Customer Reviews

Instant Immersion Japanese

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have read several other reviews of this software. Apparently, I have a different version or something. I have read comments from "XP bugs" to "doesn't teach anything." I have had no problems with XP, and if you actually buy the four disc set, disc three has a very useful piece of software ("Human Japanese") that is a wonderful teacher. Not only is it thorough, the author used excellent teaching techniques to help you understand the content. The only thing it really doesn't hit on is Kanji. If you want to start learning Japanese, I cannot urge you enough to try this software.

The other CDs are useful as well, but are only programs to test how much you know; not teach you (there is also a good translator program on disc 4, JQuickTrans).

I didn't buy this off of Amazon, but at the discount aisle at Fry's Electronics. I thought it was alright. I gave these a confusion level. 5 is the most, 0 is the least.

The first CD, Talk Now, was awesome. It teaches some basic words and phrases, along with colors, food, numbers, and a few other things. When you think you're ready to play the quiz game, you can get printable awards depending on how you did.
Confusion Level: 0

The second CD, World Talk, confused me so much. Just...no. I'm sorry if they meant well, but they sure as sugar DIDN'T do well on this one.
Confusion Level: 48,592,703,271,623,028

The third CD is Human Japanese. It's nice to know that it's not textbook Japanese and I actually learned grammar. You get writing lessons, grammar lessons, and how to pronounce the words correctly. I loved it and it's still one of my favorite Japanese programs. Every once in a while it all seems a bit overwhelming, though.
Confusion Level: 1.5

The fourth one, JquickTrans, is like a dictionary. You type in a word and it gives you the word in Japanese and some related words. It's kind of confusing at first, so play around with it until you're comfortable. It can find pretty much any word you type in, even rare-ish words that you don't hear in everyday conversation, like "phantasm."
Confusion Level: 2.5

Overall, I think it's a good bit of software and if you are just starting out, I suggest getting this one.

If you're starting to learn Japanese, a feat to be applauded in itself, this is an amazing package. It's fun, interactive, and educational. Don't even think about trying to get a foot in the door without this. Books are great but to be able to see people pronounce the words with enthusiasm in correlation to the picture of the word is SO helpful and helps it stick amazingly well too. Another commenter posted that the games were worthless but they're only useless if your not focused on learning. This makes it so simple AND enjoyable, something I've never found with any other software out there. I was at first hesitant by the low price wondering how it could possibly deliver. BUY this as it's a steal and for the dedicated learner, a great way to start.

I'm not sure if this is the exaxt same product, because the one I have has 6 cd's in it, but it's Instant Immersion Japanese, so I'm going with it.

This was given to me by a friend who's trying to learn Japanese because he found it worthless, as in way too difficult for a beginner. I also found it too difficult. I gave it to a japanese friend of mine and he said it's correct but there's no way a westerner is going to learn Japanese from it.

I found the whole approach ineffective. They didn't lie when they said it's instant immersion, they just immediately start speaking Japanese at a normal rate and don't let up, rarely if ever pausing to let you know what they said. I can learn more Japanese by watching imported DVD's than I can with this, at least there you get some some context clues and some gesticulation if you're observant.

I know it's cheap, but you generally get what you pay for. Pimsleur is expensive but worth every penny. It's only weakness is that you have to get your expanded vocabulary elsewhere, but the grammar and pronunciation are outstanding. Rosetta stone is great for vocabulary, but weak in grammar...the two work fantastic together if you don't mind the cost - but education is expensive. You're better off spending the money for one or two good programs than you are dropping 40 or 50 dollars a pop on cheap programs over and over until you find one you can actually learn something from.

This may be a very good addition to an ongoing study, but don't get your hopes up if you're a complete beginner and this is the only program you're planning to buy. You'll be lucky if you learn how to hail a taxi.

