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Powell's Q&A: Norberto Fuentes

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   The Autobiography of Fidel Castro

   Norberto Fuentes

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Tony Horowitz, January 13, 2009 (view all comments by Tony Horowitz)
There are several good texts available now which use the functional approach; this is the one I have liked best so far.

It is a demanding text-- there is a lot of information packed into each lesson-- but it is well explained, and the exercises are quite helpful. The sound files are also very helpful, but they are expensive.

Like most texts of this sort, each lesson starts with a couple of dialogues. These are written in fairly natural Japanese-- not the extremely simplified sort of conversations you find in a text like Japanese for Busy People. The remainder of each lesson describes grammar in terms of what one is trying to accomplish with what one is saying (that is, functionally); for example, how one makes a polite request or suggestion, how one expresses a preference, etc. There are also some cultural notes.

The lessons start with both roomaji (Roman letters) and kana, but quickly switch to kana only (although roomaji transcriptions are given for reference). Kanji are introduced gradually, with furigana (small kana indicating the pronunciations) the first few times they appear. This seems to me a balanced approach to leading the user towards the ability to read written Japanese.

On the whole, I have found this to be an excellent learning resource.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780870408533

Subtitle:

A Functional Approach to Daily Communication

Author:

Susumu, Nagara

Author:

Susumu, Nagara

Author:

Nagara, Susumu

Publisher:

Japan Publications Trading

Location:

Tokyo :

Subject:

Japanese

Subject:

English

Subject:

Japanese language

Subject:

Reference | Language Learning

Subject:

Instruction | Japanese

Subject:

Reference | Language Learning and Instruction | Japanese

Edition Number:

1st ed.

Edition Description:

genuine leather black, black letter 374N

Series Volume:

238

Publication Date:

19900515

Binding:

Paperback

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Illustrations:

8 pt. type

Pages:

384

Dimensions:

10.30x7.12x.91 in. 1.74 lbs.

Media Run Time:

040000