Japanese Language Books, Audio CDs for Self Study, Textbooks
1. Japanese for Busy People I: Kana Version (Japanese for Busy People) by Association for Japanese-Language Teaching, Paperback: 256 pages, Publisher: Kodansha International
The Kana Version of Japanese for Busy People 1 is the ideal textbook for anyone who wishes to learn real, natural, conversational Japanese and actually communicate with native Japanese speakers. It also provides a solid foundation and a valuable resource for those who would like to go further with their study of the Japanese language. Enough vocabulary and grammar have been provided to enable the learner to communicate in uncomplicated adult Japanese, without having to memorize excessive amounts of vocabulary and language patterns that are not immediately useful. This new Kana Version includes: new introduction explaining how to use the text at home or school; new, larger, and easier-to-read typography; clear, concise explanations of how the language works; full English-Japanese/Japanese-English glossaries.
2. Japanese for Busy People - Kana Workbook: Kana Workbook (Japanese for Busy People) by Association for Japanese-Language Teaching, Paperback: 80 pages, Kodansha International
The book starts with charts and writing exercises that teach the kana in isolation. Following this introductory material the book moves into teaching the syllabary in context, and here the book shines especially when used in conjunction with the text book "Japanese for Busy People I (Kana Version). Through emphasis on repetition and common sentence patterns, the book provides the reader with an excellent means to learn the Hiragana and Katakana through reading in context. The text provides question and answer sentence patterns written in Kana followed by translations in Romanji and English.
3. Beginner's Kana Workbook by Fujihiko Kaneda, Paperback: 96 pages, Publisher: McGraw-Hill
This beginner's workbook helps students learn both hiragana and katakana writing systems. After learning hiragana writing, students move on to katakana. Then they write sentences containing both hiragana and katakana.
4. Japanese Step by Step : An Innovative Approach to Speaking and Reading Japanese by Gene Nishi, Paperback: 256 pages, Publisher: McGraw-Hill
This self-study text offers a breakthrough approach for beginning learners of Japanese, as well as an indispensable reference for intermediate students. The unique study method in Japanese Step By Step teaches how to construct Japanese sentences, from the simplest to the most complex, using an easy-to-follow, step-by-step method. Also contains flow charts for verb conjugations and derivations.
5. Random House Japanese-English English-Japanese Dictionary by Seigo Nakao, Paperback: 688 pages, Publisher: Random House Reference
Beginners and more advanced students and speakers of Japanese alike will find this a very handy reference to have on hand. Broken into two halves, one an English to Japanese dictionary and the other the reverse, the book allows students to easily locate whatever word they need. Japanese terms are shown in roman letters and Japanese characters. The dictionary also includes a selection of Japanese cultural terms and concepts.
6. Japanese I : 3rd Ed. (Comprehensive) by Pimsleur, Audio CD
The Pimsleur program provides a method of self-practice with an expert teacher and native speakers in lessons specially designed to work with the way the mind naturally acquires language information. The various components of language, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar, are all learned together without rote memorization and drills.
7. Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary: Japanese-English English-Japanese by Kodansha, Hardcover: 1285 pages, Publisher: Kodansha International
A comprehensive, communicative, and practical guide to using Japanese, Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary is an invaluable tool for anyone with an interest in the Japanese language. It has been edited with the needs of English-speaking users in mind, whether students, teachers, business people, or casual linguists, and special care has been taken at each stage of its compilation including the selection of entry words and their equivalents, the wording of the detailed explanations of Japanese words, the choice of example sentences, and even its functional page design to maximize its usefulness. Provides a basic vocabulary of 30,000 entries comprising the most commonly used words in English and Japanese, semantic and usage differences between Japanese words and expressions explained clearly in English.
8. Berlitz Japanese Phrase Book (Berlitz Phrase Book) by Berlitz, Paperback: 224 pages
This best selling phrase book series contains a color-coded system that makes words and phrases easy to find. It is broken down by basic expressions, arrival, hotel, eating out, sightseeing, relaxing, shopping guide, bank, mail, telephone, doctor, reference sections, grammar and dictionary. It also includes handy travel information, tips and much more.
9. Ultimate Japanese Beginner-Intermediate (CD/Book) by Living Language, Audio CD: 528 pages
Combines conversation with grammar and culture in an easy-to-follow, enjoyable, and effective format. 40 lessons with lively, authentic dialogues; vocabulary, grammar, and usage; exercises. Also: a complete grammar summary with verb conjugations; business and social letter writing; Japanese-English / English-Japanese glossary; an English-speaking instructor that guides you through each lesson on CD.
10. Japanese Grammar (Barron's Grammar Series) by Nobuo Akiyama, Carol Akiyama, Paperback: 216 pages, Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
A concise summary of Japanese grammar is presented for beginning students of the language. Topics include parts of speech, sentence structure, idioms, and pronunciation advice. All Japanese words are presented phonetically. Important points of grammar or vocabulary, as well as subject heads, are printed in a second color as a quick-reference aid for students. New to this edition is a Japanese-English vocabulary list.