Listen & Learn Japanese (Book & Audio CD)

I love this CD product. It has all the basics....numbers, greetings, everyday phrases needed to survive on a journey to another land! Loved listening to the two people on the CD; it was very easy to understand every syllable spoken.

The language learning product I purchased was excellent. It was easy to follow and helpful with the pronounciation of the Japanese language.

The only thing this CD is good for is being a phrasebook. Unlike Pimsleur, it doesn't teach you anything about the grammar, make you repeat words over and over, and doesn't check and see if you remember what you learned a few lessons ago. I recommend using this only as a phrasebook to take with you to Japan, or just to further your learning of Japanese (but you will have to use self-discipline to make yourself study these phrases, since the CD isn't doing it for you).

If you want to learn Japanese, I recommend getting the Pimsleur CDs to start with. It's done more for me than my 3 years of Japanese class at school. About halfway through, get a grammar book or look at the phrases in this CD. You truly do get what you pay for.

I listened to both CDS last night and was very impressed. There are many many phrases that go above and beyond the usual "Where is the train station?" The narration is done by both male and female voices and sound less stilted than Pimsleur CDS. In addition, there are several conversations spoken at normal speed. Most of the phrases are advanced beginner and intermediate level: "Is there a transfer at Hiroshima" and "I would like to order something not too sweet" are examples of the level of difficulty. The phrases seem to be taken from Dover's "Say it in Japanese" which is a great book BTW. The only quibble I have with this set: the pamphlet is stapled (not bound) and the kanji is hard to read.

If you understand every sentence and vocabulary word in this set, you'll be well beyond beginner level. To attain 100% listening comprehension of these CDS would take many weeks IMHO so this is well worth your money. Hope Dover makes a 2nd set --- I will buy ASAP!!!

One of the first audio disks I got to learn japanese. Has great phrases and writing in the booklet. Good place to start ^_^