JLPT N5 Speaking: Talk About Classes and Teachers

The JLPT N5 speaking test focuses on basic conversational skills. A common task is to talk about your classes and the teachers you have. Don’t worry about perfect grammar; it’s more important to be understood! This guide will give you phrases, vocabulary, and practice scenarios to help you confidently discuss this topic.

Essential Japanese Phrases

Here are some key phrases you’ll need:

• はじめまして (Hajimemashite) – Nice to meet you.
• [名前] です ([Namae] desu) – I am [Name].
• これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?) – What is this? (Useful for introductions)
• 先生は (Senseiwa) – The teacher is…
• 〜について話します (~ ni tsuuite hanashimasu) – I will talk about [topic].
• 〜のクラスです (~ no kurasu desu) – It’s a class in [topic].
• とてもいい先生です (Totemo ii sensei desu) – The teacher is very good.

Talking About Your Classes

Let’s look at how to talk about the classes you take.

Example 1: Describing a Language Class

You: はじめまして。私は田中です。これは日本語のクラスです。(Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Tanaka desu. Kore wa nihongo no kurasu desu.) – Nice to meet you. I am Tanaka. This is a Japanese class.

Partner: どの先生が教えていますか？ (Dono sensei ga oshieteimasu ka?) – Which teacher teaches it?

You: 先生は山田さんです。山田さんはとても親切で、丁寧に教えてくれます。(Sensei wa Yamada-san desu. Yamada-san wa totemo shinsetsu de, tayucie oshiete kuremasu.) – The teacher is Mr. Yamada. Mr. Yamada is very kind and teaches patiently.

Example 2: Discussing Class Activities

You: 日本語のクラスでは、漢字を勉強します。(Nihongo no kurasu dewa, kanji o benkyou shimasu.) – In the Japanese class, I study kanji (Chinese characters).

Partner: 楽しいですか？ (Tanoshi desu ka?) – Is it fun?

You: ときどき、楽しいです。特に、先生が例文をたくさん教えてくれるときは。(Tokidoki, tanoshii desu. Tokuni, sensei ga jimen o takusan oshiete kureru toki wa.) – Sometimes it’s fun. Especially when the teacher teaches a lot of example sentences.

Talking About Your Teachers

Here are phrases for describing your teachers:

• 性格は (Seikaku wa) – The personality is…
• 優しい先生です (Yasashii sensei desu) – The teacher is kind.
• 面白い先生です (Omoshiroi sensei desu) – The teacher is interesting.
• 厳しい先生です (Kiritsu sensei desu) – The teacher is strict. (Use with caution!)

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Mistake: “日本語のクラスで、勉強します.” (Nihongo no kurasu de, benkyou shimasu.) – This is grammatically incorrect. You need to use “は” (wa) to mark the topic.

Correction: “日本語のクラスでは、勉強します.” (Nihongo no kurasu dewa, benkyou shimasu.) – I study in the Japanese class.

Mistake: Using too much complex grammar. Remember to keep it simple! Focus on clear communication.

Correction: Stick to basic sentence structures like those shown above.

Practice Questions

Try these questions:

• Describe your favorite subject class and what you learn in it.
• Talk about your teacher’s personality – are they kind, strict, or funny?

Remember to speak clearly and try to use the phrases we’ve learned! Good luck with your JLPT N5 speaking test!