Study Guide
Field 100: Japanese
Listening Comprehension
Sample Test Directions
This test consists of six sections: (1) a listening comprehension section, (2) a reading section, (3) a section on language structures, (4) a section on language comparisons, (5) a section on cultural knowledge and language acquisition, and (6) a written expression section. The directions for each section appear before the section.
Sample Directions for Listening Comprehension
This section of the test contains two listening comprehension exercises that involve listening to recorded excerpts and then responding in writing to the assignments presented. The passages will be read twice. Your response may be written in either English or the target language.
If you choose to respond in English, type your response in the response box presented on-screen. If you choose to respond in the target language, your final responses must be written on the response sheets provided. Please label each response sheet with the appropriate exercise (e.g., "Listening Comprehension Assignment 1"). Your response sheets must be scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.
Instructions for scanning your Response Sheets are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.
You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your response. However, your final responses to the exercises must be typed into the on-screen response box OR written on the response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided.
Your responses will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria.
- LISTENING COMPREHENSION: accuracy and completeness in comprehending spoken language
- LISTENING INFERENCE: demonstrated ability to infer information accurately from spoken language, including subtleties such as tone
Be sure to write about the assigned topics. You may not use any reference materials during the test. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.
Any time spent responding to the exercises, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.
Please be aware that the visual enhancements
and
are NOT available during this section of the test. Please DO NOT use these features until you have completed all listening items and proceeded to the remaining sections of the test.
Click the Next button when when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the first listening comprehension exercise. Once the recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can any part of it be replayed. Therefore, listen carefully.
Be sure you have your headset on before proceeding.
Select the Next button to continue.
Sample Listening Comprehension Exercise
This is a listening comprehension exercise. You will hear a conversation that takes place at the front desk of a hotel. After you have heard the conversation twice, you will respond in writing to the assignment given below. Your response may be written in either Japanese or English. Before you hear the conversation, you will be given 30 seconds to study the assignment. Begin studying the assignment now.
*(PAUSE 30 seconds)*
Write a response of three to four sentences in which you:
- identify the speakers;
- describe the problem under discussion; and
- explain how the problem is resolved.
Listen carefully to the following conversation. After you have heard it twice, respond in writing to the assignment.
*(one male and one female speaker—guest and hotel receptionist)
北口 ：すみません。今晩 部屋を予約している北口ですが。
フロント ：北口様ですね。少々お持ち下さい。あのー、北口さまは今晩ではなく明日の夜のご予約ですが。
北口 ：いや、そんなはずはない。１１月２３日に予約を変更したはずです。先週メールを送りましたよ。
フロント ：申し訳ございませんが、ご予約の変更はお受けしていないようです。初めにいただいた、２４日のご予約しか見当りません。私どもからのご確認のメールをお受け取りになりましたか。
北口 ：いいえ。確認しておくべきでしたね。しかたがない。 すいません、今晩部屋は空いていますか。
フロント ：あいにく今晩はもう部屋がありません。
北口 ：困ったな。
フロント ：申し訳ございません。あの 車で１時間以内のところ に何軒かホテルがあります。よろしければ、お電話いたしますが。
北口 ：ありがとう。そうしていただけると、ありがたいです。
(PAUSE 3 seconds)
Now it will be repeated.
(passage is repeated)
(PAUSE 3 seconds)
Now write your response to the assignment.*
Sample Response for the Listening Comprehension Exercise
This conversation takes place between a front desk receptionist at a hotel and a guest named Mr. Kitaguchi who is trying to check in for the night on November 23rd. He is dismayed to learn that the e-mail message he sent requesting to change his reservation from November 24th to November 23rd has not been confirmed by the hotel. Furthermore, the hotel sent Mr. Kitaguchi a confirmation e-mail for the 24th, which he did not see. Unfortunately, the hotel is fully booked for the 23rd. The receptionist apologizes for the mishap and offers to call several hotels within an hour's drive from her hotel to see if they might have a room available for Mr. Kitaguchi.
Performance Characteristics for the Listening Comprehension Assignments
| Listening Comprehension | accuracy and completeness in comprehending spoken language |
|---|---|
| Listening Inference | demonstrated ability to infer information accurately from spoken language, including subtleties such as tone |
Score Scale for the Listening Comprehension Assignments
| Score Point | Score Point Description |
|---|---|
| 4 |
The "4" response gives evidence of strong listening comprehension skills.
|
| 3 |
The "3" response gives evidence of satisfactory listening comprehension skills.
|
| 2 |
The "2" response gives evidence of limited listening comprehension skills.
|
| 1 |
The "1" response gives evidence of weak listening comprehension skills.
|
| U | The response is "unscorable" because it is not on the given topic, illegible, not in the appropriate language, or too short to score. |
| B | There is no response to the assignment. |