Classroom Instructions (CIs) and Romaji
Romaji (Roman letters) as you see below are sometimes seen around town usually
at tourist places to aid non-Japanese visitors to be able to read Japanese
words. They are seen on the signs
of train stations and traffic signs.
However, they are usually available at major cities so you need to learn
Japanese letters for you to be able to get around in Japan.
Also, Romaji is useful if you choose to type in Japanese using English
alphabet keys.
Let’s learn some Classroom Instructions phrases to get started with a Japanese
instructor to help you learn and understand what the instructor wants you to do
in class. Here are some commonly
used Classroom Instructions phrases.
Please keep in mind that you need to learn how to pronounce these Romaji in
Japanese way.
The pronunciation of Japanese
vowels “A, I, U, E, O”
Father, eat,
foot, egg, comb
Konnichiwa.
Hello!
Ohayoo
gozaimasu
Good morning
Pronunciation
Rules:
Each syllable are pronounced in equal length.
*
**
E.g.
Itte kudasai.
“I (pause) te kudasai.”
If you miss the pause, it
will be “I te kudasai” which means “please stay here.”
Classroom Expressions:
|
Kiite*
kudasai.
Listen, (polite request). |
|
Mite kudasai.
Look, (polite request). |
|
|
|
Question: Wakarimasu ka.
Do you understand/know?
Answer: Hai, wakarimasu.
Yes,
I do. |
|
|
|
Question: Shitsumon ga
arimasu ka.
Do you have a question?
Answer: Hai, arimasu.
Yes, I do.
Answer: Iie, arimasen.
No, I do not. |
|
|
|
Itte**
kudasai.
Say (it), please. |
|
Kaite kudasai.
Write (it), (polite request). |
|
Yonde kudasai.
Read (it), (polite request). |
|
|
|
Mooichido itte*
kudasai.
Say (it) again, (polite request). |
|
Mooichido*
onegai shimasu.
Do (it), (polite request). |
|
|
|
Hon o mite kudasai.
Look at the book, (polite request). |
|
Hon o minaide kudasai.
Do not look at the book (polite request). |
|
Tekisuto or Kyookasho*
Textbook |
|
|
|
Nihongo de
in (using) Japanese
Eego*
de in (using) English |
|
Nihongo de itte**
kudasai. Say (it) in Japanese (polite
request). |
|
Question:
”Textbook" tte
Nihongo de nan
desu
ka. *How do you say
"textbook"
in Japanese?
Answer: (Nihongo de)
kyookasho desu.
* It is “kyookasho.” |
|
|
|
Renshuu*
shite kudasai.
Practice (polite request). |
|
Chotto matte**
kudasai.
Just a moment (polite request). |
|
Shukudai, dashite kudasai.
Homework, turn (it) in.
(polite
request). |
|
Dekimashita ka.
Are
you done/completed? |
Class Activity
Let’s listen to the instructor’s classroom expressions and learn how to write Japanese letters. Can you pick up new Japanese words such as numbers from her saying some words while he/she is writing? Please write as the instructor does by paying attention to details. It is very important to learn correct stroke orders and balance of a letter such as pacing, straight down or up, hook, curve, stop or release.Renshuu
Listen to the phrases in the following. Say or
write what it means in English to show you understand what is said.
What do
you say at the following situations?
1.
You
have a question.
2.
You do
not know the answer to a question.
3.
You
comprehended what someone explained to you.
4.
You
want to know how to say “pencil” in Japanese.
5.
You
need a bit of time to respond to what you are asked to do.
6.
Your
instructor spoke too fast for you to catch the phrase.
You want him to say it again.
7.
Your
Japanese friend said “Chuugokugo wakarimasu ka.” and you do not know
“Chuugokugo”. So you ask:
8.
Your
instructor asked a questions and called on you but you were not paying
attention. You say:
9.
Your
instructor wrote a Japanese letter but you could not see it.
10.
You want your instructor to check what
you wrote is correct.
11.
You want someone to show you something
again.
12.
At the
end of your presentation in class, you invite a question from the audience.
13.
During
your presentation in class, you wonder if the audience understand your
explanation.
If you do not understand a key word:
Sensei
said something but you did not understand a key word to respond.
Practice saying
すみません。「
(repeat a key word you want to know a meaning) 」って、えいごで なんですか。
Useful phrases: Sorry. I forgot (I left it behind). Sumimasen. Wasure mashita.