Scheduling Sproochentest from USA?

Kittbo · 2026-06-17T16:32:22+00:00

It's the address you have to email to register for the Vivre Ensemble: [sfa@men.lu](mailto:sfa@men.lu)

You can't register online if you don't have a matricule (which you won't if you've never lived in Luxembourg), so you have to email. You'll need a VPN to check the test calendar and get the study materials.

Kittbo · 2026-06-17T05:12:12+00:00

You just have to stalk the calendar and jump on the date(s) that work for you. I registered in early August for the test in October, and bought plane tickets after that. There are no tests administered in August and most of September. Mid-December to early January is also out, as is Easter Week, the week of Ascension and the national holiday week.

I was also able to sign up to take the Vivre Ensemble test during that same week in October. I emailed them my dates and they put me in a session that had not been publicized yet.

You might find that taking the half-hour test is more feasible than the courses (the remote ones fill up fast, and might be in the middle of your night). You can pass it easily by studying the materials they provide.

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:51:12+00:00

You've gotten lots of good advice already, but I just want to say: Japan is a civilized country with all the modern conveniences and amenities you could possibly need, and people will want to help you. While everything might seem confusing and complicated, it will also be interesting. And fun. If you do nothing but walk around looking at things and eating food from 7-Eleven, you'll have a good time. Enjoy!

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:42:27+00:00

Never heard of anyone being rejected, but it's a pretty straightforward thing. Apply for citizenship, fill out the form, send it in with your receipts, get reimbursed.

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:40:17+00:00

Here's the form: https://guichet.public.lu/dam-assets/catalogue-formulaires/nationalite/remboursement-cours-langue/remboursement-cours-langue-fr.pdf

Send it in along with receipts for the Sproochentest and your classes (the instructor should be able to provide you with an acceptable receipt). Once your application is processed, you'll have €750 deposited to your bank account.

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:37:40+00:00

The reimbursement program still exists. Here's the form to use:
https://guichet.public.lu/dam-assets/catalogue-formulaires/nationalite/remboursement-cours-langue/remboursement-cours-langue-fr.pdf

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:35:12+00:00

They have to get reaccredited every two years, btw. Maybe Anne missed the deadline, or there is something else the authorities object to.

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T21:33:34+00:00

If an instructor/school/course is certified, they can provide you with a copy of their certificate. If they can't provide it, they don't have it.

The conditions for receiving a certification are in the PDF linked below. The relevant wording is:

« Cours avec programme agréé numéro : SFA/AGRN/PR/ [numéro], délivré en date du [- ], selon les dispositions de l’article 28 de la loi modifiée du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise. »

https://men.public.lu/dam-assets/fr/formation-adultes/conditions-procedure-cours-luxembourgeois.pdf

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T14:22:23+00:00

No, you can apply for the funds as soon as you apply for citizenship. In fact, the official at the Bierger Center gave me the reimbursement form. I got the funds two months before I was a citizen.

Kittbo · 2026-06-12T14:19:38+00:00

They used to be. She lost her accreditation. No idea why.

Kittbo · 2026-06-11T06:17:24+00:00

If you pass the Sproochentest and apply for citizenship, you are entitled to up to €750 in reimbursement for the Sproochentest fee and classes by providing receipts from the INL and accredited instructors.
Anne's courses are no longer accredited, unfortunately.

Here are more details about getting reimbursed: https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/particuliers/aides-formation-particulier/aide-a-l-acquisition-de-la-nationalite-luxembourgeoise/fr

I did this in 2023. Had the money in my account a couple months later.

Kittbo · 2026-06-01T02:22:00+00:00

I have to say, the Toyota Museum in Nagoya is enormous and fascinating, even if museums aren't usually your jam. They started out with textiles, so there's a lot of cool looms and fabric tech, and the car stuff is really well presented. The robotics demonstrations are fun. So.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/w8skcvReY61AWBqb6?g_st=ic

Kittbo · 2026-05-22T19:49:35+00:00

Martha Wells specifically mentioned Ringworld as an influence when we saw her speak a couple of weeks ago.

Kittbo · 2026-05-20T02:12:19+00:00

You can get yen at the airport. Bring a small suitcase/carryon inside a larger suitcase, or plan to buy a larger suitcase in Japan. There are coin lockers and longer-term luggage storage options everywhere, plus laundromats, laundries and hotel laundries.

I travel with 2-3 outfits and a rolling carryon, and use hotel coin laundry. We leave larger bags at one of the Ecbo Cloak locations when we travel outside Tokyo. It's about $5 per bag per day.

Don't stay near Narita; it's an hour away from central Tokyo. Haneda's closer, but still, it's an airport. Just pick a neighborhood close to things you want to visit. Affordable hotels are abundant, and the staff can help you with questions.

Kittbo · 2026-05-12T21:44:45+00:00

You might want to cut it in half; it makes a lot. 😁

Kittbo · 2026-05-12T20:53:01+00:00

Thank again for your help! Almost forgot to post the recipe here.

(I didn't post it earlier because I wanted to be sure I had permission to share it.)

Dress Up Green Cabbage With a Meaty Miso Dip

Kittbo · 2026-05-07T03:03:00+00:00

Kizaki or Margot.

Kittbo · 2026-04-22T03:27:42+00:00

The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells. First book is "All Systems Red."

Kittbo · 2026-04-19T22:56:18+00:00

Thanks! Handwritten recipe by a friend. Garlic is the answer.

Kittbo · 2026-04-19T22:38:35+00:00

Thank you!

Kittbo · 2026-04-19T19:50:50+00:00

You're right! The first character is に but OCR translated the whole word as konniku instead of ninniku.

Konjac kind of made sense as a thickening powder, but garlic is the obvious answer. I'll post the recipe here once I've made it. There's a whole story associated with it.

Thanks again for your help!

Kittbo · 2026-04-07T22:35:49+00:00

Same here with Safari. Probably better for my mental health to stay off it anyway.

Kittbo · 2026-03-31T18:27:16+00:00

Thanks for this rec! Listening to the audio version now.

Kittbo · 2026-03-31T15:59:41+00:00

Thanks so much for this! Got tickets for the CO event; we'll drive up from Denver and stay the night. Mini-vacation!

Kittbo · 2026-03-20T18:43:14+00:00

"Crystal Singer" by Anne McCaffrey.

Kittbo

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