68 comments

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  Neil Duckett

  1 year ago

  10/10 .... not much room for imporvement on that book score then is there, will have a look at it for sure.
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  John B

  1 year ago

  Expensive and not engaging gets a 10/10? Has the bar for learning materials been set that low?
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  I definitely had some trouble deciding on how I wanted to rate this. I decided to think of the score more as a curved one, rather than one that takes everything into account. It's really not that expensive compared to other text books either (You can get it for $40...most of my text books cost $50 or more), and what "good" text book is engaging right now? I mean, there are books that are totally funny and interesting to read (like the dirty japanese book), but you aren't actually learning anything. The cons are really a lot smaller than you are making them out to be, even though I mention them in the article. If I readjusted the score I still wouldn't go below 9, though I'll think about it.
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  hitsu

  1 year ago

  Hehe, they might be smaller than I'm making them out to be -- I'm just quoting, after all :) Anyway, maybe if you're just rating against other textbooks 10/10 is justified, if the book is the best of its breed, so to speak.
  
  Still, it can't hurt to dream of engaging, interesting learning material, can it?
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  Most of my cons have a "but they're actually not that bad" right after them - reminds me of the one word reviews for movies, for some reason.
  
  But anyways, I should probably specify my rating system a little more to make sense of it.
  
  And yes, I always dream of engaging, interesting learning materials...someday...someday... :(
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  allllright. You've convinced me to lower it a little bit, anyways :)
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  kevinnwhat

  1 year ago

  yeah i wish i got this starting out learning japanese. Ive only been studying for about...7 months now? But man, there are so many bad things you can fall into studying on your own in the beginning. (not saying im advanced or anything, i still consider myself beginner)
  
  "Definitely make sure you understand everything in a chapter before moving on"
  
  I dont necessarily understand with this statement. I completely agree with you on that you shouldnt just skim through the section. But i believe if you dont completely understand something, that doesnt mean you cant move on. I think you should definetly move on, many times you need to see the grammar used in many different text/ways before you can completely understand. At least thats how it works for me. Alot of times i would not understand someting completly the first time, but later use of it with other grammar, and it would just click.
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  I guess what I mean is that you shouldn't (like you say) skim through it without having a pretty good idea of what went on. It's important to try really hard to understand what you just went over (i.e. go over it a couple of times, especially if you are self-teaching).
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  Chimiko

  1 year ago

  Honestly, I used this book last year for beginning Japanese, and it was a great experience in the classroom. I really liked using it. Thanks for the review Koichi, it was a very nice read.
  
  I agree with the not engaging part. I think it'll weed out anyone who really isn't interested in the language, but it does a great job for you if you're determined and patient about it. Definitely the textbook I'd recommend. I like it alot more than Nakama.
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  manda

  1 year ago

  My teacher talks about Genki and likes it, but teaches out of Yookoso.
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  ken

  1 year ago

  I currently use Genki, but I used Yookoso back in 1999-2000. I prefer Yookoso; the grammar explanations make more sense, and it doesn't seem as rushed. For example, the te-form is not taught until approximately the middle of the book? (my 2nd semester), whereas the te-form is taught very early on in Genki.
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  Viet

  1 year ago

  Well.. I like the cover a whole lot more than Nakama.
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  Hashizume

  1 year ago

  I used Genki for something like five years, it's nice to see a review. Although, I have to agree with previous posters about the 10/10 score...
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  Brian Middleton

  1 year ago

  I just typed in tofugu.com and BAM! There it was...Genki! I got this book for christmas and I've been teaching myself since. Sometimes I'm a little lazy and might skip over a few things before they are majorly ingrained in my head, but I have to say, this book is great! And I think how it always puts you in host family situations is great, well, for me that is. I might be going to japan this summer with YFU so I thought it's pretty neat. I'm glad you made a review of this book and you even gave it a 10/10, which (I think) is always a good thing.
  
  well anywayz. nice review.
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  Tofugu_Erin

  1 year ago

  I, too, think that 10/10 is a bit high. But maybe clarification of your grading scheme might help assuage my (and a few other people's from the looks of it) doubts a bit?
  
