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Each progressive session gives the user yet more empowerment and confidence that they could actually USE what's been learned if plopped down in Japan right this minute.I did feel the need to repeat each session since near the end, my brain was going into overload. Note: YES, the discount for purchasing additional Pimsleur Japanese programs IS included in the Amazon version, to answer previous posters' questions. I've played with a number of language systems, including Rosetta Stone (fun, but wildly expensive). However, when I resumed with the next session the following day, I was dead-on, whipping off correct responses to questions without hesitation.This may be one of the smartest purchases I've made in a long, long time (coming from someone not prone to gushing). It's printed right on the box, and is honored by the manufacturer. Happily, I can report that the Pimsleur Japanese system (Conversational) "clicked" with the way my brain learns. There's something quite rewarding about being able to understand full sentences, and even brief conversation, by the end of the very first lesson, which I listened to while driving down the highway on a vacation.
This "conversational" course didnt live up to its name to me a language student.It teaches you how to get by as a tourist in Japan, with some phrases and some basic verbs and sentence construction. So before there is any misunderstanding, its the content not the method that i have issues with.And thats because it has a misleading title.I used Pimsleur for a European language which i found very useful and would recommend but i was a tourist then. But a lot of it is not of any interest to a Japanese Language student (teaching them selves), who would like to hold up a conversation with a Japanese person.Great if you are leaving for Japan in a few weeks, not so great - but stills useful - if you are preparing to take serious Japanese lessons.After this i use this i found the Michel Thomas method and found it really good, gives the student a feel for the language and how to use it.Michel Thomas Method Japanese For Beginners, 8-CD Program (Michel Thomas Series)Ive written a detailed review on it if you are a beginner student and want to compare Pimsleur and Michel Thomas your self. Ok, parroting actually is an effective way to learn, im not arguing against that - or the other reviewers. You do learn and remember what is taught in this program.My problem is that WHAT you learn - is not really "Conversational Japanese: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese".
Highly recommended. This series is a very usueful tool as you progress in learning Japanese.
I would highly recomend this product to anyone who is interested in learning it. Within the first hour of listening she has already mastered a few sentacnes. Purchased this product for a christmas present for our daughter. She has tried different books and such trying to learn Japanese.
Per Amazon's recommendation, I first called Pimsleur directly and spoke with a customer service rep, who would not replace the CD without charging me a $20 shipping fee--not acceptable, since the CD was defective. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT-IT IS DEFECTIVE. Since this appears to be a problem with an entire run of this product, I do not recommend buying it. I then called Amazon and spoke with a customer service rep, who sent me a replacement set free of charge, but lesson 14 on CD 7 of the second set was also defective. It is a set of 8 CDs, each of which contains two language lessons. Lesson 14 on CD 7 of the set was defective; specifically, the last 2-3 minutes of the lesson would not play properly (it skipped, popped, and was generally unintelligible).
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