Study Guide

Field 057: World Languages—Japanese
Sample Language Structures and Reading Assignments

The following materials contain:

Directions for the Language Structures Assignment

This section of the test requires you to demonstrate your command of the structures and usage of the target language. Directions are provided before each part. Your responses will be scored on the basis of grammatical correctness and sociolinguistic appropriateness.

Your final response must be written on the Response Sheets provided and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheets are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

Your responses to the language structures exercise will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Sample Language Structures Assignment

Follow the directions for each of the three parts (Parts A, B, and C) below.

Objective 0001
Language Structures (Standard 2)

Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.

Part A (1–12)

Complete the passage below by providing for each numbered space in the passage the Japanese hiragana that make the sentence grammatically correct and are appropriate in the context. Write each response to Part A on your answer document on the line that corresponds to the numbered space in the passage.

Sample Response

Part B (13–16)

Rewrite the sentence(s) in each item below, transforming them according to the directions. Write each response to Part B on your answer document on the lines that correspond to the item number.

(13) Rewrite the following sentence using the passive form.

Sample Response

(14) Rewrite the following sentence using the potential form.

Sample Response

(15) Rewrite the following sentence using a more polite form.

Sample Response

(16) Combine the following two sentences into a single sentence, transforming one of the original sentences into a modifying clause.

Sample Response

Part C (17–20)

Rewrite the sentence(s) in each item below, correcting all errors and retaining the original meaning. Write each response to Part C on your answer document on the lines that correspond to the item number.

Sample Strong Response

Performance Characteristics for the Language Structures Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the language structures assignment.

Grammar Part A (1–12): Supplying the grammatically correct term
Transformation Part B (13–16): Making a specified transformation
Correction Part C (17–20): Correcting errors

Scoring Scale for the Language Structures Assignment

Scores will be assigned to each response to the language structures assignment according to the following scoring scale.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 17–20 correct responses
3 13–16 correct responses
2 9–12 correct responses
1 0–8 correct responses
U The response is illegible or not written in the required language.
B There is no response to the assignment.

Directions for the Reading Assignment

This section of the test consists of an interpretive reading assignment. You will read a passage in the target language and respond in writing to the assignment that follows the passage. Your response may be written in either English or the target language. This should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Your final response must be written on the Response Sheets provided and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheets are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

Your response to the interpretive reading assignment will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Any time spent responding to the assignment, including scanning the response sheets, is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.

Sample Reading Assignment

Objective 0003
Interpretive Communication Skills (Standard 3)

Read the passage below; then complete the exercise that follows. Your response may be written in either Japanese or English. Choice of language will not affect your score.

Write a short paragraph of approximately 75–150 words in English or 150–200 characters in Japanese in which you:

Sample Strong Response to the Reading Assignment

This reading passage is an advertisement about a special kind of juice, açaí berry and some people drink the juice as an easy and healthy breakfast. The main idea of this advertisement is to emphasize the health benefits of this juice and to urge people to try it.

Performance Characteristics for the Reading Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the reading assignment.

Literal Comprehension Accuracy and completeness in comprehending the literal content of written language
Inference Ability to infer information implied in written language

Scoring Scale for the Reading Assignment

Scores will be assigned to each response to the reading assignment according to the following scoring scale.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response demonstrates a strong level of skill in interpretive reading.
  1. The response demonstrates comprehension of literal content, including main ideas and details.
  2. The response demonstrates the ability to infer implied information.
3 The "3" response demonstrates a general level of skill in interpretive reading.
  1. The response demonstrates general comprehension of literal content. There is misunderstanding of some main ideas and/or details.
  2. The response demonstrates some ability to infer implied information. Some communication not explicitly stated may be misinterpreted or missed.
2 The "2" response demonstrates a limited level of skill in interpretive reading.
  1. The response demonstrates limited comprehension of literal content. There is significant misunderstanding of main ideas and details.
  2. The response demonstrates little ability to infer implied information. Most communication not explicitly stated is misinterpreted or missed.
1 The "1" response demonstrates a weak level of skill in interpretive reading.
  1. The response demonstrates little or no comprehension of literal content. There may be understanding of only isolated words or phrases.
  2. The response demonstrates no ability to infer implied information.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, not written in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.