Setting a Small Speaking Practice Goal | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a language learning setting, two adults set a small speaking practice goal and choose a way to track progress..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Setting a Small Speaking Practice Goal to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

言語の練習の目標を決めたいです。

GEN-goh noh ren-SHOO noh moh-koo-HYOH oh kee-meh-TAI deh-soo. I want to set a goal for my language practice.
B

今、どのスキルが一番難しいですか。

ee-MAH, doh-NOH soo-KEE-roo gah ee-chee-BAHN moo-zoo-kah-SHEE deh-soo-kah. Which skill feels hardest right now?
A

短い会話で、スムーズに話すことです。

mee-JEE-kai KAI-wah deh, soo-MOO-zoo-nee hah-NAH-soo koh-toh deh-soo. Speaking smoothly in short conversations.
B

では、毎日、小さな話す課題を一つ選びましょう。

deh-WAH, mah-ee-NEE-chee, chee-SAH-nah hah-NAH-soo kah-DAI oh hee-TOH-tsoo eh-rah-bee-mah-SHOH. Then choose one small speaking task each day.
A

進み具合をどうやって記録できますか。

SOO-SOO-mee goo-AI oh DOH-YAH-teh kee-ROH-koo deh-kee-MAH-soo-kah. How can I track my progress?
B

答えを一つ録音して、あとでもう一度聞きましょう。

koh-TAH-eh oh hee-TOH-tsoo roh-KOO-ohn she-TEH, ah-toh-DEH MOH ee-chee-doh kee-kee-mah-SHOH. Record one answer and listen to it again later.
A

その方法なら、簡単に続けられそうです。

soh-NOH hoh-HOH nah-rah, kahn-TAHN-nee tsoo-zoo-keh-rah-reh-SOH deh-soo. That routine sounds easy to follow.
B

課題は短くして、何度も繰り返しましょう。

kah-DAI wah mee-JEE-kah-koo she-TEH, nahn-DOH-moh koo-ree-kah-eh-shee-mah-SHOH. Keep the task short and repeat it often.

