How to Practice Japanese Listening | Intermediate Japanese

Japanese script with English translation

1. 1.

   みなさんこんにちは。あかね的日本語教室のあかねです

   Hello, everyone. I'm Akane from Akane's Japanese Class.

2. 2.

   私は今千葉県の木更津駅から

   I'm now at a park in Chiba Prefecture that...

3. 3.

   歩いて20分くらいで来ることができる公園にいます

   ...you can reach in about a 20-minute walk from Kisarazu Station.

4. 4.

   後ろにはテニスコートもあるし

   There are tennis courts behind me,

5. 5.

   あとここから東京湾を見ることもできます

   and you can also see Tokyo Bay from here.

6. 6.

   けっこう広い公園です

   It's quite a large park.

7. 7.

   今日はここでみなさんと聴解について

   Today, I'd like to talk with you here about listening comprehension.

8. 8.

   お話をしたいと思います

   That's what I'd like to discuss.

9. 9.

   ちょっと座れそうな場所に移動します

   I'll move somewhere that looks like a good place to sit.

10. 10.

    今日はくもりです

    It's cloudy today.

11. 11.

    天気がいいと本当にすごくきれいな景色なんですけど

    When the weather is nice, the scenery is truly beautiful, but...

12. 12.

    残念ですね

    It's a shame.

13. 13.

    でも雨が降ってないだけマシだと思います

    Still, I think it's better than if it were raining.

14. 14.

    この緑のものを何と言いますか？

    What do you call this green stuff?

15. 15.

    これは芝生です

    This is a lawn.

16. 16.

    芝生と言います

    It's called shibafu, or lawn.

17. 17.

    でねこっちにテーブルと椅子があって座れます

    And over here, there are tables and chairs where you can sit.

18. 18.

    ゴミ捨て禁止

    No dumping of trash.

19. 19.

    持ち帰りましょうと書いてあります

    It says, “Please take it home with you.”

20. 20.

    でね、あっちの方には

    And over that way,

21. 21.

    スケートボードができるエリアもあります

    there's also an area where you can skateboard.

22. 22.

    本当にね広い公園です

    It really is a large park.

23. 23.

    私ここ久しぶりに来ました

    It's been a long time since I last came here.

24. 24.

    どこに座ろうかな

    Where should I sit?

25. 25.

    こっちを背に向けると東京湾が見えるから

    If I sit with my back to this side, you'll be able to see Tokyo Bay,

26. 26.

    いいと思うんですけど

    so I think that would be good.

27. 27.

    あっちにベンチがあるので。あそこに座りたいと思います

    There's a bench over there, so... I think I'll sit there.

28. 28.

    ベンチに座りました

    I've sat down on the bench.

29. 29.

    ちなみに今日は7月7日です

    By the way, today is July 7.

30. 30.

    七夕です

    It's Tanabata.

31. 31.

    ちょうど七夕の日にこの動画を撮影しています

    I'm filming this video right on Tanabata.

32. 32.

    今日は火曜日ですね

    Today is Tuesday.

33. 33.

    おととい、7月5日日曜日

    The day before yesterday, Sunday, July 5,

34. 34.

    ちょうどJLPTがありましたね

    the JLPT was held.

35. 35.

    JLPT受けた人お疲れ様でした

    Well done to everyone who took the JLPT.

36. 36.

    どうでしたか?

    How did it go?

37. 37.

    この動画が出るのはたぶん9月だと思うから

    I think this video will probably come out in September, so...

38. 38.

    もう2か月前のことだから

    by then, it will already have been two months,

39. 39.

    ちょっと記憶が薄れている人もいるかもしれませんが

    so some of you may not remember it very clearly anymore, but...

40. 40.

    私がねThreadsに聴解難しかったですかという投稿をしたら

    When I posted on Threads asking whether the listening section was difficult,

41. 41.

    けっこう多くの人が聴解が難しかったと

    quite a lot of people said that the listening section was difficult.

42. 42.

    書いてくれました

    They wrote that in response.

43. 43.

    人が多くなってきたので移動します

    More people are gathering here, so I'm going to move.

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    散歩してる人が本当に多いですね

    There really are a lot of people out for a walk.

45. 45.

    ワンちゃんを散歩させている人とか

    There are people walking their dogs, for example,

46. 46.

    ウォーキングしている人がけっこう多いです

    and quite a lot of people are out walking for exercise.

47. 47.

    でね、聴解が難しかったとか

    And, you know, some people said the listening section was difficult,

48. 48.

