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Pimsleur Comprehensive Japanese
Pimsleur Japanese Level 5 CD: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese with Pimsleur Language Programs (5)
The Easiest and Fastest Way to Learn Japanese
Did you know that about 122 million people in Japan, and another 8 million worldwide speak Japanese? For Americans, it’s perceived as a difficult language to learn, but in fact, it’s quite regular. Once you get the basics down, you’ll be surprised how quickly you’re able to begin speaking it. And even knowing a little bit of the language will make travel to Japan far easier, and much more fun. Whether your goal is to travel, communicate with friends or colleagues, reconnect with family, or just understand more of what’s going on in the world around you, learning to speak Japanese will expand your horizons and immeasurably enrich your life.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be difficult or take years to master. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes, and we get you speaking right from the first day. Pimsleur courses use a scientifically-proven method that puts you in control of your learning. If you’ve tried other language learning methods but found they simply didn’t stick, then you owe it to yourself to give Pimsleur a try.
Why Pimsleur?
- Quick + Easy – Only 30 minutes a day.
- Portable + Flexible – Core lessons can be done anytime, anywhere, and easily fit into your busy life.
- Proven Method – Works when other methods fail.
- Self-Paced – Go fast or go slow – it’s up to you.
- Based in Science – Developed using proven research on memory and learning.
- Cost-effective – Less expensive than classes or immersion, and features all native speakers.
- Genius – Triggers your brain’s natural aptitude to learn.
- Works for everyone – Recommended for ages 13 and above.
What’s Included in Japanese 5?
- 30, 30-minute audio lessons
- Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes of Katakana reading instruction
- A Reading Booklet and User’s Guide
- In total, over 16 hours of audio, all featuring native speakers
What You’ll Learn
Japanese Level 5, Lessons 1-30 includes 15 hours of spoken language practice, broken down into thirty convenient half-hour lessons, and approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes of Katakana reading instruction, plus an easy-to-use guide and Reading Booklet.
This course will expand your vocabulary, encourage you to share your opinions and interests, introduce you to less formal conversations, and help you to venture out to new travel destinations in Japan. You’ll learn to share your impressions and opinions, express gratitude, describe people and places, and convey your preferences with characteristic Japanese politeness and grace.
Some topics included in Japanese Level 5 are:
Expressions
- includes many more informal expressions appropriate for conversing with close friends, and
- how to switch from informal to formal conversational forms
Activities
- attend a college reunion,
- go to a wedding reception and catch-up with old friends,
- get recommendations for travel in Hokkaido and other travel destinations such as the Seikan undersea tunnel and Shiretoko National Park,
- experience kaitenzushi – a casual style sushi restaurant
Culture
- Japanese cultural activities in the U.S,
- the background of Hokkaido,
- the Ainu culture (indigenous people of northern Japan),
- how to spend Christmas and New Years in Japan,
- differences between Japan and the US regarding holiday greeting cards and the Japanese post office,
- the extensive Japanese trash disposal and recycling system
Other topics include:
- wasei eigo (Japanese-made English words),
- Japanese business hotels or budget hotels,
- Japanese convenient stores, and
- how to cook delicious sushi rice.
In Level 4, you learned to read the Hiragana alphabet, one of the three scripts used in Japanese writing. In Level 5 the Reading Lessons continue with an introduction to reading the Katakana alphabet.
The Pimsleur Method
We make no secret of what makes this powerful method work so well. Paul Pimsleur spent his career researching and perfecting the precise elements anyone can use to learn a language quickly and easily. Here are a few of his “secrets”:
The Principal of Anticipation
In the nanosecond between a cue and your response, your brain has to work to come up with the right word. Having to do this boosts retention, and cements the word in your mind.
Core Vocabulary
Words, phrases, and sentences are selected for their usefulness in everyday conversation. We don’t overwhelm you with too much, but steadily increase your ability with every lesson.
Graduated Interval Recall
Reminders of new words and structures come up at the exact interval for maximum retention and storage into your long-term memory.
Organic Learning
You work on multiple aspects of the language simultaneous...
