Book Description
For a full description, see entry for Makino et al., Nakama 1: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context.
Customer Reviews:
Hai, Soo desu........2004-09-01
I recently finished the intensive intermediate course at Harvard--another summer of boot camp--and this was the text for the first 2/3 of the course. I think that it is a very good text, and along with the lab manual and CDs, the Nakama system is extremely effective. There is also a great website, "Friends of Nakama," which should be very helpful to anyone using these texts. There you'll find lots of good quizzes for vocabulary and kanji.
Unfortunately, my instructors seemed to dislike kanji immensely--kanji were never discussed as a topic in their own right, in spite of their evident interest to gringos like me who have been drawn to a study of Japanese BECAUSE of kanji (among other things). One Chinese student in the class hypothesized that the Japanese hate kanji because they are kanji, i.e., Chinese characters. But, I digress.
The important point here is that Nakama DOES discuss kanji in historical and linguistic context, and that, in my opinion, is a very good thing.
Nakama is your best friend.......2004-08-26
Nakama is a great tool for students who are begining their Japanese Languages study. Nakama 2 is the continuation of Nakama 1, and continues the emphasis on situational Japanese. The grammar targets are useful and informative. Learning "nakereba naranai" (have to) form IS a different concept from "-ba" (if) form. Thankfully, the text presents a practical approach to structure and not an overly "rules" based approach.
After Nakama I, a bit disappointing..........2002-06-15
I used both Nakama I and Nakama II for the first four semesters of university Japanese classes, and Nakama I was brilliant--the early introductions to hiragana and katakana, the mnemonic devices, the themed vocabulary lists. I felt that it gave us a great start, but Nakama II went downhill.
I have two main gripes with this book: the bizarre choices for kanji in each chapter and the selective information given about grammatical structures. Nakama II does not teach the most common kanji or kanji with common elements that will be more useful with further study; it takes the idea of "themed" learning and creates situations where, say, you can write all of the kanji in yuubinkyoku (post office) before you can write "migi" (right) and "hidari" (left). This problem extends to the vocabulary lessons as well--light on basic everyday-use verbs, for example, but heavy on less-necessary words.
Frankly, I also didn't get the approach Nakama II takes to grammar--the idea that "here is a grammatical structure, usable only in the narrow context it's presented as a part of, with no further explanation." We learned the "nakereba naranai" construction a good two chapters, I believe, before we learned what the "ba" form was at all. When the more complete explanation is given, it's treated like an entirely new concept.
Nakama II is not all bad, by any means; in fact, it's superior to other textbooks I've purchased, and I'm not quite sure if there is any one Japanese textbook helpful in all areas. But if you attend a school that uses Nakama, keep your fingers crossed that you get as lucky as we were to have a teacher who was intelligent and helpful, or that you can be extremely diligent in filling in the gaps left by this text.
And if you have decided to study Japanese, I wish you the best of luck. ^_^
Book Description
Learn grammar the easy way with EFFECTIVE ENGLISH FOR COLLEGE! Concept reviews, examples, and applications will help you improve your grammar and usage skills. Features such as Apply Your Knowledge and end-of-chapter reviews help you ensure that you have mastered concepts before moving forward. You'll have numerous opportunities to practice your skills before each exam with features such as CheckPoints and Timely Tip Margin Notes integrated throughout the text.
Customer Reviews:
Be Warned--A Terrible Composition Textbook.......2007-09-26
No one has commented on this book but I feel obligated to warn college instructors and professors who might consider the use of this textbook. Quite simply, don't. This is the fourth introduction to composition text I've used and by far the worst. Although sleek looking and extremely usable, the readings are terrible; shallow, short, and redundant. The book aims to incorporate multiple literacies into the composition classroom, an idea I like and still think potentially fruitful. But "Seeing and Writing" never goes beyond putting a photo next to and essay and saying "compare." If the essays had any rhetorical or intellectual richness this might not be such a bad idea. But my students rarely find much to say about these essays, usually astute enough to note the obviousness of most of the writing.
Some of my colleagues have claimed the book panders to contemporary students, which I find unfair. However, it most certainly underestimates them.
Book Description
Designed to cover basic grammar and mechanics, this fast-paced, economical workbook develops proficiency in grammar, punctuation, usage, and style. With the assistance of Dean Elizabeth Tice at the University of Phoenix, co-authors Mary Ellen Guffey and Carolyn M. Seefer have produced an accelerated refresher course guide aimed at motivated learners. Essentials of College English is a no-frills grammar/mechanical review that combines value with authoritative coverage.
