For many individuals, the listening section of the N5 is the most difficult part of the test while it is quite simple for others. Your performance in the test as well as your understanding of the N5 listening section will rely on your preparation for the test. Therefore, learning about how you can prepare for the N5 listening section can make a big difference in your overall result in the test.
If you are ready to know how to prepare for the JLPT N5 listening section, this article will show you all the crucial things you must do to pass this section of the test in flying colors.
Understand the structure of the listening section of N5
Although the N5 is divided into 3 main parts, it is further grouped into two scoring sections. One of the section accounts for 120 marks and includes vocabulary, reading, and kanji. The second section is entirely dedicated to listening and has 60 marks. In combination, the N5 has a total of 180 marks.
In general, you need a minimum of 80 marks to pass the entire test. Nonetheless, you must get at least 19/60 in the listening section to pass N5. Therefore, if you have performed well in the other section of N5 but failed woefully in the listening section, your overall score would not save you from failing the test.
Under the listening section, the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are categorized into four types – task-based comprehension, quick response, verbal expressions, and compression of key points.
- Task-based comprehension
Here, you will be tested on your ability to do a certain task. After getting an explanation, you get a question and listen to a conversation. Then you are asked to complete a task again. The main thing is to see if you listen and understand what they are saying during the conversation.
- Comprehension key points
The MCQs are targeted at examining your ability to bring out important points from a particular conversation in Japanese. It is important to note that it follows the same pattern as task-based comprehension. However, you don’t necessarily have to listen to every part of the conversation. You are only required to pick the salient points.
- Verbal expressions
Here, you are assessed based on proper expressions that can be utilized in some specific circumstances. An image will be shown in the test booklet. Then, the image will be explained orally and you will be asked to identify the right expression.
- Quick response
In the quick response questions, you are expected to select the correct response to a particular thing that a speaker will say on the CD.
Practice with Genki CD
Genki has proven to be one of the most useful resources that anyone can use for preparing for N5. Therefore, you have to get the Genki I as you start getting set to take N5. The CD dialogues in Genki will help you greatly to do well in the listening section of the test.
Take advantage of the shadowing exercises to continuously recite everything that is being said in the CD. Make sure you say it loud so that it will be easy for you to recall everything you have heard on the CD. Notably, it is entirely okay for you to read the text at the beginning of your learning process. However, after a while, you should stop because this is not a speaking or reading test.
When you can listen attentively and understand what the speaker says, you are already training your ears to identify Japanese words. This will definitely play a key role in ensuring that you listen correctly when taking the listening section of the test.
Take practice questions
The importance of taking practice test questions can never be overemphasized. By taking practice test questions, you will prepare yourself for the real exam and also take note of some of your mistakes. When taking practice questions, there are some essential things you must pay attention to:
- The test must be done in a simulated exam condition. An exam condition is a condition that looks like the normal situation of the real N5 test. This means you must time yourself and avoid checking the answers to the questions until after the test.
- The test must be conducted in a silent environment that has no form of distraction. This is to ensure that your performance in the practice test is a true reflection of your ability at that point.
Notably, the listening section of N5 usually follows a particular pattern in which two people are having a friendly conversation. Sometimes, they may be talking about when or where to meet, the item to purchase, the size or color to choose, etc. Therefore, you must follow each step of their conversation as questions may come from any area.
The difficult thing is that each conversation is played once. So, if you miss any point during the period, it may affect your overall performance. Therefore, you need to concentrate throughout the period. Don’t let anything distract. It is vital to ensure that you include all these vital points as you take the practice test.
If you want to take the practice test for the listening section of N5, you should check here.
Watch anime and J-dramas
Although anime and J-dramas may not have conversations in the same scenarios you will get in the N5 listening section, they can assist you to improve your listening skills. So, if you can dedicate some periods to watch anime and Japanese movies, your chance of passing the N5 listening section will increase significantly.
At first, watch anime or movies with English subtitles. After a while, start watching the movies without subtitles (or with Japanese subtitles) so that you only have to rely on listening to the conversations to understand what the characters are saying.
Practice! Practice!! Practice!!!
Lastly, preparing for JLPT N5 listening is all about practicing from time to time. Unless you listen to several Japanese conversations regularly during your preparation for the exam, you cannot pass the listening section of the test. Therefore, you need to focus on practicing lots of times because there is no other trick to doing well in this section.