spaceCenter for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)
 
 
 
 
 

Exercise 10: Simulation Exercises for Responding to Compliments

 

Situation 1

Today you have chosen to wear an old T-shirt from your university in the States. Your boss at work, a friendly woman in her 40s, notices it.

 

Boss: あら、そのＴシャツかっこいいじゃない。 Ara,sono tiishatsu kakkoii janai.

1. You:

Boss: とってもよく似合ってるわ。 Tottemo yoku niatteruwa.

2. You:

 

Situation 2

You go to karaoke with your friends and listen to others singing. A friend of yours sings really beautifully. Now it’s your turn to sing. You don’t think you are particularly good, but when you finish someone says to you:

Friend: なかなか、上手だねえ。 Nakanaka jouzu dane.

3. You:　

Friend: いやー、うまいよ。練習したの？ Iya umaiyo. Renshuu shitano?

4. You:

 

Situation 3

You go to your Japanese language teacher to ask a question after class. She answers your question and adds that your last assignment was very well done. You are happy to hear that because you really spent a lot of time writing and revising the composition.

Teacher: それからね、この前の課題は大変よくできていましたよ。 Sorekarane, kono maeno kadaiwa totemo yoku dekite imashitayo.

5. You:　

Teacher: これからもその調子でがんばってね。 Korekaramo sono choushide ganbattene. 　

6. You:

 

 

Self Evaluation

Listen to a sample dialogue for each of the situations above. Compare and contrast them with your dialogues and write your evaluation for each of your dialogues in the box below.

Sample Dialogue 1: T-shirt situation    

Sample Dialogue 2: Karaoke situation     

Sample Dialogue 3: Assignment situation    

 

Strategies --->

 

Using an appropriate level of politeness

Response strategies used

Sample Dialogue 1

Using the polite desu/masu form (appropriate for a boss)

  • Downgrading the compliments
  • Offering background information

Your compliments in Situation 1

(Compare your compliments in Situation 1 above to those in sample dialogue 1, and write an evaluation of your responses in the boxes.)

 

7.

 

8.

Sample Dialogue 2

9.
  • Questioning the compliments
  • Thanking (accepting)

 

Your compliments in Situation 2

(Compare your compliments in Situation 2 above to those in sample dialogue 2, and write an evaluation of your responses in the boxes.)

10.

11.

Sample Dialogue 3

Using the polite desu/masu form (appropriate for a teacher)

12.

 

Your compliments in Situation 3

(Compare your compliments in Situation 3 above to those in sample dialogue 3, and write an evaluation of your responses in the boxes.)

13.

14.

 

Listen to Additional Example in Situation 1
        
View Transcript

Listen to Additional Example in Situation 2
          
View Transcript

Listen to Additional Example in Situaition 3 
        
View Transcript

Your section (if applicable)/Your last name, Your first name:
Example: (in a box) 010/Smith, John

Submit Your Questions and Comments about Exercise/Website

  
Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) • 140 University International Center • 331 17th Ave SE • Minneapolis, MN 55414 | Contact CARLA