Since I imagine many of the visitors to this site are preparing for the JLPT, I've expanded the JLPT section a bit today.
First, on the 2kyuu page, I've added some hints for passing the exam:
http://www.nihongoperapera.com/jlpt/2kyuu.html
Second, on the 1kyuu page, I've begun to outline the ways in which I am preparing for the 1kyuu:
http://www.nihongoperapera.com/jlpt/1kyuu.html
Also, Damien Elmes, Anki's developer, wrote a lengthy response to my review of Mnemosyne, Anki, and SuperMemo:
http://www.nihongoperapera.com/node/83
Comments
Thanks, by the way.
John Rozewicki (not verified) Posted at 09:26 on Sun, 08/31/2008I just thought you should know that your site is the thing that convinced me to try to take JLPT2 this year. My story is similar to yours in the learning Japanese for a for a few years, never quite getting ahead with it, but then having an opportunity to improve my Japanese ability massively in a short period of time.
I just needed to know that it was possible to study to pass the JLPT2 in half a year's time. I'm a person who has always worked really really hard, and it's something I think a lot of people don't understand. It was refreshing to see a guide posted by someone who shares this virtue, and really made it clear exactly what is possible for people who do work hard.
All of my teachers here in Japan at the end of the summer told me that I shouldn't have even considered taking JLPT2 in December, but they also didn't understand how hard I would work at it. As it stands now, at the end of the summer, my Japanese ability has improved far beyond even the final goals of my Japanese classes next semester.
My teachers are going to be very shocked and surprised, and I really owe it all to your simple post outlining the methods you used to work really hard to accomplish something difficult. Thank you for that. I can now read the newspaper, and that is massively encouraging.