Japanese for Busy People: Kana Workbook (Vol 1) (Paperback)

by AJALT (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770020961
• ISBN-13: 978-4770020963
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #592,082 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Use along with Heisig's books for review!, February 23, 2003

By	Jesse D. Watson (North Dakota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I must disagree with Bryan's review below. While this book is highly excellent, James W. Heisig's "Remembering the Hiragana/Katakana" is a much easier, quicker and effective way for memorization and mastery of the syllabaries. HOWEVER, why not use this for reinforcement once you've finished Heisig's book (and for help with dipthongs, etc, which Heisig doesn't explain at all)? That's what I'm doing. And of course, then move on the Japanese For Busy People I, but please make sure you get the KANA VERSION. Don't use romanji! You will thank me!

How anyone could actually learn Kana from a workbook like this, I don't know. It would take LOTS of drilling and memorization. With Heisig, it's effortless. This book is the best of the memorization school, so for that, four stars.

Also, please be sure to try Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji" books (three volumes) when you're ready to begin mastery of the tools of deeper written thought.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid, but doesn't have enough material to go on its own, December 5, 2003

By	Christopher Culver - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The KANA WORKBOOK serves as a prelude to Kodansha's "Japanese For Busy People" volumes, one of the more consistent (but never really outstanding) language teaching series. It introduces first hirangana, the writing system used for some native Japanese words, and then katakana, which is used for foreign borrowed words. Though the reader is not expected to know anything about Japanese grammar, the book does teach some simple sentences, and all there are numerous exercises to write in real Japanese.

As a self-learner i was rather disappointed, because on their own the contents of KANA WORKBOOK are insufficient. There are simply not enough exercises to really hammer the material in. In a classroom situation, however, the instructor would presumably be using other methods of kana exercise and therefore the book would be a good fit there.

If you get the KANA WORKBOOK to start with the Japanese For Busy People series, be sure to get the Kana Version of JAPANESE FOR BUSY PEOPLE I instead of the usual romanised version. If a student already has a good grasp of kana, whether from this book or another like it, he or she will be able to start learning Japanese in a natural way, without the functional illiteracy that is an unfortunate result of learning through romanisation.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most effective way to learn the Japanese writing system!, April 4, 2000

By	Bryan McCracken (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

'Japanese for Busy People - Kana Workbook' is excellent! Anyone who is learning Japanese or is considering doing so will find this book a valuable tool. Designed to teach the basic Japanese writing system (Kana) as quickly and effectively as possible, it is easy to understand and is actually fun to use! This book can be used alone, or with the optional cassette, 'Japanese for Busy People - Kana Workbook Tape' for even greater effectiveness. While there are several other Kana teaching books available, this one has been tested by the Association for Japanese-Language Teaching (AJALT) and achieved excellent results. Highly recommended!