Instant Immersion Japanese is a very good course and I have learned a good deal of Japanese from it. I highly recommend it.
I do feel strongly that a good 'car based' course such as Behind the Wheel Japanese is necessary to get the practice you need while driving.
My personal study itinerary involves using Instant Immersion Japanese at home and Behind the Wheel Japanese in my car. I am learning to speak and Japanese at a very rapid pace and am enjoying the process.

I really love this progam because I'm learning Japanese. It is pretty hard but I always study every day and learn new things. My Japanese friend is helping and he said I'm doing good on it.

The first disk teaches you the basics like words and phreases. The second disk is so cool and it's helping learn new words. The third disk teaches you how to read and write in Japanese. The forth disk is has a study guide and a dictionary.

I really love this because it is helping me and I love it!

Sayonara!

Sorry it's so looong =D
This is the worst teaching product I have EVER seen! It is simply an illogical way to teach a language. They really do mean "Instant Immersion". The first disk is okay.They really start you off on a beginners' level(basic words, phrases, numbers, foods, and all that other good stuff...).The second disk is completely in Japanese, and sure they give you a clue or a hint here and there, but there is no way for a beginner to understand what is trying to be said. The Third disk is a pretty good book, but it doesn't cover everything, and the fourth disk is a translator that is hard to figure out unless you read the guide for it.I have read a couple of the previous reviews that people have written, and I am shocked that some of them think that it is the BEST possible program you could buy!For an example of what some people said:
1)It's an inexpensive program -sure it's cheaper than others but it will also give you a cheap(poor)education in the language!You get what you pay for and the cheapest programs may not be the best. I'm NOT saying that all of the expensive ones ARE the best, but I'm saying that you should do more reasearch into something before you buy it. You know, find out all of the pros AND cons.If a LOT of people say it isn't good, then I wouldn't buy it.
2)It's fast -I hate when companies promise something that works fast. I can understand being a busy person, but if you think you can learn something without having to do a little work!Just because something is fast doesn't mean it's the best quality...and half of the companies that promise fast results are usually the ones that don't come through.Besides half of the programs that you learn faster with are the ones that no one is willing to use(example: BOOKS!!!).

Personally I'd just buy a book.If you have enough time to waste on this program, you should have enough time to read a book.If you're looking into it, I have found that "Genki: An Intergrated Course in Elementry Japanese" works best.It's kind of expensive, but it is worth it's weight in gold.In one review for Instant Immersion someone said they learned hiragana in 3 months and in a review for Genki someone said they taught themself hiragana in about 1 week.If you're really serious about learning Japanese then you should buy Genki.If you want some personal advice: before you buy this,or any other program (or anything!),I'd research into it- find the BEST programs and the BEST deals you can get for them.

From the descriptions of the programmes on the box, I thought that this could be helpful--at least, that "Human Japanese" would. This is NOT the "quickest way to learn a language"; if it's quick, it's only because it teaches you very little.

"Talk Now" is VERY basic. It teaches greetings, colours, numbers, food, etc. words by saying each word/expression for you (and showing it on the screen--though it tends to use kanji, which I don't find too suitable, especially if you keep in mind that the people using this CD are complete beginners, many of whom aren't even completely familiar with romanisation) with a rather scratchy recording. Then you can record yourself and then listen to see how you match with the example speaker(s)--but this is not like the more expensive software in which the programme itself actually compares the two. Then there's some practice, and you go on to the next category. Again, you only learn REALLY basic words--"hai," "iie," "konnichi wa," "konban wa," "takushii," "koohii," "sakana," "Nihon," "Amerika," "aka," etc. And in the end, most people probably won't be able to remember too much of what they "learned"--so much for "instant immersion," especially when there isn't any context for the words. Seriously, it doesn't seem too practical to teach people the names of random countries without even giving them a sentence (pattern). What are you going to have people do--walk up to maps and point as they name the countries they know from the CD?
World Talk may utilise "immersion" (finally--something as advertised), but unless you have at least some background in the language, you'll be quite confused--and this "background" CANNOT be attained in what is basically a basic word list which is the "programme" "Talk Now." Even right at the beginning, when they ask you to type your name: What's the point of writing it in Japanese? A beginner will probably EVENTUALLY figure out what they're supposed to do, but really, the Japanese text is completely unnecessary. I doubt beginners will be able to learn much if they can't even pick up a single word. There needs to be a CD in between these two to "bridge the gap."
As for Human Japanese, I only looked at a little of it, but already I began to disapprove of it. Again, it's very basic (though at least it introduces SOME grammar), but it does not "link" AT ALL with the previous two CD's. What irks me even more is that words which SHOULD be written in katakana are written in hiragana. The programme itself seems to be quite low-cost--from interface/design to the content itself. You should get a real textbook instead, unless you just want some basic knowledge--though this doesn't exactly teach grammar very well/in-depth.
Translators in general do not work too well. I only used it once, but wasn't really impressed. After all, you can always get something translated for free (and inaccurately, as almost all of them do) on the internet.

