An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese [Revised Edition] [With CD (Audio)]

By Akira Miura

Book Overview

Designed for learners who have completed beginning-level studies, this book helps users to build their proficiency in intermediate Japanese across all four skill areas--listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each of the fifteen lessons builds language skills through mainly dialogues and readings, plus vocabulary, a kanji list, and grammar notes, and offers diverse forms of practice, comprising applied exercises, listening exercises, conversation practice pointers, and speed reading drills. This comprehensive resource aids learners seeking to progress to the advanced level by equipping them with a firm command of intermediate Japanese across the four skill areas.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 4789013073
• ISBN13: 9784789013079
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Japan Times Publishing, Ltd.
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.2" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

the next step towards fluency

Third level is without a doubt, a great challenge. However, this book provides a very similar structure to that from Genki I and II. If you liked the formatting of those two, I highly recommend this one.

Very Useful

The book is useful when used in conjunction with a Japanese teacher or tutor, but probably is not the best solution for those learning the language on their own. It also should be used in along with a dictionary or a translator, as the level is much higher than a beginner's Japanese. This is my third year of studying the language, and I still have a hard time reading through the reading passages without help. However, for what it was intended for, it does a great job.

an appropriate book 3 of the genki series

Though it doesn't have the same "genki" title as the other 2 standard Japanese textbooks published by the Japanese Times, this is essentially the 3rd book in the series, following a similar layout and integration. It has 15 chapters. At the beginning of each is a paragraph or two about something in Japanese culture. Each chapter has 3 or so conversations: a polite conversation, a medium-polite conversation, a casual, and then reading material. After that are the vocabulary lists, grammar points and exercises, and after that a similar reading material. Though the conversations and reading material don't have translations, after reading them 2 or 3 times they should be understood. There is very little furigana over the kanji, which is sometimes frustrating when it's not a word that I plan on ever using or hearing. The reading text is sometimes dull and difficult to understand, so if you're not a serious Japanese student, this book may be a little dry. Some of the grammar is presented in JLPT level 2, but don't expect to be at that level upon finishing this book. Unfortunately there isn't a 4th book in this series yet, but after this, your Japanese should command compliments like "umai" instead of "jozu."