Product Description

How to pick up basic Japanese–fast
Japanese is the fifth most studied language in the U.S., with over 40,000 college students enrolled in Japanese courses every year, and Japan ranks as the eighth most popular international destination for American travelers. Focusing on real–world language skills that people can put to use right away–from asking directions to talking numbers–this phrasebook is a must for travelers and students.
Eriko Sato, PhD, is a native Japanese speaker and Professor of Japanese at SUNY Stony Brook.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102083 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

From the Back Cover
Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips

Speak Japanese – instantly!

Shopping. Ordering dinner. Chatting about the weather. Talking about your family. Dealing with emergencies. Whether you’re a traveler or student, this handy Japanese phrase book makes everyday communication a breeze!

Discover how to:

• Get directions, shop, and eat out
• Talk numbers, dates, time, and money
• Chat about family and work
• Discuss sports and the weather
• Deal with problems and emergencies

About the Author
Eriko Sato is a lecturer of Japanese language at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she received her PhD degree in linguistics. She also is the Founding Director of the Pre–College Japanese Language Program as well as the Executive Director of the Japan Center at the same university. When she started her graduate work in 1988, she decided to devote her career to Japanese–language education and research. She studied Japanese and English linguistics and foreign languages, including Chinese, French, and Korean, to prepare herself to be a teacher and researcher who understands students’ linguistic backgrounds and difficulties. She has written many articles for linguistic and education journals, and she has written three books on Japanese language: a textbook for young children, a textbook for college students, and a manual for Japanese/English translators.

Customer Reviews

Not for the casual visitor
If you want a phrase book you can dip in to and find just a phrase for the right situation then this perhaps is not the book for you, although those phrases can be found. The fact that the phrase is given in Japanese first with the English afterwards does not make this the easiest to use, to my mind.
If you are to spend some time in Japan and want/need to understand the basic construction of the language without going in to the depths, then this probably IS the right book for you as it takes the time to explain the simpler constructs of the language.
This is a book that needs to be read, or even studied, rather than used to pick out phrases to get by day to day.
The author's knowledge is apparent throughout, but the presentation could be simplified to make it more accessible.