, I'm a native English speaker

[@lainiwakura1776]

You're not going to do well on it if you don't have a high reading comprehension. If you tested well on standardized testing in school, this test looks like a breeze.

[@farisfuad4679]

Is that possible? 😂

[@Xezlec]

*glances at comma splice* Yep. That checks out.

[@spoddie]

@@IcyTorment If they ask the meaning of "literally" you're going to fail.

[@revontulet]

I took N1 about..8 years ago? Pretty much when it came out. I wasn’t confident in any of my answers expect for listening and passed. Not a pro at Japanese but a pro at multiple choice I guess!

[@babyryoga]

Why not try 日本語検定1級？ I think that is the most difficult japanese language test (that isn't focused specifically on Kanji)

[@moyga]

Of course it's easy for Yuta to quickly read the passages and judge which answer is slightly more correct when there are two answers that are both correct. There are no words in the passage that he doesn't know and he has native level understanding of the nuance of all the words and grammar. For most test takers, there will be some words they dont know and they wont have native level understanding of the nuance of everything. Imagine trying to answer those questions while not knowing some of the words in the reading. You can easily waste a ton of time agonising over one question like that, then you feel stressed and it makes it harder to do the rest of the test. It's extremely exaughsting. If he felt tired imagine how learners feel. There are a lot of problems with the JLPT, but you still have to put in a collosal amount of time and effort to get a good score on N1, especially if you don't enjoy studying and it doesn't come quickly to you or you have some disadvantages.

[@alukuhito]

I knew this guy who refused to do the JLPT any level. His excuse was that it doesn't test real Japanese. My thought about that is: If it's so useless, pass N1 first, then talk. Personally, I don't think he could pass N1, and maybe not even N2. He often goes on about how good his Japanese is, but whenever I hear him speak, he struggles even with easy stuff. He makes mistakes with pretty basic Japanese all the time. Yes, he can get by. Yes, he understands a lot of what he hears, and even can read a little, but he's nowhere near as good as he thinks he is. I think he purposely avoids the JLPT and ANY Japanese test because he knows he won't do well. He doesn't want an actual objective outside source telling him about his Japanese level.

[@rsmith02]

I think he's right though. You can take the same time and instead apply it to literature, learning words and grammar you need for work, doing practice translations, etc. I took a N2 course and just stopped showing up for school at the end as it was so dull and largely irrelevant (though some grammar was useful). I did pass the practice test. I now work in Japan (not teaching English).

[@jackphillips6742]

@@rsmith02 Been a week or so, chiming in to agree with you. Non-natives in any language are almost harmed by the over focus on route learning for a specific test. A better test is an interview with an employer that goes over what they want skills and knowledge wise. Especially since many fields require jargon. On a personal note, I when I worked with with native Japanese in Tokyo, communication was easy and I benefitted from real spoken japanese, but my writing abilities are borderline N5. If my company had to hire me based on a written test I would have failed, but at no point on the job was written japanese actually used.

[@bulbasaurjpg]

but he’s right. the JLPT doesn’t test speaking anyway, plus you have no way to know how good his comprehension is. there are a lot of people who are heritage speakers that can understand a language but not speak. not to say that your friend is on that level, but speaking is not necessarily an indicator of language level

[@alukuhito]

@@bulbasaurjpg He's wrong. He has an attitude problem. He thinks he's above the exam. If you met the guy, you'd understand his avoiding attitude. He wants to be a translator and he constantly talks about how good he is at Japanese, yet he's afraid to take the JLPT. He knows he'll fail. That's why. Even though the JLPT isn't perfect, and misses speaking, it's still considered the standard Japanese test for non-Japanese people, and for practical reasons, especially if you want to be a translator, it's extremely useful to be able to show an employer than you have N2 or N1. I've spent a lot of time with him. My guess is that he is about N3. He comprehends some things, but not nearly as much as he thinks.

[@rsmith02]

​@@alukuhito Why doesn't the employer just have him do a live translation instead of a semi-relevant test? The only point I see is to weed out obviously unqualified people without work experience that would demonstrate ability. I had employees do writing in interviews with me as well as sample speeches (we're all native English speakers doing English so it wasn't a language test but rather proof of skill vs how good you tell me you are).

