Topic: adviceS
Q: How long would the full-time Japanese language course in the YWCA take to get me to the top level in Japanese?
A: "How long"? --->For me a lifetime.
Two classes a week for two years will get you the Japanese level 3 in about two years. For level 2, more "intensive" study is needed at least 4 days a week, several hours a day for one year. Level 1 for a Westerner studying at the YMCA is not a reasonable expectation---at least 2 years (more like 4 or 5). All the Western translators working for me as just as trainees with only Level 1, took 5 or more years to get to that point.
Q: I read somewhere that you have to have JLPT Lvl 1 to enroll in a Japanese university, so... if i take that language course i still have to take the JLPT up to level 1 right?
A: To enroll in a Japanese NATIONAL university (dirt cheap, or free scholorship) takes JLPT Lvl 1 to enroll although Level 2 will be accepted for a real scientist. Private universities will accept anything but they are expensive. Your best bet is transfer into Japan as grad student in a real major (not language or humanities) and live on a general research or Ed Ministry scholorship which pays more than 180,000yen/m plus housing.
Botton Line: It's easy, fun and maybe lucrative as long as you're not in not language or humanities major.
Some guy picked up on the Japaneseque Rob Pongi vib all the way down in South Africa where he "claims" to have never seen Cup-o-Puke Ramen --- lucky boy. Anway as a Real Adminal in the Pongi Self Defence Forces I just have to repost this EVERWHERE, hee, hee. 
There are few things I looooove more than Christmas in Japan. Christmas here is second Valentine?s Day...actually bigger than Valentines. Any single person spending Christmas Eve in Japan is thought of asa total loser. To quote my friend Yves at 
su.no.mo?
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China Hurries to Animate Its Film Industry
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