Test of Japanese as Foreign Language

T.JL (old name until approx. 2000: ToJFL)

The T.JL (old name: Test of Japanese as Foreign Language (ToJFL) ) was launched in 1993 by " The Japan Connection " to help non-Japanese people around the world a. a. to serve as a basis for assessing their level of Japanese . Successful graduates receive a certificate from "The Japan Connection". In Europe, the administrative contact for T.JL since 2001 has been the “Societé France-Japon” (SFJ) based in Paris ( Montmartre ). The SFJ has offered the T.JL test since 1995.

As the SFJ annual brochure 2007 shows, the T.JL test is recognized by around 9,000 institutions worldwide as proof of proficiency in the Japanese language . For Germany, 40 institutions are named in the brochure that are certified according to the QMS model of the Societé and are therefore allowed to carry out training for the T.JL, as well as two institutions that are also qualified for the acceptance tests. In 2007, 29,341 people across Europe took T.JL exams, of which 52 percent were successful.

construction

The test can be completed in seven different levels of difficulty (Levels I – VII; Japanese 級 kyū ), with Level VII being the easiest and Level I the most difficult. “Easy” and “difficult” relate, analogously to other language tests, to required advanced grammar / vocabulary knowledge as well as an expansion of the general examination criteria. With multiple choice questions a. Vocabulary and grammar skills and listening comprehension tested in face-to-face dialogues. In addition to grammar and vocabulary, questions about topics such as the history and culture of Japan are also an integral part of the exam; one of the most important points in which JLPT and T.JL differ.

Idea behind the T.JL

The development of the T.JL as a language test was and is subject to two general guidelines:

1. The aim is to establish a cost-effective, yet easily comparable test for the Japanese language, whereby cost-effective refers to specifications for all partners involved and is not intended to represent an evaluation in comparison with other language tests.
2. In addition to language skills, the T.JL should also include knowledge of the country, including history.

According to these facts, the T.JL itself is referred to in the SFJ brochure 2005 as the “test of Japanese culture and language”. The reduction to the catchphrase “language test” has been done by German providers such as the All Asian Society and various adult education centers .

Target groups

The T.JL is directed - in contrast to z. B. JLPT - at schools and other educational institutions that want to offer their students / members / participants a certification option in addition to the other training courses. Individuals cannot enroll in a T.JL test.

Learning content

In March 2008, the cooperating educational institutions and institutes were informed by the Societé France-Japon about the changed requirement profile of the T.JL. The changes are mandatory from April 15, 2008. On the one hand, the scope of learning was expanded by the two practical certificates KANA 才能 and 漢字 実 科 as well as the listening comprehension test and, on the other hand, the e-learning environment ク リ ッ ク developed and implemented by Andreas Neumann in 2005 ( all asian society ) for all T.JL taking place in Europe -Tests beginning with level 4 ( 4 級 ) are mandatory. As with the previous e-learning environment, the servers in the individual countries are operated by the respective partners, but under the supervision of the SFJ. The speaking skills will continue to be checked by certified examiners in the respective institutions from level 3. The exam takes about half an hour and is not included in the table.

Level	Content	Expansion stage	Other Information
1 級 ikkyū	Writing vocabulary listening comprehension reading skills grammar speaking skills everyday knowledge Focus: Japanese literature	2,000 Kanji 10,000 vocabulary 500 hours of study	Exam duration is 4 hours Required to pass: 70%
2 級 nikyū	Writing Vocabulary Listening Comprehension Reading Skills Grammar Oratory Skills History of Japan to this day Everyday knowledge Focus: Japanese art	1800 Kanji 7,000 vocabulary 300 hours of study	Exam duration is 3 hours Required to pass: 70%
3 級 sankyū	Writing Vocabulary Listening Comprehension Reading Skills Grammar Oratory Skills History of Japan up to 1945 Everyday knowledge Focus: Religions in Japan	1500 Kanji 5,000 vocabulary 300 hours of study	Exam duration is 3 hours Required to pass: 70%
リ ス ニ ン グ	Listening comprehension test with 40 preparation hours	-	Exam duration is 1 h Required to pass: 85%
4 級 yonkyū	Writing vocabulary listening comprehension reading skills grammar speaking skills History of Japan up to 1935 Everyday knowledge Focus: Japanese politics	1,200 Kanji 3,500 vocabulary 250 hours of study	Exam duration is 3 hours Required to pass: 70%
5 級 gokyū	Written vocabulary listening comprehension reading skills grammar History of Japan up to 1800 Everyday knowledge Focus: Japanese economy	950 Kanji 2,000 vocabulary 250 hours of study	Exam duration is 2 hours Required to pass: 60%
6 級 rokukyū	Writing Vocabulary Listening Comprehension Reading Skills Grammar History of Japan up to 1500 AD Everyday knowledge Focus: Shinto and Buddhism	650 Kanji 1,000 vocabulary 150 hours of study	Exam duration is 2 hours Required to pass: 60%
漢字 実 科 also: Kanji 実 科	Introduction to Kanji	Explanation of terms (e.g. logo and pictograms, radicals) Explanation of Hanzi and Hanja transcription systems 300 Kanji writing exercises 40 learning hours	Exam duration is 1 h Required to pass: 70%
KANA 才能	Syllable alphabets hiragana and katakana	Both syllable alphabets 25 study hours	Exam duration is 1 h Required to pass: 70%
7 級 shichikyū	Writing Vocabulary Listening Comprehension Reading Skills Grammar History of Japan up to 1000 AD Geographical knowledge Everyday knowledge	60 Kanji 400 vocabulary 40 hours of study	Exam duration is 2 hours Required to pass: 50%

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Prof. Dr. Kobayashi: Perspectives . In: Prospectus of Societé France-Japon . 2001.
2. ↑ Prof. Dr. Kobayashi: Statistique . In: Prospectus of Societé France-Japon, pages 5 + 6 . 2007.
3. ↑ cf. u. a. Semester programs VHS of the City of Saarlouis 2001–2008, KVHS of the Saarlouis district 2004–2008, VHS Merzig-Wadern 2005–2008
4. ↑ Dr. André Fourty: Overview of changes and detailed description of the changed T.JL system . In: Prospectus of Societé France-Japon 03/2008; German version . 2008.
5. ^ Andreas Neumann, Stefan Reiter: Click - eLearning environment . All Asian Society, 2005.