Catching up after missed classes | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: After missed classes, two classmates decide which assignment to handle first and arrange focused practice after class..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Catching up after missed classes to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

最近、いくつかの授業を休んで、遅れていると感じます。

sai-KIN, ee-KOO-tsoo-kah noh JOO-gyoh oh yah-SOON-deh, oh-koo-REH-teh ee-ROO toh kahn-JEE-mahss. I missed some classes recently and feel behind.
B

遅れを取り戻せます。

oh-koo-REH oh toh-ree-moh-doh-SEH-mahss. You can catch up.
B

でも、一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると、もっと難しくなります。

deh-MOH, ee-DOH-nee soo-BEH-teh oh mah-BOH toh soo-TOH, MOHT-toh moo-zoo-KAH-shi-koo nah-ree-MAHSS. But trying to learn everything at once will make it harder.
A

どの課題から始めればよいか教えていただけますか。

doh-NOH kah-DAI kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-reh-bah yoh-ee kah oh-SHEH-teh ee-tah-dah-KEH-mahss kah. Could you tell me which assignment I should handle first?
B

スピーキングの要約課題は提出期限が近く、ワークシートは後回しでも大丈夫です。

soo-PEE-keen-goo noh yoh-YAH-koo kah-DAI wah tay-SHOO-tsoo KEE-gen gah CHEE-kah-koo, WAA-koo-SHEE-toh wah ah-toh-MAH-wah-shee deh-MOH DAI-JOH-boo dess. The speaking summary is due soon, and the worksheet can wait until later.
A

それなら、スピーキングの課題から始めるべきですね。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, soo-PEE-keen-goo noh kah-DAI kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-roo BEH-kee dehss-NEH. Then I should start with the speaking task.
B

そこから始めて、休んだ授業のノートを先生に頼んでください。

soh-KOH-kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-teh, yah-SOON-dah JOO-gyoh noh NOH-toh oh SEN-say nee tah-NOHN-deh koo-DAH-sai. Start there, and ask the teacher for notes from the classes you missed.
A

ほかの人たちが一緒に練習したので、自信があまりありません。

HOH-kah noh hee-TAH-chee gah EESH-shoh nee ren-SHOO shee-tah NOH-deh, jee-SHEEN gah ah-MAH-ree ah-ree-mah-SEN. I feel less confident because the others practiced together.
B

授業の後で、その課題を一通り一緒に練習できます。

JOO-gyoh noh ah-TOH deh, soh-NOH kah-DAI oh hee-toh-TOH-ree EESH-shoh nee ren-SHOO deh-KEH-mahss. We can run through the task after class.
B

そうすれば、どんなことをするのか分かります。

SOH-oo soo-SHEH-bah, DOHN-nah koh-toh oh soo-ROO noh kah wah-KAH-ree-mahss. So you know what to expect.
A

それで、次の段階がもっと取り組みやすく感じられると思います。

soh-reh-DEH, tsoo-GEE noh dahn-KAI gah MOHT-toh toh-ree-KOO-mee-yah-SOO-koo kahn-JEE-rah-reh-roo toh oh-MOH-ee-mahss. That would make the next step feel more manageable.
B

一度集中して練習するほうが、課題を避けるよりよいです。

ee-DOH shoo-CHOO shee-teh ren-SHOO soo-roo hoh-GAH, kah-DAI oh sah-KEH-roo yoh-ree yoh-EE dess. One focused practice session is better than avoiding the work.

