japanesing is hard

October 2, 2006 3:07 PM

Are there any JLPT prep books that are filled with short, interesting stories that make extensive use of the kanji/grammar for whatever level you are studying?

I saw the SAT prep novels in Barnes and Noble the other day, which made me wonder if there is an equivalent for this test. Ideally, though, instead of a whole novel, more of a series of short stories.

posted by GooseOnTheLoose to writing & language (2 comments total)

I have never seen such a thing--and I have been through the test-prep shelves of Kinokuniya innumerable times.

But, unless you're studying for 1-kyuu, the tests don't really have anything that natural exposure to a wide variety of written materials won't give you.
posted by Jeanne at 3:19 PM on October 2, 2006

For anything other than 1-kyu, you don't really need anything like novels, if they even existed. At any rate, I recommend the "Kanzen Master" series (完全マスター).

If you're taking 1-kyu, you're better off just taking practice tests over and over than getting a lot of study guides, from what I understand. They often reuse questions from previous years. I'm still using some of the study guides, but I guess we'll see how I do when I get my results back next year.

Good luck! 頑張ってください。

::returns to his frantic studying for the 1-kyu in December::
posted by armage at 6:57 PM on October 2, 2006