Easy Kana Workbook: Basic Practice in Hiragana and Katakana for Japanese Language Students (Language - Japanese) (Paperback)

~ Rita Lampkin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (July 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844285323
• ISBN-13: 978-0844285320
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210,820 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for self-paced course or in a classroom, August 12, 2002

By	Startide Rising (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This is a practical and useful workbook that teaches the hiragana and katakana characters. It uses a combination of learning by rote practice in tandem with self-test examples. The self-test examples have good variety and range from writing down sentences in kana to correcting sentences that have deliberate errors in them. I found the book's approach of practicing the kana along with reinforcement of what I learned to be an effective one-two combination. It helped me avoid that dreaded "I did it and then promptly forgot what I did" syndrome that some language students tend to have. I am glad that the authors recognized this. Of course, the authors have experience in teaching and their practical experience was reflected in the design of the book.

The book does have effective physical design. The lessons conveniently fit on each page and have enough space on them for you to write down the kana exercises. Each page can be easily photocopied onto another regular-size paper for repeated practice so that you don't damage the original book's pages. Each lesson also fits nicely on each side of a page so that you don't get a example that fits halfway on one side and continues on the other side of a page. That is very thoughtful of the authors.

Importantly, the book starts out by teaching hiragana as it is the most important of the two kana. I've seen other books start with the katakana simply because it had fewer brush strokes. I think that is a mistake. The brush stroke order is prominently shown on each rote lesson page which is a plus as it makes each lesson page self-contained and useful to practice if you are on a bus, in the library, or elsewhere so that you only need the individual sheets you are practicing with (no need for the rest of the book to serve as reference material).

If not for the additional thoughtfulness of the authors in providing an effective physical design of the book so that you can use it in versatile approaches, I would award FOUR stars.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book :)!, April 19, 2003

By A Customer

This is a great book! Many people who learn the Kana. Think that once they memorize all the characters. They can fully read the Kana. Which is wrong!!!! This is why I love this book. It teaches kana grammar with kana writing, and has plenty of exerices.So by the end of the book you won't forget anything. I really recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn kana.
I never thought I could read and write kana, until I bought this book. Now it's off to kanji :(.

Also, don't be afraid of kana grammar. It is 100 times easier than english grammar.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Does the Buisiness, January 18, 2001

By	Slema Insley "selmainsley2" (dartford uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Methodically works through all the charachters. good writing guide. if followed through, you will be able to read and write in hirigana and katakana, quickly and painlessly. includes translations of text.