Eight Study-Abroad Students Pass Japanese Language Proficiency Test

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Eight students in the department of world languages, literatures and cultures in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test while they were in Japan over the summer. The Summer Intensive Intermediate Japanese Language Program offered through the university’s office of study abroad and international exchange gives students the opportunity to develop language skills while experiencing Japanese culture and lifestyle.

“Generally, students had three hours of intensive Japanese language classes in the morning, and then spent the afternoon traveling and socializing with Japanese students,” said Tatsuya Fukushima, professor of Japanese.

The test is an international certification examination for Japanese language proficiency that is conducted by the Japanese government worldwide.

“The expectations set by our foreign language faculty push students to a level of proficiency that few schools attain,” said Robin Roberts, dean of Fulbright College. “These high standards set students on a path to be competitive in the job market.

There are currently 13 test sites in the United States, and the University of Arkansas was designated as the ninth official test site in 2008. In the U.S., the test is conducted annually on the first Sunday in December. In Japan, the test is held in July as well as December. 

“These students earned a certificate attained by only 5 percent of American learners of Japanese,” said Fukushima. “This effectively means that they officially joined a group of top Japanese language learners in the U.S., and I am really proud of their accomplishments.”

Eight of the nine University of Arkansas students who took the exam while in Japan passed. The ninth student took the advanced placement version, and narrowly missed the passing score. The students who passed lower level examination are eligible for the higher level exam in December.

Successful examinees may qualify for employment at Japanese corporations in the U.S. Individuals certified by the Japanese Language Proficiency Test are more successful when applying for work visas to Japan. The certification also helps students stand out in job applications.

For more information about study abroad opportunities at the University of Arkansas, go to http://studyabroad.uark.edu. To learn more about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, visit http://www.jflalc.org/jlpt.html.