  By the way, lovely new layout.
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  GoddessCarlie

  1 year ago

  I would give it about a 8/10. At first I would have perhaps given it more, but now that I'm a bit more advanced, I have to lower it somewhat. This is only because of the learning style that I've found works best for me.
  
  A lot of the activities are class room based. This is a big down point for people who are working through it alone.
  
  My text book of choice is Japanese For Everyone. It's cheaper and it has a lot in there. People say that this text moves too fast, and I would perhaps agree for those just beginning in Japanese. However, once you are a couple of weeks into it, I found I like this textbook better than Genki.
  
  Genki explains grammar points more thoroughly, however it has a lack of examples. Where as JFE is scant on explanation, but has a lot of example sentences. However, I have found (after passing the initial stage of beginning Japanese) that I like the example sentence method better. I can see first hand what the grammar point means, how it is used.
  
  I would say the down side of JFE is the reading and writing section. It does introduce kanji and has reading passages, but you would need to buy the Kanji book to learn how to write the kanji etc. Genki does provide all this in the one book.
  
  Anyway, can't wait to read more text book reviews. I guess you could say I've collected quite a few myself....
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  クリス

  1 year ago

  I've been meaning to step up to the Genki textbooks, but I always hesitated because I felt I wasn't ready to start on it [being that it's an actually textbook used in colleges and other schools]. The price has certainly dropped from the last time I checked. I think the book was around $70 back when you posted your video about 'Learning Japanese from anime in 5 minutes a day'. Since it's been a good half a year from when I started to learn Japanese seriously, I guess I'll be getting the Genki 1 & 2 books later on this year. Thanks for the synopsis.
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  jujume

  1 year ago

  I skipped Genki I and just bought the 2nd Volume and I like it so far...
  Anyway, there's something else about the new tofugu layout that bothers me (just a tiny bit).
  Could you add the name of the author of an article next to the headline please. I remember when I read an article and just assumed it was written by koichi... poor Erin.
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  Great Idea. I just added it to the new theme. You can see it next to the date after you click on an article.
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  Mizuu

  1 year ago

  I disagree! Not all of the books are boring in content!
  In my opinion Genki is rather... childish, although I reuse some of the recordings on my lessons (but would never recommend the book itself).
  Shokyuu Nihongo (The blue one) is waaay better and more interesting but, alas, that's no self-study book, can only be used with a teacher to get it right. Therefore I would give 10/10 for Shokyuu if used with sensei, but only 6/10 for self-study if it's preceded by some other book.
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  Uriel

  1 year ago

  One problem with genki is that it's additional content, the sections at the end of every chapter, cover very necessary things in japanese such as adjective conjugations and grouping(ie -kute) and real understanding of particles. However, they are very short and have few examples, so even if you go through most of both volumes, you still don't really get what markers like NiWa, DeWa, etc or the full differences in particles such as Ha, Ga, tTe, etc.
  
  Another pitfall is that it never really explains how to use connectors well, for example kedo, shikashi, moshikashite, etc. So all throughout your learning you are left with usually joining things very dryly or not at all, just making one line(one idea) sentences at a time.
  
  
  It is a good book however and the reading sections, at the back of the book along with the Kanji practice, make for good reading skill building.
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  Anthony

  1 year ago

  This is where im learning from. Great book! Well, I think it is. It has a good way of fitting in vocab with lessons and easily sets you up to learn more lessons. Though, I only took two semesters of college with this book so I only went up to lesson 10. Even so, I learned enough for "small chit-chat" situations.
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  勇

  1 year ago

  「Genki I」を日本語を習うために買った。素晴らしいと思う。この本だから日本に住んでるしんせきと話せるよ。
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  hboyce

  1 year ago

  Mary in the textbook is a real beezy. Leading poor Takeshi on. Staying out late making her host mother worry. And then the smoking and drinking.
  