Overall, very disappointing. I would not buy it unless I really had no other book/programme/CD's to get.

I love this its excellent for beginners and intermediate alike. I have had it for about 3 months and i almost completed the hiragana phase. Use these cd in the right order and you will be fine.
1. use cd#3 that teaches the characters and gives pointers on gerneral japanese
2. use cd#1 this teaches you basic words and saying + numbers
3. cd#2 teaches you intermediate to advanced japanese, be sure to get all 1800 points in the cd#1 then go to cd #2
4. Cd#4 gives you quick translations and their characters.
Get this it is definitly worth it and at a great price for all the cds and info it comes with!!

BEWARE of Immersion's 'Help' site -
I clicked on Help for their 'dictionary' which made no sense and had stopped working - and it send me to their site; while I read trying to figure out how it even worked - it was ADDING things to my computer as I was reading without letting me know it was doing so. What it added was jibberish.
Haven't been able to remove all of the files it added. Not even sure how many got added before started having problems with my computer.

AVOID there 'HELP' in the 'dictionary' - which doesn't make sense (maybe to those who are advanced it might make some sense but did certain is of NO help to a beginner.

Also it says that the dictionary part can work without the CD but haven't found that to be the case - it comes up but won't do anything AT ALL - except take you to that BAD 'help' site.
The dictionary itself makes no sense, at least certainly not to a beginner.

However, if you leave the CD for the dictionary in the drive - and go to File and Open Study list - there is a list for Hiragana and one for Katakana - click on the one you want to practice using Flashcards with - then go to Options and Study List and then to Flashcards.

This will open up another window and you can practice using the flashcard.
The only odd thing is that sometimes it puts an X in front of the letter - like XE
If you get it right it turns GREEN
If you get it right but it has an X in front of it for some reason - haven't seen this anywhere except here - then it turns YELLOW, I just ignore the x and hit enter and it goes to the next card
if it is wrong it Stays RED - can click on the button below it labeled 'READING' and it will show what it is - can then just hit enter to go to next or enter it.

Still would NOT recommend Immersion software.
Nor Berlitz (Japanese didn't even work on XP) but their Spanish has flashcards which work.

Have not found anything I would strongly recommend in the inexpensive versions - haven't tried the pricey ones and after these I will just stick to books and audios instead. There are plenty of flashcards available without having to get software for just that.
When I would read others recommendation to stick to books instead of these software products I would get frustrated because I wanted recommendation for some software that would be helpful, after all we are in the age of computers - but now I understand why after using these software products the only thing that can be recommended is a book/audio products.

So far for TEXTBOOK I have liked Human Japanese. But it is a TEXTBOOK on Computer not really software program since there is no real interaction to help with learning or to check for retaining - just mainly reading - has STROKE order that you can Click on and See being Written out. Can hear most, but not all, of what is written in Japanese - and it does go through the Hiragana and Katakana - including the g, etc - but mainly about how to write, not really to help remember/learn. No tests, just hearing.