Yamashita Haruka: Yeah it was useful.

José Cruz: I I- I wonder you know, because- maybe it’s a cultural thing but growing up in Canada (mm-hmm) and growing up again a a generation apart from you (mm-hmm) uh I- I never had to take the same kind of tests. (Oh really?) I never wrote an entrance test for university. (Hmm) Never. When I was growing up you entered university primarily (Mm-hmm) on your high school grades.

Haruka: Just by the high school grades? (Yeah yeah) Just only?

José: Essentially your high school grades. (Oh) That was the most important thing that people had, and then maybe abou-

Haruka: Did you have kind of interview or something?

José: Oh yeah. You had interviews. (Oh OK. Alright) And for some positions you had to write, for example if you- I remember when I- I applied for a journalism school (Mm-hmm) I didn’t get into that journalism school but they asked you to write something. (Mm mm) Of course that makes sense, you know (Yeah) If you’re going topronounced “GONNA” (0:59) be a journalist, you (Yeah) have to show that you’re writing.

Haruka: That’s one of skill.

José: Right. And I did that. But it wasn’t likein this case, said to mean “as if” (1:04), OK uh here’s the listening section uh, you have to choose “A B C D”, or “E”. (Mmm) Or here’s this section and you have to take this kind of test. I never did that for university. But that changed (Mm mm) a little bit after I went into university.

Haruka: And actually in Japan it’s- now it’s changing and like from, from who- I think from the student who is in the junior high right now. The the the Centerreferring to the National Center Tests (1:36) information will cha- will be changed a lot.

José: Really? In what (Yeah) way? Do you know? Becausepronounced “KUZ” (1:42) I- I haven’t heard about this.

Haruka: Mm, like when I was in high school, uh… Ah or like current uh nan da keJapanese meaning, “how do you say that again” Haruka was talking to herself (1:51) (Students? Current…) I mean, No no no. Current Center examination (OK. Mm-hmm) Is just like the test (Mm) and got the score. And we use the score for uh the um, uh… (University…) Yeah having the test of university. (Right, OK) But uh af- I don’t understand how can I say? Haha

José: Uh I don’t knowpronounced, “DUNNO” (2:19). What…

Haruka: But from now, But from now. Sorry.

José: It’s OK. It’s OK. It’s OK. (Sorry) Relax!

Haruka: But for the future, But for the future (Uh-huh) Well it- it will change a lot and like uh, they will use uh the score which they got in the high school.

José: Ah. high school tests? Or high school classes?

Haruka: High school tests. Like during during their- how should IHaruka realized earlier on that she mixed Japanese inner English speaking and made an effort not to repeat the same mistake. (2:45)– Uh while they’re in their high school (Mm) uh maybe there’re some tests like four times or six times and in the tests, that means just like the tests of the Center Exam. And in total it’s- it will be- I heard that it will be part of- just like a Center Exam.

José: Who makes, who writes these tests? The Center- people at the Center Tests. Who writes the test? (Making?) Yeah, who’s going topronounced, “GONNA” (3:17) make the test? Who writes the test?

Haruka: Uh I do- I don’t really know but I guessed, I guess some professors like I heard some of the famous professors or…

José: So basically the same people who write the Center test

Haruka: Yeah I guess so.

José: OK OK so basically it’s the same test, but not just one time, (Mm-hmm) but over many times in high school. (Yes yes) That’s that’s better.

Haruka: Mm that’s better. So it works for uh the, It works I mean, If if if ifHaruka has a good skill of repeating a word when she doesn’t know what to say next. This is not considered beautiful speaking, but it is much better at helping your fluency than just stopping what you are saying (3:51) we have that kind of test, student have to study for three years (Mm) when they’re in the high school. (Mm-hmm) So I mean, yeah.