  I'm currently finishing up the first volume in a classroom setting. One thing I don't like about it Uriel pointed out. The sections at the end of the chapters. They seem almost overlooked.
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  aliene

  1 year ago

  That whole host family thing is common in many textbooks though, for some reason...
  
  Maybe they think any foreigner bothering to learn Japanese is a caucasian living in Japan with a host family or something lol.
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  kyubisharingan

  1 year ago

  I think GENKI is a great book. RIght now, im a self-learner, but this book really helps alot. But of course no book is perfect, but this comes close. But i dont use GENKI by itself, i also use some online resources on somethings that can be "better" explained. Also, having friends that know japanese is a big help. 9/10(since no book is perfect). Right now im on lesson 9 and i study everyday for ATLEAST 2 or 3 hours(minimum) and about 5-6 hours(maximum) and i also do a little review of previous lessons before i move onto a new one(it really does help). I have gotten pretty far with the book in only 2, going on 3 months of self-study!
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  eLsa

  1 year ago

  I'm using Genki right now and Iove it~
  
  The only problem?
  I'm nearly finished with the 2nd book and so I don't know what to do next =P
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  kyubisharingan

  1 year ago

  lol after GENKI 2 just start reading/listening/watching japanese things :P. THere are alot of online japanese dictionaries that can help you if you dont know something or get this book
  http://benippon.com/shop/i/4789007413.jpg
  
  also, if some of you guys who are studying from genki dont know, there is a great site to help support you
  
  http://kanji.renshuu.org/
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  Greg

  1 year ago

  I have been using Genki for about 7 months now in a class room environment and I think that it is great. I am halfway through the second one and I have been doing the rest of it by myself. I think it works well for individual study as long as you use all the tools that are associated with it, if you just use the book then it does not do very well for individual learning.
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  Raflyn

  1 year ago

  I use Nakama at my college, but my sister used Genki, and I took her textbooks to practice over the summer with. I REALLY like Genki a lot more than Nakama. It's a good book and really easy to teach yourself with. The stuff I thought myself if the stuff I remember the best, so Genki worked for me. :)
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  Lonna

  1 year ago

  I liked Genki. In the college I go to they use 'Adventures in Japanese' this text is just way to simple. I told the Japanese teacher Genki is alot better but I still perfer 'Japanese for Everyone'. Its a more complex book though...The main problem I see is people not wanting to learn Kanji!
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  Brian R.

  1 year ago

  Hey Koichi.
  
  I use Nakama. Have you heard of it/seen it/used it before? Would it be advisable (after I finish the class I am in and finish the book) to get the 2nd Genki textbook? I am mostly asking if I will get any new material out of the 2nd Genki textbook.
  
  I am mostly a self teacher, though I am in a class, which is just helping me get through the book at a faster pace.
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  I'll be doing a review of Nakama soon, so look out for it!
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  sophiebee

  6 months ago

  Hi Koichi.
  
  Are the other textbook reviews coming soon? Genki sounds like a good book but I'd be interested to see what else is out on the market.
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  Greyfell

  1 year ago

  Have you watched the Japanese in mangaland books, i have heard good things about them, i heard that they try to make the student learn Japanese with the basic lessons, but they are taught with manga examples, i just think, that's kinda weird, isn't it?
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  Bluregarde_Q_Kazoo

  1 year ago

  I just ordered Genki 1 and also the workbook off of Amazon the other day. My dad was a little hesitant to buy a $30 textbook and a $15 workbook, but thankfully I racked in some sweet grades and he agreed to buy them :D
  Funny thing though, when I got my progress report, I had a D in Japanese, only because I forgot to turn in a stamp sheet that was worth about 122 points....You'd think that would be the grade that would determine whether or not I'd get $45 worth of japanese books but......I'm good at persuading....and the 100% test score helped a little as well :D
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  鬼婆

  1 year ago

  Mr. Koichi, just out of curiosity: can you perhaps give us a sneak preview of which textbooks you are planning to review...?
  
