Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Jonny — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:46:13 -0000

I've been using みんなの日本語 (minna no nihongo - Japanese for everyone). I'm nearly through with it and I have to say it does move a bit fast. In two months I've covered the using tai, and the te, nai, and dictionary form. And now I'm starting on the ta form.

I'm covering these things, but I'm not sure how much I'm learning them. I feel like I'll need to go back a bit and do a lot of review to deepen my understanding of what I've studied.

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience switching from JFE to Genki. Not mid book, but after I finish this would it be terrible to try Genki II? I don't want something bad happen... like maybe it'll make a kitten die or something?

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

koichi — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:13:08 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

NintendoExpedition — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:06:52 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Melissa_K — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:02:46 -0000

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

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Jamie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:10:33 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

koichi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:09:17 -0000

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!

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Jeremy Majors — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:36:16 -0000

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

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

elkarlo — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:28:08 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

erly — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:30:10 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

koichi — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:10:40 -0000

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

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

elkarlo — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:46:44 -0000

I like you review. It was indepth and pretty well thought out.

Now are you going to do more like you promised?

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

sophiebee — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:23:56 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

andra — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:37:21 -0000

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! ^^

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

koichi — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:41:07 -0000

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

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

bekah — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:35:27 -0000

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?

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

terindamico — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:54:43 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

tomususan — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:00:28 -0000

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. ^^

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Dizzy — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:31:52 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

emiko — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:37:31 -0000

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?

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Sayon — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:38:22 -0000

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.

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

kannade — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:06:52 -0000

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).

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Kira — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:39:01 -0000

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!

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

ando_killer — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:53:04 -0000

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?

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

mmnessa — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:52:11 -0000

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

Re: Japanese Textbook Review: Genki I

Sougen02 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:48:49 -0000

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