Passed the JLPT N1

July 2018

After a year of intense study at Tōhoku University, I sat the JLPT for the first time and passed the N1 (the highest level they offer).

At first, I thought: what good is there to pass a test to prove I can speak Japanese, when all I have to do is have a 3-minute conversation with the recruiter for them to have an idea of my level? It’s at this moment that I found a job opportunity in Switzerland as an interpreter (which unfortunately didn’t work out because they wanted me to start working when I was still sitting my final exams in Japan) and that I realised my recruiter might not always be able to speak Japanese, which is why I decided to take the test and get a certification.

Some people see the JLPT N1 as an ultimate achievement in their journey of learning Japanese. I see it as a starting point. It is a bit like getting your black belt in karate. It is from there that you can hopefully start learning by yourself and start flying on your own wings. In the end, 一級 is only just the level before the 一段、二段、and above.