Daily-Life Japanese Language Lessons in Komatsugawa

After passing the level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), I have been planning to start a volunteer Japanese language study class for kids of foreigners living in the Komatsugawa area. Started gathering some ideas to start such a language class and was writing down points to make the classes effective for all foreigners, not only limited to kids. It was then we met Yumiko-san in the Edogawa ward office. 

I went to the Edogawa ward office to change the residence address. The front staff informed me that I needed to change the address on the children's insurance card as well after the change of address on the residence card (Zairyou card). The staff guided us to the second floor, where the child welfare office is located. After a few minutes wait, our turn came, and a lady staff member came and told us to fill out an application form. While seeing me filling up the application form in Japanese, with curiosity she asked from where I had learned the Japanese language. She told me that her daughter Nagisa-chan, who is a second-year university student, is interested in becoming a volunteer to teach Japanese to foreigners. What a coincidence! 

We exchanged contact numbers and then later met in Funabori to make basic planning for the volunteer classes. The idea to start a daily-life-supporting Japanese language class came out as a result of our discussion. Nagisa-chan can travel from her house to Komatsugawa on some weekdays and on Saturdays. We decided to make a WhatsApp group of students interested in the classes. 

Foreigners, especially housewives, face a lot of difficulties in daily life communicating in the Japanese language. In most cases, the husbands take a holiday to assist them to go to the hospital, banks, post office, etc. In most cases, both husband and wife are not able to communicate in the Japanese language. 

Daily Life Japanese language lessons in Komatsugawa aim to provide basic communication skills in the Japanese language. This would be a free class, but the participants need to share the expenses for booking the classroom, costs of printed materials, marker pens, and such related accessories. 

Some Best Movers in Tokyo for Expatriate Community

I have been preparing to move from the current UR apartment to a new apartment in JKK. The address up to the Komatsugawa 1-Chome would not change. The new apartment is approximately 400 meters away from the current apartment., "Find a cost-effective mover" comes on the top five among the list of things to do.

Majority of the expatriates in Tokyo is floating community. As expatriates we do not stick to one single place. The need to move from the current apartment may be simply due to change in work place, children's school, accessibility to public transportation, presence of friends, desire to move to new and larger-size apartment etc. 

I have started gathering addresses of movers by asking friends and the real estate agency. One of my friends suggested XPS Tokyo owned by Mr. Mike. At first I contacted him over phone and as per his suggestion, I did send a mail detailing my requirements as below;  

I guess I had used the service of XPS Tokyo for moving from a private apartment to the current UR apartment in 2013. When I heard his name this time again from one of my friends, it prompted me to think the quality of his service and the reputation he keeps among his customers. As expatriates, we have lot of concersn beginning from the communication problem and the procedures that should be followed while moving to a new apartment. 

The reasonable cost of 'service' is confusing, not only in Tokyo but also any part of the world. It is interlinked with the minimum salary level, Qualtiy of service and the market demand. Cost of moving on weekdays is cheaper than that on weekends. Most number of moving/shifting in Japan happens in the months of January and April   

Here are the reasons why I chose the service of XPS Tokyo for moving;

1. Competitive rate per load

Everything in Japan is costly, especially the work that requires more man hours. Moving business needs man hours. XPS Tokyo offered a very reasonable and attractive rate per load (2000 kg mini truck). We need a lot of money during moving for example to buy new furniture, household appliances etc. Shifting of the things from one place to another place will not offer any benefit and hence should be of reasonably economical

2. Easy to communicate 

My communication from the beginning with XPS Tokyo was in English You don't need to worry that you still know 'Ohayou gozaimasu' 

3. Easy to negotiate 

(You must be an expert in Japanese language to negotiate or you need to ask the help of someone either in your office or among the friends.) 

4.Friendly Staff:

Mr. Mike, who is basically from UK has been in the moving business in Japan for over 17 years. He and his staff were very cooperative during the whole process. If you missed out some items before the cost estimation, you don't need to apologize!

5. Quality of service

XPS Tokyo offers reasonably good quality of service, customized to the customer's requirement. We had packed most of the items and made ready for moving. XPS Tokyo brings basic jigs and tools required for the safety of furniture and home appliance.

I was satisfied with his service. If you are looking for a mover, I would recommend XPS Tokyo. Below is the mail that was sent to XPS Tokyo to inform the list of items and get an estimated cost.