[@oceanstaiga5928]

Reading comprehension tests can be so random sometimes. In a Cambridge English exam I took there was one about dinosaurs but they names all of them by names, it was terrible to remember the details for specific dinosaurs that weren’t your typical known ones in a foreign language lol

[@enoshika7947]

That sounds hard lol

[@uchuuseijin]

This is a trick question. For these kinds of questions, you can replace the names in your head with A, B, C, D, etc. The questions will be like "does A eat X?", and even if you don't know what A and X mean, you can understand the answer from the reading.

[@bodo887]

The boring part in the listening comprehension I can totally get. I had the same problem, where I knew the answer but then they just kept repeating the dialog so long that I didn't pay attention when the new question started xD

[@MrBobylenoob]

Happened to me too and I literally fell asleep for like 2-3 minutes before jolting. I thought that was because after years of studying, I was getting bored of tests and couldn't stay as focused as before but seems like it doesn't happen only to me.

[@rayjin7448]

As a recent n4 passer. Looking at the N1 test, I had already failed. 😢 Because I haven't even memorized most n4 and n5 kanji.

[@WaaDoku]

I have trouble reading texts fast in any language. That's why I failed when I tried a JLPT test because I couldn't finish reading the texts in time, let alone answering the context-specific questions.

[@RosavaDo]

When I took N4 for the first time, I wasn't ready for the listening comprehension at all! I'm still surprised how I got more than half of the right answers. I liked reading though. It's my favourite part in any foreign language test.

[@abelpf]

When I started learning German a few years ago it was the listening comprehension section that slowed me down. I don't know, It started ok but suddenly I couldn't keep up with it anymore (and it was just A1 to A2 level). I need to do TOEFL/IELTS this year and probably the hardest part is the writing section as I never really practiced how to write essays in english...

[@mavsworld1733]

It's multiple choice. If you answer randomly you will get 25%.

[@RosavaDo]

@@mavsworld1733 it was too fast for me then ) Most dialogues I had listened before were very slow. And test audios were played on the normal speed with small pauses. So I couldn't get what is happening in the audio )

[@spicynoodles1754]

i personally feel like listening one is just testing our patience, whenever i do it i feel sleepy and just want to give up half way even though i know that i can finish them all :D

[@janey4319]

"Random Japanese guy"... is a Japanese teacher.

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Yeah he's selling himself a bit short here lol. His Japanese ability is probably far higher than most other people so it's not a useful comparison for anyone watching it.

[@NuttachaiTipprasert]

I just took the N1 test last week and this is so relatable. The listening part was so damn boring and I almost fell asleep halfway through. They are unnecessarily long and the test was more like it intended to test your memory skill than listening just like you said.

[@jokeradk]

Hey congrats for the N1, say I know it's weird to ask, especially on a youtube comment, but are you interested in translating manga?

[@turtlepenguinXkizuna]

I laughed irl at “they’re just testing my memory, I’m not good at remembering things” Yuta, darling, ALL tests are just tests on remembering things 😂

[@Nekotaku_TV]

That's not what he meant, he meant remembering what was being said, not about the language rules. Those are two different things.

[@turtlepenguinXkizuna]

@@Nekotaku_TV I am very well aware of what he meant, it was just the phrasing that entertained me… six months ago

[@kageyamareijikun]

180/180 what the.... I barely scraped through! You triggered my PTSD Yuta

[@phen-themoogle7651]

Being at home and taking it compared to being at the exam site is way different..I didn't notice him filling in the circle/bubbles, he just circled the problems and took a few tries on a few of the harder ones. If it was the real test and he tried erasing his answers maybe the scantron thing wouldn't pick it up correctly, it's kinda like he filled in two of the circles on one problem. I feel like he would've gotten 178/180 or if he's lucky 180/180 at the exam site too. Also at home not sure if he did anything sketchy like re-listen to the listening section because it was too boring and he didn't hear parts the first time...he was probably honest but it could be just easier because he was more comfortable at home. And when he graded the test himself saying that maybe the jlpt is wrong or made that comment first so even if he did get something wrong he might've graded it correct for himself lol

[@nicjansen230]

Due to dyslexia, I could barely pass the reading comprehension tests in my native language. I take 5 times longer reading something, inclusing Japanese. English reading comprehension and such were a walk in the park since weren't required to be at a native level

[@aJazzyFeel]

@@diydylana3151 i also experience what you described, and for me that was diagnosed as ADHD as well as autism. took until i'm in my mid 30s to get that diagnosis, but hey, an answer is an answer! :) don't be discouraged, just keep doing what you do and you'll be fine :)

[@skhtrm]

@@diydylana3151 ADHD? not exactly a reading disorder but constantly having to reread lines is not uncommon for people with ADHD

[@nicjansen230]

@@diydylana3151 As far as I'm aware, it sounds like dyslexia. Are there many other types of reading disorder? I know a lot about types of Autism and other disorders related to information processing, but specifically reading disorders...?

