Customer Reviews
Excellent for complete beginners - By: A Customer, 13 Jul 2008 
I am completely new to the japanese language & this book has taken me from not being able to speak a word beside "konnichiwa" to having actual conversations with japanese friends. It is perfect with the CD so that you get the pronounciation right, as the language is so different from english & there is even an opportunity to learn some of the script. However, if you are looking to be able to read & write japanese properly, this is probably not the best suited book for you. But for people who want to speak & write/readin romaji: BUY THIS BOOK
Make sure you are buying the book not just the CD! - By: Dave, 25 Jan 2008 
The reviews on this item are not specific to the CD & book on their own or the CD/book pack, so it is a bit confusing if your search lands you on the CD (without the book) page. We ordered having read the reviews & synopsis thinking that we were buying a CD/book pack. Turned out to just be the CD, which makes constant reference to the book, so isn't much use on its own. Quite disappointing, & could have been clearer. In fairness to Amazon, on bringing this to their attention they were kind enough to give us a gift certificate so that we could get the book....
Actually not only for beginners - By: Ioannis Pantelidis, 28 Oct 2007 Even though I did pass the 3rd Level of the Japanese proficiency test before studying the book, it was helpful & useful even though it was intended for beginners. I did not regret that I paid for it since I did learn new things from chapter 1 until chapter 20.
Make learing enjoyable - By: Ieuan Lewis, 16 May 2003 After reading the Teach Yourself; Japanese Script (by the same author) i felt right at home with this book. The stylein which the book is presented is very informal & gives some insights into japanese culture that have kept me entertained while reading.
There is a supporting CD or tape but the version i had did not come with one. This would normally mean the end of the world but the book also puts the dialogue & activities for each section. There are some times, such as the pronounciation exercises, where it may have been better to have a CD but i have learned far more from this book & can talk adequatly even if my pronounciation is a little suspect!
If you are going to buy this book then i suggest you get the CDs/tapes & the Beginners Japanese Script book (alsoin the TY series).
Well balanced, easy course - By: , 30 Nov 2001 
This is a well balanced & easy course. It combines good explanations with useful dialogues & the vocabulary lists at the start of each unit allow you to immediately understand what is being said. The book briefly touches upon written Japanese but it really only covers Katakana. You'll need another book if you want to learn Hiragana en Kanji as well (and you probably will).
The whole course is pleasantly written & can easily be studied without the cassettes. I would have given it five stars if it wasn't for the fact that a large amount of the vocabulary lists & some parts of the dialogue are missing from the tapes. I also couldn't understand why small parts of the vocabulary were given after the dialogue instead of adding them to the main vocabulary list.
These are minor objections however & out of the three courses I own (Hugo's Japanesein three months, BBC's Talk Japanese & TY Beginner's Japanese) this is certainly my favourite one.
