The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 1 exam, the highest level of 4, has attracted note after apparently including a listening comprehension exam in which “Asuka” begs for number 4 mobile fighter launch permission…
The JLPT is easily the most widely recognised and officially sanctioned Japanese language qualification, and level 1 is held to be at or near native level; even many Japanese consider the test hard (although “filled with obscure language irrelevant to normal usage” might be more accurate).
However, as with many such language tests it is possible to study for and pass the test and yet still be hopeless in real-world situations…
The listening exam, presented as a “radio drama,” apparently features “Asuka” begging to be allowed to launch her unit:
Player 1
A transcript of the test:
ラジオでドラマを聞いています。
番組の中では誰がどうすることになりましたか。
「隊長、第二次防衛線が突破されました。巨大怪獣は真っ直ぐ中央管理システムに向かってます。
このままではあと30分も持ちません。」
「今出せるモビルファイターは？」
「零号機だけです。」
「やむをえん、四号機を出すぞ。」
「四号機はまだテストが完了していません。それに操縦できるパイロットが現在誰も。」
「零号機では奴の侵入は防ぎきれん。ここは私が行く。」
「隊長自ら？！でもその怪我では四号機の加速に耐えられません。」
「私が行きます」
「アスカ！」
「私なら四号機を操れます。お願いです。行かせてください。」
「だがお前はまだ訓練中の身だ。今は子供の出る幕じゃないぞ！」
「そんなこと言ってる場合じゃない！」
「おい！アスカ！待て！」
四号機発射準備完了しました
「アスカ、頼んだぞ」
番組の中では誰がどうすることになりましたか
①隊長が零号機で行きます
②隊長が四号機で行きます
③女の人が零号機で行きます
④女の人が四号機で行きます
Otaku will doubtless be delighted at how the test now caters to their vast anime-watching body of knowledge, and those who fully comprehend this might be able to approach the test…
2ch’s response:
What?
This must be a lie…
With something like this even amongst Japanese only an anime otaku could grasp the situation.
Awfully high level Japanese indeed.
Just where would you use Japanese like this!?
Probably a lot of Japanese would make mistakes here.
What’s up with this test? Shall I take it? Is it useful?
Try taking it, even Japanese can fail it:
What… I got it wrong.
Anyone who can’t understand this is in serious trouble I think…
I would have sat there completely dumbfounded… Hopefully I’d have gotten out of my stunned state before the time for the question was up, lol
WTF, is this really comes out in JLPT level 1? Even a foreign also know what is the correct answer!
even a people who watch anime also can get the answer!!
Is this a joke?
i don’t believe this kind of stupid thing will come out in JLPT level 1 test!
JLPT 3 had a text about a guy who learned japanese because he wanted to read manga.
I took the same test and a bunch of us were laughing at the end of it.
I chuckled a little at the Dragon Fantasy question too.
Well, I don’t know why they are making a fuss – the exercise was really easy.
Even a person with a scarce grasp of the language would understand what’s going on, hence give the correct answer.
How could this be in JLPT level 1 ?
Have you really ever attend the test?
Or you just judge it easy based on this sample only?
As you can see, I was talking about that particular exercise.
I never said the whole test is easy, since I haven’t taken it, and I can’t judge it without doing so.