  Keep doing what you're doing.
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  Popkornage

  1 year ago

  Hey Koichi. About how you said if you are self learning, you should learn Hiragana first, did you mean like grammar and stuff like that? or do you mean like the alphabet? Because right now I'm unsure of what (beginner) books to get , and I'm memorizing the Hiragana alphabet. Would you recommend that I should buy this book first? or should I get like a Kana book first?
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  I feel like you can learn the alphabet (hiragana) first without a book via the internet, since it's mostly a lot of memorization. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of good hiragana resources out there that are free. Afterwards, I would get a book, though :)
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  Sougen02

  1 year ago

  Question
  Does the Genki I workbook have work with hiragana? Do you recommend getting the workbook as well or just the textbook?
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  Andrew

  1 year ago

  So does that mean I should get the hiragana one or straight to Genki? (or both?)
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  Popkornage

  1 year ago

  So does that mean I should get the hiragana one or straight to Genki? (or both?)
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  koichi

  1 year ago

  I would study hiragana via the internet (since it is free), and after you feel like you have a decent handle on it, buy some book (Genki is of course good).
  
  Here's a link I found when searching for "study hiragana" that seems pretty good:
  http://www.kanjistep.com/en/online/hiraganastep...
  
  If you're fast you could get the basic idea / decent knowledge of it in a week or two, during which time you could order yourself a book via the internet and wait for it to ship (whilst studying hiragana).
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  Popkornage

  1 year ago

  Cool, thanks for the advice! Hopefully it wont take me that long to grasp the basics, but I don't think it will, I know a lot of other languages, so starting off shouldn't be that bad. (Yet again, this is my first Asian language, and a lot of things are different)
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  Tofugu_Erin

  1 year ago

  Indeed they are :}
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  Sougen02

  1 year ago

  I may consider purchasing this at my local Borders. I was in shock by the price. Some text books can range from $45-$85! This is perfect 8)
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  mmnessa

  1 year ago

  thank you so much for this review! I remember seeing this book in Chapters but never read it throughly...
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  ando_killer

  1 year ago

  We're using this text book at university, but number 2. It's not bad. When in high school, we used one called 'wakkata'. I'd say that was about on the same level.
  
  I think though, that textbooks really aren't required, and I should drop out of university to watch doraemon. Don't you?
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  Kira

  1 year ago

  I own the whole Genki Series, down to the Answer books, and cd's. I love them. I am a self-learner, and i have to say they are great books. I also have the Cd's with the flash cards on them and Love it! i love write things down and have something convenient to take with me so that i can use the phrases and words. I recommend this also. Something i love with Genki, that some other books i have found, even english, is that If you get the workbook and cd's and flash cards, they completely mirror, and mesh with the lesson you are in! So there isn't any "where are we at, and Where do you see that" questions! No Genki all in all wasn't cheap, but t he best investment for me personally. I have researched over a year before buying the Genki series, and I think over all I made a good choice. Also readers need to know that on the Genki site, they do have some self study exercises, and websites to help with your study!
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  kannade

  1 year ago

  I'm a japanese level 2 student, but in all honesty, at my school, the J1 students are learning a lot more because the teacher we had last year went a lot slower so they are currently learning the same pages that we are in the Genki 1 book. Anyway, that's enough about my personal school life.
  
  Genki 1 is pretty handy, but I sometimes feel like we ought to be learning out of Genki 1 and then a second text book at the same time. Yes, there is a lot of material covered in the Genki 1 book, but a little part of me thinks that it should provide more examples and should provide more vocabulary words. Everyone in my class uses the same Genki 1 verbs we've been taught over the past 2 years (which actually isn't as much as I'd like there to be) to describe our weekends over and over and over again. For example:
  
  Joey kun, shuumatsu ni nani wo shimashita ka?
  boku ha shuukudai wo shite nihongo wo benkyou shite nemashita.
  Sally san, shuumatsu ni nani wo shimashita ka?
  watashi ha shuukudai wo shite ongaku wo kite nihongo wo benkyou shite nemashita.
  
