Pimsleur - anyone tried?

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[doronin]

Anyone tried Pimsleur for Japanese? Impressions?

I've done 10 lessons while driving :) easily and actually enjoyed it, but on 11th and 12th lesson thing went not as good - much more concentration required...


And those who are not into Pimsleur, what other effective ways did you try? Attending normal courses is not an option - no time.

[Gernot Hassenpflug]

For what it's worth, everyone I've ever known here in Japan who has tried the Pimsleur course has absolutely loved it. Apart from that, Berlitz is pretty good, and Rosetta Stone have a course which is extremely nicely put together for PC use (also with emphasis on listening and repetition).

On the book side, for kanji I attribute inestimable value to "Remembering the Kanji" by James W. Heisig (volumes I and II needed, III is not part of the original set but is an advanced addition for once those have been covered).

And for grammar I recommend the Japan Times "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar" and "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar". Assuming you are not at a professional institution with its own list of books, I think these will see you through nicely as a core for your self-studies.

Best of luck!

[statisticool]

I was buying a lot of CDs for learning Japanese. Then I downloaded free podcasts!

Check out http://www.japanesepod101.com/

and if you have an Ipod, you can also put the podcasts on there and listen to them anywhere you go.

[Tom H.]

The first time through I would do each lesson two or three times until I had all the responses down pat. That was with Chinese, not Japanese, though, but I did make it through all three sets of lessons.