Лингвистика и межкультурная коммуникация. 2011. № 1 ТЕОРИЯ ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯ ИНОСТРАННЫХ ЯЗЫКОВ Аlexey Korenev THROUGH BORROWING WE CREATE OUR OWN (social and cultural peculiarities of the Japanese National Center Test for University Admissions in English and German languages) Статья посвящена вопросам адаптации тестовой формы центрального вступительного экзамена по иностранным языкам в университеты Японии. <...> The article is devoted to the adaptation of the Japanese Central Test to norms and values of the Japanese culture. <...> Preserving formal similarities with Western tests, the Japanese foreign language tests were influenced by national mentality and teaching traditions. <...> Exams evaluate foreign language skills of test-takers only to some limited extent. <...> Rather, the main aim of the Central Test is to select candidates with the best ability to memorize and developed logical thinking. <...> Key words: test, university entrance examination, Japan, borrowing, social and cultural aspects, collectivism. <...> Nowadays many countries are using standardized testing as a tool for admission to universities: however the form of the exam and even its specific goals vary from country to country under the influence of national system of education, its history, social and cultural factors. <...> These variations may be shown on the example of the foreign language tests in different countries. <...> Ломоносова; тел.: 8-916-885-18-97, e-mail: alexeykorenev@gmail.com 122 CAE or TESTDAF, the admissions test authors, while working on the university admissions exams, also take into account teaching traditions of the country and they also have to consider the way foreign language is taught at schools in a particular country. <...> The input of traditional Japanese philosophy shaped a special emphasis on the ability to read and understand the text, which is sometimes put over the development of communicative skills. <...> Taking the Western form of standardized written examinations Japanese methodologists made an input of Japanese attitudes and priorities in education and Japanese traditions into the content of the exam. <...> One of the leading Japanese education philosophers Kiyonobu Itakura stated that the modern Japanese science is a process of imitation followed by creation of something new1. 1. <...> Center Test and the egalitarian culture Before considering the foreign language test in particular, a short overview over the history of the Japanese National Center Test for University Admissions may <...>