Japanese has become increasingly popular as a language to learn in recent years, and a growing awareness of Japan has been created through industry, television, newspaper articles, Japanese events and exhibitions. This course is designed for those who really want to learn Japanese but are daunted by the prospect of complicated grammar, classes and coursebooks. This book starts right from the beginning and explains everything in simple English. There are hints throughout to make learning easy and you can learn at your own pace with plenty of practice of each new point. It is a friendly introduction to the language which should help you to understand and speak Japanese sufficiently well to function effectively in basic everyday situations, both business and social. The course also offers an insight into Japanese culture and there is even an opportunity for you to learn some of the basics of reading Japanese if you want to. The book is divided into two main parts. Units 1-12 introduce you to the basic structures and grammatical points you'll need in everyday situations such as shopping, eating out, travelling, meeting a Japanese business person and entertaining a Japanese person in your home. They give you the opportunity to put into practice and consolidate the language you have learnt in the first 12 units. Unit 13 is a special unit designed to give you the chance to find out something about reading Japanese. If you would rather miss this unit out and concentrate on speaking and listening, you can do so without it affecting your understanding of the other units. All the Japanese in other units is given using the roman alphabet. By the end of the course you should be able to communicate in a wide range of real-life situations and have all the practical information you need to enjoy your next trip to Japan. The book (0-340-87036-2) is accompanied by two CDs or cassettes (0-340-87040-0 or 0-340-87039-7) which are available separately or in a pack with the book (0-340-87038-9 or 0-340-87037-0).