[@henriquehubner7216]

I have ADD, and Vyvanse made my score on N1 Reading 36. My last score was 16, and I didn't even study. That's a bizarre difference.

[@an_impasse]

@@nicjansen230 For academics, typically austism is actually very in favour. Dunno where you read about that...

[@meetthemasters754]

"110 minutes. Seems too long.." Meanwhile.. ***Random Gaikokujin with a bathtub full of sweat looking at his watch***

[@ultraali453]

The test seems kind enough to people who are really trying to learn. The fees are also pretty low. JLCT is a clone of the JLPT (also by the embassy of Japan). It is available on more cities around the world. All the answers are infront of you. You just need to practice and discipline yourself. Wish all you guys good luck.

[@yukitty_jp]

I am native Japanese. I've only tried sample questions, but the listening part is boring, spoken slowly and long, and if I don't take notes, I forget what was said in the beginning. I've heard that a foreign friend living in Japan was refused admission to a cooking school because she had not passed the JLPT N2(It surprised me!). If you are confident in your Japanese, passing the test may be useful.

[@bobfranklin2572]

1:27 there are SO many English words that I only know because they're used in 1 or 2 extremely specific contexts or phrases. I couldn't give you a definition, ide just say "you know, like (insert phrase)".

[@SamPearman]

While this is true, a lot of native speakers don't realise that this is the case.

[@bigbodytadjp]

I failed N1 by only 2 points due to the horrible listening session. I agree. If they just made it interesting it would be much easier to remember the details. And the “memory game” aspect isn’t a real test of Japanese skill - seems more like something you’d see on a bad game show.

[@ahmadfauzanbagaskoro7642]

That JLPT moment when the announcer said 『男の人と女の人が話しています。』

[@sanponoko]

Loved hearing your small comments explaining the answers. Good for studying! 💪✨

[@JiltedValkyrie]

The N1 is super hard for native Japanese... to not fall asleep during.

[@RetroSnoop]

Yes, the JLPT doesn't actually test proficiency. I have N2 and my Japanese is pretty awful. I recommend the 完全マスター text books for the JLPT, especially the reading one. All other text book series I tried had absolutely nothing to help me pass.

[@sj4iy]

I took the JLPT N2 and I struggled on the listening the most because they don't repeat it. I was writing while listening and got completely lost.

[@JohnsonC94]

How did you get those question sheets Yuta? The last time I took the N1 test I had to hand it back to the administrator lest I get disqualified instantly.

[@12Ger13]

You must be proud Yuta, I understood every single number of every single paper sheet, yesss!!!!!

[@Iamautisticperson]

ゆたさん、一つ質問聞きたいあるです。外国人の日本語学者を勉強中として、外国人を学ぶの時、国語は日本の学校授業が必要あるですか? つまり、外国人は国語を勉強と学ぶ必要あるんですか?? 答えて下さい。失礼します。

[@Symaethis]

OMG, the hardest part for me during the JLPT test was how BORING the listening comprehension part was 🤣 I completely empathise with your there, it is SO HARD to focus when you're bored out of your mind

[@kylebrady4999]

Dude your mustache and beard look amazing!!! I haven't seen a vid of yours in a while but your facial hair is killing the game!!!

[@blvck119]

2年ぶりに動画見たんだが、Yutaさんめちゃイケメンになってる😆 髪型と髭の濃さを変えることによって、こんなにも人の印象って変わるんだな。😎

[@animationtaku6366]

I've done a bunch of n1 sample questions. It seems like middle school to early highschool level for the native speakers. The reading comprehension ones are indeed somewhat tricky, which is why I even put it that high, otherwise this seems high elementary school level

[@mdsensei8022]

This is EXACTLY what taking the N1 feels like. We just don't get anything more than a few seconds between the listening questions so you don't have time to even recall what was just said.

[@valorzinski7423]

The is intentional since you're supposed to pick a random answer for questions you cannot answer and move on to the next.

