Basic Japanese: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster's) [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio CD)

by Pimsleur (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Pimsleur programs provide plenty of positive reinforcement that will keep learners on track, and we found that Pimsleur gave us more proficiency and confidence in speaking the new language than any of the other language programs we reviewed."-- AudioFile Magazine

"EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE...each section within the lessons is short enough to hold our attention, and there is enough repetition to teach even those who consider themselves slow learners...Pimsleur [programs] are extremely thorough and easy to use -- quite lively!"-- Boston Herald

"Learn French while commuting, German while jogging, Spanish (or Russian, Italian, and Japanese) while cooking all with NO WRITTEN MATERIALS!"-- New York Daily News

"Designed for the ear and not the eye...the lessons provide PERFECT 30-minute bites of work."-- St Louis Post-Dispatch

"Learn to habla español or parlez français before your next trip aboard. The interactive LESSONS CHALLENGE STUDENTS to use new words in conversation instead of memorize them."-- American Way (American Airlines inflight magazine)

"I tried other language programs with little success...This is the best by far!"-- Pamela A. Mitchell, Pilot, International Society of Women Airline Pilots

Product Description
This Basic program contains 5 hours of audio-only, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

HEAR IT, LEARN IT, SPEAK IT®

What is the Pimsleur® difference?

The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Japanese structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Japanese can actually be enjoyable and rewarding.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands of words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That same learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed.

With Pimsleur you get:

• Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation,
• Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically,
• The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere,
• 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting.

Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever -- without textbooks, written exercises, or drills.

The 10 lessons in the Basic Japanese are the same as the first 10 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive Japanese Level 1.

The 10 lessons in Basic Japanese are also the first 10 lessons in the 16-lesson Conversational Japanese edition.

Pimsleur learners progress from either the Basic or the Conversational to the Comprehensive Level 1, and not from Basic to Conversational edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur; Unabridged edition (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743550722
• ISBN-13: 978-0743550727
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,519 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent to Test the Waters, September 7, 2007

By	Mike and Griffin (Madbury, NH) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

There is a possibility that I might be going to Japan for work, and being somewhat remedial with learning foreign languages, I wanted an inexpensive way to "test the waters"... can I really learn to speak Japanese from a CD? Is Pimsleur the right choice? Absolutely! I put these CDs in my radio on my way to work rather than listen to DJs talk about nothing and have been wonderfully surprised.

Pro:
-Lessons feature male and female speakers to give you a range of voice pitch
-Price of $15 for 10 half-hour lessons on 5 CDs delivered to you door is awesome!
-Some repetition and periodic reviews to help you learn and to keep you sharp
-You learn basics to get around, such as "Do you understand English?" and "Good morning, nice weather isn't it."
-5 CDs come with a nice black zippered soft-sided CD holder

Con:
-Each 30-minute lesson is an entire track, so you can't use the "scan" feature on your radio, you must rewind (or fast forward) manually, despite clear logical breaks (like learning the reponse to a question you just learned)
-No supporting book or pamphlet of words to visually memorize (I need all the help I can get)
-Lessons are not a full 30 minutes typically... would have appreciated more repetition on several words that get almost none (you can rewind, so minor point I suppose)

Neutral:
-Tip #1: CD recommends that if you master 80% of the material, you can move on to the next lesson. I couldn't disagree more, be nearly 100% to get the most of this (you can do it if I can), rewind if you must
-Tip #2: They say a word and you repeat it, there are a few seconds of delay time for you to respond. Learn to say each word not once in that time, but twice, so that you learn to speak at a reasonable speed. It would be annoying to go up to someone and talk too s-l-o-w-l-y...
-Sample vocabulary you will learn: excuse me, hello, good morning, good day, thank you, thank you very much, I, you, good, bad, weather, so it is (agreement), yes, no, I understand, I don't understand, do you understand?, skilled, unskilled, English, Japanese (language, heritage are different words), American, but, well (like I don't know Japanese very well), and so forth... and that's only a sampling of the first 3 lessons... there are 10 in all.

Bottom line: Excellent introduction, highly recommended especially for ~$15. Note: if you buy Pimsleur I, I believe these are the same five discs that begin that series. With Pimsleur I you'll get more CDs obviously, just note the overlap if you are considering it. If I knew then what I know now, I would bite the bullet and go right for Pimsleur I.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great value for a 1 time Japan visitor, June 30, 2006

By	Jered M. Stoehr "Jered S." (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this wanting to get some basic japanese language skills for my trip to Japan. Just being able to get around, say some polite things, etc.

It is great; I love the CDs and the price is right. If I ever want to learn another language I will check for this deal first.

Also, the price I paid on amazon was cheaper than what they were selling for on Ebay...

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Language Learning Tool Available, April 3, 2007

By	A. M. Hernandez - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just got the Pimsleur Quick & Simple Japanese (which is the same as this product, but with only the first 8 lessons). I'm almost finished with the CDs, but I have learned more Japanese with these CDs than with the 5+ Learn Japanese books I have bought and attempted to read. This is the real deal. I am planning on purchasing the rest of the series when I get a chance.

If you want to actually speak Japanese, buy these CDs. Even after the first lesson, you can easily see that the method works. I have tried many times to learn Japanese over the years (using books), completely unsuccessfully. After listening to these CDs, I can honestly say I feel more confident in my language learning skills. Although I haven't learned enough to actually hold a conversation, I can see the potential. The CD's teach you how to think in Japanese, not just translate word-for-word. The process is very fluid and natural. Not only does this product work as advertised, it is also lots of fun. Who knew learning a language could be fun?