I'm sorry it's a bit late to post this.
Professor Haig's lecture on Sunday was great and insightful!

I uploaded the pictures of him and us I took on my facebook album.
Please take a look.

講演
『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　
講師　ジョン・ヘイグ　ハワイ大学教授
Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig
“A Kanji Authority Looks at
Japan and the World of Kanji.”
7月6日（日）　11：00〜12：00
日本語スクールNIHONGO GYMは、この素晴らしい講演を自信を持ってお届けします。講演してくださるのは、ハワイ大学マノア校東アジア言語文学部准教授、ジョン・ヘイグ博士。ヘイグ先生が見た日本、そして漢字の世界を、英語と日本語の両方で楽しく語ってくださいます。日本語を勉強中の外国人の方にとっては、大先輩から漢字学習、ひいては日本の言語や文化について聞けるチャンスです。日本人にとっては、日本語と日本文化の再発見となることでしょう。沢山の方の参加をお待ちしております。

●　日 時: 2008年 7月6日（日）　1１：00〜1２：00
●　会 場: 難波市民学習センターOCATビル４階　(四つ橋線なんば駅改札から徒歩３分、JR難波駅改札から徒歩1分)
●　入場料：　500円
● お申込み方法：　e-mailで参加希望人数・参加者氏名・代表者の電話番号を7/3(木) までにお知らせください。
講師のご紹介
ジョン・ヘイグ教授は、1978年、ハーバード大学にて日本語言語学を専門とし博士号取得。1989年、ハワイ大学マノアにてMBA取得。1976年以来、ハワイに在住しハワイ大学で教鞭を取る。また日本でも名古屋大学、山形大学、神戸大学、甲南大学で教壇に立つ。1997年には、7000漢字を収録した「ニューネルソン漢英辞典」の最新版を編集者として出版。日本語の長編小説も読みこなす。趣味はヨット。2002年には、NHK朝の連続テレビ小説「さくら」に、ハワイ大学の講義シーンで教授役として出演。
お問合せ
主催： NIHONGO GYM(日本語学校ニホンゴジム)
E-mail : info@nihongogym.net / Tel: 080-3816-0755

講演　講師　ジョン・ヘイグ　ハワイ大学教授
『漢字博士ヘイグ先生が語る　日本と漢字の世界』　
Lecture by University of Hawaii Professor Dr. John Haig
“A Kanji Authority Looks at Japan and the World of Kanji.”

NIHONGO GYM Japanese School is proud to be hosting this special lecture by Dr. John Haig, an associate professor of the Department of East Asian Languages and　Literatures at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Haig will be speaking in English and Japanese on the advantages and intricacies of kanji as well as his interesting experiences in and about Japan. This will be a great opportunity for learners of Japanese to get an insight into, not only how to study kanji, but also into learning the Japanese language and culture. For native Japanese, the lecture may help you to rediscover the wonders of your own language and culture.

● Date and time: 6th July, 2008　Sunday
1１：00〜1２：00
●　Place: Namba Municipal Learning Center, 4th Floor, OCAT building (3 min. from Yotsubashi Line Namba Station and 1 min. from JR Namba Station)
● Admission: 500 yen
● Reservations: Please notify us of the number of people attending, their names, and your phone number by email to info@nihongogym.net by Thursday, the 3rd.

●Lecturer
Dr. John Haig received his PhD in Japanese Linguistics from Harvard University in 1978 and an MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1989. He has been teaching at the University of Hawaii since 1976 and has also taught at Nagoya University, Yamagata University, Kobe University, and Konan University. Dr. Haig was also the chief editor for the latest edition of the New Nelson Kanji English Dictionary which was published in 1997. He is an avid sailing enthusiast and is also very much into reading lengthy Japanese novels.

●Inquiries: NIHONGO GYM Japanese School
E-mail : info@nihongogym.net / Tel: 080-3816-0755

Even if you can't come, please spread this to anyone who might be interested.

Have you read my last post about the JLPT revision?
Now the details of the test have been released in English.
Please check out this website for details!!

Wow! This is really big news!
More than anything, there will be a new level between 2 kyuu and 3 kyuu. The levels are called N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5.

And from 2009,
Level 1 and 2 tests will be held twice a year in July and December.
So this means if you fail in December you don't have to wait for another year.
However, by the same token, you can't slack off!
(^_^)

From next year (2009), the JLPT will take on a new form.
How?　Let me explain.
As far as I know, the information has only been published in Japanese at this point.
This is the newsletter about teaching Japanese published by Japan Foundation.

The artile says there will be three areas that where the test will be improved.
1)課題遂行能力とそのためのコミュニケーション能力を測
定する試験とする
The test will measure task-accomplishment skills and communication skills.
2)Can-do statementによる能力基準
The level specifications will include what one can do in real life, such as understanding simple explanations at a post office, etc.
3)等化　
Equating method will be applied for higher levels.
Like TOEIC, because of the equating method, your score will reflect your real ability pretty accurately.

Don't get confused!
This year's test is the same as usual.
We have to wait for more detailed information about 2009 test.

I also found this somewhere else.
The JLPT will be held twice a year in June and December from 2009, but only for level 1 and 2.
It's really good news!