[@mdsensei8022]

@@valorzinski7423 Yes. I have an N1. Thank you.

[@Lexillios]

I have a friend from my country (india) who studied Japanese all by himself. He did take classes for 3 months but then he left them and studied on his own. He didnt really learn from books. And he passed N5 in 2017. I AM SO JEALOUS. Like super jealous. He has Japanese friends and can easily talk to them and he also has lived in japan. His ex currently lives in Japan. I'm kinda jealous. I know its not a bed of roses to learn Japanese or live in Japan, but i am kinda jealous. As I never did anything interesting or important in my life. My job is lame too and my education level is lame and i dont have any kind of talent or skill. Even Mirabel from Encanto is more special than me .-.

[@Kurufinwe_Fayanaro]

Lexillios, let's move to Japan and be lame together.

[@nirin8993]

Chill N5 is still easy it’s not really that much of a feat to pass it by self-studying, though having N5 doesn’t really mean anything in terms of getting a job/life in Japan lol. Also there are a bunch of free resources on the internet to learn from, and language exchange apps where you can talk to actual Japanese people. Its never too late if you want to learn or do anything really, just don’t give up without trying bro✌🏻

[@o0...957]

Well everyone one have things they are good or bad at. I mean even though I not doing well with my career, I managed to pass jlpt n5 this year. There are also times I see someone easily solve a problem I am struggling with, and I wonder how they even do it. For eg. My brother has lots of potential in music, I just taught him how to read guitar tabs and some simple songs, but no music theory. He improved so fast in just a year. His natural sense of rhythm and melody and how he just end up some playing chord shapes because he felt it matches the song even though he doesn't know any chords. Infact he can already come up with his own original music.

[@totally_not_a_bot]

If your education level is lame, get educated. The internet exists. You just need to buckle down and suffer through the grind.

[@WaaDoku]

Never compare yourself to others. Only compare yourself to yourself and think about the person you want to be tomorrow and strive towards it.

[@anabellik]

I actually always find the listening part the easiest. Because the language used is rather simple compared to other parts - like you said, it's mostly a question of being able to concentrate for a fairly long time. Reading on the other hand is quite difficult for me, I just think that sometimes (for some texts) the logic is different to what I'm used to as a non-Japanese person, the thoughts are presented differently, and the composition itself is just not like in Western languages texts. So it's mostly a cultural issue I think.

[@shouta1255]

This test was my bane. I had no problems conversing, reading newspapers, doing all of the signing/reading of importants, etc but I failed N1 by 1 point, twice. 😂 I was too busy to bother looking at the study materials.

[@MrTripsJ]

I've done the N2 version, I got 60-75% on most sections. So barely scraping though but heard the pass rate is 50%. I might try it out in July as a warm up, but the reading section is so brutal

[@Reon___]

Whoa you look so good with a beard. You kinda looked like a nerd before 😅

[@bjornsan]

Haven't done any JLPT but my biggest problem when studying japanese was the listening tests. I got caught up on a word that I tried to remember and then I missed the rest of the sentence. But I passed the course. I have a hard time to ignore words that I don't get right of way.

[@luckytai-lan2166]

I forgot the name of the Japanese KZbin channel but he took this same test but unlike Yuta San he did not get a perfect score. He even pointed out that, "who talks this way in Japan?"

[@cookiemagique6527]

Maybe Onomappu ?

[@kusy]

8:43 You know, JLPT N1 is like B2/C1. It's designed fairly and truly for the foreigners entering the Japanese world. A native speaker of any language is at least C2 or far beyond if you go to college.

[@agustinbarquero8898]

Native people don't have CEFR levels. They are for non natives. So, if someone is C2, they are not native and vice versa.

[@easyjapanese_learning]

I failed N1 4 times already. Usually I run out of time and still have around 10 questions left, how to improve my speed to solve the question quickly?

[@santi3574]

I think the trick is to study how to pass the test instead of studying Japanese per se. It's like those annoying bosses in old games that require specific, dumb and boring strategies that don't relate to what you actually learnt in the game. So lots of timed mocks, I guess (assuming your Japanese level is good enough already). That's how I approached the B2 First and uni tests in order to pass.

[@peterfireflylund]

Learn to read faster, maybe?

[@moyga]

How much time do you actually spend reading Japanese? Read Japanese for at least 1 hour every day and learn more words. If you are good at reading and have a big vocabulary then you can pass.