Did you know that about 122 million people in Japan, and another 8 million worldwide speak Japanese? For Americans, it’s perceived as a difficult language to learn, but in fact, it’s quite regular. Once you get the basics down, you’ll be surprised how quickly you’re able to begin speaking it. And even knowing a little bit of the language will make travel to Japan far easier, and much more fun. Whether your goal is to travel, communicate with friends or colleagues, reconnect with family, or just understand more of what’s going on in the world around you, learning to speak Japanese will expand your horizons and immeasurably enrich your life.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be difficult or take years to master. Thirty minutes a day is all it takes, and we get you speaking right from the first day. Pimsleur courses use a scientifically-proven method that puts you in control of your learning. If you’ve tried other language learning methods but found they simply didn’t stick, then you owe it to yourself to give Pimsleur a try.
Why Pimsleur?
- Quick + Easy – Only 30 minutes a day.
- Portable + Flexible – Core lessons can be done anytime, anywhere, and easily fit into your busy life.
- Proven Method – Works when other methods fail.
- Self-Paced – Go fast or go slow – it’s up to you.
- Based in Science – Developed using proven research on memory and learning.
- Cost-effective – Less expensive than classes or immersion, and features all native speakers.
- Genius – Triggers your brain’s natural aptitude to learn.
- Works for everyone – Recommended for ages 13 and above.
What’s Included in Japanese 5?
- 30, 30-minute audio lessons
- Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes of Katakana reading instruction
- A Reading Booklet and User’s Guide
- In total, over 16 hours of audio, all featuring native speakers
What You’ll Learn
Japanese Level 5, Lessons 1-30 includes 15 hours of spoken language practice, broken down into thirty convenient half-hour lessons, and approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes of Katakana reading instruction, plus an easy-to-use guide and Reading Booklet.
This course will expand your vocabulary, encourage you to share your opinions and interests, introduce you to less formal conversations, and help you to venture out to new travel destinations in Japan. You’ll learn to share your impressions and opinions, express gratitude, describe people and places, and convey your preferences with characteristic Japanese politeness and grace.
Some topics included in Japanese Level 5 are:
Expressions
- includes many more informal expressions appropriate for conversing with close friends, and
- how to switch from informal to formal conversational forms
Activities
- attend a college reunion,
- go to a wedding reception and catch-up with old friends,
- get recommendations for travel in Hokkaido and other travel destinations such as the Seikan undersea tunnel and Shiretoko National Park,
- experience kaitenzushi – a casual style sushi restaurant
Culture
- Japanese cultural activities in the U.S,
- the background of Hokkaido,
- the Ainu culture (indigenous people of northern Japan),
- how to spend Christmas and New Years in Japan,
- differences between Japan and the US regarding holiday greeting cards and the Japanese post office,
- the extensive Japanese trash disposal and recycling system
Other topics include:
- wasei eigo (Japanese-made English words),
- Japanese business hotels or budget hotels,
- Japanese convenient stores, and
- how to cook delicious sushi rice.
In Level 4, you learned to read the Hiragana alphabet, one of the three scripts used in Japanese writing. In Level 5 the Reading Lessons continue with an introduction to reading the Katakana alphabet.
The Pimsleur Method
We make no secret of what makes this powerful method work so well. Paul Pimsleur spent his career researching and perfecting the precise elements anyone can use to learn a language quickly and easily. Here are a few of his “secrets”:
The Principal of Anticipation
In the nanosecond between a cue and your response, your brain has to work to come up with the right word. Having to do this boosts retention, and cements the word in your mind.
Core Vocabulary
Words, phrases, and sentences are selected for their usefulness in everyday conversation. We don’t overwhelm you with too much, but steadily increase your ability with every lesson.
Graduated Interval Recall
Reminders of new words and structures come up at the exact interval for maximum retention and storage into your long-term memory.
Organic Learning
You work on multiple aspects of the language simultaneous...
Audio CD
Published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 15, 2021
I've already reviewed level one, two, three, and four, and as this is a series, this one is basically the same. (If you want a more comprehensive idea of this product, I'd check those reviews first. This is more like my final thoughts.)