Word by Word

言語 言語 means “language” in 言語の練習, referring to the language being practiced. It is commonly used before の when specifying which language something relates to. A learner might use it when discussing study plans or language ability.
の の links 言語 and 練習 in 言語の練習, showing that the practice is related to a language. It commonly connects one noun to another noun. Use it when describing the type or relationship of the following noun.
練習 練習 means “practice” in 言語の練習. Here it refers to language-practice activities rather than a single performance. It is useful when talking about regular study or repeated training.
目標 目標 means “goal” in 目標を決めたいです. It is the result or target that the speaker wants to decide on. It commonly appears with を when it is the object of an action such as deciding or setting.
を を marks 目標 as the object of 決めたい in 目標を決めたいです. It shows what the speaker wants to decide. Use it after the object before a verb that acts on that object.
決めたい 決めたい expresses that the speaker wants to decide the goal in 目標を決めたいです. Its citation form is 決める, and the ending たい expresses desire. It is useful when stating a personal intention, often after an object marked by を.
です です gives the sentence a polite ending in 目標を決めたいです. It makes the statement suitable for a polite conversation. It commonly follows a polite description or expression of the speaker’s state or intention.
今 今 means “now” in 今、どのスキルが一番難しいですか. It places the question in the present situation. Use it when asking about a current difficulty, condition, or choice.
どの どの means “which” in どのスキル, asking the listener to choose one item from possible skills. It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Use it when selecting one option from a known group.
スキル スキル means “skill” in どのスキルが一番難しいですか. Here it refers to a language ability such as speaking. It is useful when discussing the particular abilities a learner wants to improve.
が が marks スキル as the subject described as difficult in スキルが一番難しいですか. It identifies which skill has the quality being asked about. It commonly appears before an adjective when asking which item has that property.
一番 一番 means “the most” or “to the highest degree” in 一番難しい. It shows that the speaker is asking about the hardest skill among the choices. It commonly comes before an adjective when comparing items within a group.
難しい 難しい means “difficult” in 一番難しいですか. It describes the skill that feels hardest at the present time. It can be used when asking or explaining what part of a task is challenging.
か か marks the sentence as a question in 一番難しいですか. It turns the preceding polite statement into a question. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
短い 短い means “short” in 短い会話. It describes conversations that do not last long or contain much content. It commonly comes directly before the noun it modifies, such as a conversation or task.
会話 会話 means “conversation” in 短い会話で. Here it refers to short spoken exchanges used for practice. It is useful when discussing speaking practice with another person.
で で marks 短い会話 as the setting in 短い会話で、スムーズに話すことです. It shows where or in what context the speaking takes place. It commonly follows a place, setting, or activity context before the main action.
スムーズ スムーズ describes speaking as smooth or fluent in スムーズに話す. With に, it describes the manner of 話す. It is useful when describing speech that proceeds without difficulty or long pauses.
に に changes スムーズ into the manner expression スムーズに話す, meaning to speak smoothly. Here it shows how the speaking is done. It commonly follows an adjective-like description before an action verb.
話す 話す means “to speak” in スムーズに話すことです. The citation form is also 話す, and it names the speaking activity being discussed. It is useful when talking about communicating orally in a conversation.
こと こと turns 話す into the noun-like activity in スムーズに話すことです. The whole phrase refers to the act of speaking smoothly in short conversations, while こと makes that activity the answer. It is commonly placed after a verb phrase when discussing an action as a skill or topic.
では では signals “then” or “in that case” at the start of では、毎日、小さな話す課題を一つ選びましょう. It connects the previous answer to the suggested next step. Use it when responding to information by giving a resulting suggestion or plan.
毎日 毎日 means “every day” in 毎日、小さな話す課題を一つ選びましょう. It sets the frequency of choosing a task. It can be placed before an action to describe a daily routine.
小さな 小さな means “small” in 小さな話す課題. It describes a task that is limited in size or scope. It comes directly before a noun and is useful when suggesting a manageable activity.
課題 課題 means “task” or “assignment” in 話す課題. Here it refers to a speaking activity selected for daily practice. It is useful when discussing a specific exercise or piece of work to complete.
一つ 一つ specifies one item in 課題を一つ選びましょう. It limits the choice to a single task. It is commonly placed after a noun or object when stating that only one item is involved.
選びましょう 選びましょう means “let’s choose” in 一つ選びましょう. Its citation form is 選ぶ, and the ending ましょう makes a polite suggestion or invitation to act together. Use it when proposing a shared choice or next step.
進み具合 進み具合 means “progress” or “how things are progressing” in 進み具合をどうやって記録できますか. It refers to the learner’s development over time. It commonly appears as the object of an action such as recording or checking.
どうやって どうやって means “how” or “by what method” in どうやって記録できますか. どう asks about the way, while やって frames that way as an action or method; together they ask how something can be done. Use it before an action when asking for practical instructions.
記録 記録 means “record” or “keep track of” in 進み具合をどうやって記録できますか. Here it refers to keeping a record of progress. It commonly takes the thing being recorded before it, such as 進み具合を.
できます できます means “can do” or “is possible” in 記録できますか. Its citation form is できる, and the polite form asks whether the listener can carry out the recording. It is useful when asking about someone’s ability or whether a method is possible.
答え 答え means “answer” in 答えを一つ録音して. It refers to one spoken response that will be recorded. It commonly appears with を when it is the content of an action such as recording or checking.
録音 録音 means “make an audio recording” in 録音して. Here it tells the listener to record one answer so it can be heard again later. It is useful when preserving spoken practice for later review.
して して links 録音 with the following action in 録音して、あとでもう一度聞きましょう. Its citation form is する, and this form connects actions in sequence: record and then listen. Use it when describing one action followed by another.
あと あと means “later” in あとでもう一度聞きましょう. Together with で, it places the listening at a later time than the recording. It is useful when arranging an action for afterward.
もう もう means “one more” or “again” in もう一度. It adds the idea of repeating the listening. It commonly comes before a time expression such as 一度 when indicating another occurrence.
一度 一度 means “one time” in もう一度. With もう, the phrase means “one more time” or “again.” It is useful when asking someone to repeat an action once more.
聞きましょう 聞きましょう means “let’s listen” in もう一度聞きましょう. Its citation form is 聞く, and the ending ましょう makes a polite suggestion to listen together. Use it when proposing that someone listen to audio or spoken content.
その その means “that” in その方法. It points back to the method just described rather than introducing an unrelated method. It commonly comes directly before the noun it identifies.
方法 方法 means “method” or “way” in その方法なら. Here it refers to recording an answer and listening again later. It is useful when evaluating or choosing a way to complete a task.
なら なら presents その方法 as the condition or basis in その方法なら、簡単に続けられそうです. In this context, it means “if using that method” or “as for that method.” It commonly follows a noun phrase when giving an evaluation based on that option.
簡単 簡単 describes the method as easy or simple in 簡単に続けられそうです. With に, it describes continuing as an easy action. It is useful when evaluating whether a routine can be managed without much difficulty.
続けられそう 続けられそう expresses the impression that continuing will be possible in 続けられそうです. It combines the idea of continuing with an appearance or expectation of possibility. It is useful when judging whether a routine or habit seems manageable over time.
は は marks 課題 as the topic in 課題は短くして. The advice is about how to keep the task. It commonly follows the item being discussed before a description, instruction, or evaluation.
短く 短く means “short” in 短くして, describing the desired result of the task. It is related to the citation form 短い and uses the form that connects to して. It is useful when instructing someone to make or keep an activity brief.
何度 何度 refers to the number of times in 何度も繰り返しましょう. With も, it emphasizes doing the task many times rather than only once. It is useful when talking about repeated practice or repeated actions.
も も emphasizes repetition in 何度も. Together, 何度も means “many times” or “again and again.” It commonly follows a quantity or frequency expression when highlighting repeated occurrence.
繰り返しましょう 繰り返しましょう means “let’s repeat” in 何度も繰り返しましょう. Its citation form is 繰り返す, and the ending ましょう makes a polite suggestion to repeat the task together. Use it when encouraging repeated practice or review.

Grammar Points

〜られそうです

簡単に続けられそうです。

kahn-TAHN-nee tsoo-zoo-keh-rah-reh-SOH deh-soo.

It seems possible to continue easily.

The potential form 〜られる plus そうです expresses that something seems possible to do.

〜ましょう

一つ選びましょう。

hee-TOH-tsoo eh-rah-bee-mah-SHOH.

Let's choose one.

The ending 〜ましょう is used to suggest doing something together: “let's …”.

Japanese Vocabulary

スキル noun
soo-KEE-roo skill
スムーズに adv
soo-MOO-zoo-nee smoothly
どの det
doh-NOH which
一番 adv
ee-chee-BAHN the most
会話 noun
KAI-wah conversation
決めたい verb
kee-meh-TAI want to decide; want to set
言語 noun
GEN-goh language
今 adv
ee-MAH now
短い adj
mee-JEE-kai short
難しい adj
moo-zoo-kah-SHEE difficult
目標 noun
moh-koo-HYOH goal
練習 noun
ren-SHOO practice

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

want to decide; want to set

Show Answer決めたい

smoothly

Show Answerスムーズに

language

Show Answer言語

difficult

Show Answer難しい