ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Languages Other Than English (LOTE) => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Japanese SL => Topic started by: Angelz369 on June 17, 2011, 05:34:40 pm
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I just got my sac back and omg it's horrible -_-
the first two sacs I did were pretty good considering I'm one of those 'weaker' students since my class practically consists of very smart students.
But my third sac (which was listening) was horrendous! Like as in I didn't pass ( I only needed one more mark then I would've at least got 50%.)
Listening is probably the hardest for me so how do you think I should improve and I also really want to get a 35raw in Japanese!!!!!!
is it too late?
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Don't worry! Listening is the HARDEST part for ALL students across VCE; students always get lower in Listening than in writing, oral or reading. This is because they speak so fast, there's no time to write proper notes, and you have to answer the question 100% precisely or you won't get the mark. Even harder when you have to answer in Japanese, which is kind of ridiculous since listening is so test our understanding, not to copy what they said.
The best thing to do now is to practice your Japanese by listening, but also by continually speaking. If you understand the way people speak, you can pick up on the tones and words that hint at what might come next.
There are some practice listening packs that i think you can download either from this site or on the interwebs to practice writing answers to.
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you can still get a good score just ace the exam :)
yeah and try use japanese as much as possible
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Please tell me... why do VCE students find listening so hard? I don't really understand... don't your sensei run their classes in Japanese? Or do they speak English when they explain things? Sorry, I'm a little ignorant, but I've noticed that the 1st years at uni who did VCE Japanese have the same weakness when it comes to listening comprehension.
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Lol we speak predominantly english in class...
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Lol we speak predominantly english in class...
Whut? =.=
Well... there's the problem right there.
Last semester it took me 8 weeks to realise my sensei had an American accent when she spoke English.
Why? Because Week 8 was the first time I heard her speak a whole sentence in English.
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yeah our japanese communication skills are pretty poor hahah the only times we are exposed to japanese is when we're doin a reading task or if someone is reading a passage from the textbook :S
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Listening is very hard! Don't beat yourself up about it, Angelz369!!!
Also, Fyrefly - the reason that most people find listening to be difficult is because of the intricacies of the information.
For example, we can hear that the tour group is meeting in the park. But it is challenging for most to pick that the tour group is meeting in front of the park next to the church down the street.
Yeah?
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yeah our japanese communication skills are pretty poor hahah the only times we are exposed to japanese is when we're doin a reading task or if someone is reading a passage from the textbook :S
You've no absolutely reason to feel bad about your communication skills... it's obviously secondary school language education that's the problem.
Also, Fyrefly - the reason that most people find listening to be difficult is because of the intricacies of the information.
For example, we can hear that the tour group is meeting in the park. But it is challenging for most to pick that the tour group is meeting in front of the park next to the church down the street.
Yeah?
Hmm... I guess...
Look, given what you guys have explained... I think the only way for you to improve is to practice more. You guys really need to increase your exposure. Watch Japanese news (online, don't wake up 5:30am), youtube stuff, watch J-drama with high school themes (more familiar vocab), and watch anime.
If you choose to watch anime or J-drama though, make sure you actually concentrate on listening... don't lose focus and just read the subtitles. For example, find a friend who likes anime too, and pick an episode (no subtitles). Write a quiz for each other using that episode. Perhaps dictation Qs, multiple choice Qs, translation Qs, and (perhaps more challenging) one or two open-ended Qs such as, "If you were Naruto, what would you have said to Sakura when..."
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I dunno what level your listening skills are at, but here are some themed audio clips (ordered from grammatically easiest to hardest):
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0072408154/332931/tohsaku3e_im_ch04.pdf
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/getting_started/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter1/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter2/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter3/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter4/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter5/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter6/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408154/student_view0/chapter7/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter1/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter2/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter3/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter4/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter5/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter6/laboratory_audio_program.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072408162/student_view0/chapter7/laboratory_audio_program.html
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Hm I can usually get the general idea of what's happening but i struggle with writing all the info down or when i try to write out a word i dont know - usually it's a lack of vocabulary... I need to start studying for jap :/
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Thankyou all so much for all you advice and suggestions!!! I feel a whole lot better now and hopefully i can ace the listening part in the exam!
Now only to break it to my mum....
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Thankyou all so much for all you advice and suggestions!!! I feel a whole lot better now and hopefully i can ace the listening part in the exam!
Now only to break it to my mum....
Why does she need to know? ???
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^ just out of curiosity, do you have kirisawa sensei as your teacher? :D
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^ just out of curiosity, do you have kirisawa sensei as your teacher? :D
Kirisawa Erina sensei? No, but she gave me a one-on-one tutoring session once. She's very kind.
I'm curious now too... how do you know her?
Edit: Wait... from MUEP Jap?
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I used to be one of those 'weaker' students in listening. In year 11, I would score 20% in listening tests and sacs. Then I started 100% pure Japanese exposure + massive vocab SRS cramming. (no english at all) My listening comprehension shot up like crazy. It's been about 1 month since I started but I did my listening SAC about 2 weeks ago. I reckon, if I did my SAC now, I could have scored even better. At this point, I know about 65% of the vocab on the vocab list provided and planning to finish up on the last 35% over the next 2 weeks.(approx 1500 words)
The next four months will be dedicated to increasing my passive vocabulary even more(hopefully to reach about 5000 words), and build my active vocabulary through output(speaking and writing).
@Fyrefly - output is always meant to be harder than input. The reason why VCE students find listening "harder" than output(writing and speaking) is because output isn't true output. It's actually rote rotate a bunch of lines in response to rote questions and regurgitate them back to the examiner - no actual "on the spot" speaking and confined to a small number of topics. As for writing, hardly any kanji(150), few "grammar patterns"(65), no causative or passive form and also confined to a small number of topics. Also dictionary allowed. 60 minutes for 500ji.
Also people suck at Japanese because resources are limited. Outside, native resources such as news or even anime or drama is too hard for the scope of the course usually in terms of vocabulary or kanji. I think the people who do well in VCE Japanese are those whos ability is beyond the scope of VCE Japanese and are able to make sure of "outside resources".
tl:dr - Massive exposure + massive vocab SRS cramming = ftw. (Also make sure you know your grammar well)
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^ just out of curiosity, do you have kirisawa sensei as your teacher? :D
Kirisawa Erina sensei? No, but she gave me a one-on-one tutoring session once. She's very kind.
I'm curious now too... how do you know her?
Edit: Wait... from MUEP Jap?
yeah she's my teacher for MUEP Japanese
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I got my report today and I'm shattered. I got B for the oral component. Honestly thought I would at least get an A since my sac score was 18/20. I knew tht my cohort was strong, but I didn't know it was that strong.
Man it's really degrading...
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I got my report today and I'm shattered. I got B for the oral component. Honestly thought I would at least get an A since my sac score was 18/20. I knew tht my cohort was strong, but I didn't know it was that strong.
Man it's really degrading...
Don't be so disheartened. A strong cohort is good for you in the long run. Strong cohort --> less likely your SAC scores would be scaled down if everyone does well... there might be a chance that all your SAC marks would be given a boost if your cohort (and yourself) do amazingly well in the end of year exam. Just makes the SACS seem tough :) Good luck.