I need to learn Japanese. Does anyone know some good books that might help?

Question

I need to learn japanese . My mom is going to take me on an extended trip there for my photography. I'm 14 and i would like to learn through a book. Any good titles?

Answer 1

"Japanese for Busy People" is useful and widely available. It's a starter course.
If you're going for a short time, why don't you get a phrasebook? Something pocket-sized, like Lonely Planet's Japanese phrasebook helped me out my first year in Japan!

Answer 2

I just started learning Japanese. :) I am taking a class at a local university's continuting education department. I think that you need a class with an instructor to provide you with feedback. Or at least tapes/CDs to hear the correct pronunciation. We use the book Yookoso! An Invitation to Contemporary Japanese by Yasu-Hiko Tohsaku. I bought it for less than $10 on Amazon.

Good Luck to you!

Answer 3

There is a CD-based Windows program from the company named Transparent Language. It is called "Learn Japanese." It comes with a manual and lets you hear the sounds and speak into a microphone so the computer can judge if you are saying the phrases correctly.

It is often on sale at places like CompUSA with major rebates that make it cheaper than a book,

Answer 4

I found a great book that has grammar and vocab but it's not really a starter book. It's called "Japanese Particles". Particles are very important in Japanese Grammar. You can also get Kanji flash cards, like 500 in a box. Very helpful as well.

Answer 5

Have you ever heard someone from another country trying to speak English and totally butchering the pronunciations? That will be you if you learn from a book.
Best bet would be a book on tape, or some other audio format where you could listen to proper pronunciations and cadence.
You could listen every night before bed.

Answer 6

The "Living Language" book series is fantastic. It begins with the very, very basic starter course, and works it's way into helping you become fluent.

The only thing Living Language will not teach you is Kanji.

Answer 7

I learned some Japanese a few years ago and used the idiots guide to series.....I think it's called "Japanese for Dummies" not that you're a dummy....or I'm a dummy, but it really helped!!!!!

Good luck!

Answer 8

Try the Teach Yourself series. (i.e. Teach Yourself Japanese.)

Or go to a large bookstore and look for a course that writes everything in romanization. (You can't hope to learn to read kanji etc. right away. especially without help.)

Answer 9

if you can, get ahold of the computer program "Rosetta Stone". it's a great way to learn language, especially quickly. i highly recommend it. btw, enjoy japan. im very envious right now.

Answer 10

There's a method / course called KUMON.
Once a week attendance.
I've done and loved it!!!!