Japanese II [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Pimsleur (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 067131548X | ISBN-13: 978-0671315481 | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

With Pimsleur Language Programs you don't just study a language, you learn it -- the same way you mastered English! And because the technique relies on interactive spoken language training, the Pimsleur Language Programs are totally audio -- no book is needed!

The Pimsleur programs provide a method of self-practice with an expert teacher and native speakers in lessons specially designed to work with the way the mind naturally acquires language information. The various components of language -- vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar -- are all learned together without rote memorization and drills. Using a unique method of memory recall developed by renowned linguist, Dr. Paul Pimsleur, the programs teach listeners to combine words and phrases to express themselves the way native speakers do. By listening and responding to thirty minute recorded lessons, students easily and effectively achieve spoken proficiency.

No other language program or school is as quick, convenient, and effective as the Pimsleur Language Programs.

The Comprehensive Program is the ultimate in spoken language learning. For those who want to become proficient in the language of their choice, the Comprehensive programs go beyond the Basic Programs to offer spoken-language fluency. Using the same simple method of interactive self-practice with native speakers, these comprehensive programs provide a complete language learning course. The Comprehensive Program is available in a wide variety of languages and runs through three levels (thirty lessons each) in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. At the end of a full Comprehensive Program listeners will be conducting complete conversations and be well on their way to mastering the language. The Comprehensive Programs are all available on cassettes and are also on CD in the six languages in which we offer the Basic Program on CD.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067131548X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671315481
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 11.5 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,794,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, August 8, 2002

By 

R. said "Ramsaid" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese II (Audio CD)

I've finished both Pimsleur I and II and have just purchased III. I would recommend these for beginners who have the time to devote. My 30 minute drive commute makes them ideal. I and II took about five months of drivetime listening and review (60 lessons).

One note, Pimsleur suggests not using a textbook but I would highly recommend getting a small textbook such as Berlitz' Essential Japanese for two reasons. First you may not be hearing the work correctly on the Pimsleur CDs/tapes and secondly, it is mush easier to remember a word if you know how its spelled in English (Romanji). Otherwise you may have to resort to creating cumbersome mnemonics to remember a word or phrase.

One final note. You may find that after six months of study you are still utterly lost when watching some Japanese television shows. Take heart, many of those shows use informal language. Rent a movie like "Shall we Dance?" with its more formal politeness and you'll find your Pimsleur time and money investments paying off.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After Pimsleur, you can SPEAK..., February 5, 2002

By 

C. Fischer (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese II (Audio CD)

not just string together (sometimes coherent) words into quasi-sentences.

I am currently using this product to learn Japanese while living in Tokyo. I have and continue to study in more traditional language classes, but there emphasis is more on understanding speech, and on writing. You may learn (and remember) a lot of grammar and vocabulary from these classes, but for me, it is not at instant recall. You always have to pause, for just a second or two, to think of this word, or how to conjugate that verb, which ruins the continuity of your speech and your conversation.

Pimsleur's method is highly effective at completely internalizing the basic structure of a language. You learn to say things and understand things at the speed of NORMAL SPEECH. In a traditional academic classroom, this is far from the case. Although I knew almost all the words and grammar presented in the Pimsleur course, I found that listening to the CDs was still immensely helpful just for internalization and "speedifying" purposes.

Pimsleur is an excellent complement to serious study of a language. It would also be excellent for travellers who want to actually interact and converse with Japanese in interesting (albeit extremely limited) ways.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here is the bottom line..., January 7, 2006

By 

J. Daniel (Winter Park, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese II (Audio CD)

I see several questions and "comments" about the pimsleur Japanese course here, some of which aren't true, and I'm just going to clarify some things right here, and put somethings to sleep.


1. I'm having trouble watching some tv shows and understanding them...

This just takes time. I had the same experience in the beginning and thought it would get better as I learned more, and it did. Very much so. I now watch without subtitles and understand about 80% of what's being said.

One thing to note though, when they are speaking on TV, they are speaking so casually, that they are leaving out a lot of the gramatical functions in their sentences, so the meaning of the sentence may be unclear even if you understand all the words.

Pimsleur doesn't fail you on this though, it gives your brain all the information it needs, its just a matter of time of getting used to hearing the WAY the language is spoken, and your brain begins to make the connections on its own to fill in the blanks.


2. Are the speakers native?

All the speakers pimsleur EVER uses for ANY of their programs are native speakers. It would be absurd and impossible to try to naturally aquire any language speaking ability through a non-native speaker. Period.

In addition, I personally received several comments from several native Japanese speakers saying they were honestly surprised at how native my accent and pronunciation were.

The comment by the person who said that the speakers on the Japanese course were not native, "especially the female", is simply not true. I assume this is just a marketing tactic employed by a competitor posing as a customer.

I do not work for pimsluer, I am just a very satisfied customer and would reccomend this program to anyone over any other.

If you want to study a language get something else. If you want to learn a language, get pimsleur.