    読解が難しかったとか

    or that the reading section was difficult.

49. 49.

    いろいろな感想があると思うんですけど

    I imagine everyone has all sorts of impressions.

50. 50.

    私もやっぱり外国語を勉強しているときに

    When I'm studying a foreign language, I also find that

51. 51.

    聴解が本当に難しいなといつも感じます

    listening comprehension is always really difficult.

52. 52.

    見たらわかることって多いと思うんですよね

    There are many things you can understand when you see them, right?

53. 53.

    単語でも文法でも

    Whether it's vocabulary or grammar.

54. 54.

    でも聴解って聞いて

    But with listening comprehension, you have to listen

55. 55.

    自分が知っている単語や文法を。いろいろ思い浮かべながら。意味を考えなきゃいけないですよね

    and draw on the vocabulary and grammar you know, bringing various possibilities to mind, while figuring out what it means, right?

56. 56.

    しかも意味を考えるだけじゃなくてもちろん

    And of course, you don't just have to think about the meaning—

57. 57.

    問題を解かなきゃいけないから

    you also have to answer the questions.

58. 58.

    どの答えが合っているのか

    You have to determine which answer is correct,

59. 59.

    1、2、3、4どれが正解なのか

    which of 1, 2, 3, or 4 is the right one.

60. 60.

    問題を見ながら聞きながら

    You have to look at the questions and listen at the same time,

61. 61.

    自分の頭でたくさん考えてやらなきゃいけないから

    and do a lot of thinking in your head as you work through them.

62. 62.

    聴解って本当に難しいと思います

    That's why I think listening comprehension is really difficult.

63. 63.

    それでね今回のテストを受けた人の感想の中に

    Among the comments from people who took this test,

64. 64.

    こういう感想もありました

    there were also comments like these.

65. 65.

    聴解の時にちょうど大雨が降ってきて

    It suddenly started pouring during the listening section,

66. 66.

    聞き取れなかったとか

    so they couldn't hear it clearly.

67. 67.

    隣に座っていた人が集中できていなくて

    Or the person sitting next to them couldn't concentrate,

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    たぶん、その雰囲気が伝わってきちゃったのかな

    and perhaps that feeling rubbed off on them.

69. 69.

    それで自分も集中できなかった

    As a result, they couldn't concentrate either.

70. 70.

    というふうに教えてくれた人もいました

    Some people told me that was what happened to them.

71. 71.

    みなさんに聞きたいんですけど

    I'd like to ask all of you something.

72. 72.

    普段聴解の問題を練習するときに

    When you normally practice listening-comprehension questions,

73. 73.

    どうやって練習していますか?

    how do you practice?

74. 74.

    JLPTを受ける人は。たぶんJLPT専用のテキストを使ったり

    People taking the JLPT probably use textbooks specifically designed for the JLPT,

75. 75.

    過去問を解いたり練習問題を解いたり

    work through past exam questions, or do practice exercises.

76. 76.

    していると思うんですけど

    I imagine that's how you practice, but

77. 77.

    どういう環境で

    In what kind of environment,

78. 78.

    どういう状態で練習していますか?

    and under what conditions do you practice?

79. 79.

    待って、すごい坂がある

    Wait, there's a really steep hill.

80. 80.

    坂になってますね

    It turns into a slope here.

81. 81.

    ちょっと戻ります

    I'll go back a little.

82. 82.

    ここ一番人が少なくていいや

    This spot has the fewest people, so it'll do.

83. 83.

    もちろん家で聴解の練習をしたり

    Of course, it's important to practice listening comprehension at home,

84. 84.

    学校や図書館、静かな場所で

    or practice answering questions somewhere quiet,

85. 85.

    問題を解く練習をすることも大切です

    such as at school or in a library.

86. 86.

    でも私のおすすめは

    But what I recommend is that

87. 87.

    たまにはちょっと集中できないような環境

    every now and then, you practice in an environment where it's a little difficult to concentrate—

88. 88.

    静かじゃない場所で

    somewhere that isn't quiet.

89. 89.

    聴解の練習をしてみてください

    Try practicing listening comprehension there.

90. 90.

    あと例えば試験だけじゃなくて

    Also, this doesn't apply only to exams. For example,

91. 91.

    みなさんが日本のお店で注文するときもそうですよね

    the same is true when you order at a restaurant or shop in Japan, right?

92. 92.

    もしかしたらそのお店はとてもにぎやかで

    Perhaps that place is very lively,

93. 93.

    静かじゃないから聞き取りにくいかもしれません

    so it may be hard to hear because it isn't quiet.

