You must have heard this famous saying, "With great power comes great responsibility."
While movie buffs know the original source of this saying, it is also widely used in regular conversations today to reflect the relationship between what we have (skill or knowledge) and what we can/should do with it.
Suppose we were to apply this principle in the context of language learning. In that case, it simply implies that we can communicate better and attempt more things when we achieve higher levels of language proficiency, regardless of the language.
For those of us who have the intention or are in the midst of learning a new language, we know for a fact that learning a new language is rarely a linear journey.
It could take you months or even years to be a fluent and competent speaker in all four language components: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Not sure how to go about when it comes to learning Japanese for the first time?
Continue to read this article to discover how and where you can learn Japanese according to different levels and purposes in Malaysia.
Take The UPBA Japanese Subject During Secondary School
Do you know that Japanese is currently taught in selected secondary schools in Malaysia?
You can learn Japanese from scratch through the Ujian Pencapaian Bahasa Antarabangsa (UPBA), which is also known as the International Language Achievement Test.
Students will start learning from their lower secondary school level (Form 1 to Form 3) until their upper secondary school studies (Form 4 and Form 5).
From the Kana alphabet system, Hiragana chart (平仮名), Katakana chart (片仮名), details about the Kanji (漢字), and basic greetings to numbers, you are sure to get a solid and comprehensive foundation through the Japanese lessons in school.
It's important to note that the Japanese lessons will be conducted in Malay by local teachers who have undergone training or have studied in Japan. This means the official textbooks and regular assessments will also be in Malay.
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At the end of the Japanese lessons, students will sit for the official UPBA Japanese paper (Code: 6401).
Now, let's take a look at the latest format of this written assessment.
There will be two sections: Section A and Section B.
- Section A [25 marks]
Candidates are required to answer a series of questions based on 5 to 6 parts that test them on their overall language comprehension.
- Section B [25 marks]
Candidates are required to answer one guided short essay and a long essay based on a given topic/ theme.
The duration of the entire assessment is 2 hours.
Regardless of your UPBA Japanese paper results, it will not affect your SPM grade, so there's nothing to worry about. After your paper is graded, you will receive a certificate indicating your final score.
Think of your UPBA Japanese certificate as a stepping stone to land you various opportunities in your studies or career later.
Take Preparation Lessons For the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
After sitting for your UPBA Japanese paper, you might wonder what's in store for you in order to take your Japanese language proficiency to the next level.
Some of you might even plan to pursue your tertiary education or work in Japan one day.
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the most taken Japanese language proficiency test in the world and acts as an objective measure of Japanese language proficiency among non-native speakers globally.
The tested syllabus covers the listening component, reading component and overall language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar).
There is no age restriction for this test, and anyone can register for it.
When it comes to the examination format, there are five levels:
- N1: Advanced Level [The highest level]
The entire test duration for this level takes 170 minutes.
The language knowledge component (vocabulary and grammar) and reading component are around 110 minutes while the listening component is 60 minutes.
Candidates who achieve N1 level possess the ability to comprehend Japanese in a wide range of situations and circumstances.
- N2: Pre-Advanced Level
The entire test duration for this level takes 155 minutes.
The language knowledge component (vocabulary and grammar) and reading component are around 105 minutes while the listening component is 50 minutes.
Candidates who achieve N2 level possess the ability to comprehend Japanese in the context of everyday conversations and most situations.
- N3: Intermediate Level
The entire test duration for this level takes 140 minutes.
The grammar component and reading component are around 70 minutes, the vocabulary component is around 30 minutes and the listening component is 40 minutes.
Candidates who achieve N3 level possess the ability to comprehend Japanese in the context of everyday conversations.
- N4: Elementary Level
The entire test duration for this level takes 115 minutes.
The grammar component and reading component are around 55 minutes, the vocabulary component is around 25 minutes and the listening component is 35 minutes.
Candidates who achieve N4 level possess the ability to comprehend basic and simple Japanese.
