Listening Comprehension
Listening Comprehension tests whether you can follow short dialogues and monologues and answer task-based, point-comprehension, and summary questions. You may hear each item once or twice, so note-taking must be selective: capture names, times, places, reasons, and final decisions rather than every word.
Core rules
- Before the audio starts, read the question and options; underline いつ/どこ/だれ/なぜ/何.
- Identify 場面 and 話し手関係: school, office, shop, interview. Keigo tells you who is superior; 謙譲語 often marks the speaker as the service provider.
- Listen for 言い換え: the correct option rarely repeats the exact audio wording. 無料 may appear as お金はかからない.
- In task-based items, the final decision is often marked by では, それで, or 〜ことにします. Earlier suggestions are often rejected with ちょっと… or 申し訳ありませんが.
- Track numbers and counters: 一つ/一人/一回, 〜分/〜時, 第〜. Write digits, not kana.
Worked example
Audio: 「会議は三時からです。…あ、すみません、三時半に変更になりました。では、三時半にお願いします。」 Question: What time does the meeting start? Reasoning: 三時 is the first time, but すみません and 変更になりました correct it. The final では confirms 三時半. The correct answer is 3:30, not 3:00.
Traps
- Selecting the first number or plan mentioned.
- Missing a correction after すみません/あの/ちょっと.
- Confusing 〜分 and 〜時, or 半 and 30分.
- Answering from memory of one word instead of the final confirmed action.