[@takummie]

For those who think you have mastered our language, try 日本語検定 lol

[@rsmith02]

Why not do something useful like subtitle a movie?

[@Sienrel]

i haven't watched yuta in a very long time. he went from yuta-oniichan to yuta-anikisama in just a hairflip maygahd (°ロ°) !

[@facundomoralesdiorio3802]

For those thinking about taking the JLPT N2 or N1 exams. If you score a 0 in your listening skill the exam counts as failed, same goes for reading. So do not thing about 100 points equals to a pass. It doesn't work that way.

[@bakuretsutenshi3579]

Very interesting video. This got me thinking about Japanese hand writing. How does peoples handwriting differ? How readable is it for others? How much Kanji do they use to write simple notes? Possible video ideas?

[@wakannnai1]

Not to discourage anyone learning English, but TOEFL and TOEIC are very easy for native English speakers. I'd estimate that most middle schoolers in the US can pass the TOEFL with relatively no difficulty. This would be the equivalent of entrance exams for Japanese students I would assume. I'd assume the N1 is in line with this. I have passed the highest level of JLPT close to a decade ago though. For most Americans (I can't comment on British or Australian Citizens), the SAT English portion of the exam is significantly more difficult compared to the TOEFL/TOEIC exam. Most American University bound students also take AP exams in addition to SATs/ACTs. A lot of students take either English Language and/or English Literature for AP, and science bound students have at least Calculus taken by the time they graduate. These tests are very challenging, and would probably be an equivalent analog for Japanese entrance exams.

[@Yutaro-Yoshii]

8:49 Agree with this part. Also, I think tests aren't always the perfect measure of how good you are at given language, especially if you're working in a niche field. I know that testing can be motivating for beginner and intermediate level learners, but after a certain level, I think immersing yourself in your field of interest becomes much more fun and effective. I know many people who put months of their time to raise their scores by 5, but still too hesitant to use that language in real life. So much wasted opportunity. Also, f**** trick question, it's not even measuring your language skills.

[@justicedinosaur7302]

I passed N1 8 years ago and I would do it again to test my skills if there wasn't that long boring listening section to put myself through 😂

[@danieltkach2330]

So you can write with either hand indistinctively? Wow...

[@Nostalgic90s765]

These tests are good for some things, but really don't measure much in terms of actual ability to communicate. I met people who got the highest TOEIC scores and they couldn't hold more than the most basic of conversations in English.

[@thoru4367]

Let's appreciate japanese native speakear who can feel the pain of this freackin test

[@Leo.Onodera]

「天気が良いから散歩しましょう」

[@silversinclair2169]

you look really great with that facial hair

[@juandefs]

Just passing by, didn't saw the video but wanted to comment on how good the beard looks on you dude.

[@Classic_Dom]

I have no plans to learn Japanese but still watched this video, hahah. It was great though 😊

[@naitomea14]

Okay, there you see how bad I am at learning a new language. I learn since 8 years Japanese. I can talk with Japanese about everyday topics/smalltalk without having much troubles and can understand normaly in Videos what they talk - so half, but I understand which topic they have and sometimes which opnions they have, if they don't talk that fast. But I only can read about 300Kanji. I did 2019 the N5 test and this Year I want to get the N4. Well maybe oneday I will pass the N2 or N1, but this are dreams XD

[@ahscott2001]

This makes me want to take an English language proficiency test.

[@mtenglish10]

Regarding your note on time: In my experience, a lot of tests meant to check L2 ability use the rule of L1 people's time doubled plus a minor cushion (say, 10 minutes). This one is generally true across the board, which seems unusual for L2 tests with different levels. Makes sense for a test like TOEIC, where it's one test for all levels. Additionally, something odd I've noticed is the number of "tricky for native" questions. Seems almost the same between the top level for different-level tests, and tests like the TOEIC. Kind of weird in my book just because if anything, the tests like Eiken or JLPT should have more of those, since they ARE the top level for that language. Still, not as many as if it were a test specifically for L1 speakers. By the way, just for comparison: I've also had tests by computer where for reading comprehension, you're given the article to read on one page, and after continuing to the page for questions, you can't go back and must rely on your notes (arguably, such tests are done in stand-alone testing centers with dedicated proctors and testing facilities, so not like JLPT or the Japanese university exams, so it's easier to control material and prevent cheating.) I think this is a better test of overall comprehension, provided you have the time, facilities, etc., but I can see how it can be a little muddled with note-taking skills or memory rather than pure language comprehension. Your thoughts?

