A practical task shows what you can do with Japanese, not just what you remember on a test.

The idea

Choose one situation, such as finding a station and buying a ticket. Set a time limit and decide whether notes are allowed. Record whether you asked, understood the reply and conveyed the key information; save a short sample. Repeat later with a different destination under the same conditions and compare each step.

Examples

  • 駅えきはどこですか。Where is the station?
  • 次つぎの電車でんしゃは何時なんじですか。What time is the next train?
  • 切符きっぷを一枚いちまいください。One ticket, please.
  • 三番さんばんのホームへ行いきます。I am going to platform three.
  • 電車でんしゃは十分じゅっぷんぐらい遅おくれています。The train is about ten minutes late.
  • 友達ともだちに到着とうちゃく時間じかんを伝つたえます。I tell my friend the arrival time.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

A faster answer alone does not prove better communication. Note accuracy and whether the other person understood, and do not compare attempts with different help or time limits as if they were equivalent.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the form that completes the sentence. 駅えきは＿ですか。（どこ／いつ）

    Show answer or example answer

    どこ

    どこ asks for a place, so it fits a question about where the station is.

  2. Choose the form that completes the sentence. 切符きっぷを一枚いちまい＿。（ください／います）

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    ください

    ください makes a polite request for one ticket; います expresses existence instead.

  3. Choose the form that completes the sentence. 電車でんしゃは十分じゅっぷんぐらい＿います。（遅れて／遅れた）

    Show answer or example answer

    遅れて

    遅れて joins います to describe an ongoing delay; 遅れた cannot join います this way.

Use it today

Role-play a station trip for two minutes without notes. Record the questions, ticket request and arrival time you can communicate; repeat next week with another destination and practise the weakest step.