Q/A and advice for 2012/Future VCE Japanese Students

[RazzMeTazz]

Thanks for all the help everyone!!

[RazzMeTazz]

In a Japanese sentence, は is a topic marker. Both には and just に are grammatically correct, but using には brings more attention to the topic 日本. This is especially important if you're making a comparison.

For example, if I were to say このホテルには、プールがあります, it would mean 'In THIS hotel, there's a pool.' This may be in comparison to another hotel which has no pool.

このホテルにプールがあります is also grammatically correct, but it would be closer to 'There is a pool in this hotel.' Here the sentence is just stating a fact.

Thankyou!
Since 'には’ emphasises the topic, does that mean if someone were to ask you
"どのにプルーがありますか。”

You would reply with ' このホテルには、プールがあります’
 

[RazzMeTazz]

Can someone please give me examples on how to use the verbs 'むかえに行く’　and 'むかえに来る’
for example, how would I say " I go to the station to pick up my friend"

thanks!

[souka]

from what i have learnt むかえに行く　refers to you going somewhere to greet/ meet/ pick up someone, however むかえに来る is someone else coming to greet/ meet/ pick up you.
so I think your Example would be
i go to the station to pick up my friend
友だちをむかえに行くために、駅に行く。
or maybe
駅に友だちをむかえに行く。

[RazzMeTazz]

I think I understand the distinction between intransitive and transitive Japanese verbs, but just to make sure :

It would be grammatically incorrect to use an intransitive verb with a direct object right?
So for example the intransitive verb: おわります。

Would it be grammatically incorrect to say: "私はばんぐみをおわりました" (I finished the programme)
instead it would have to be something like: ”ばんぐみがおわりました。” (The programme finished)

[jibba]

Sorry, I realised I haven't replied to anyone these few months. (I was having too much fun on exchange in Japan )

@RazzMeTazz
Yea, in relation to intransitive v transitive you got that correct!
 
Also your question on には, I think you got your answer too. You would use に or で normally, but if you wanted to make the noun before it the subject/empahize the topic of the sentence you would add は to the に or で.
(FYI には can also be used similarly to the grammar pattern ために but it is POST VCE so it will probably confuse you so you can ignore it)　

With ちがいます, you should use とちがいます when you want to say something is different from something else in a comparison
ie:　私はサラさんとちがって、すしが好きじゃないです (Different to Sara, I don't like sushi)
or you can use がちがいます to say something is just different.
そのことばのいみがちがいます！　( The meaning of that word is different!)

[jibba]

Jibba you have my respect.

I really want to get 40+ in japanese but just at this rate I don't think I can.

Do you know of any more resources?

Doushio

Sorry for the late response!
I always recommend watching drama, trying to make Japanese language exchange partners to improve your speaking, just rote learning vocab, etc.
You can even make skype language exchange partners through forums like japan guide just to speak with real Japanese people (although be careful of giving away too much of your identity). I ended up meeting with my skype language partner in Japan so you can make some real friends too!
Good way to improve your usage of grammar is to try use what you learn immediately in conversation with real people. Even if you are not confident with your Japanese level, just give it a try, it's a lot of fun and very beneficial! 

In terms of exam practice, there's not much other than past exams. Maybe you can check out JLPT N4 books (which is slightly beyond VCE).

[RazzMeTazz]

Sorry for the late response!
I always recommend watching drama, trying to make Japanese language exchange partners to improve your speaking, just rote learning vocab, etc.
You can even make skype language exchange partners through forums like japan guide just to speak with real Japanese people (although be careful of giving away too much of your identity). I ended up meeting with my skype language partner in Japan so you can make some real friends too!
Good way to improve your usage of grammar is to try use what you learn immediately in conversation with real people. Even if you are not confident with your Japanese level, just give it a try, it's a lot of fun and very beneficial! 

In terms of exam practice, there's not much other than past exams. Maybe you can check out JLPT N4 books (which is slightly beyond VCE).

Speaking of the JLPT N4 books, does that mean the JLPT N5 books are easier than VCE level? is it worth to look at them as well, or just the N4 ones? thanks!

[jibba]

I think VCE is in between N5 and N4, so looking at N5 might be beneficial too I think. But if you see yourself as a more advanced student, N5 might be too low leveled. I've given N3 listening problems to my students before as well and I thought although challenging it was good practice for them.

[Fyrefly]

Hey jibba, have you passed N1 yet? I enrolled to take it this December (x.x)

[jibba]

Hey jibba, have you passed N1 yet? I enrolled to take it this December (x.x)

Same boat as you! I'm planning to take it in December! I passed N2 last year !

[Fyrefly]

Same boat as you! I'm planning to take it in December! I passed N2 last year !

I passed N2 two years ago. Coincidentally, my JLPT test site was Hitotsubashi, ha ha.
I live in the extreme north-east of Tokyo now though (almost Saitama!) so I hope they don't make me travel there this time (T.T)

[AngelWings]

One way that I am trying to improve my listening is by watching the Japanese news whenever possible and checking up some of the common words that I don't understand.
Would you recommend this to VCE students? Am I wasting my time?
Is understanding somewhere from two-fifths to three-quarters of that (depending on the level of difficulty and the day) anywhere near idyllic? (Usually a good portion of this is me listening, not watching.)

[jibba]

One way that I am trying to improve my listening is by watching the Japanese news whenever possible and checking up some of the common words that I don't understand.
Would you recommend this to VCE students? Am I wasting my time?
Is understanding somewhere from two-fifths to three-quarters of that (depending on the level of difficulty and the day) anywhere near idyllic? (Usually a good portion of this is me listening, not watching.)

You probably can learn a lot of new vocab from watching daily news, but I found that they use a lot of difficult words that I don't know either in some news stories. Understanding about 50-70% is still really good at VCE level!
If you want to watch Japanese news programs, I'd recommend maybe looking for special news reports where they introduce something. Probably the vocab used in those types of segments is more useful and easier to understand!
Maybe like this from Asahi TV News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcMaHSYoHg 

I only watched Japanese News when I was looking for things for detailed study related things! I think just youtubing clips from drama might be more helpful though because the daily conversation and vocab used is more like what you will probably have in your exam.

[Edward Elric]

You probably can learn a lot of new vocab from watching daily news, but I found that they use a lot of difficult words that I don't know either in some news stories. Understanding about 50-70% is still really good at VCE level!
If you want to watch Japanese news programs, I'd recommend maybe looking for special news reports where they introduce something. Probably the vocab used in those types of segments is more useful and easier to understand!
Maybe like this from Asahi TV News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNcMaHSYoHg 

I only watched Japanese News when I was looking for things for detailed study related things! I think just youtubing clips from drama might be more helpful though because the daily conversation and vocab used is more like what you will probably have in your exam.


Hey Jibba

I'm really struggling with the listening task, I just find that I cant keep up with what their saying. Any ways to help improve my listening, for Japanese. Also what are some interesting J-dramas you can recommend?