Word by Word

最近 最近 means recently in 最近、いくつかの授業を休んで. It refers to a time not long before now and commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence, as in 最近、忙しいです. You can use it when talking about recent changes or events.
いくつか いくつか means some or several in いくつかの授業. It indicates an unspecified but limited number of things and is followed here by の before the noun 授業. Use it when the exact number is not important.
の の links いくつか to 授業 in いくつかの授業, making the first expression describe the following noun. The pattern XのN is widely used for relationships such as 学校の授業. Use it when one noun or noun-like expression modifies another noun.
授業 授業 means a class or lesson in いくつかの授業. Here it refers to classes the speaker did not attend. It is useful for talking about attending, missing, or preparing for a class.
を を marks 授業 as the object of 休んで in 授業を休んで. This shows what was missed or not attended. A common pattern is Nを休む for missing a class, meeting, or other scheduled activity.
休んで 休んで means being absent from or missing in 授業を休んで. It is the て-form of 休む and connects this action to the following result or feeling. You can use the pattern Nを休んで、... when explaining what happened after missing something.
遅れて 遅れて means being behind in 遅れている. It is the て-form of 遅れる, used here before いる to describe the speaker's continuing situation. Use 遅れている when someone is behind a schedule, class progress, or expected level.
いる いる in 遅れている shows that being behind is an ongoing state. Together, 遅れている means is behind rather than describing only one completed event. This pattern is useful for continuing conditions such as 忙しくしている.
と と marks the content of the speaker's feeling in 遅れていると感じます. It connects a thought or statement to verbs such as 感じる and 思う. Use the pattern Xと感じる when saying that something feels a certain way.
感じます 感じます means feel in 遅れていると感じます. It is the polite form of 感じる and describes the speaker's perception of the situation. A common pattern is Xと感じます for expressing how something seems or feels to you.
遅れ 遅れ means a delay or backlog in 遅れを取り戻せます. Here it refers to progress that was lost because of missed classes. The pattern 遅れを取り戻す is used when recovering lost progress or time.
取り戻せます 取り戻せます means can recover or catch up in 遅れを取り戻せます. It is the polite potential form of 取り戻す and expresses that recovering the lost progress is possible. Use 遅れを取り戻す when talking about catching up after falling behind.
でも でも introduces a contrast in でも、一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると. It means but there, while in 後回しでも大丈夫です it adds the idea that leaving something until later is acceptable. Use でも to connect a contrasting point or to add an even-if or even condition.
一度 一度 means one time in 一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると. With に, 一度に means all at once or in a single time. Use it when describing doing something once or handling things simultaneously in 一度に.
に に makes 一度 into the time-related expression 一度に, meaning all at once. It shows the way or timing in which the learning is attempted. The pattern 一度にN is useful when saying that several things are handled at one time.
すべて すべて means everything in 一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると. It refers to the complete set of material rather than only some of it. It commonly appears before を when it is the object of an action.
学ぼう 学ぼう expresses trying or intending to learn in すべてを学ぼうとすると. It is the volitional form of 学ぶ used with とする to describe an attempt or effort. Use Xようとする when someone tries or is about to do something.
すると すると in 学ぼうとすると means when or if someone tries to do so. Here it connects the attempt to the result that learning everything at once becomes harder. The pattern Xようとすると、... is useful for describing what happens when someone attempts X.
もっと もっと means more in もっと難しくなります. It shows that the difficulty increases compared with the current situation. Use it before an adjective or adverb when describing a greater degree.
難しく 難しく means in a harder or more difficult way in 難しくなります. It is the connecting form of 難しい before なる, so the whole expression means become harder. Use the pattern 難しくなる when a task or situation increases in difficulty.
なります なります means becomes in もっと難しくなります. It is the polite form of なる and describes a change into a new state. A common pattern is adjective stem plus なる, such as 難しくなる.
どの どの means which in どの課題. It must appear before a noun and asks the listener to choose one item from several possibilities. Use どのN when asking which specific person, thing, or assignment.
課題 課題 means assignment or task in どの課題から始めればよいか. Here it refers to schoolwork that needs to be completed. It is useful for discussing assignments, tasks, or work that has been set.
から から means from or starting with in 課題から始めれば. It marks the item selected as the starting point. Use Nから始める when saying what you will begin with.
始めれば 始めれば means if or when I start in どの課題から始めればよいか. It is the conditional form of 始める and appears in the pattern Nから始めればよい, asking what is the appropriate starting point. Use this pattern when seeking advice about where to begin.
よい よい means good or appropriate in 始めればよい. In this expression, it asks what would be the right thing to do. The pattern Xばよい is used to ask or explain what action is appropriate.
