Where to go after Genki?

[estrata]

Alright, I got through Genki. One year of laughter and tears. Now I'm done, and now I'm thinking... where to next?

What textbook would people recommend to follow up the Genki series? I can find no Japanese textbook series that promises to continue past the intermediate level. I need something that will teach me kanji, vocab... give me level appropriate stuff to read.

I actually finished Genki about a year ago, and sort of gave up when I couldn't find anything to help me continue studying. So if someone could recommend a series of textbooks that starts at beginner (to review) and goes past Genki, that would be cool too!

Thank you!

-Laura

 

[Stutz]

Have you only completed Genki vol 1 or both 1 and 2? Because if you've only finished with vol. 1, you'd be best to pick up the second. If you've completed both volumes, try the next one after them which I think is titled "An Integrated Approach to the Japanese Language". Something like that...but you should be able to find it on the Japan Times webpage.

 

[estrata]

I've finished 1 and 2. I just found out that "An Integrated Approach to the Japanese Language" is actually meant to continue Genki. It seems to cover a lot of the same stuff...

Anyway, thanks!

 

[Fantt]

That book comes with something called "cassettes." I seem to remember that's some sort of early 1980's technology. Doesn't sound very up-to-date...

 

[Matadon]

If you're talking about the 'Intermediate Japanese' text, I rather like it, and while it does review certain grammar points in Genki 1/2, it is most certainly not on the same level. The 'Intermediate Japanese' book focuses a lot more on common usage in everyday society, rather than just 'talking to other college students', so there's more keigo, more oddball grammatical nits, and a hell of a lot more kanji. Once you get past the first few chapters, it gets downright hard. *grin*

Also, if you haven't done so, I recommend checking how much of Genki you absorbed -- I've been going back through Genki 2, and there is the odd word or kanji that I just didn't remember. Better to have the basics down pat. *grin*

My instructor recommended a book titled 「速読用の文化のイペソード」for our summer reading, and it has been quite good as well -- very dense with the kanji, lots of new (useful!) vocabulary, real-world grammar, but light enough to be entertaining, and informative enough to be useful. Explanations for the grammar and vocab are in English, the rest of the book is Japanese, and each chapter has a ◯／× section at the end (with answers in the back) so that you can check your reading comprehension.

Oh, and yes, tapes may be old, but they're still used for things like audio books for a reason -- tapes hold their place.