If you've been looking for some more informal practice, this one definitely covers it. Well, still pretty basic, and they don't dive into the grammar explanations (this series never does), but it's practice nevertheless. The topics feel more varied in this one compared to the rest, covering a bit of holidays, culture, tourism, and more. (I was pleasantly surprised at the mention of the Ainu people. And the last bit on cooking rice was cute. Simple, to the point, but cute.)
As I've said before, this series doesn't focus on or go in order of JLPT, so if you're thinking of using it for your studies there, it's not going to be the best material. (I only mention this test as often as I do since it's quite popular, and can be helpful in gauging the difficulty level in something.) That said, it still floats around mostly N5/N4, barely touching anything higher.
Also, a nit-pick, but it was always weird to hear various gender-specific speaking patterns being referred to as "male/female" speaking versus "men/women". (They occasionally used both, but mostly male/female.) "This is only said by females" just triggers that awkward cringe in me nowadays, haha. It isn't so black and white though. From what I've heard from native speakers, the gender rules are less strict and are more about expressing yourself in a more masculine, feminine or neutral way. Tofugu wrote an article if you're curious about learning more.
Is this series necessary material to learn Japanese? Absolutely not. Is it still interesting material to use? Yeah sure. The first three levels are definitely more of a drag than the last two. But if you can find them for free (local libraries), or go through the subscription model (15$/month, which is the cheapest you can get this series), it might be worth it. I know they offer a lesson or two free for listening on their website, so you can try it out and see if it'll work for you.
For me personally, I'm glad I went through it. It got me speaking more often, and I've had vocabulary and grammar come up in my conversations with my tutors. It also worked as a nice companion while I went for a walk or cleaned.
I'm gonna be taking a dive into Russian next, so I think that says enough about how worth it I found :) Don't go breaking the bank though if you can't afford it. There are so many free or cheap options to learn languages nowadays that are just as good, if not better. It works great for me though, so I'll continue on with their programs.
If you've been looking for some more informal practice, this one definitely covers it. Well, still pretty basic, and they don't dive into the grammar explanations (this series never does), but it's practice nevertheless. The topics feel more varied in this one compared to the rest, covering a bit of holidays, culture, tourism, and more. (I was pleasantly surprised at the mention of the Ainu people. And the last bit on cooking rice was cute. Simple, to the point, but cute.)
As I've said before, this series doesn't focus on or go in order of JLPT, so if you're thinking of using it for your studies there, it's not going to be the best material. (I only mention this test as often as I do since it's quite popular, and can be helpful in gauging the difficulty level in something.) That said, it still floats around mostly N5/N4, barely touching anything higher.
Also, a nit-pick, but it was always weird to hear various gender-specific speaking patterns being referred to as "male/female" speaking versus "men/women". (They occasionally used both, but mostly male/female.) "This is only said by females" just triggers that awkward cringe in me nowadays, haha. It isn't so black and white though. From what I've heard from native speakers, the gender rules are less strict and are more about expressing yourself in a more masculine, feminine or neutral way. Tofugu wrote an article if you're curious about learning more.
Is this series necessary material to learn Japanese? Absolutely not. Is it still interesting material to use? Yeah sure. The first three levels are definitely more of a drag than the last two. But if you can find them for free (local libraries), or go through the subscription model (15$/month, which is the cheapest you can get this series), it might be worth it. I know they offer a lesson or two free for listening on their website, so you can try it out and see if it'll work for you.
For me personally, I'm glad I went through it. It got me speaking more often, and I've had vocabulary and grammar come up in my conversations with my tutors. It also worked as a nice companion while I went for a walk or cleaned.
I'm gonna be taking a dive into Russian next, so I think that says enough about how worth it I found :) Don't go breaking the bank though if you can't afford it. There are so many free or cheap options to learn languages nowadays that are just as good, if not better. It works great for me though, so I'll continue on with their programs.
March 26, 2024
Pimsleur Japanese (Levels 1-5) Review (cross posted on each level of the course.)
The Pimsleur courses, resting on the pioneering work of Dr. Paul Pimsleur, emphasize practical vocabulary and grammar. This method, focusing on high-frequency words and essential grammar through practical situations, has been the backbone of my language learning journey—not just with Japanese, but previously with Spanish as well.