か か marks the indirect question in どの課題から始めればよいか. It turns the preceding question content into something that can follow 教えていただけます. Use Xか after an embedded question when asking someone to tell you the answer.
教えて 教えて means tell or explain in 教えていただけますか. It is the て-form of 教える and connects with the polite request expression that follows. Use 教えてください when directly asking someone to tell or explain something.
いただけます いただけます contributes a polite, deferential request in 教えていただけますか. With a て-form before it, the pattern ていただけますか asks whether the listener could do something for you. This is useful when making a respectful request to a teacher or other person.
スピーキング スピーキング means speaking in スピーキングの要約課題 and スピーキングの課題. It identifies work involving spoken language. Use it before の when specifying that an assignment or activity is for speaking practice.
要約 要約 means summary in スピーキングの要約課題. It indicates that the assignment involves summarizing something. It can be used before 課題 or 作文 to identify the type of work.
は は marks スピーキングの要約課題 as the topic in スピーキングの要約課題は提出期限が近く. The sentence then gives information about that assignment's approaching deadline. Use は to set the main topic for a statement or comparison.
提出 提出 means submission in 提出期限. It specifies that the deadline concerns handing something in. The compound 提出期限 is useful for talking about when an assignment must be submitted.
期限 期限 means deadline or time limit in 提出期限. Together with 提出, it refers to the final time for submitting the assignment. Use N期限 when discussing the limit for an action, such as an application or payment.
近く 近く means being near or approaching in 提出期限が近く. It is the connecting form of 近い and links the approaching deadline to the next clause. Use 期限が近い or 期限が近く、... when a deadline is soon.
ワークシート ワークシート means worksheet in ワークシートは後回しでも大丈夫です. It refers to a written sheet of exercises or questions. You can use it when identifying a particular piece of classwork.
後回し 後回し means putting something off until later in 後回しでも大丈夫です. It describes choosing to deal with the worksheet after a more urgent assignment. A common pattern is Nを後回しにする for postponing something.
大丈夫 大丈夫 means okay or acceptable in 後回しでも大丈夫です. Here it says that postponing the worksheet will not cause a problem. Use Nでも大丈夫です when reassuring someone that a choice or condition is acceptable.
です です makes 大丈夫です polite and completes the statement that postponing the worksheet is acceptable. It is the polite copula used after a noun or な-adjective. Use it in polite explanations and reassurances.
それ それ points to the advice or information just given in それなら. It refers to that matter rather than naming it again. Use それ when referring to something already mentioned or understood from the conversation.
なら なら takes the preceding reference in それなら and means if that is the case or then. It connects the earlier advice with the speaker's next decision. Use Xなら when responding to information and drawing a conclusion from it.
始める 始める means start or begin in 始めるべきですね. It is in the plain form because べき follows it. Use Nを始める for starting an activity or Nから始める for starting with a particular item.
べき べき expresses that an action is advisable or should be done in 始めるべきですね. It follows the plain form 始める and gives the speaker's judgment about the right priority. Use Vべき when recommending a responsible or appropriate action.
ね ね softens the statement and seeks agreement in 始めるべきですね. The speaker is confirming the conclusion rather than giving a forceful command. Use ね when inviting shared understanding or agreement.
そこ そこ means there or that point in そこから始めて. It refers to the speaking task just selected as the starting point. Use そこ when pointing back to a place, item, or point already identified in the conversation.
始めて 始めて means start and then in そこから始めて. It is the て-form of 始める and links the first instruction to the request that follows. Use Vて、Vてください when giving connected instructions.
休んだ 休んだ means missed or was absent from in 休んだ授業. It is the past form of 休む and modifies the following noun 授業. Use VたN when identifying a noun connected with an action that has already happened.
ノート ノート means notes in 休んだ授業のノート. Here it refers to notes from the classes the speaker missed. Use it when asking for or referring to written class notes.
先生 先生 means teacher in 先生に頼んでください. It identifies the person being asked for the class notes. Use 先生 when addressing or talking about a teacher in an educational setting.
頼んで 頼んで means ask or request in 先生に頼んでください. It is the て-form of 頼む and connects the request to ください. A common pattern is 人に頼む for asking a person to provide help or do something.
ください ください makes the preceding request polite in 頼んでください. After a て-form, it means please do that action. Use Vてください when giving a polite request or instruction.
ほか ほか means other or the others in ほかの人たち. It identifies people apart from the speaker, especially the classmates already mentioned by the situation. Use ほかのN when referring to other members of a group.
人たち 人たち means people or a group of people in ほかの人たち. The suffix たち presents 人 as referring to a group here. Use it when talking about several people as a group, such as classmates or friends.