  So yeah, it's a good book, but you should take on a second textbook at the same time so you have more examples and more vocabulary words to look at unless you want to say the same replies and ask the same questions over and over and over again for the rest of your life (or maybe it's just our class).
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  Sayon

  1 year ago

  Oh, no, not Genki... Our teachers are always complaining about this book. It's the worst you can have- the grammar explanations are good-for-nothing, or just imperfect. If you don't have the workbooks, then it's a fail, either learning with this book by yourself, or in a class. Good money-making for Genki redaction, though.
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  emiko

  1 year ago

  I'm taking a Japanese class soon. Does it help to buy those lamenated notes that give you a brief look at the course material or is it a waste of money?
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  Dizzy

  1 year ago

  My professors talk about how much they hate Genki. It really doesn't cover as much material as they should for a first semester.
  My friend who transferred into my school had to repeat a semester of Japanese because Genki didn't cover as much as Yokoso.
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  tomususan

  1 year ago

  Genki in my opinion is Great but it's better to learn from this book with teacher than alone. Secound thing is that even the best workbook if you don't have good teaher won't make you good in japanese. ^^
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  Terin Lyr D'Amico

  10 months ago

  I'm getting ready to start using Genki I. Just working on my hiragana and katana workbooks now. I decided to hold off on Genki I until I finished the workbooks because their treatment of writing is very brief at the beginning of the book, and the first lesson goes right into reading hiragana and katakana. I definitely recommend that people first lay down the foundation first with a solid study of hiragana and katakana first to the point that you can recognize the characters without having to look them up in the chart. It will make progression through Genki I that much easier.
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  bekah

  9 months ago

  My school uses this book for its Japanese class :) The school is a high school w/ a college schedule, so we don't meet every day. Despite that we move through the book at normal speed.
  
  Its very easy to understand but here's my question:
  
  Why don't the kanji lesson work along side the grammer/vocab lessons? Of course its not that hard because at first they provide kana above the kanji, but its really annoying, because I think you should learn it side by side.
  
  I give it a 10/10 myself despite: out of all my textbooks- this is the best done. It does have a few problems- but what 10/10 product doesn't?
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  andra

  7 months ago

  I can recognise and write hiragana and katakana now, just started like 2 weeks ago ^^; I will check this book out at my local bookstore first, probably will get it.
  
  do you have any recommendation for textbooks for learning kanji? probably should get a *physical* dictionary too ^^;
  
  anyways good review, koichi! ^^
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  koichi

  7 months ago

  Genki covers kanji as well - also, check out my top ten list.
  iKnow.co.jp is good for kanji and vocab
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  NintendoExpedition

  3 months ago

  What level of kanji is taught? Do both volumes teach most kanji or at least stuff for beginners?
  
  Anyway, the textbooks look awesome, and while I'm at it, are you planning any reviews for "instant gratification" textbooks? It'd be fun to slam a few of those romaji clad ripoffs into the ground.
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  koichi

  3 months ago

  Yep, kanji isn't bad, and if you couple it with smart.fm lists (there are
  lists for these books on that site) you've got yourself some good studies
  right there.
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  elkarlo

  5 months ago

  I like you review. It was indepth and pretty well thought out.
  
  Now are you going to do more like you promised?
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  koichi

  5 months ago

  Hope so - I just have to get my hands on some more textbooks :)
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  elkarlo

  5 months ago

  You'd better :P
  
  I didn't like Yokoso for beans though. I can't tell you how much I disliked that textbook.
  
  Oh and I think one thing to add, Genki doesn't do a good job teaching wrods in a group. I never learned more than few colors. usually one a here or there. Or you will learn Wide, and then 10 chaperters later learn narrow.
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  erly

  5 months ago

  I have been using these books in the little spare time I have. It has been slow going, but I really like these books. I knew all the Kana and some Kanji going into it.
  
