Genki...

[Northern Comfort]

I'm considering buying that textbook. What's your personal opinions on it, I've heard some good reviews on it. I know most of it is motivation and dedication, but you've gotta have a text book that explains things in a logical and simple way.

Also, there's 2 versions of the CDs, the 6 CD set and the "Student CD" 2 CD set, what's the difference?

 

[nice gaijin]

I have to run now but i'll get back to you; I used genki volumes 1 and 2 and they're very good. Stay tuned for a more detailed review.

 

[nice gaijin]

Sorry for the delay, I had to go to a meeting this morning. I think the genki books are very good to start off with. They get you up and running and away from romaji within the first few chapters, and do a good job of spacing out grammar structures so they can make sense without having to worry about everything at once. The strategy is to get a simple grammar structure down before you move onto the more complicated related structures. It does a good job of not overwhelming students who can keep up.

It's broken down so there is a general theme for each lesson with a couple dialogues that make use of certain grammar points that are then covered in the corresponding grammar explanations and workbook exercises. I barely used the listening practice CDs, and considering what I was told they cost, I'm not sure if I would recommend buying them. If you are learning this in a class, your teacher might already have a copy you can borrow or make a copy of yourself. If not, PM me, I might be able to help you out a bit.

My only real complaint about the genki books is that the vocabulary lists are a big unstructured and random, and it's really light on the kanji. I'd recommend a good kanji companion book to keep you busy, check out what books the Japan Times offers on that subject. Genki I and II are great beginner books.

 

[Northern Comfort]

Sorry for the delay, I had to go to a meeting this morning. I think the genki books are very good to start off with. They get you up and running and away from romaji within the first few chapters, and do a good job of spacing out grammar structures so they can make sense without having to worry about everything at once. The strategy is to get a simple grammar structure down before you move onto the more complicated related structures. It does a good job of not overwhelming students who can keep up.

It's broken down so there is a general theme for each lesson with a couple dialogues that make use of certain grammar points that are then covered in the corresponding grammar explanations and workbook exercises. I barely used the listening practice CDs, and considering what I was told they cost, I'm not sure if I would recommend buying them. If you are learning this in a class, your teacher might already have a copy you can borrow or make a copy of yourself. If not, PM me, I might be able to help you out a bit.

My only real complaint about the genki books is that the vocabulary lists are a big unstructured and random, and it's really light on the kanji. I'd recommend a good kanji companion book to keep you busy, check out what books the Japan Times offers on that subject. Genki I and II are great beginner books.

Thanks for the reply. I'm not actually going to any classes, yet, I was considering buying the book to self-study. Although it's deisgined for classroom use, is it's design also compatable with self-study?

 

[nice gaijin]

As long as you are well motivated, it should be suitable for self study. I would recommend at least having a native speaker to practice with, either in writing or speaking (preferably both). constant practice and getting bad habits corrected is paramount.

 

[Supervin]

Also, there's 2 versions of the CDs, the 6 CD set and the "Student CD" 2 CD set, what's the difference?

As I remember reading the catalogue, the 2 CD version is the more economical version of the 6 CD one, supposedly for self-study, where it omits paused filled dialogues and Q & A's present on the 6 CD version.