Best way to become better at Japanese?

[Ertai87]

Let me start by saying my Japanese is pretty good. I got my JLPT N3 in 2011 (2010 test), have been studying for 5+ years, etc. However, one of my goals for going on JET is to become good enough to at least get my N2 if not N1. I have no particular reason for doing this (jobs, education, etc), but it's just a goal I have. What would be advisable for someone who is already conversational-level to do while in Japan on JET to become even better at Japanese?

[AVN]

Let me start by saying my Japanese is pretty good. I got my JLPT N3 in 2011 (2010 test), have been studying for 5+ years, etc. However, one of my goals for going on JET is to become good enough to at least get my N2 if not N1. I have no particular reason for doing this (jobs, education, etc), but it's just a goal I have. What would be advisable for someone who is already conversational-level to do while in Japan on JET to become even better at Japanese?

Be involved.
Join culture classes that are taught in Japanese. For example shodou or sadou.
Try and reach out in the community and make friends. Try and talk to those in your office and/or schools, not students, coworkers. Keep your eyes and ears open in class. I learn a lot in the grammar sections of my classes by listening to the Japanese translations.
Don't be shy, just jump in, people will be excited and supportive, rarely critical.
Try to avoid the gaijin bubble pitfall. This doesn't mean don't be friends with other foreigners just try to not only hang out with other foreigners.
Be firm with yourself and continue to study in your free time, especially if you are ahead in your work and have free time at your desk.
Try and watch the news/listen to the radio etc in Japanese.
There is so much you can do but a lot of it is personal and what works for you.

[OitaPA_Nicole]

Well put AVNicholls.

Just to add to that list, I recently bought a 3DS, and some Japanese learning games to improve my kanji. The first one that I tried was way too difficult though and just made me frustrated, so I put that one aside and will come back to it in a few months when I have learned some more obscure kanji that you hardly ever see used...

I did find a good one that helps with Kanji though. It is called something like "美文字". It covers reading, stroke order and helps develop neater writing skills.
For me, this option provides a good 'break' from usual self study.

[Allison_NaraPA]

Great responses!

Do you enjoy reading?

Pick up a local newspaper for kanji study and new vocab!
This may also lead to in-depth conversations with locals about
current events or/and new opportunities for you to particpate
in the community.

Whatever you choose, good luck, and go for that N1!!

[AVN]

Well put AVNicholls.

Just to add to that list, I recently bought a 3DS, and some Japanese learning games to improve my kanji. The first one that I tried was way too difficult though and just made me frustrated, so I put that one aside and will come back to it in a few months when I have learned some more obscure kanji that you hardly ever see used...

I did find a good one that helps with Kanji though. It is called something like "美文字". It covers reading, stroke order and helps develop neater writing skills.
For me, this option provides a good 'break' from usual self study.

On the DS note I just recently was introduced to memrise.com on this very forum and I love it!
It's great! I highly recommend the JLPT vocab/kanji ones

[Siyris]

If your aim is to get better for getting better's sake, then getting involved will do that no problem. If your aim is the JLPT it's all about kanji. Grammar wise and speaking wise I'm easily at JLPT 2.... but when it comes to kanji I am far below that... Level 2 has a required knowledge of 1000+ kanji -- so I would focus on that. A course that worked for one of my friends was just picking up some JHS books and starting to read them.... from there he moved onto Newspapers. Another friend had success from buying a elementary school's 1st grade kanji work book and worked her way up through 6th grade.

I will say again though, if you are already conversational (and fully so), your worry won't be grammar or vocab... it will be the kanji.

[Mark_KyotoPA]

Get a Japanese girlfriend.




Or three.

Actual advice given to us by my Japanese teacher.

But yeah, echoing sentiments of kanji study rather than anything else if you want to "officially prove yourself" via means of JLPT or whatever.

[AVN]

But yeah, echoing sentiments of kanji study rather than anything else if you want to "officially prove yourself" via means of JLPT or whatever.

Sad but true...

I met so many people who did really well on the JLPT but are unable to carry a conversation.
I've also met people who are the opposite.

[Ertai87]

Let me start by saying my Japanese is pretty good. I got my JLPT N3 in 2011 (2010 test), have been studying for 5+ years, etc. However, one of my goals for going on JET is to become good enough to at least get my N2 if not N1. I have no particular reason for doing this (jobs, education, etc), but it's just a goal I have. What would be advisable for someone who is already conversational-level to do while in Japan on JET to become even better at Japanese?

