Lesson 14

Building on the short forms we learned in the previous lesson, in this lesson, we will practice basic conversations from past lessons using casual, informal speech.

When to start this lesson

Using the video below again, confirm your understanding about the short form conjugations. You are ready to start this lesson if you can correctly conjugate all parts of speech into the short forms.

Practice 19-1

The AI robot that you are helping learn Japanese wants to know how to speak casually to Japanese friends.

Common Characteristics: ない, た (or だ), なかった

First, help the robot learn Japanese the common characteristics of short forms across all parts of speech — ない, た (or だ), and なかった — by changing the given words in the right forms.

Lesson Goals

  • Understanding characteristics of Japanese casual speech
  • Practicing basic conversations using casual speech

What you will be able to do

By completing this lesson, you will be able to do the following:

  • You can carry on conversations naturally using casual speech.

Activities

L14 Activity 1 – Learn & Understand (1)

Understand characteristics of Japanese casual speech.

Read “GP5-2. Casual Speech” in the textbook (pp.100-102 in the main volume) and “Quick Note: Referring to Oneself and Others” (p.103) to deepen your understanding. When you read example sentences, check word definitions and pronunciations using the example sentence slides below. 

pp.100-102

This slide includes the example sentences in GP5-2. Casual Speech.

L14 Activity 2 – Learn & Understand (2)

Complete “Comprehension Check GP5-2” on pp.104-105 and check your understanding. You can confirm your answers on the answer key below:
Answer Key

L14 Activity 3 – Practice (1)

Activity Booklet “Conversation Practice 19-3” (p.30) [Practice 7-1 on p.08 using casual speech]

Using the videos in “Practice 19-3 (1)” below, practice talking about what’s there and where it is using casual, informal speech.

  1. Answer Minami-san’s questions in the first video based on the information in the chart on p.08.
  2. After answering Minami-san’s questions, check the model conversation in the second “Model Answer” video.

Practice 19-3 (1)

Your good friend Minami-san has started working part-time at your school’s International Students Office and is assisting Kita-san in writing an article for the school newspaper on the typical day of an international student, Yi-san. You have Yi-san’s permission to provide the information in the chart of Practice 7-1 (p.08). Answer Minami-san’s questions based on the information in the chart.

Model Answer

Now, let’s check how well the AI robot that you are coaching is doing!

L14 Activity 4 – Practice (2)

Activity Booklet “Conversation Practice 19-3” (p.30) [Practice 10-2 on p.13 using casual speech]

Using the videos in “Practice 19-3 (2)” below, practice explaining where people are standing using casual, informal speech.

  1. Answer Higashi-san’s questions in the first video based on the room photo on p.120.
  2. After answering Higashi-san’s questions, check the model conversation in the second “Model Answer” video.

Practice 19-3 (2)

Your good friend Higashi-san has the same photo as the one you sent to Student A in Practice 10-2 (p.13) and also wants to know where each person is located. Answer Higashi-san’s questions.

Model Answer

Now, let’s check how well the AI robot that you are coaching is doing!

L14 Activity 5 – Practice (3)

Activity Booklet “Conversation Practice 19-3” (p.30) [Practice 12-4” (p.17) using casual speech]

Using the videos in “Video Practice 19-3 (3)” below, practice talking about personal information using casual, informal speech.

  1. Answer Minamii-san’s questions in the first video based on the information in the chart on p.121.
  2. After answering Minimi-san’s questions in the first video, check the model conversations in the following “Model Answer” videos.

Practice 19-3 (3)

Your good friend Minami-san has just joined the planning team of the event you are organizing in Practice 12-4 (pp.17-18). Answer her questions and share the information you’ve collected.

Answer Key

Now, let’s check how well the AI robot that you are coaching is doing!

L14 Activity 6 – Practice (4)

Activity Booklet “Conversation Practice 19-3” (p.30) [Practice 17-2 & 3” (p.26) using casual speech]

Using the videos in “Video Practice 19-3 (4)” below, practice talking about whether something exists and where it is located. Use casual, informal speech

  1. Answer Higashi-san’s questions in the first video based on the picture of the room on p.26.
  2. After answering the questions in the first two videos, check the model conversation in the following “Model Answer” video.

Practice 19-3 (4)

Your good friend Higashi-san wants to try out the “Brain Training” book you received in Practice 17-2 (p.26) with you. You are looking at Student A’s picture and Higashi-san is looking at Student B’s. Answer Higashi-san’s questions.

Model Answer

Now, let’s check how well the AI robot that you are coaching is doing!