Learning the Kanji - Kanji Kentei (Kanji proficiency test)

There are many different books out there for learning the Kanji, probably the best being "Remembering the kanji" by James Heisig. An awesome book, which I have reviewed in another hub of mine, please check the links below for the review.

Once completing that book, you have the powerful tool set required to move on and conquer the kanji and the Japanese language. It is my strong advice that you check out the Kanji test or 漢検 (kanken) as it is called in Japanese. This is a hugely motivational and moreover "fun!" test to take and prepare for. Obviously when you move on to the later more difficult levels of the test you are going to be seriously challenged but the lower levels are ideal for beginning students of japanese.

The first level of the test, level 10 (the easiest), requires you to have mastery of only 80 characters, the 80 characters Japanese 6 year olds learn in there first year of elementary school. But what's so beneficial to your Japanese learning with this is that you must not just learn the 80 Kanji that are required, but you must also learn all the words that are involved with those characters. Thus building a solid foundation for you to further your studies.

I would recommend taking this test as a parallel while taking the Japanese proficiency test. The writing of the characters is something that is missing from that test, and in my opinion it's an abosolute disgrace that such an important part of Japanese is left out of what is considered one of the most influential Japanese tests for foreigners.

One of the most powerful and helpful things about progressing through the many levels of this test like this, is the motivation it provides for you. It provides you with a way to push not just you kanji ability, but also your language ability forward at the same time.

Using this test, along with regularly, listening and reading the Japanese language can be a very effective way to progress with your Japanese.

 You make the Kanji even more fun if you buy yourself a DS and one of the Kanken games available for it. Something I truly recommend you do if you have the spare cash. One of best features this offers, is the ability to practice actually writing out the characters and having your charcter checked straight away by the software. This really can be a special way to improve trhe neatness of your characters and your recall ability.

Without the DS and Kanken DS, I don't think I would progressed as I far as I did with this test. This along with some enjoyable reading and watching of Japanese TV, can take even those of us who believe we have little ability when it comes to language into complete Japanese literacy.

 Before finishing this article, I like to tell you about my experiences with the test. I first took the test 2 1/2 years ago now, I started with level 8, which requires you to know about 440 characters. I wanted this because I had not long before passed level 3 of the JLPT (Japanese proficiency test, and wanted to take my kanji further. I then continued to take the test almost every 3 months or so moving up a level each time.

I have never failed a test yet, I was able to do this quite easily and I can tell you how to do it too. All you must do to secure passing these tests is:-

1. Finish "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig.

2.  Go download a copy of Anki (an SRS program) by Damien Elmes.

3. Buy the Kanken books for the level you want to take. Amazon.co.jp will provide for this need.

4. Study.