This textbook is designed for beginning learners who want to learn basic Japanese for the purpose of living and working in Japan. Unlike textbooks written primarily for students, whose content largely centers on student life, this book focuses more on social and professional life beyond school.
As a beginning level textbook, this book includes many elementary grammar patterns (Japanese Language Proficiency Test Levels 5 and 4), but the vocabulary and situations are selected specifically for working adults. Explanations are kept concise so as to only cover key points. The main focus is on oral communication and the accompanying audio is to be used extensively. This textbook can be used for self-study, as part of an online course, or as a traditional college course.
Emiko Konomi is an assistant professor of Japanese in the School of Business at Portland State University and currently teaches in the Masters of International Management (MIM). She received a PhD in Linguistics from Cornell University. Emiko has taught all levels of Japanese throughout her career. She also has extensive experience training Japanese language instructors at various teacher-training programs across the country. Known for her passionate teaching style and dedication to quality teaching, Emiko has been honored by universities such as Portland State for her excellent teaching. Her academic research focuses on Japanese linguistics and pedagogy. She has authored several Japanese textbooks and flash card sets, and is currently developing a series of textbooks for professionals. Emiko has trained in various Japanese martial arts and is also a certified yoga instructor.
