JLPT in Strasbourg, France: All You Need to Know

The number of people taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is increasing until now. This is due to the various benefits that can be obtained by holders of this Japanese language certificate at a certain level. Some take the JLPT exam for job promotions, salary increases, academic needs, and various other things.

However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, many Japanese language lovers and JLPT fighters are finding it quite difficult to find opportunities to take the JLPT exam because the JLPT exam has been canceled. Not only that, your JLPT exam rules have changed. Some were previously held 2 times a year to only 1 time.

Especially for those of you who are currently looking for information about the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, France, don’t worry. We have prepared updated information for you regarding the JLPT exam in the city of Strasbourg. We have summarized information about what you should know about the latest JLPT exam, how to register for the JLPT exam, how much to prepare and how to increase your exam score.

Everything you need to know about the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, France is here. All right, let’s start the discussion!

1. About JLPT

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test or 日本語能力試験 is a JLPT exam administered by 2 major organizations: the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES).^[1] This exam has been held worldwide since 1984.^[2]

In the first year of the exam, there were about 7,000 participants from 15 countries.^[3] Since then, the number of JLPT test takers has increased, reaching 610,000 in 2011 from 62 countries around the world.^[3] This achievement makes the JLPT the largest-scale exam in the world.

In addition, prior to 2009, the JLPT exam was held only once: in December.^[4] After that, the JLPT exam was held 2 times: July and December. 2010 was also the beginning of the year that the JLPT exam was held with the latest version of the test.^[2]

Therefore, this test is based on the results of the latest research in pedagogical theory and uses very rich data.^[2] The JLPT exam is designed to be more accurate and advanced in testing the Japanese proficiency of foreign speakers.

Also, the backgrounds of those taking the JLPT have become increasingly diverse and developed. Not only to measure how far and in understanding their Japanese. However, its use is becoming increasingly widespread in professional careers, and academic, companies and also for certifying the completion of certain study programs abroad.

The Benefits of Taking JLPT

The JLPT exam certificate offers a number of benefits to its holders. Such as requirements for academics, school graduation certificates, promotions and salary increases in companies, and several other needs. Foreigners make every effort to fight for these certificates for these various benefits.

In addition to the above advantages, there are also several benefits that can be obtained if you succeed in having a JLPT N2 or N1 certificate.

1. JLPT N1 certificate holders will receive 15 points while N2 will receive 10 points under the rules of the government’s immigration treatment system. With a total of over 70 points, each of these individuals will receive preferential immigration treatment.
2. Fulfill the requirements for physicians to take the Japanese national examination. The JLPT N1 certificate is also required by medical practitioners such as dentists, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, dental technicians, and so on.
3. Fulfillment of Japanese prefectural examination requirements for nursing assistants. This certificate is required for overseas graduates to take the Nursing Assistant examination in Japan.
4. Exemption from accreditation examinations for junior high school graduation in Japan. If the student has an N1 or N2 certificate, the student is exempt from the accreditation examination.
5. Fulfill the requirements for nurse/nurse practitioner candidates under the EPA. Prospective nurses from Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam are required to have a certain level of JLPT certificate in order to work in Japan.

Then, for more information, please visit the website of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Health, and Immigration. Please share your experiences about the benefits of having a certain level of JLPT certificate in the comments section below! We would love to hear from you.

Four Key Characteristics of JLPT

The JLPT exam has four main characteristics that set it apart from other Japanese language proficiency exams. This makes the JLPT exam very special. The following is a discussion of the four main characteristics of the JLPT exam:

1. The JLPT measures the communicative ability of foreign speakers to perform certain tasks both in class and in real life at a certain level. This exam does not only measure the knowledge of vocabulary and grammar, but actually assesses the extent to which foreign speakers can apply it in real life.
2. The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. This exam is designed to measure the foreign speaker’s proficiency as completely and accurately as possible. Each level has a specific objective. Like N4 and N5, they measure understanding of basic Japanese. Levels N1 and N2 measure understanding of Japanese used in various real-life situations. Meanwhile, level N3 is the bridge between the two groups.
3. The JLPT exam uses a scaled score to more accurately and fairly measure the Japanese proficiency of foreign speakers during the exam.
4. The JLPT exam also offers a “JLPT Self-Evaluation List” that can further measure a candidate’s ability after successfully taking the JLPT at a certain level. JLPT provides this list to give each candidate an overview of how well they can practice or apply their understanding in real life.

In addition, the JLPT exam does not directly measure each student’s speaking and writing skills. Then, due to the very large scale of the test administration, the scoring system of the test results is based on machine scores.

2. About JLPT in Strasbourg, France

JLPT exams in France are held in 4 cities: Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg. Each city has its own local institution. This local institution organizes the exams in the city on behalf of the Japan Foundation. The list of all local institutions responsible for the JLPT exam worldwide can be found on the official JLPT website below, including France.

In addition, the JLPT exam is usually administered 2 times: July and December. Each city has a different schedule. Only in the city of Paris, the JLPT exam was held 2 times. In other cities, the JLPT was held only once.

Specifically, in the city of Strasbourg, the JLPT exam is only held in July. Meanwhile, the JLPT exam is only held in December in the cities of Lyon and Bordeaux. In 2023, if you want to take the JLPT exam in the city of Strasbourg, you will need to prepare as best you can for the July exam.

