Congratulations to Angela Lu (left) and Ashton Bryan (right) for achieving high scores on the National Japanese Exam and being awarded GOLD LEVEL! Their accomplishment was also recognized at the Japanese Language Program’s End-of-Year Celebration.
After completing the exam, they shared their reflections. Lu said,
“From not knowing much Japanese to joking with classmates in the language, choosing to learn Japanese at UVA has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made. The supportive culture of the department allowed me to enjoy the challenge and take risks, helping me grow in areas beyond the classroom as well.”
Bryan shared,
“The Y is an excellent opportunity to practice listening and speaking skills in a more natural context. In addition to using in-class materials, I recommend listening to real, natural speech to build confidence and stay calm when encountering unfamiliar words.”
The National Japanese Exam is a proficiency-oriented, standards-based exam for Japanese learners across the country. It uses quasi-authentic materials—slightly modified versions of real-world content tailored for a test-taking environment. The results reflect test-takers’ ability to comprehend Japanese in practical, everyday reading and listening contexts.