  My way of learning so far - I write down all the vocab for flash cards, then I take notes (I have a special notebook for this) on things I think are important in the chapter - grammar structures, example sentences... whatever I think I should know or might need to refer to later on. (I usually forget this one, but reading the chapter before taking notes helps). Then I go through and do all the practice and exercises that can be done without a partner or group. Then I move onto the workbook for that chapter. And then I flip to the back and do the same thing for the corresponding kanji in the back. I even managed to find the kanji notebooks, so I practice in those as well. I have yet to get the CDs, so hopefully this payday, if Kinokuniya has them in stock.
  
  It has worked pretty well for me so far... and I'm lucky to have Japanese translators at work if I have any questions about something I don't quite understand. I'd also recommend keeping a journal to practice grammar and vocab as you go. The more you learn, the more you can write.
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  Jeremy Majors

  4 months ago

  I used Genki I and II when I studied at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Japan. I have to say that they are some of the best language textbooks that I have ever used (and I have taken several langauge courses). They were actually written by two former Kansai Gaidai professors, and they were written with University classes in mind. That isn't to say that they aren't good for self-study, because (with the workbook) they are better than almost any other supposedly "self-study" text.
  
  One thing I like about the books, that Koichi didn't mention, is that in the back of both the main text and the workbook is the "Kanji Practice" section. Basically, the text is divided into two parts. Part I is Grammar and Vocabulary, Speaking, Listening, Dialogue, Exercises, and so on. Part II is located in the back of the book and focuses on Kanji and Reading. The stories are actually interesting and they are able to help you boost basic readings skills and somehow incorporate basic Kanji into the stories while still making it fun. For example, there is a story about Doraemon and one about Tanabata.
  
  The workbooks are divided in the same way. The first part features the drills and exercises, while the back features pages designed to help you practice writing Kanji and Kana. Personally, I think they should have included 284 Kanji total (split between Genki I and II) which is what is required to pass the JLPT level 3.
  
  Another thing that isn't mentioned in the review is that this textbook series is published by The Japan Times. In my personal experience, Japan Times makes the best books for learning at any level. They are all professionally done, with a more modern approach to learning, and they seem to be easy to understand and progress with. I can't say the same about other publishers, because I have used some other publishers' books and there are plenty of weak points to write about. Japan Times also publishes "An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese" and "Authentic Japanese: Progressing from Intermediate to Advanced," which are both just as nice as the Genki Series. They also publish "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar," "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar," and "A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar" that have really helped me understand Japanese grammar more in detail.
  
  I have used several textbooks and I agree with Koichi when he originally gave it a 10/10. There might be some things that could be improved on for future editions, but as far as competition goes, the Genki series stands alone. I disagree with Koichi when he says that there is no "entertainment value" in these books, because other textbooks that I've seen had no entertainment value whatsoever. Genki may not have iPod-ish entertainment value - there is no touch screen on the books or funny jokes (maybe for a future version), but that can be left to the imagination of the people who are studying, right?!
  
  Anyway, bottom line is do not buy any other textbook other than Genki if you are studying Japanese from the Beginning to Lower Intermediate levels.
  
  Jeremy
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  koichi

  4 months ago

  Ha! This is a great review all in itself :) I should copy and paste this
  into the article to replace mine :P Thank you for the awesome comment,
  Jeremy!
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  Jamie

  4 months ago

  I just started taking Japanese my Freshman year of college and they switched to using Genki about a year before me. Having looked at the previous textbook they used ( its name escapes me at the moment) I find this one to be much more helpful. It teaches you at a steady pace and really is an excellent beginner book. Who ever said this book was expensive really must be a penny pincher because this book cost me about $40 where if we had continued to use the other text it would have cost me nearly $160.
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  Melissa_K

  4 months ago

  You should do a review on "Japanese for Young people" That book is hilarious with the use of the characters, I think.
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