MINNA NO NIHONGO INTERM. 1 - MANUEL - CD INCLUS

Full disclosure. I returned this book. It was too difficult. Only because I used to study this series (like 20 years ago when living in Japan) and thought I remembered more than I do. This series is the best Japanese learning book. Period. It's interesting and laid out well enough to study alone. It uses the method that is supposed to be used when learning a language- every single word is in the language you're learning. There is a companion grammar explanation book sold separately with some English but it's not a dictionary of the lessons. Learn hiragana and katakana and use this series. Challenge yourself with this series and you WILL become fluent.