JLPT Level 1 Required

February 27, 2007 on 9:12 am | In Other | | Email This Post

So you’ve got JLPT 1… But now what do you do?

How about a free 3 month cruise around the world?

Peace Boat is a Japan based NGO/NPO that organizes crusies visiting 15-20 countries over three months while conducting environmental and peace awareness activities.

Normally joining Peace Boat requires payment, but if you have Japanese, or Spanish language skills you can join the Peace Boat as a volunteer interpreter and Peace Boat will allow you to ride for free.

Of course, the interpretation is intense, as you will be interpreting lectures from guest educators of major universities and international organizations. The minimum requirement for an English/Japanese interpreter is JLPT Level 1.

You can also take interpretation and translation classes while you are on the cruise, which is an added bonus.

It’s like a free education, cruise, and chance to meet some footloose and friendly people at the same time!

I wonder if the boat has internet access…

- Harvey

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9 Comments »

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  1. Gravatar

    “I wonder if the boat has internet access…”

    It does. A friend of mine, fluent in Spanish and Japanese, volunteered with Peace Boat back in 2001 and was able to keep in touch by e-mail through their satellite connection. I had also applied but was rejected.

    I’d recommend the program to anyone who has the language skills and dedication to see it through. Just be sure you’ve got really solid Japanese skills before you take the oral and written test in Tokyo. I had passed the JLPT 1 with flying colors, but lacked enough real-world communication experience to meet Peace Boat’s needs. If I still had the free time, I’d try again now.

    Comment by Michael — February 27, 2007 #

  2. Gravatar

    Michael thanks so much for the comment! Very interesting!

    I’m surprised the exam is so strict! I noticed by reading the description of the content that the interpretation would be a serious challenge, but I didn’t expect that they would be so tough in selection.

    Do you have any more information about your friends experience? Or your own experience with the exam in Tokyo? I would love to hear more details!

    Comment by harvey — February 27, 2007 #

  3. Gravatar

    Man, I just got my results for my 四級 (374/400) and you are talking about free cruises for 一級 absolvents :/

    Comment by Tadashi — February 27, 2007 #

  4. Gravatar

    If your japanese is not so jouzu, I think you can have a place in the Peace Boat as an english or spanish teacher. One spanish girl I know was just back some days ago. It should be great!

    Comment by Javi — February 27, 2007 #

  5. Gravatar

    Saw this, but I think I’d have to spend another year studying hard before I’m qualified. :( Bleh.

    Comment by Grace — February 28, 2007 #

  6. Gravatar

    interpreters have to follow the Japanese tour groups around when docked at a port, where as English teachers have leave to travel as they please. Even if you can be an interpreter I recommend applying as a teacher.

    Comment by taylor — February 28, 2007 #

  7. Gravatar

    Hey but a interpreter would look so much better on a resume, and also would be much more of a personal “stretch” I imagine… Even if it were tougher, I would do the interpreter instead of the teaching position.

    However, it would be a bummer to really want to go on the trip, get rejected for interpretation and not be able to switch over to a teaching position!

    Comment by harvey — February 28, 2007 #

  8. Gravatar

    I’ve e-mailed my friend to see if he’ll pop in here and write about his experience. As for myself, they didn’t provide much information on why I wasn’t chosen, just a vague “not enough experience”. Shortly after my rejection, I took a job as an interpreter at a Japanese government office, so I don’t think my oral skills were bad, and my written was always strong. My friend was definitely better, though.

    Overall, I found the Peace Boat exam much easier and more enjoyable than the JLPT. My rejection may have been due to applying as an interpreter rather than an English teacher, since there were fewer positions available for interpreters. Even as much as I wanted to work with Peace Boat, I was reluctant to apply for a teaching position. I’ve seen too many people start off with teaching and then get stuck in that track despite other aspirations.

    Comment by Michael — February 28, 2007 #

  9. Gravatar

    Intepreters are made not by JLPT Level 1 alone.

    Comment by Joe — February 20, 2008 #

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