が が marks ほかの人たち as the subject of practiced in ほかの人たちが一緒に練習した. It identifies who did the practicing. Use が when introducing or emphasizing the subject of an action or state.
一緒 一緒 means together in 一緒に練習した. With に, it describes doing the practice together with others. Use 一緒にV when saying that people perform an action together.
練習 練習 means practice in 一緒に練習した. Here it refers to practicing together for the class task. It is commonly used as 練習する, meaning to practice something.
した した means did or practiced in 練習した. It is the past form of する, completing the expression 練習した for practiced. Use Nをした or Nする forms when describing a completed activity.
ので ので means because or since in 練習したので. It connects the reason that the others practiced with the speaker's lack of confidence. Use Xので、Y when giving a reason in a relatively gentle or explanatory way.
自信 自信 means confidence in 自信があまりありません. Here it refers to confidence in the speaker's ability to do the task. The common pattern 自信がある or 自信がない describes having or lacking confidence.
あまり あまり means not very or not much in あまりありません. With the negative form ありません, it reduces the amount or degree of confidence. Use あまり with a negative predicate when saying that something is not much or not very so.
ありません ありません means do not have or there is not in 自信があまりありません. It is the polite negative form used here to say that the speaker does not have much confidence. Use Nがありません for politely saying that something is absent or unavailable.
後 後 means after in 授業の後で. It places the planned practice after the class has finished. Use Nの後で when describing an action that happens after an event.
で で marks the time setting in 授業の後で. The practice will take place after class. Use Nで to indicate the setting or time at which an activity occurs when the surrounding expression supports that use.
その その points to the task already discussed in その課題. It means that or the particular task, identifying it without repeating its name. Use そのN when referring to a specific noun from the conversation.
一通り 一通り means once through or in a general complete pass in 一通り一緒に練習できます. It shows that the task will be practiced from beginning to end at least once. Use 一通りV when going through an activity or material as a whole.
できます できます means can do in 練習できます. It is the polite form of できる and expresses ability or possibility. Use Nができます for abilities, or V-ことができます for being able to perform an action.
そう そう means so or in that way in そうすれば. It refers back to running through the task after class. Use そう when pointing to a previously described way or situation.
すれば すれば means if you do in そうすれば. It is the conditional form of する and connects the proposed practice with its expected result. Use そうすれば、... when explaining what will happen if the suggested action is taken.
どんな どんな means what kind of in どんなこと. It asks about the nature or content of the thing rather than selecting one named item. Use どんなN when asking what something will be like or what type it is.
こと こと means thing or matter in どんなことをするのか. Here it refers to the activity or task that will be done. Use こと after a description when referring to an action or matter as a noun.
する する means do in どんなことをするのか. It describes the action that the learner wants to know about. Use ことをする when referring to carrying out an activity or task.
分かります 分かります means understand or know in どんなことをするのか分かります. It is the polite form of 分かる and describes gaining an understanding of what to expect. Use Xが分かります when saying that information or a situation is understood.
次 次 means next in 次の段階. It identifies the stage that follows the current practice or preparation. Use 次のN when referring to the next item, event, or step.
段階 段階 means step or stage in 次の段階. Here it refers to the next part of the learner's work after the initial practice. Use it when describing progress through stages of a process.
取り組みやすく 取り組みやすく means easy or manageable to work on in 取り組みやすく感じられる. It is the connecting form of 取り組みやすい and describes the next step as less difficult to approach. Use Nは取り組みやすい when saying that a task is easy to tackle.
感じられる 感じられる means can feel or seems in 取り組みやすく感じられる. It presents the next step as something that can be experienced as manageable. Use Xと感じられる when describing how something can seem or feel to someone.
思います 思います means think in 取り組みやすく感じられると思います. It is the polite form of 思う and makes the statement a personal expectation or opinion. Use Xと思います when politely expressing what you think or expect.
集中して 集中して means focus and in 集中して練習する. It is the て-form of 集中する and describes how the practice is carried out. Use 集中してV when telling someone to perform an action with focused attention.
ほう ほう refers to one option or way in 練習するほうが. Together with が and the comparison, it identifies focused practice as the preferable option. Use AほうがBよりよい when comparing two choices and saying that A is better.
避ける 避ける means avoid in 課題を避けるより. It is the plain form used before より to name the alternative being compared. Use Nを避ける when describing deliberately staying away from a task, activity, or situation.
より より means than or compared with in 課題を避けるより. It introduces the option used as the comparison point in 練習するほうが、課題を避けるよりよいです. Use AほうがBよりよい to say that A is better than B.