94. 94.

    やっぱり外国語だからこそ

    Precisely because it is a foreign language,

95. 95.

    なるべく静かな環境で聞き取りたいっていうのは

    I understand wanting to listen in as quiet an environment as possible.

96. 96.

    すごく理解できます

    I completely understand that.

97. 97.

    でも試験会場とかお店がいつも静かな環境かといったら

    But if you ask whether exam venues and shops are always quiet,

98. 98.

    そうではないですよね

    that isn't the case, is it?

99. 99.

    だから私のおすすめは電車やバス

    So my recommendation is to practice on trains or buses,

100. 100.

     あとはちょっとにぎやかなお店にいるときに

     or when you're in a somewhat noisy place,

101. 101.

     聴解の問題を少し聞いてみたり

     by listening to some listening-comprehension exercises,

102. 102.

     PodcastとかYouTubeの音声を聞いてみるということを

     or trying to listen to audio from podcasts or YouTube.

103. 103.

     やってみてほしいです

     I'd like you to give that a try.

104. 104.

     いろいろな環境で聴解の練習をする

     Practicing listening comprehension in a variety of environments

105. 105.

     というのが私はすごく大切だと思います

     is something I think is extremely important.

106. 106.

     そしてあとはどうして自分が聴解ができなかったのか

     Next, think about why you couldn't understand what you heard

107. 107.

     何が問題でできなかったのかを

     and what problem prevented you from doing so.

108. 108.

     ちょっと考えてみてください

     Please take a moment to think about it.

109. 109.

     例えば問題が長くて集中できなかったとか

     For example, perhaps the exercise was long and you couldn't concentrate,

110. 110.

     スピードが速かったから聞き取れなかった

     or you couldn't make it out because it was too fast.

111. 111.

     わからない単語や文法が多くて

     Perhaps there were many words and grammar points you didn't know,

112. 112.

     内容が理解できなかったなど

     so you couldn't understand the content, for instance.

113. 113.

     聴解ができなかったといっても

     Even when you say you couldn't understand the listening material,

114. 114.

     いろいろな問題や原因があります

     there can be many different problems and causes.

115. 115.

     そしてそれは人それぞれ違うので

     And because these differ from person to person,

116. 116.

     まずはどうして自分が聞き取れなかったのか

     first analyze why you couldn't make out what was being said.

117. 117.

     分析をしてください

     Please analyze the reason.

118. 118.

     分析をしたらその問題に基づいて

     Once you've analyzed it, use that problem as your basis

119. 119.

     その問題をどうすれば解決できるのか

     to think about how you can solve it,

120. 120.

     自分で考えてやってみてください

     and then try putting your solution into practice.

121. 121.

     もしお店の人の会話が

     If there is anyone who has trouble

122. 122.

     聞き取れないっていう人がいたら

     understanding what staff in shops say,

123. 123.

     ごめんなさい、ちょっと宣伝になっちゃうんですけど。私が2年前に出版したこちら。『お出かけ日本語会話』を見てみてください

     I'm sorry—this is going to sound a little promotional, but take a look at this book that I published two years ago, “Japanese Conversation for Going Out.”

124. 124.

     こちらの本では本当に

     In this book, you can truly learn

125. 125.

     お店の人とお客さんとの

     realistic conversations between staff and customers.

126. 126.

     リアルな会話が学べます

     You can learn authentic conversations.

127. 127.

     敬語を使った表現もたくさんあるので

     It also contains many expressions that use honorific language,

128. 128.

     実際にお店の人が使っていそうな会話が

     so it includes lots of conversations that staff might actually use.

129. 129.

     たくさん載っています

     There are many of them in the book.

130. 130.

     店員さんの話している言葉がわからないというのも

     There are also various reasons why you might not understand what a shop assistant is saying,

131. 131.

     いろいろな原因があって

     as there can be many different causes.

132. 132.

     さっき言ったように

     As I mentioned earlier,

133. 133.

     敬語がたくさんあるからわからないとか

     perhaps you don't understand because there is a lot of honorific language,

134. 134.

     スピードが速すぎるとか。いろいろな問題があると思うので

     or perhaps the speaking speed is too fast. I think there can be all sorts of issues,

135. 135.

     それもね自分で分析しながら

     so analyze those yourself as well

136. 136.

     練習をしてみてください

     as you practice.

137. 137.

     もちろんさっきの本でもいいですし

     Of course, the book I mentioned earlier is also a good option,

138. 138.