Be involved.
Join culture classes that are taught in Japanese. For example shodou or sadou.
Try and reach out in the community and make friends. Try and talk to those in your office and/or schools, not students, coworkers. Keep your eyes and ears open in class. I learn a lot in the grammar sections of my classes by listening to the Japanese translations.
Don't be shy, just jump in, people will be excited and supportive, rarely critical.
Try to avoid the gaijin bubble pitfall. This doesn't mean don't be friends with other foreigners just try to not only hang out with other foreigners.
Be firm with yourself and continue to study in your free time, especially if you are ahead in your work and have free time at your desk.
Try and watch the news/listen to the radio etc in Japanese.
There is so much you can do but a lot of it is personal and what works for you.

That's about the answer I was expecting to get, and the one I was planning on covering anyway.

Well put AVNicholls.

Just to add to that list, I recently bought a 3DS, and some Japanese learning games to improve my kanji. The first one that I tried was way too difficult though and just made me frustrated, so I put that one aside and will come back to it in a few months when I have learned some more obscure kanji that you hardly ever see used...

I did find a good one that helps with Kanji though. It is called something like "美文字". It covers reading, stroke order and helps develop neater writing skills.
For me, this option provides a good 'break' from usual self study.

Yeah, when I was in Japan back in '08 I picked up a Kanji DS game myself. Haven't used it in a while, but I suppose I can start again. Since the whole thing is in Japanese, though, it's a bit hard to navigate XD

And unfortunately stupid Nintendo region-locked the 3DS...

[ume no hana]

Find a good Japanese teacher and have weekly private lessons. I would meet my nihongo no sensei at the local Mr. Doughnuts for an hour each week and she would help correct my essays I'd written and got over the difficult higher level JLPT grammar.
Buy those JLPT study guide books.
Talk a lot! haha.
Carry around a small notebook at write down words you don't know
Download rikai-chan on your web-browser so that you can read an online Japanese newspaper and read the kanji. You can even save your words lists too!
Join a local culture/group/club...I went to the local kouminkan and asked for a schedule and it showed me what groups they had...ranged from nihongo class, taiko, sports, yosakoi etc....and I was the only gaijin in my group, it really helped my nihongo.

[Ertai87]

Download rikai-chan on your web-browser so that you can read an online Japanese newspaper and read the kanji. You can even save your words lists too!

I've already been using Rikaichan for about 4 years XD

[ume no hana]

Download rikai-chan on your web-browser so that you can read an online Japanese newspaper and read the kanji. You can even save your words lists too!

I've already been using Rikaichan for about 4 years XD

Great! I only recently found out about it! I really wish i would of known about it earlier!

[Namisuke]

Are you taking a Japanese class? A private teacher can tailor to your needs. You might even be able to get someone to do it for free or even do a language exchange with someone. At the moment I have a private teacher and it is AWESOME!

You can also buy the JLPT prep books to see what you need to know. You can also find out what you don't know by reading comics or the newspaper and using the vocab and grammar you don't know to teach yourself.

[Jen_KyotoPA]

I definitely agree with DS games, and Anki flashcards are great for recognition. I have a game called 大人の漢字練習, and it's meant for Japanese people, but you can start off practicing the simplest kanji so it's not bad even if you're around an N2.

Besides that, lots and lots of exposure to TV, movies, other listening stuff. If you want to get the JLPT, you should pretty much just do the study books and practice tests because it's a fairly specific set of material. Otherwise, reading lots. Language exchanges. Having an electronic dictionary (phone, DS, whatever) on hand a lot of the time so you can look stuff up whenever.

[AVN]

Find a good Japanese teacher and have weekly private lessons. I would meet my nihongo no sensei at the local Mr. Doughnuts for an hour each week and she would help correct my essays I'd written and got over the difficult higher level JLPT grammar.
Buy those JLPT study guide books.
Talk a lot! haha.
Carry around a small notebook at write down words you don't know
Download rikai-chan on your web-browser so that you can read an online Japanese newspaper and read the kanji. You can even save your words lists too!
Join a local culture/group/club...I went to the local kouminkan and asked for a schedule and it showed me what groups they had...ranged from nihongo class, taiko, sports, yosakoi etc....and I was the only gaijin in my group, it really helped my nihongo.

If you can get a private teacher awesome! Just don't go in expecting you will be able to find one... You may get a friend who speaks some English who can tutor/help you but finding an actual teacher might be a lot harder depending on your placement.