How can I judge whether my Japanese is strong enough for lectures, not just admissions?
Do not rely only on the Japanese level used for admission; judge yourself against the actual demands of your intended faculty. Try listening to a Japanese lecture or trial class without relying too heavily on a dictionary and taking notes on the main points. Also read part of a textbook or academic paper and write a report or exam-style answer in Japanese. Check the syllabus, class format, and past assignments or exams to identify specific skills you still need to improve.
Key points
- Check whether you can take notes during a lecture and explain its main points in your own words.
- Practise reading textbooks or papers with specialist terms and writing reports or answers within a time limit.
- Use the syllabus, class format, and past assignments or exams to make the required Japanese skills more concrete.
Things to check
- The Japanese ability required and the workload vary by university, faculty, course, and academic year, so confirm the details in official information.