Hello! I’m hoping to take the N4 in December. I’m pretty good with grammar and vocabulary when it is written down, but I’m awful at listening comprehension. I can form sentences, talk, and monologue reasonably fine.
I was wondering if anyone had some recommendations for N4-level listening practice? I have some anime that I watch for practice (“Blame!,” “Attack on Titan,” and old school “Sailor Moon”) and I love “きのう何食べた.” However, because my comprehension is so bad I rely a lot on subtitle.
I’m pretty sure the answer will be “listen to everything you can,” but if anyone has specific recommendations please let me know.
Thank you!
9 comments
Shirokuma Cafe is a chill anime with easier Japanese that I like a lot. (As a bonus, the conversation is very everyday and conversational, without SF/fantasy technobabble or made-up words.) It’s not N4 level – basically nothing intended for native speakers is N4 level, even TV for tiny children – but it’s on the easier end of things.
The sound files that come with your textbook will help you the most
For JLPT listening prep I used the Shinkanzen Master N4 listening book and found the exercises useful.
Rilakuma and kaoru is pretty good for listening comprehension. The dialogue is straightforward.
If you search N4 listening practice on YouTube you will find lots of examples from previous tests or study guides. Some of them even add the script after
Sayuri Saying on YouTube
Podcasts are a game changer for listening practice. At your level, Nihongo Con Teppei would be my top recommendation.
https://nihongoconteppei.com/
I started with a podcast called “Let’s Talk in Japanese”, the episodes are rated by JLPT level, so just pick an N4 one that interests you and listen to it over and over again, looking up words until you understand it. I listened to that one up until maybe N3 or so then switched to “YUYU Nihongo” and some “Let’s Learn Japanese From Small Talk”.
はじめてのおつかい on Netflix. It’s cute, and the Japanese level is about N4 for the most part.