My introduction to Pimsleur was quite unique. Living in a bilingual household challenged by a language barrier, I turned to Pimsleur Spanish to bridge the gap. Unlike my structured approach to Japanese, my Spanish learning was driven by immediate necessity, enabling direct, meaningful communication within my living environment. This experience was invaluable, laying the groundwork for my engagement with Pimsleur Japanese.
I approached Pimsleur Japanese with a blend of anticipation and a clear goal: to achieve conversational fluency. With an all-audio format, the program mirrored my initial encounter with language learning, where books and grammar took a back seat to listening and speaking. Through both Spanish and Japanese, Pimsleur has proven its worth, underscoring the importance of auditory comprehension and practical communication.
Delving into the mechanics of the course, it’s designed to escalate complexity from basic dialogues to comprehensive conversations. By completing all five levels, learners like myself gain a familiarity with roughly 2,000 words and a solid grasp of conversational grammar. This parallels my Pimsleur Spanish experience, where the focus on spoken vocabulary and automated response preparation was equally effective.
Reflecting on my journey with Pimsleur Spanish, I found it instrumental in developing a quick, automated response in conversations. This foundation, emphasizing high-frequency, spoken vocab, although limiting in reading comprehension, proved ideal for spoken communication. If I were to restart my language learning, Pimsleur’s focus on practical vocabulary and grammar would be my starting point, avoiding the scattergun approach of accumulating countless resources.
My Spanish experience, leveraging Pimsleur and Michel Thomas Method for a grammatical overview, laid a robust foundation that Pimsleur Japanese only strengthened. Navigating through both languages, I was struck by the method’s consistency in fostering conversational ease and confidence, a testament to its adaptable and effective approach across linguistic boundaries.
For those embarking on their language learning journey, whether with Spanish, Japanese, or another language, Pimsleur offers a structured path to conversational fluency. Coupled with my personal narrative of overcoming linguistic challenges, this review underscores the transformative power of dedicated language learning. Your journey may vary, but the potential for growth and connection through language is boundless.
The Pimsleur courses, resting on the pioneering work of Dr. Paul Pimsleur, emphasize practical vocabulary and grammar. This method, focusing on high-frequency words and essential grammar through practical situations, has been the backbone of my language learning journey—not just with Japanese, but previously with Spanish as well.
My introduction to Pimsleur was quite unique. Living in a bilingual household challenged by a language barrier, I turned to Pimsleur Spanish to bridge the gap. Unlike my structured approach to Japanese, my Spanish learning was driven by immediate necessity, enabling direct, meaningful communication within my living environment. This experience was invaluable, laying the groundwork for my engagement with Pimsleur Japanese.
I approached Pimsleur Japanese with a blend of anticipation and a clear goal: to achieve conversational fluency. With an all-audio format, the program mirrored my initial encounter with language learning, where books and grammar took a back seat to listening and speaking. Through both Spanish and Japanese, Pimsleur has proven its worth, underscoring the importance of auditory comprehension and practical communication.
Delving into the mechanics of the course, it’s designed to escalate complexity from basic dialogues to comprehensive conversations. By completing all five levels, learners like myself gain a familiarity with roughly 2,000 words and a solid grasp of conversational grammar. This parallels my Pimsleur Spanish experience, where the focus on spoken vocabulary and automated response preparation was equally effective.
Reflecting on my journey with Pimsleur Spanish, I found it instrumental in developing a quick, automated response in conversations. This foundation, emphasizing high-frequency, spoken vocab, although limiting in reading comprehension, proved ideal for spoken communication. If I were to restart my language learning, Pimsleur’s focus on practical vocabulary and grammar would be my starting point, avoiding the scattergun approach of accumulating countless resources.
My Spanish experience, leveraging Pimsleur and Michel Thomas Method for a grammatical overview, laid a robust foundation that Pimsleur Japanese only strengthened. Navigating through both languages, I was struck by the method’s consistency in fostering conversational ease and confidence, a testament to its adaptable and effective approach across linguistic boundaries.
