If you’ve been studying Japanese for any period of time, you know as well as I do that there are days when you just don’t feel like it. There are days where all those stupid, frickin’ symbols make you want to pick up something really sharp and hack your poor textbook into confetti.

Finding the motivation to study, especially when you’re studying on your own, can be really tough to do day after day. Staying motivated becomes especially challenging when you have nothing to reach for. At the very least, the JLPT gives you an endgame to shoot for. What better reason to brush the digital dust off that Japanese mp3 than having a test coming?

Whether you want to admit it or not, our school system has trained many of us want to do well on tests. Big exams can equal big motivation.

QUESTION: How do you stay motivated to study Japanese?