Instant Immersion Japanese: "New & Improved!"

by Topics Entertainment

Helps beginner through intermediate students learn Japanese with successive lessons that are designed to build a solid foundation of vocabulary terms and fundamental dialogue skills.

Audio Cassette

Published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Arlian]

Alas, this book is filled with typos and layout problems. One of the methods this book uses to teach new vocabulary is to have a double-spaced paragraph of a Japanese conversation or short essay with key words only being translated. I don't have a problem with this method, however the layout in this book is all messed up so the translations will be under the wrong word. For example: on page 19 there is a conversation between a fictional man named Mr. Newman and a fictional woman named Ms. Akagi. Mr. Newman says "Sumimsen...Eigo o hanasemasu ka?" Which means "Excuse me, do you speak English?" However, instead of the work "English" being under "Eigo", it's Japanese equivalent it is instead under "Sumimasen" which is Japanese for Excuse me. These issues are annoying for someone who already speaks Japanese but could cause very embarrassing mistakes for someone who is trying to use this to prepare for a tourist trip to Japan.