For those embarking on their language learning journey, whether with Spanish, Japanese, or another language, Pimsleur offers a structured path to conversational fluency. Coupled with my personal narrative of overcoming linguistic challenges, this review underscores the transformative power of dedicated language learning. Your journey may vary, but the potential for growth and connection through language is boundless.
December 31, 2025
took me a year to complete the pimsleur japanese audios (though it's technically a 5-month course lol). i've been really inconsistent with everything else but i'm grateful to have been able to complete this one.
i still have a long way to go with japanese but it does seem like this course increased my speaking/listening skills significantly and the one a day approach works for me (my breaks were mostly between levels since i have some trouble getting started). not sure how much vocabulary i have retained and it of course doesn't really do much for reading/writing but i still found it worthwhile and i love that you can listen to it while doing other stuff. thinking about doing glossika next to just hammer sentence structures and stuff into my brain
i still have a long way to go with japanese but it does seem like this course increased my speaking/listening skills significantly and the one a day approach works for me (my breaks were mostly between levels since i have some trouble getting started). not sure how much vocabulary i have retained and it of course doesn't really do much for reading/writing but i still found it worthwhile and i love that you can listen to it while doing other stuff. thinking about doing glossika next to just hammer sentence structures and stuff into my brain
February 4, 2024
I finished all 5 levels - and then, because I thought that somehow it would make me fluent, went back through them again from start to finish
The only thing that Pimsleur truly excells at is teaching pronunciation
My Japanese, especially now that I've studied copious and very detailed amounts of pitch accent (高低アクセント), has a truly spectacular accent
I attribute that success almost entirely to my use of this Pimsleur Japanese course
However, all that glitters is not gold
This courses vocabulary and grammar was almost the exact level you'll find in Genki 1 (a purely elementary level textbook)
It barely teaches you any of the writing system
And, although your accent should be incredible by the end of this course, all you'll know how to say are travellers phrases
It also doesn't explain how or why the grammar works the way it does - it just has you memorize sentences that include basic grammar points
My recommendation for you is to use this course - but save as much money as you can - buying the physical copies would be ridiculous as they are incredibly overpriced and you really only need to listen to them once a piece
Please check your local library!
Use mnemonics to learn Hiragana and Katakana - I highly recommend an app called Dr. Moku! I used his app years ago and learned all of the Hiragana alphabet in three days
Love it!
The best beginner textbook I always recommend is Genki
It has two books for the elementary and beginner levels plus workbooks and an answer key
And, as you work through Genki and find grammar you don't fully understand, please take a look at Cure Dolly's YouTube channel
Her grammar explanations are simply the most wonderful, accessible and easy to grasp and apply that I have ever had the pleasure to come across on the internet
Japanese is a big passion of mine, and I hope you enjoy learning it as much as I do! 頑張ってくださいね！！
The only thing that Pimsleur truly excells at is teaching pronunciation
My Japanese, especially now that I've studied copious and very detailed amounts of pitch accent (高低アクセント), has a truly spectacular accent
I attribute that success almost entirely to my use of this Pimsleur Japanese course
However, all that glitters is not gold
This courses vocabulary and grammar was almost the exact level you'll find in Genki 1 (a purely elementary level textbook)
It barely teaches you any of the writing system
And, although your accent should be incredible by the end of this course, all you'll know how to say are travellers phrases
It also doesn't explain how or why the grammar works the way it does - it just has you memorize sentences that include basic grammar points
My recommendation for you is to use this course - but save as much money as you can - buying the physical copies would be ridiculous as they are incredibly overpriced and you really only need to listen to them once a piece
Please check your local library!
Use mnemonics to learn Hiragana and Katakana - I highly recommend an app called Dr. Moku! I used his app years ago and learned all of the Hiragana alphabet in three days
Love it!
The best beginner textbook I always recommend is Genki
It has two books for the elementary and beginner levels plus workbooks and an answer key
And, as you work through Genki and find grammar you don't fully understand, please take a look at Cure Dolly's YouTube channel
Her grammar explanations are simply the most wonderful, accessible and easy to grasp and apply that I have ever had the pleasure to come across on the internet
Japanese is a big passion of mine, and I hope you enjoy learning it as much as I do! 頑張ってくださいね！！
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews