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OPIc English · Japanese-English · 80 cards · Free

OPIc problem and solution phrases for Japanese speakers

Problem-and-solution answers need calm structure: what happened, why it was difficult, what you did, how it ended and what you learned. This deck drills those English frames from Japanese prompts.

What this deck teaches

A problem answer can easily become a long pause if you have to build the structure from scratch. These cards make the structure speakable: "One problem I had was...", "The first thing I did was..." and "Fortunately, the situation got better...".

The scenarios are common enough to reuse: delayed trains, reservation mistakes, product trouble, getting lost, deadline pressure, schedule changes, message misunderstandings and feeling unwell.

The point is not to memorize one incident. The point is to have the repair language ready, then plug in your own details during the test.

How to practice problem answers

  1. Say the full arc. Practice from problem to result. If you only drill the first sentence, your answer will still stall in the middle.
  2. Keep it calm. Use the phrases to slow the story down: first reaction, first action, second approach and result.
  3. Reuse the same situation. Try one situation with several frames in a row, then switch topics. This makes the language flexible.

Sample cards

電車の遅れ:問題を始める
One problem I had was that my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.
電車の遅れ:困った理由を言う
It was difficult because my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.
電車の遅れ:最初の反応を言う
At first, I did not know what to do because my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.
電車の遅れ:すぐしたことを言う
The first thing I did was stay calm, even though my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.
電車の遅れ:助けを求める
I asked someone for help because my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.
電車の遅れ:別の方法を試す
When my first idea did not work, I tried another way because my train was delayed on the way to an important appointment.

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