🇯🇵AP Japanese AP Cram Sessions 2021

Key Concepts and Vocabulary

• Honorific language (keigo) consists of respectful (sonkeigo), humble (kenjougo), and polite (teineigo) forms used to show respect and maintain social hierarchy
• Transitive and intransitive verbs (tadoushi and jidoushi) differ in their grammatical usage and meaning
  • Transitive verbs (tadoushi) take a direct object and indicate an action performed on something or someone (korosu, to kill)
  • Intransitive verbs (jidoushi) do not take a direct object and express a change in state or condition (shinu, to die)
• Onomatopoeia (gitaigo and giseigo) are words that imitate or suggest sounds, actions, or states
  • Gitaigo represents non-auditory senses or states (nuru-nuru, slimy)
  • Giseigo represents actual sounds (wan-wan, a dog's bark)
• Passive form (ukemi) indicates that the subject is affected by the action of the verb, often used to express undesirable or uncontrollable situations
• Causative form (shieki) expresses the idea of making or allowing someone to do something
• Giving and receiving verbs (kureru, ageru, morau) are used to express the direction of an action or favor between the giver and receiver, depending on the speaker's perspective
• Particles (joshi) are essential grammatical markers that indicate the relationship between words in a sentence (ga, wo, ni, de, he)

Grammar Points

• Conditional clauses express hypothetical situations or events that depend on a certain condition being met
  • To form a conditional clause, use the pattern: [Verb in plain form] + to + [main clause]
  • For example, "Nihon ni ikitai to omoimasu" (If I want to go to Japan)
• Expressing obligation or necessity using "nakereba naranai" or "nakute wa ikenai" to indicate that something must be done
• Forming compound sentences using conjunctions such as "kara" (because), "node" (since), and "noni" (although) to connect clauses and express complex ideas
• Using the te-form of verbs to connect actions in a sequence or to provide reasons (Kaimono ni itte, sorekara eiga wo mimashita)
• Expressing uncertainty or probability using "kamoshirenai" (might), "deshou" (probably), or "hazu" (should)
• Nominalizing verbs and adjectives using "koto" or "no" to transform them into noun phrases (Nihongo wo benkyou suru koto wa taisetsu desu)
• Forming relative clauses to modify nouns by placing the modifying clause directly before the noun (Kinoo katta hon wa omoshirokatta desu)

Kanji Review

• Focus on common kanji radicals (bushu) and their meanings to aid in character recognition and understanding (人, 木, 水, 火, 土)
• Practice reading and writing kanji compounds (jukugo) that combine two or more characters to form new words (日本, 学生, 新聞, 休憩)
• Differentiate between on'yomi (Chinese reading) and kun'yomi (Japanese reading) of kanji characters
  • On'yomi is typically used in compound words (jukugo) and is derived from the original Chinese pronunciation
  • Kun'yomi is used for standalone kanji or in combination with hiragana, representing the native Japanese pronunciation
• Recognize and understand kanji with multiple meanings and readings based on context (生: nama, sei, shou; 行: i(ku), kou, gyou, okona(u))
• Study kanji stroke order rules to ensure proper writing technique and character balance
• Identify and learn common kanji used in AP Japanese exam passages and questions
• Practice reading and comprehending kanji in context through short passages and authentic materials (news articles, advertisements, signs)

Listening Comprehension Strategies

• Familiarize yourself with various accents, dialects, and speaking styles to better understand a wide range of native speakers
• Focus on key vocabulary, transitions, and main ideas to grasp the overall meaning of the listening passage
• Take notes using keywords and abbreviations to help you remember important details and answer questions accurately
• Practice active listening by anticipating what the speaker might say next based on context and prior knowledge
• Listen for tone, intonation, and stress to infer the speaker's emotions, attitudes, or intentions
• Utilize visual cues, such as gestures or facial expressions, in audio-visual materials to aid in comprehension
• Develop strategies for dealing with unknown words or phrases, such as using context clues or recognizing word families
• Regularly expose yourself to authentic Japanese materials (podcasts, news broadcasts, interviews) to improve your listening skills and cultural understanding

Speaking Practice Tips

• Focus on proper pronunciation, intonation, and stress to convey meaning and sound more natural
  • Practice minimal pairs to distinguish between similar sounds (りょう vs. よう, じゅう vs. ちゅう)
  • Pay attention to pitch accent patterns in words and phrases to avoid misunderstandings
• Use appropriate register and style depending on the context and the person you are speaking to (formal vs. informal, polite vs. casual)
• Incorporate fillers and interjections to buy time and sound more native-like (ええと, あの, そうですね)
• Practice common phrases and expressions for various situations (self-introduction, asking for directions, ordering food)
• Engage in role-play activities and simulated conversations to build confidence and fluency
• Participate in language exchange programs or find a native Japanese speaker to practice with regularly
• Attend cultural events or join Japanese language clubs to immerse yourself in the language and interact with others
• Set specific goals and track your progress to stay motivated and identify areas for improvement

Reading Passage Techniques

• Preview the passage by skimming the title, headings, and first few sentences to get an idea of the main topic and structure
• Identify key vocabulary and kanji to help you understand the main ideas and details of the passage
• Use context clues, such as surrounding words or sentences, to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases
• Break down complex sentences into smaller parts (clauses, phrases) to better understand the structure and meaning
• Look for transitional words and phrases (しかし, そして, そのうえ) to follow the logical flow of the passage and understand relationships between ideas
• Summarize each paragraph or section in your own words to check your comprehension and retain important information
• Practice active reading by asking questions, making predictions, and connecting the passage to your own knowledge or experiences
• Read a variety of authentic Japanese texts (news articles, short stories, essays) to expose yourself to different styles, genres, and levels of difficulty

Writing Exercise Focus

• Understand the prompt and task requirements, including the purpose, audience, and format of the writing assignment
• Brainstorm and organize your ideas using mind maps, outlines, or other pre-writing strategies to ensure a clear and logical structure
• Use appropriate grammar structures, vocabulary, and kanji based on the level of formality and the topic of the writing task
• Incorporate transitional words and phrases to connect ideas and create coherence within and between paragraphs
• Provide specific examples, details, and explanations to support your main points and make your writing more engaging and persuasive
• Pay attention to common writing conventions, such as indentation, punctuation, and spacing, to ensure a polished and readable final product
• Review and revise your writing for content, organization, and language use, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and effectiveness
• Seek feedback from peers, teachers, or native Japanese speakers to identify areas for improvement and refine your writing skills

Exam Format and Strategies

• Familiarize yourself with the structure and timing of the AP Japanese exam, including the number and types of questions in each section
• Understand the scoring rubrics and criteria for each section to know what skills and knowledge are being assessed
• Manage your time effectively by allocating specific amounts of time for each question or task based on its complexity and point value
• Read all instructions and questions carefully to ensure you understand what is being asked and to avoid making careless errors
• Eliminate obviously incorrect answer choices in multiple-choice questions to increase your chances of selecting the correct answer
• Provide clear and concise responses in the writing section, directly addressing the prompt and including relevant details and examples
• Use the appropriate register, style, and tone in the speaking section based on the context and the role you are playing in the conversation
• Stay calm and focused throughout the exam, taking short breaks between sections to recharge and refocus your attention
• Review your answers, if time permits, to catch any mistakes or add any missing information before submitting your exam