- N5: Basic Level
The entire test duration for this level takes 90 minutes.
The grammar component and reading component are around 40 minutes, the vocabulary component is around 20 minutes and the listening component is 30 minutes.
Candidates who achieve N5 level possess the ability to comprehend selected basic and simple Japanese (limited).
Don't forget to explore these Japanese learning resources to have an immersive and effective language learning experience.
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Pursue A Pre-University Japanese Programme Or Japanese Language Degree In Malaysia
Like it or not, the ultimate Japanese language certificate that holds the highest value is none other than an official certificate from an official higher education institution.
Yes, we are talking about a legit pre-university or undergraduate Japanese certificate.
You'll be surprised that you can actually get a legit Japanese language degree in Malaysia.
Before that, there is a place where you can take a Japanese language preparatory course before you further your studies in Japan.
Pusat Bahasa Tekiyo
Depending on the field of study, students will undergo different Japanese courses with different intensities and subject specializations.
For instance, students who plan to study in colleges in Japan will study take a 12-month language preparatory course which includes the Japanese language, Japanese culture and Japanese social studies (history).
On the other hand, students who plan to study in universities (art or science stream) will need to take additional subjects apart from the Japanese language, Japanese culture and Japanese social studies. Having said that, the duration of the language preparatory course will also be longer, which is 20 months long.
These two Japanese courses are popular among SPM leavers who intend to apply for scholarships or direct study in Japan.
Universiti Malaya
The undergraduate programme that is offered at Universiti Malaya is the Bachelor of Japanese Language and Linguistics.
Students who have completed their pre-university studies (Form Six/ Matriculation/Diploma) can apply for this degree.
This degree has a total of 7 semesters and the tuition fee is only RM 7,900 for Malaysian students. Isn't that super affordable?
In terms of academic learning goals for the Japanese language, we definitely got you covered, both locally and globally.
Enrol In Japanese Group Lessons At A Language School
Of course, we understand that everyone could have different learning goals.
For example, you might want to learn Japanese as a hobby or take basic language lessons to meet new friends and develop a richer cultural appreciation towards the language.
Perhaps, you want to learn Japanese due to your passion towards Japanese cultural exports like anime and Jpop.
There's nothing to worry about as many language learning schools in Malaysia offer comprehensive Japanese group lessons according to different levels and lesson structure.
Some examples include the Inter-Cultural Language School, The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Fuji International Japanese Language School and many more.
Remember, it's never too late to kickstart your Japanese language journey.
Photo by Susann Schuster on Unsplash
Opt For Private Tutoring/Online Tutoring
For those of you who prefer to take your Japanese learning journey at a flexible pace, we hear you too!
You can learn Japanese from scratch with an experienced private tutor, be it through home tutoring or online tutoring.
Regardless of your physical location, you can find the perfect Japanese tutor with Superprof!
Superprof is a student-friendly tutoring platform that pairs students with the best tutors according to their preferences and needs.
For instance, if you are specifically looking for a Japanese home tutor from Kuala Lumpur who specialises in Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) lessons, you can easily find them in just a few clicks with Superprof!
Not only that, you can even specify the range of your maximum budget from the very start to avoid any miscommunication during the tutor-hunting process. The system will direct you to a pool of Japanese tutors that meet all your pre-set requirements in terms of learning location, qualification, hourly rate and even area of specialisation.
Superprof is also a great tool to look for a dynamic and amazing online Japanese tutor.
All you need to do is indicate your preference for online learning and you will be shown a list of Japanese online tutors from Malaysia and even outside Malaysia. Without geographical limitations, you are free to pick your desired Japanese tutor without any hassle!
Learning Japanese has never been so easy and convenient!
We hope you are now motivated and inspired to master Japanese consistently regardless of your learning level. As you activate this superpower of being fluent in Japanese, we assure you that a whole new world awaits you!
Ganbatte ! 頑張って
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