An Introduction to Modern Japanese By Richard Bowring

[Gosujay]

Anyone have any experience with the book?
If so please let me know.

[Hektor6766]

Yes. It's the first book I studied when I began. I think it's an excellent launch from beginning to intermediate level. Well structured, both in lesson and it's accompanying workbook, it's very readable, the grammar explanations are lucid, and it strikes a good blend between comfort and challenge. Kana and kanji are presented right away in the introduction, but the sample dialogues are rewritten in romaji and English at the end of the chapters. By the end of the lessons, you will be well acquainted with roughly 400 kanji and introduced to correspondence and handwriting. It's claim that after the 52 lessons covering 1 year you will be able to read newspaper stories in Japanese is true if you are diligent. It's older, published around 1993 I think, so some terms may be rather formal; but it's a quality text.

[leonl]

I wouldd just like to add that the Kanji count is much higher. I think it's closer to 1000, as you learn about 20 or so Kanji each lesson

[Hektor6766]

I didn't want to oversell it, so I went very conservative. When I think about it, it did seem like at least half the 常用漢字, so that would be right. One thing I would add about the ability to read Japanese newspapers claim, you would need to study personal and place names further than any introductory book could provide.

[Gosujay]

Thanks so much for your help! went ahead an picked them up

[Infidel]

It averages about 30 new kanji per chapter. I counted, and drove me nuts.

Please get the workbook as well as the textbook. It makes a huge difference.

[Gosujay]

It averages about 30 new kanji per chapter. I counted, and drove me nuts.

Please get the workbook as well as the textbook. It makes a huge difference.

　
yes i did so TY!