Beginning Japanese is a complete Japanese textbook and language learning package for beginning learners. Start speaking, reading and writing Japanese today with the most exciting new introduction to the Japanese language! It follows the story of Kiara, an American exchange student who lives in Japan and loves to study Japanese. With the help of her Japanese friends and the time-traveling Tomo Tanuki (raccoon dog), Kiara learns to speak, read, and write Japanese while she visits famous people and places in Japanese history. Illustrated with manga-style comics--a fun way to learn Japanese and written by experienced high-school Japanese teachers, this Japanese textbook will show you how to pronounce Japanese; read and write hiragana, katakana, and 125 essential kanji; and understand conversational Japanese. Key features of this program: An engaging storyline--including a time travel adventure--unfolds as learners advance, adding motivation to master the language. Authentic written, visual, and oral materials embedded naturally throughout. Kanji is taught beginning with Chapter 1--and together with current vocabulary rather than separately. (At the end of Vol. 1 you'll know 151 kanji). Technology is used extensively for authentic tasks. A dedicated website provides additional content and updates. Content is aligned with the ACTFL National Standards. The accompanying online audio includes: Native Japanese language speakers. Pronunciation guides. Dialogues. New word lists. Fun songs. Listening activities and tests. Extensive printable exercises. The Beginning Japanese Website includes: Online games and activities. Additional information and updates. Downloadable Hiragana Practice Book, Katakana Practice Book, kana practice sheets. Downloadable kanji and kana flashcards. Beginning Japanese is the first volume in a 2-level series. Deepen your learning with the Beginning Japanese Workbook, a volume of drills and exercises that reinforce the lessons in the textbook. If you already speak basic Japanese, continue your learning with the second level, Intermediate Japanese. Whether you're learning Japanese for fun, preparing for a Japanese proficiency exam, or want to achieve AP- or IB-level competency, Beginning Japanese is your key to becoming a confident Japanese-speaker.

Don't let yourself become overwhelmed by the Japanese language! Now there is a way to get the most out of your time spent learning Japanese. This companion workbook to Beginning Japanese is the perfect guide for practicing basic conversational Japanese and written Japanese. Beginning Japanese Workbook includes: Dialogues for contextual learning and practice. Translation exercises to reinforce Japanese characters (kanji and kana). Written Japanese (kana, and kanji) practice to create your own sentences. Plentiful comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar exercises throughout the book. An engaging storyline, useful for practicing reading as well staying engaged and interested in the learning process. Developed by Japanese language experts and experienced high-school Japanese teachers, it includes practice activities for reading, writing, speaking, listening and understanding Japanese. The activities are varied and interesting, mirroring the book, and they help you polish every aspect of your Japanese language skills. Written activities center around practicing writing kanji, hiragana, and katakana in the context of the textbook. Whether you're learning Japanese for fun, preparing for a Japanese proficiency exam, want to achieve AP or IB level competency, or just want to get an A in Japanese class, the Beginning Japanese series is your key to becoming a confident Japanese-speaker. All exercises are designed to be used along with the Beginning Japanese textbook but can also be used independently to supplement any other Japanese language textbook.