Contact details as below;

Mr. Mike: +81 90 1217 4445

Tips to Pass JLPT Level N2 in Three Months

You might be curious whether it is feasible to clear the Level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) within 3 months, right? In July 2017, the N2 level passing rate in Japan was 38.3%; however, that did not deter me from taking the test.

Certainly, it is feasible, and I accomplished it in July 2018. On September 10th, I got my Test Result from the entity administering JLPT exams. The total is 103 from a possible 180. Level N2 consists of three (3) parts: Reading (読解), Listening (聴解), and Kanji/Vocabulary/Grammar (文字、語彙、文法). A minimum score of 19 marks is required for each section, and a cumulative total of at least 90 marks out of 180 must be achieved. The challenging aspect of N2 is the individual scoring, which is the main cause of the increased failure rate.

The entity established by国際交流基金 Japan Foundation and日本国際教育支愛協会 (Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, JEES). Japan Educational Exchanges and Services administers the test within Japan, while the Japan Foundation oversees the test abroad in partnership with local host institutions.

An individual who has passed the N2 exam should be able to read clearly written materials on diverse subjects, including articles and commentaries found in newspapers and magazines, along with straightforward critiques, and understand their meanings. Additionally, those who passed N2 level is supposed to have the ability to read texts on various subjects and comprehend their storylines, as well as grasp the writers' intentions.

I was able to achieve 53 out of 60 in Listening. I was sure that I could accurately understand over 80% of what I listen to. We should be able to comprehend the verbal presentation of content, including the logical and rational aspects of an argument or theory, as well as news articles. These discussions and reports are delivered at almost natural pace in common scenarios and across different environments. We need to respond to questions regarding the information they listened to. We must be capable of tracking their thoughts and understanding their meanings. Also, it is necessary to comprehend the connections between the individuals involved and the crucial aspects of the materials presented.

So, what do we need to pass JLPT N2 in 3 months?

Dedication

This applies not just to the JLPT, but also to accomplish any goal in life; a committed approach is essential. JLPT particularly requires a significant amount of it. We must not stray from our objectives under any circumstances. Many foreigners arrive in Japan for employment and may have already surpassed the age appropriate for studying. A study released by NHK reveals that 84.8% of foreign residents are aged between 15 and 64, which constitutes the working age demographic. Individuals in their 20s and 30s account for 51.9% of that demographic. Younger individuals tend to find it relatively simpler to stay committed. I likely studied for 2 to 3 hours daily from April 14 to June 30 on weekdays, in addition to over 7 hours of lessons on Saturdays at the JLPT Academy. On Sundays, I would go to a volunteer Japanese class in Ogikubo.

Organized Approach to Remember Kanji

There are designated texts like those from 日本語総まとめ(Nihongo Soumatome) for both Grammar and Kanji. Study 20 to 30 Kanji daily. Review them the following day and study an additional group of 20 to 30. On the third day, we will review 40 to 60 Kanji and study an additional group of 20 to 30.

Read, Read, and Read.

In addition to studying Kanji, read the book 新完全マスター読解日本語能力試験N2. This book serves as an excellent collection of earlier examination resources. Reading this book multiple times will provide a strong understanding of common sentence structures and vocabulary often found in JLPT N2. After a couple of months of consistent reading of this book, you will notice that you can successfully answer most of the questions without even having read the entire text! Gratitude to Tamegai-Sensei of JLPT Academy for effectively guiding on time management during the Reading test.

YouTube Clips

There are many videos on YouTube to assist individuals preparing for every level of the JLPT. One of my preferred You tube channels was 日本語の森.Listen to the lessons multiple times while you walk and travel to work. Hearing the same words and phrases multiple times would be etched in your memory. You can also find previous years' listening question papers on YouTube. Hear them over and over.

Grammar Study

I owe my gratitude to Nozawa-sensei from JLPT Academy, as all the grammar I learned for the N2 exam was what she taught in her Saturday classes. She assigned a great deal of homework...a great deal. I made errors consistently, but she rectified each one with patience.

These activities were what I engaged in from April to June 2018, and the outcome was 103 out of 180. It’s not an impressive score, but Japan Educational Exchanges and Services was able to evaluate my level quite accurately. Driven by curiosity and to confirm my N2 proficiency, I took the online J-CAT test and achieved a score of 224, which corresponds to JLPT N2.

Achieving a total score above 90 in JLPT N2 and 19 in each section is not difficult. Sustaining that standard and progressing from it requires a significant amount of commitment and hard work.