ABSTRACT
This author has been personally involved in the joint development of a ‘Japanese Language Learning Aptitude Test’ (to be referred to as the ‘Test’ hereafter in this paper) at Nagoya University since 1981, and subsequently at Tsukuba University from 1985. In October 1979, a Japanese language learning course was established at Nagoya University for state-sponsored foreign research students, with scholarship funds provided by the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbushō). The aim of the programme was to cultivate Japanese language skills required for practical use in study and research at the postgraduate level. Only about 600 contact hours were, however, allotted for this learning, making it a challenging task for both students and instructors.
