jlpt

[astridv]

I just woke up from a dream in which I took the Japanese proficiency test and managed to answer only a fraction of the questions before we had to turn our test papers back in. I think my subconscious is trying to tell me that I haven't studied enough. I know that, Subconscious! But I've reached the stage where for every new word I input, another

Comments

[trystings]

So I shall take my brother as a shining example and go into this test halfway prepared. Yo.

That's how I went into my Math exam. I passed, but I still have nightmares from the stress. ;)

Good luck on your test! You probably know a lot more than you think.

[astridv]

That's how I went into my Math exam. I passed, but I still have nightmares from the stress. ;)

Yeah, I could never understand how people can use that as their basic stategy, like kid bro. I prefer to be overprepared because in the end it's a lot less stressful.

But anyway, I don't really need this certificate for anything, and if I flunk it this time I'll just take it again in December... use this as a trial run. It certainly got me off my butt and studying so it already filled its purpose, no matter the outcome. :)

[mystizan]

All the best!

[astridv]

Hey, thanks. German saying: Mut zur Lücke! (Embrace the gap!) I'm embracing.

[mystizan]

ur welcome :) What does "embrace the gap" mean?

[astridv]

Ah, interesting, this is one of those idioms that don't translate. Means gap in the knowledge, in this case. I actually checked my trusty online dictionary and it seems like there's no version of this saying in English. Mut zur Luecke means, for example, learning only parts of the material that could come up in an exam, in the hope that exactly the stuff that you haven't learned won't come up. It's a bold gamble. ('Mut' means 'courage'.) And it's usually meant a little ironically, since it's not exactly the ideal strategy for success.

[tinnny]

I know that, Subconscious!

*LOL* Pesky subconscious, telling you things you already know!

But I know the feeling when just no more knowledge fits... . Nothing to do but hope you've done all you can. Good luck for the test! Japanese, yay cool. I marvelled at your knowledge of it before, whenever you mentioned reading original manga. I learn Chinese (and have done so for ages), but am far from being able to take any kind of test, I think. Not that I'd want to, so it's fine. :)

p.s.: I see misty's here now. She's my new Chuck-fandom friend, and I pointed her your way when she told me she's into Leverage. I hope you're getting along well!

[astridv]

Ah, From all I know Chinese seems a lot harder than Japanese!

But I know the feeling when just no more knowledge fits...

Yeah, today I just went over the kanji list one last time and then declared that whatever's in there now will just have to do. And then I went climbing with friends, and then we made pasta and I had a glass of wine, and then we went slacklining (and I regretted the wine part), and then we watched Leverage, and all in all I think it was a day well invested; better than fretting over the last 20% missing vocab.

[tinnny]

Ah, From all I know Chinese seems a lot harder than Japanese!

Grammar-wise, yes. The languages have nothing in common.

But learning Kanji in Japanese is basically the same as learning Chinese. And you don't get far without them, so the stupid 3-point-vocabulary problem (character, pronunciation, meaning) is the same there.