Interacting with others in Japanese: register, role-play and repair
What this domain asks of you
In the interaction tasks you are assessed on whether you can sustain a conversation or transactional exchange in Japanese that fits the situation: who you are, who you are speaking to, and why. The examiner is looking for control of politeness level (敬語 keigo and 丁寧語 teineigo versus plain form), appropriate set phrases for the function (greeting, requesting, apologising, offering, declining, thanking), turn-taking, and strategic competence - the ability to keep going when you do not understand.
Concepts you must command
- Register switching: use です・ます with teachers, strangers and shop staff; plain form with close friends of your own age. Know humble (謙譲語: いただく, うかがう, おります) and respectful (尊敬語: いらっしゃる, おっしゃる, ご覧になる) forms for the common verbs.
- Function language: 〜ていただけませんか for polite requests, 〜させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか for permission in formal settings, お〜ください for service counter requests.
- Softening and refusal: Japanese refusals are indirect. Recognise ちょっと…, 考えておきます, 検討させていただきます as likely negatives.
- Repair strategies: すみません、もう一度お願いします。／〜というのはどういう意味ですか。／ゆっくり話していただけますか。
- Aizuchi (あいづち): そうですか、なるほど、ええ、たしかに - showing you are listening is part of the assessment.
Traps
- Over-formality with peers - using ございます with a classmate sounds unnatural.
- Direct translation of English politeness - "No thanks, I don't want it" becomes blunt in Japanese.
- Ignoring the prompt's role cards - if the card says you are the customer, do not take the staff role.
- Freezing on unknown vocabulary - you lose marks for silence; paraphrase or ask.
Rule of thumb
Match the verb ending to the relationship, then add one softener. For example, to decline an invitation from a teacher: せっかくお誘いいただいたのですが、あいにくその日は予定がございまして… - invitation acknowledged, reason given, no blunt いいえ.