Number of Japanese joining Vietnamese-language test makes record
A total of 815 Japanese candidates attended the fifth Vietnamese-language proficiency test held by the Japan College of Foreign Languages (JCFL) in Tokyo on June 19, the highest number to date.
Inside an examination room of the Vietnamese-language proficiency test. (Photo: VNA)
Tokyo (VNA) – A total of 815 Japanese candidates attended the fifth Vietnamese-language proficiency test held by the Japan College of Foreign Languages (JCFL) in Tokyo on June 19, the highest number to date.
President of this year’s jury Fujino Masayoshi said althoughthe COVID-19 pandemic has just subsided in Japan, the number of candidates grewby 254 people from last year and by 115 percent from 2017 when the first edition tookplace.
They are pupils, students, and company staff from acrossJapan, with the oldest being 77 and the youngest 11, Fujino added.
He said most of them took the exam for work-relatedpurposes, and the number of those doing so for other purposes such as to know more about Vietnam and interest in learning in the language hasincreased significantly.
Dr Dinh Sy Dien, a member of the jury and the one making theexam questionnaire, said the difficulty level of the annual test over the years hasbeen relatively equal and its scope revolves around Vietnam’s practical business,culture, and life issues.
Japanese candidates queue up to complete the registration procedure. (Photo: VNA)
The JCFL under the Bunsai Gakuen Non-Profit EducationFoundation is the first and only organisation so far to host the test, which isdivided into six levels, the first is the highest and has yet to recordany candidate registered.
The rate of participants passing the exam increased from16.7 percent in 2017 to 29.8 percent in 2018, and 57.6 percent last year.
JCFL Rector Ise Yoji saidthe growing Vietnam-Japan ties across all fields in recent years has resultedin higher demand for learning the Vietnamese language among Japanese even during the COVID-19./.
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Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
Inside an examination room of the Vietnamese-language proficiency test. (Photo: VNA) 
Japanese candidates queue up to complete the registration procedure. (Photo: VNA) 
