Today's list is JAPANESE TEXT BOOKS!
Want to learn Japanese? Can't afford a class? This list is for you. You can pick up these text books at a local book store or even on amazon.
Here is what I have judged the books on.
Functionality
Accuracy
Interest
Price
4. NAKAMA
The Nakama series spans two books and is used by many schools in the US. Even so I find many flaws with it. It can be very confusing at times and can be very dry. The culture lessons are brief one to two page paragraphs and doesn't elaborate on kanji. The format of the chapters I find confusing and overly detailed on unimportant things. An example is that for the explanation of transitive and intransitive verbs the Nakama book only uses one paragraph with very little examples but, in depth explanation of ている. Putting the vocab list at the end of that chapter works for some subjects but not for language. You need to be able to familiarize yourself with words in the chapter especially if they are going to be used in the grammatical examples. Unfortunately, Nakama also puts the vocab list in the back and usually goes 5 - 6 pages. The final blow to bring it to the bottom of my list is the price. The text book without the workbook rings up as $70 - $100 USD. The workbook at $50 - 80. Though if purchased through a school the set can be bought at $100
NO WEB PAGE AVAILABLE.
3. Minna no Nihongo
The number one text used in Japan, Minna no Nihongo is a strange twist of events. The reason it appears low on my list is also the reason I love the book. Completely in Japanese. Now I KNOW that defeats the purpose of learning a language if you don't understand it but, I do feel comfortable with it. You can purchase a second book with explanations. The beauty of it is that regardless of what you native language is you can buy the corresponding core book in Japanese and then the translation & grammar notes book in your native language. Currently the book is offered in these versions: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Russian, German and Indonesian. The Japanese book gives you the grammar point and how its used. The explanation book gives you the grammar point and in depth explanation using two to five examples. The vocabulary list is one to two pages. While no formal kanji instruction in the book, the user will learn to read many kanji. The price I would say is fare. The core book goes for $25 - $28 USD, The translation and grammar book for another $20 - $23 USD and the workbook for $8 - $12 USD. Having three books is annoying but combined they weigh what one Nakama book weighs. A romaji version is available for those who can't read Kana. (book I only)
HOME PAGE: http://www.3anet.co.jp/english/books/books_01.html
2Japanese for busy people:
When I first came across this book I was disgusted with it. It lacked direction and any sort of functionality. But, times have changed and so has the book. Now it actually resembles something of a textbook. The lessons are VERY clear and there isn't a specific grammar list at the end or beginning of the chapter. The vocabulary list is continuous at the bottom of each page. I was so surprised at the new change to the book that I almost bought the first level book for myself. Kanji is not formally taught in the first book but is introduced into the second book. Its very un-attached however not really ingrained into the user. Despite that the book's attention to detail from the perspective someone who's never learned anything outside of English brings a sense of relief to those intimidated by the language. An excellent book for people just starting out. Unlike the other books in the list this one comes with the audio CD if you wish to do the listening exercises. The book sells for $17 - $25 USD the workbook from $15 - $22 USD. Romaji version available for those who can't read Kana (book I only)
HOME PAGE: http://www.ajalt.org/e/publications/textbooks1.html
Genki
So here we are the #1 book. Genki. This book is steadily growing popular amongst US colleges and universities. Genki offers many things that other books don't have. Consistency. The truth behind GENKI is that the actual name is "An integrated course in elementary Japanese" Called "Genki" for short. This is important to know because the Intermediate version of the book is called this. Anyways. What is really amazing about the Genki series is how it simply teaches you what many other books try. In an interesting and almost ... fun way. Many of the other books have group or pair activities. Both Genki and Intermediate Approach to blah blah blah Japanese, have solo, pair and group activities. Remember the transitive/intransitive whine I had? In Genki they take a page and a half to explain it in layman's terms. Then in the activities section they use pictures to help explain how it works as well as a suggestion to use a game of charades to explain if a verb is transitive or intransitive. Each lesson follows the same pattern as the previous one. Another plus is that it utilizes the internet and has an extensive resource page called "Genki Online" with video lessons from the book as well as quizzes. The back of Genki also has a whole kanji book in it. The kanji coincides with the kanji that appear in each lesson. It includes reading print font and written font. Each textbook runs about $30 - $40 USD. The workbook at $15 - $20 USD
HOME PAGE: http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/index.en.html
http://ij.japantimes.co.jp/en/about.jsp
Well of course this is all my personal opinion and stuff. Anyways
That's it for today.
See you next round!
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