With learning Japanese that is.
I always feel I achieve more when I have a very clear goal as to what I am supposed to achieve. So I set up a goal for myself, and it's quite a simple one (simply expressed, not simply achieved).
Pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or JLPT next year.
The JLPT is a standardized test to measure how skilled one is at Japanese. There are four levels to this test where level 4 is the easiest.
To pass level 4 you need to know about 100 kanji (or Japanese signs for those who don't know the word) and you need a vocabulary of about 800 words. You also need to know enough grammar to match the knowledge of what is found in the books "Japanese For Busy People I", some chapters of "Japanese For Busy People II" and one chapter from "Japanese For Busy People III". And it just so happens that I own the first book, which is a good start!
According to Wikipedia you need to study this much:
| Level | Kanji | Vocabulary | Listening | Hours of Study | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ~100 (103) | ~800 (728) | Beginner | 150 (estimated) | 60% |
| 3 | ~300 (284) | ~1,500 (1409) | Basic | 300 (estimated) | |
| 2 | ~1000 (1023) | ~6,000 (5035) | Intermediate | 600 (estimated) | |
| 1 | ~2000 (1926) | ~10,000 (8009) | Advanced | 900 (estimated) | 70 |
So if I study one hour a day that means it will take 150 days or approximately 5 months.
Now one hour a day is a lot of time and I don't even begin to fool myself into thinking I can keep that up. But on the other hand, the tests are usually at the end of the year which means I should have at least a full year to study.
I can do nothing more than try to keep an hour a day up, if I fail to do so I will fail the test and I will have failed myself. I really hope I can do it.
