Tips for the Interview assignments
Creating Questions:
Look through the interview questions that you have created in the past assignments and create 15 - 20 min. conversation with a native speaker. Relate the questions to your interests so that you can talk more naturally instead of just asking questions. You do not want to sound interrogating a Japanese native. You want to say "me, too" or "I want to do ... How about you? In this way, the conversation becomes more natural.
Also, you do not avoid asking a question that you do not think you would understand. Think about the organization of each paragraph and construct the order of questions so that it would be easier to write about the person (writing assignments) to whom you talked. Another good strategy is to use the structure/grammar in your questions, which you want to use in the writing. E.g. お盆に、墓参りをしたり、盆踊りをおどったりしますか。
Predict further questions to get more details on the topic. E.g. アルバイトをしますか？ アルバイトはどこでしますか？ 何をしますか？アルバイトは楽しいですか or 好きですか？ アルバイト先（さき）の店長（てんちょう) or ボス（上司）はどんな人ですか？
Here are the free recording
software:
· (PC) http://vocaroo.com Web
site based (no download necessary). Audio can be exported/saved as MP3.
Flash player is required.
· (PC and available at WLRC) Audacity Free download at http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/ This freeware will let you record and edit and export it as MP3 file.
· (I-phone)
You can use your I-phone and covert it to MP3 format.
· (MP3
recorder) You can borrow a MP3 recorder from me.
Please submit MP3 format. You can use cloudConvert or onlineConverter to convert files to MP3.
You can use the following sites to find Japanese natives for free. Some sites offer paid tutors.
https://www.conversationexchange.com/
Tips 1:
It does not have to be perfect since I am grading based on fluency and
authenticity of conversation. I do expect good fluency (not too much
unnatural pause or hesitation noise in the conversation. Make
the conversation as natural as possible by
repeating what you heard (Echoing)or occasionally saying Aizuchi
(listening signals) such as “A,
soo desu ka (I see), Hontoo desu ka (is that right?), Hai, Watashi mo (me, too), Echo
questions, Confirming what they said, etc.” to show that you are listening to
what they are saying. Just
going over your questions and getting answers make it sound like “interrogation”
, and it is unnatural as a conversation.
Tips 2:
When talking with a native Japanese, ask them to respond in Japanese (not in
English), while you are recording. If
the Japanese person does not seem to understand what you are requesting (some
Japanese natives on the internet do not understand much English), show the
following message (print it out big). You
can include the following Japanese message when you are posting your request in
searching for a native on-line so that they will understand your
situation/assignment beforehand.
「日本語だけの会話を録音する」という日本語のクラスの宿題に協力をして頂きたいのですが、いいですか？
日本語だけでの 会話は15-20分ぐらいで終わります。 私の日本語は勉強し始めてからまだ２(change
the number of months you have studied Japanese)ヶ月ぐらいの初級レベルです。
こちらが、いいと言うまで日本語だけで話してもらえますか？
その(録音の)後で英語で会話をしましょう。 ご協力感謝いたします。
Translation:
Could ou help me with my Japanese language assignment that I have to record the
Japanese-only conversation?
The Japanese conversation will be about 15-20 minutes. My Japanese is
Elementary level of 10 (change
the number of months)months
of learning.
Could you speak only in Japanese until I let you know when we can start speaking
in English?
Let’s converse in English after the recording. I appreciate your cooperation.
Useful phrases during Interview:
Start with greetings such as: こんにちはおひさしぶりですね or はじめまして。 よろしく おねがいします。
Can I start the Japanese conversation? 日本語の会話を はじめても いいですか？ ("--te forms of verbs + も ＋ いいですか" = Asking for permission. Can I..? May I...?)
Sorry (always apologize first) I do not understand. Please teach me later in English. すみません。 ちょっと わかりませんでした。 後（あと）で英語でおしえてください。
What is "-------(a noun word)" ? Could you write it (in the Chat)? "---(a noun word)" って 何ですか？ (チャットに)日本語で書いてくださいませんか。
Please nod or respond to native's reply, saying あ、そうですか (I see)。 本当ですか(really?)。 へーえ、おもしろいですね (interesting)。Also, use "Echo" questions (noun + です か or ね） to acknowledge/show that you are listening.
今日は本当にありがとうございました。 今から、英語で話してもいいですか。Thank you so much for today. ("--te forms of verbs + も ＋ いいですか" = Asking for permission. Can I..? May I...?)