Grammar Points

〜ようとすると

すべてを一度に学ぼうとすると、遅れます。

soo-BEH-teh oh ee-DOH-nee mah-BOH toh soo-TOH, oh-koo-REH-mahss.

When you try to learn everything at once, you fall behind.

〜ようとする means “try to do”; とすると describes a result or situation that follows.

〜ていただけますか

課題について教えていただけますか。

kah-DAI nee tsoo-ee-teh oh-SHEH-teh ee-tah-dah-KEH-mahss kah.

Could you tell me about the assignment?

A polite way to ask someone to do something. It is more formal and respectful than 〜てください.

Japanese Vocabulary

すべて pron
soo-BEH-teh everything; all

一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると、もっと難しくなります。

一度に adv
ee-DOH-nee at once; all at once

一度にすべてを学ぼうとすると、もっと難しくなります。

課題 noun
kah-DAI assignment; task

どの課題から始めればよいか教えていただけますか。

学ぶ verb
mah-BOO to learn 学ぼうとすると

すべてを学ぼうとすると

休む verb
yah-SOO-moo to miss; to be absent from; to take a break 休んで/休んだ

授業を休んで/休んだ

教える verb
oh-SHEH-roo to tell; to teach 教えていただけますか

どの課題から始めればよいか教えていただけますか。

近い adj
CHEE-kai near; soon 近く

提出期限が近く

最近 adv
sai-KIN recently

最近、いくつかの授業を休んで、遅れていると感じます。

授業 noun
JOO-gyoh class; lesson

最近、いくつかの授業を休んで、遅れていると感じます。

遅れる verb
oh-koo-REH-roo to fall behind; to be late 遅れている

遅れていると感じます。

遅れを取り戻す phrase
oh-koo-reh oh toh-ree-moh-doh-SOO to catch up; to make up for being behind 遅れを取り戻せます

遅れを取り戻せます。

提出期限 noun
tay-SHOO-tsoo KEE-gen submission deadline

スピーキングの要約課題は提出期限が近く

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to learn

Show Answer学ぼうとすると

to fall behind; to be late

Show Answer遅れている

to catch up; to make up for being behind

Show Answer遅れを取り戻せます

to tell; to teach

Show Answer教えていただけますか