Customer Reviews:
The Co-Author ignores this book in her class.......2007-08-21
I've taken Carolyn Seefer's online English course at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill California and although it's the text that Seefer co-authored and it is the required course textbook, it's not used in the course. In my opinion that's because it's so poorly organized.
Not the best organized.......2002-08-01
This is the grammar workbook chosen by the university for which I teach. The workbook combines exercises and explanations together.
The best advantage to this is the sections which allow the student to check his or her understanding. At the beginning of each section, about ten questions have the answers at the bottom of the page. Also, the unit review has answers printed for the student's reference.
One of the disadvantages is the organization. For instance, section 8 lists avoiding and correcting for double negatives as an objective. Unfortunately, double negatives are not covered there. In checking the index, double negatives are mentioned on page 128 in section 13. There, the reference is only a hotline query that states what a double negative is.
Another disadvantage is there are less exercises than in previous editions. The previous editions had "Proofreading Alerts," which I thought were very helpful in providing a more practical way to test comprehension.
This is a usable workbook, but it would not be my first choice.
College English.......2001-01-24
I first encountered this book as part of an online class requirement (Diablo Valley College, Business English-101). I find the book easy to read and use. It's layout is eye-catching and user-friendly. In fact, I recommend this book a buy for those needing to brush up on any college level English....
Book Description
College English and Communication, ninth edition continues to provide up-to-date coverage of key topics such as cultural diversity, ethics, global communications, electronic communications, and using the Internet for communication and online resources. The text covers the basics of grammar, spelling, and punctuation while incorporating customer service, business correspondence, the job search process, oral communication, and technology.
Customer Reviews:
Look at before you buy.......2002-03-05
I am currently using this book for a Business Communications class. I have to say it is by far the worst book I've used in my college career to date. I talked to one instructor who said she changed books because the examples in this book were so bad. She even went through the effort of re-designing the course just to switch books. That is how bad this book is. If the instructor you are going to take a class from recommends this book please do yourself a favor and find an instructor who has the courtesy to search for a book that will allow you to excel in this type of class. This is not the book to help you do that.
College English and Communicate.......2000-03-29
Being a college graduate from a another country, commmunicating in English has been one of the setbacks I encounter while working in the retail industry. I kept searching for materials that will help me improve in my communication. But the materials that I found were either not to my level or not emphasising on business communication. But Camp, Satterwhite and co. were able to address the issues I have been looking for. This book lays emphasis on daily communication faced in today's business world. I will recommend this book to anybody seeking on how to improve on their business communication especially for foreigners. I really liked how the dealt on the speaking aspect of communication.
Customer Reviews:
stands above the crowd.......2003-12-06
This is one of the best anthologies for teaching writing. It includes sections on animal rights and artificial intelligence, among other good topics. The book allows for good debates on interesting, relevant, and controversial current issues in cognitive science. It avoids the usual hackneyed and trite topics of other anthologies.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent advanced college rhetoric.......2007-03-17
Dialogues contains both interesting readings and well-written college level rhetoric. The title 'Dialogues' is an appropriate one as itstrives to untangle the myth that the only good argument is one with opposing sides that offer no compromise. Perhaps the only letdown -- few examples of what a good college paper should look like.
Book Description
Student writing is at the cener of teaching and learning in higher education. Students are assessed by what they write, and are only accepted within an academic discipline when they have mastered the writing conventions and style necessary for that discipline. Teaching Academic Writing is a "toolkit" to help higher education lecturers and tutors teach student writing. Containing a range of diverse teaching strategies, the book offers both practical activities to help students develop their writing skills, and guidelines to help lecturers and tuthors think in more depth aboiut the feedback they give to students. The authors explore a wide variety of text types, from essays and reflective diaries to research projects and laboratory reports. The book draws on recent research and takes into account developments such as the increasing diversity of the student body, the use of the Internet, electronic tuition, and issues surrounding globalization. Written by experienced higher education teachers, TeachingAcademic Writing will be of interest to anyone involved in teaching academic writing in higher education.
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English (All)
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Nakama 2
Nakama 1: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context
Nakama 1: Workbook/Laboratory Manual
Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary: Japanese-English English-Japanese
Nakama 1
