Easy Japanese

Rating:
Summary: NOT "easy" but interesting comments on common phrases
Review: I can't agree that this is "easy" - the grammar explanations are puzzling and non-existent in the case of uses of verb conjugations (except for the difference between plain and polite forms). The pattern exercises are fun and interesting, and there is a fairly good range of vocabulary presented. But the student will not find this an easy book to use if a beginner to Japanese. A casual traveler to Japan would, however, find the explanations of the most common polite phrases quite interesting.

Rating:
Summary: NOT "easy" but interesting comments on common phrases
Review: I can't agree that this is "easy" - the grammar explanations are puzzling and non-existent in the case of uses of verb conjugations (except for the difference between plain and polite forms). The pattern exercises are fun and interesting, and there is a fairly good range of vocabulary presented. But the student will not find this an easy book to use if a beginner to Japanese. A casual traveler to Japan would, however, find the explanations of the most common polite phrases quite interesting.

Rating:
Summary: My first serious textbook and still my favorite
Review: I will only say that after studying on my own for two years, and now completing my first year at school, it is this book I turn to for inspiration as well as condensed facts and grammatical sidelights. The key here is that Seward teaches Japanese out of pure ENJOYMENT, not a stale sense of 'I must learn it for the upcoming business meeting' which plagues all too many 'standard' beginning texts. In social situations, Seward's hilarious bunkei have provoked laughs and discussion amoung students and teachers alike - and some are surprisingly useful - "Get that stinky thing out of here quickly", for example (ever been near a Japanese kitchen when daikon is being boiled and you'll know what I mean!). This is a great textbook; a thorough introduction, a detailed review, and a funny ice breaker all in one. I own about thirty instructional texts on Japanese, and this is easily in the top five.

Rating:
Summary: Learn to talk like an oba-san
Review: It's hard to dislike a book where one of the first sentences you learn in "Oh no! Grandmother has fallen in the septic tank again!" The problem with this book is that it teaches Japanese as it was spoken maybe 60 years ago, while the language has rapidly changed both in formal speech, and more particularly, in informal speech. An easy example is the use of "watakushi" for the 1st person singular - which is something like saying "thee" for the 2nd person singular. I showed this book to a native speaker, and they just laughed - "that's how my grandmother talks!" The book has character, but you won't learn current Japanese from it.

Rating:
Summary: Learn to talk like an oba-san
Review: It's hard to dislike a book where one of the first sentences you learn in "Oh no! Grandmother has fallen in the septic tank again!" The problem with this book is that it teaches Japanese as it was spoken maybe 60 years ago, while the language has rapidly changed both in formal speech, and more particularly, in informal speech. An easy example is the use of "watakushi" for the 1st person singular - which is something like saying "thee" for the 2nd person singular. I showed this book to a native speaker, and they just laughed - "that's how my grandmother talks!" The book has character, but you won't learn current Japanese from it.

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable book.
Review: Jack Seward presents the Japanese language in one of the most interesting ways I have seen. Sometimes language books prove to be quite a chore to get through, even if one does have a passion for the language. However, Seward is a natural teacher, and does so in the best way: by conveying a natural desire what is being taught. This book also teaches the hiragana, katakana, and about 50 of the most useful kanji as well. Seward's examples are also very interesting - he avoids mundane example sentences such as 'Hiroshi has a cat', etc. Some of his sentences are easy to memorize due to their odd nature: 'I intend to go to your funeral and dance.' for example. However, Seward mentions that this book is only the first of many he will publish of this nature. This book was printed in 1991, about seven years ago from this review. Hopefully he has not changed his mind since then, as I eagerly await his next title.

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable book.
Review: Jack Seward presents the Japanese language in one of the most interesting ways I have seen. Sometimes language books prove to be quite a chore to get through, even if one does have a passion for the language. However, Seward is a natural teacher, and does so in the best way: by conveying a natural desire what is being taught. This book also teaches the hiragana, katakana, and about 50 of the most useful kanji as well. Seward's examples are also very interesting - he avoids mundane example sentences such as 'Hiroshi has a cat', etc. Some of his sentences are easy to memorize due to their odd nature: 'I intend to go to your funeral and dance.' for example. However, Seward mentions that this book is only the first of many he will publish of this nature. This book was printed in 1991, about seven years ago from this review. Hopefully he has not changed his mind since then, as I eagerly await his next title.

Rating:
Summary: A fun book
Review: People with some background in Japanese will enjoy seeing how the language has changed since this was written- yes it is out-dated in many respects. However, I disagree with one of the other reveiwers who says that watakushi is ike "thee". "Watakushi" is still in common use- but in formal situations rather than in casual speech.

I think the main use of this book is for entertainment- when you feel you should study but can't face your regular text. However, if you are looking specificaly for such a book -I'd reccomend "Making Sense of Japanese" by Jay Rubin.