     YouTubeで私今まで

     and on YouTube, I’ve also

139. 139.

     お店の人との会話をたくさん撮ってきたので

     filmed lots of conversations with store and restaurant staff,

140. 140.

     ぜひその動画も見てください

     so please check out those videos too.

141. 141.

     せっかくなのでちょっと景色もね。お見せしたいと思います

     Since we’re here, I’d also like to show you a little of the scenery. I thought I’d show it to you.

142. 142.

     そういえば私が5月に出版した

     That reminds me, regarding the book I published in May,

143. 143.

     『マンガで学ぼう！生活で使える日本語文法』を買ってくれた人が

     someone who bought “Let’s Learn Through Manga! Practical Japanese Grammar for Everyday Life”

144. 144.

     この本の中からも

     told me that, from this book as well,

145. 145.

     N3だったかなN2だったかな

     I think it was on the N3—or perhaps the N2;

146. 146.

     どっちか忘れてしまったんですけど

     I’ve forgotten which one,

147. 147.

     この本に載っていた文法が試験に出ましたと

     but a grammar point in this book appeared on the exam.

148. 148.

     教えてくれた人もいました

     There was someone who told me that.

149. 149.

     すごく嬉しかったです

     That made me very happy.

150. 150.

     文法の本はね本当に買ってくれた方が多くて

     So many people bought the grammar book,

151. 151.

     お出かけ日本語会話もそうなんですけど

     and the same goes for “Japanese Conversation for Going Out,”

152. 152.

     この5月に出版した文法の本も

     but this grammar book I published in May as well

153. 153.

     本当に多くの方が買ってくださって

     was bought by a great many people,

154. 154.

     インスタのDMとかコメントで

     and through Instagram DMs and comments,

155. 155.

     買いましたとか勉強になります

     people tell me, “I bought it” or “It’s helping me study,”

156. 156.

     役に立ちますというコメントをたくさん送ってくれます

     and send me lots of comments saying, “It’s useful.”

157. 157.

     本当にありがとうございます

     Thank you so much.

158. 158.

     もうちょっと晴れてたらよかったんだけどなぁ

     I wish it had been a little sunnier, though.

159. 159.

     あそこにね赤い橋があるんですけど

     There’s a red bridge over there.

160. 160.

     ちょっと拡大してみますね

     Let me zoom in a little.

161. 161.

     あの赤い橋は木更津市の観光名所です

     That red bridge is a famous tourist attraction in Kisarazu City.

162. 162.

     観光スポットです

     It’s a sightseeing spot.

163. 163.

     もし木更津という場所に来ることがあったら

     If you ever come to a place called Kisarazu,

164. 164.

     ぜひ行ってみてください

     please be sure to visit it.

165. 165.

     ちなみに東京駅から木更津駅までは

     Incidentally, from Tokyo Station to Kisarazu Station,

166. 166.

     電車で1時間半くらいかかります

     it takes about an hour and a half by train.

167. 167.

     日帰りでも行ける距離ですね

     It’s close enough for a day trip.

168. 168.

     海鮮丼も食べられますし

     You can eat seafood rice bowls there,

169. 169.

     アウトレットがあるので

     and since there’s an outlet mall,

170. 170.

     買い物したい人にもおすすめのスポットです

     it’s also a recommended spot for people who want to shop.

171. 171.

     そういえば言い忘れていました

     That reminds me—I forgot to mention something.

172. 172.

     たぶん来週か再来週

     Probably next week or the week after,

173. 173.

     ディクテーションの動画を出そうと思っています

     I’m planning to release a dictation video.

174. 174.

     なので聴解の練習をしたい人は

     So, if you want to practice listening comprehension,

175. 175.

     来週か再来週の動画もぜひ見てください

     please be sure to watch next week’s or the following week’s video too.

176. 176.

     チャンネル登録もぜひよろしくお願いします

     And please subscribe to the channel.

177. 177.

     それでは今日の動画も最後まで見てくださって

     Thank you so much for watching today’s video

178. 178.

     本当にありがとうございました

     all the way to the end.

179. 179.

     また何か話してほしいことがあったら。コメントで教えてください

     If there’s anything else you’d like me to talk about, please let me know in the comments.

180. 180.

     あと私のインスタグラムもぜひフォローしてください

     Also, please follow me on Instagram.

181. 181.

     それでは今日の動画はここまでです

     That’s all for today’s video.

182. 182.

     また来週の動画でお会いしましょう

     See you again in next week’s video.

183. 183.

     バイバイ

     Bye-bye.