Specifically, the JLPT exam in the city of Strasbourg is administered by the Cellule de Certifications en langues, Université de Strasbourg as the organizing institution on behalf of the Japan Foundation. We will discuss more information about this institution in the next section.

Host Institutions of JLPT in France

For additional information, here is a list of local institutions that organize JLPT exams on behalf of the Japan Foundation in France.

For the latest information on the JLPT exam in each city, please visit the local institution’s website listed above. If you have any questions regarding the JLPT exam, you can contact the local institution at the contact address provided.

3. General Info about JLPT in Strasbourg, France

In order to take the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, you need to know the basic information that you need to know before registering. Along with your current JLPT exam preparation process, let’s also understand the general information you should know. Please mark the parts that you think are important!

1. You need to know in which city you can take the JLPT exam. Not all cities hold JLPT exams. After that, you should also know the local organizer of the test or the local host institution.
2. You must visit the website of the organizing institution to find out and check the latest information about the organizers of the JLPT exam.
3. Then, you must read the guidelines for administering the exam, which are usually listed in the Test Guide. Along with the Test Guide, you will also receive information on how to fill out the application form.
4. Follow all instructions provided on the Web site and in the Test Guide. If you find any part difficult to understand, you can contact the local institution immediately.
5. If everything you have done is correct, you will receive a test voucher from the local institution. However, if you do not receive confirmation of your registration or a test voucher, please contact the local institution.

Information about the JLPT is usually available around March-April for the July exam. However, for the December exam, information will be available around August to September. You should pay attention to the application period for the JLPT exam in each city. This is because the application period for the JLPT exam varies. For more detailed information, please regularly visit the website of each local institution.

Test Guide and Fee

As for the JLPT test booklet and exam fee, you can obtain them from a local JLPT organizing institution that is trusted by the Japan Foundation. Specifically for the city of Strasbourg, please refer to the information available on the website of the Cellule de Certifications en langues, Université de Strasbourg. Please click on the following link!

4. How to Register for the JLPT Exam in Strasbourg, France?

In order to take the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, you also need to know how to register. If you make a mistake in the JLPT exam registration process, you run the risk of failing the registration process. Or a delay in receiving your test voucher. The following are the things you should pay attention to when registering for the JLPT exam in Strasbourg:

1. Regularly visit the website of the local organization that organizes the JLPT test in Strasbourg to avoid missing information.
2. Immediately read the information provided, write down the important parts, and don’t forget to actually download and read the information listed in the test guide.
3. Follow all instructions provided. Carefully fill out the information requested. You can’t get it wrong when you enter your JLPT test level and address. Once your registration is complete, you will not be able to change your test level. And you won’t be able to receive your test results if your address is incorrect.
4. Register as soon as the registration period opens. Don’t delay because there is usually a fixed quota. You must secure your place because the registration quota is very limited. Registration will close earlier if the quota is full. All relevant information can be found in the Test Guide.
5. Make a payment as soon as you are prompted to do so. Follow the instructions for paying for the JLPT exam according to the method listed. If you have any problems, please contact your local institution.

If you have problems registering or have questions about registering for the JLPT exam, you can contact the contact person at the institution administering the JLPT exam. Don’t forget to confirm your registration with the organizer to make sure your registration was successful. We wish you good luck!

5. How to Prepare for the JLPT Exam and Boost Your Score?

In this section we will discuss how to effectively prepare for the JLPT exam and study methods that can improve your JLPT exam score. You can try them out or choose the method that is right for you according to your ability.

First of all, if you want to prepare for the JLPT exam correctly, systematically and effectively, we highly recommend that you do it with a professional. For example, you can take the JLPT exam preparation program offered by official language institutions that have teachers or tutors who are experienced in preparing students for the JLPT exam.

Second, for those of you who don’t have much time to prepare for the JLPT exam, we highly recommend that you find an experienced and professional Japanese tutor. By studying Japanese and preparing for the JLPT exam with a tutor, you can study intensively in your limited time with a more flexible schedule. The tutor will also help you intensively according to your personal abilities.

Third, practice is the key to improving your JLPT test score. You need to practice the JLPT exam question, kanji as well as the vocabulary drills regularly before taking the JLPT exam to familiarize yourself with the JLPT exam questions. For this, you really need a good source.

Currently, there are many bestselling JLPT test preparation books that you can get from your local bookstore. Please choose the JLPT test preparation book that you want and according to your needs. If you are currently preparing for the JLPT N1 exam, please read the recommended JLPT N1 books and vocabulary below!

Conclusion

This is the last part of the article about the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, France. We really hope that this information will be useful and strengthen your JLPT exam preparation.

Thank you very much for reading to the end. If you have any questions regarding the JLPT exam in Strasbourg, please visit the website of the relevant local institution.

We are also very proud to be a part of your journey to pass the JLPT exam. Don’t forget to check back here for more information on learning Japanese. See you in the next article!

References

¹ “Organizers“. The Official JLPT Website. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
² “Message from Organizers“. The Official JLPT Website. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
³ “Introduction“. The Official JLPT Website. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
⁴ “Statistics“. The Official JLPT Website. Retrieved 19 April 2023.