[@mtenglish10]

Additional points as they kinda came up later: Yeah, good test design so it's focused on comprehension more than note-taking or memory is a hassle. Not surprised with N4/N5 and strange Japanese. Everyone learning L2 starts with unusual patterns, either so it's easier to understand, or so you have a basis in vocabulary and grammar/syntax before rules get messed with and things thrown out the window. I mean, in foreign language education across the board, one of the first sentences people learn is some variation of "My name is ___", despite practically every language I know of using something completely different, usually a variant of "I'm ____", or "People call me ____". And pretty much the only reason I can find for that is that in most cases, the paired question there you should learn is based on "What is your name?" (even though, again, that might not be the most common form. Spanish, for example, the pair is "What are you called?" and "I'm called ____".) More interesting point: the general reason for JLPT existing in the first place is a quick metric for judging non-native job-applicants' Japanese levels before the interview stage. And there being 5 levels is a recent thing, because before the level jump from N3 to N2 was massive, so they made a new level between, called that N3, and demoted the old N3 to N4. That, plus your experience taking N1, do you think there will be a new level added after N1? Or do you think any company/organization looking for a proficiency higher than N1 would just prefer testing applicants themselves?

[@urphakeandgey6308]

Completely unrelated, but you actually do look better with a beard IMO. Coming from a fellow Japanese (Okinawan) person with an even fuller beard. Japan is missing out by not accepting it socially!

[@jsominsky]

Wanted to see this for a while, thanks yuta

[@ZeriAi]

I tried a mock exam of my native language and I didn't ace it So I believe yuuta is very intelligent

[@norikosato7823]

I think what he has proven is that this test is common sense level for the native speakers and not the tricky test that is designed to make the sitters fail.

[@メガスガミアス]

vocabulary is pure luck,since the words used are either known and easy or unknown and just guess. The worst example is the word with 4 sentences,since most of the time,it is my first time encountering the word. Grammar is easier,as far as Japanese grammar can be easy. The stars are hit or miss, depending on understanding what the sentence wants to say. Again, vocabulary is the biggest obstacle. Reading is fuxk. Those questions can be tricky even in my native language. Also,the big texts are really tiring. Listening is .........¿?

[@yukuefumei]

I behaved like you on the reading section this past JLPT N1.. and they voided that section of the test, just changed a few answers. They don't grade the JLPT on how many answers you actually get correct. I would have passed N1 on my first try.

[@Heimdall1987]

What do you mean they voided it?

[@ninjabassonline]

It's interesting to see this from the other side ... the standardized English test in Australia and a number of other English speaking countries is IELTS ... there are 2 different types that I know of; standard and academic and the highest level you can get is 9 across speaking, reading, writing and listening (which is basically native). The interesting thing is that aside from speaking, a large number of native English speaking people would struggle to get higher than 7 in the other areas for this test. For academic IELTS, quite a few universities and academic institutions require not just an average of say 7 for example across the 4 subjects but a 7 in each subject which makes it quite difficult ... and it costs AUD$395.00 (~ 36806円) each time you take the test, if you get 7 in 3 subjects but 6.5 in the other ... guess what? you have to take the test again and pay another $395 ...take into account that many people have to pay for special coaching to pass the tests (because they follow quite a specific method) and some people take the test more than 10 times, it all adds up really fast. ...One thing that really strikes me as odd about JLPT is the lack of a speaking component...

[@jameswoods832]

chuck norris Yuta

[@Stone_624]

7:35 "I've got the answers here, I've got my soy latte, and I've got my [Emotional Support] Kyuube" I haven't related to a video or person this strongly for a long time.

[@jssmedialangs]

I did a practice test for N5 listening... and I almost fell asleep. Not to mention that the dialogue was so long and had so many useless details that when they asked about them I realized I had already forgot. 😭 I'm worried about taking the N2 listening portion, especially because I have a tendency to zone out. They really ought to redo this portion of the test.

[@rsmith02]

I had the same problem with N2 listening but my reading/writing was strong enough to still pass a practice test. Never bothered to take the actual test though.

[@IngenieroLeonardoRazo]

Este compa dio un cachetadón a muchos que nos esforzamos para aprender japones, esta bien que él es nativo, pero aún así fue bastante humillante jajaja