Some handy advice for tomorrow from someone who has done it:
- If you get an examiner who has a funny way of speaking (or is trying like hell, and failing, to sound Japanese), try to keep a straight face, or blame a smile/laugh on nerves.
- Do it, then after, with mates who have done it also, talk for like five minutes about "omg I'm so happy that's done" and forget about it. You'll never know your marks for speaking, you'll never know how you're examined. Do it, talk about it if you need to, and get over it. Some of you have extension Japanese you need to study for.
- Possibly reward yourself after you've done it. Knowing that people you've never met, and never will meet are going to be listening to your voice can get a bit much. Especially if you're like me, and aren't too much of a people person, and suck at public speaking. Go somewhere/do something fun. Forget about study tomorrow (unless it's for the speaking examination). After the exam, don't touch another book, have some fun.
- USE SENIOR STRUCTURES! The examiners work on a way where they evaluate your level of understanding, and ask questions accordingly. Understanding shitloads of vocab, and using senior structures will get them asking more difficult questions, in a more difficult manner. While this appears disadvantageous, people who are asked simple questions and only give simple answers will not be getting high marks. Those who get complex questions, will likely have them because they've shown the knowledge.
Lastly:
- NO PRESSURE! Don't worry too much if you fuck up. Sure, there goes that band six, but you have another eighty marks waiting for you in the written test.
I got 87 for Japanese Continuers. I'm probably one of the lowest on BoS. I still reckon I did mighty fine.
If I got 87% for all aspects of my examination, I would've received 17.4/20. Considering that your marker will be listening to a royal fuckload of tapes, over and over again, anything over fifteen is pretty bloody good.
Anyway, good luck in your spoken examination from everyone in #nihongo@irc.austnet.org.