Quote:
Originally Posted by RickOShay
I'm gonna disagree with you there. I have passed level 1 and am not close to native. You can get into some colleges if you pass level two I have heard, but the vast majority of employers that would hire you for Japanese ability require level 1. Or lets just say that if you have between somebody with level 1 and somebody with a level 2 to choose from.. as an employer who would you pick? What you have stated seems to be a job where Japanese is necessary for survival, not to be used professionally. Is that correct?
|
This is not what I've heard, been told by employers, or read. Now I will grant that perhaps you are trying to compete with Japanese people for jobs in Japanese companies that have nothing to do with internationalism, per se. I wouldn't know. I am not interested in doing this, nor is anyone I work with.
What I have been told is:
1) Level 2 is required for translating work, interpretation work, public affairs work, and obtaining teaching certification in Japan (this is not some sort of foriegner teaching cert, it is the same teaching cert as native Japanese teachers). Level 1 is not required (although it certainly doesn't hurt!)
2) Level 2 is required for admission to universities in Japan. Level 1 is not ordinarily required.
3) Level 1 is considered,
by the test administrators, to make one as fluent as native speakers. Whether that is reality or not, it is what I was told.
If you have sources stating otherwise, I'd like to see them, because my research and career planning has me eventually taking level two to get my Japanese teaching certification, which in addition to level 2, requires courses at a Japanese university.