Customer Reviews

Writing Letters in Japanese

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

 

 

This book provides both pedagogical and practical assistance in writing letters in the Japanese style. It includes many example letters, and lists the proper "stock phrases" that are a critical part of Japanese letter writing. If I have any complaint, it's only that the text runs out too quickly--I find myself wishing for even more exposition and examples from the authors' excellent style.

I've used Writing Letters in Japanese a lot over the years, and I would highly recommend it, especially if you can find the much more affordable paperback edition.

CONTENT
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- 3 chapters on the basics of letter-writing
- 9 chapters of letters for different situations (new year's greetings, requests, thank-you letters, writing announcements, invitations and replies, apologies, news about yourself, inquiries regarding employment, sending stuff to people)

PROS
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+ The content is well-presented
+ There are plenty of explanations
+ You'll learn lots of vocabulary
+ There are many model sentences

CONS
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- Nothing about electronic media. It needs to be updated
- Informal correspondence should have been included as well. Once you get to know someone, you shouldn't be writing to them in such a formal manner.
- Because it was written by instructors at IUC for their students, the model correspondence, situations, and so forth need to be modified for non-students

SUMMARY
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My copy is looking very worn from use. A worthwhile purchase if you can find it in paperback.