Despite many opinions telling that it is review book i still decided to get all of them.
(Some background info – learning at language school, my knowledge in terms of grammar and listening is between n4-n2 depending on topic, but im a bit behind with vocabulary/kanji)
I decided to do it the way it tells – 1 unit each day, repeat for every book.
What i like so far:
\- recommended pace is fast enough to make me learn japanese everyday for more time than before as i have more things to do.
\- there are some words/kanji i know, but always mixed with new ones, so it’s both a review and new items to learn
\- i like that grammar explanations are concise and that when shortened form is introduced you get long formal form as well
\- Listening excercises are… suprisingly intense. If i remember correctly on both n5 and n4 exam people were talking slower and i’m pleasantly shocked that even studying with native i still have some challenge.
\- You still get bits of english here and there which is nice after minna no nihongo and seeing both tobira and shin kanzen (i sifted through these 2 and came to conclusion that it is a bit too early for them, i still plan to try them after i finish sou matome)
What i dislike so far:
\- doing 5 books at once takes a lot of time so even if it is interesting i feel exhausted (maybe i’ll get used to it)
\- i kinda wish that small dialogues in reading book were also translated, not a big deal though
\- in grammar book i wish we got more examples and on answer page i wish there was a translation of a sentence and a short explanation why something is correct.
\- just a small complaint but i wish every book had colored sections like grammar one and that information about listening audio available online was placed in more visible spot (flip bookcover isn’t a great place for that, so took me some time to find needed info)
Did you try learning from sou matome? what was your experience?
1 comment
I used the N3 listening and reading books. I really liked them. I don’t have a lot of time to study/review, so this series is really well designed for short bursts. After finishing those two, I started Shin Kanzen Master N3 grammar, and I find it really difficult just to figure out how to break it up day by day. I don’t have a Sou Matome grammar book, but I’m sure the structure would work better for me. I think I’ll go back to Sou Matome for N2.
I also just bought the Nihongo No Mori textbook/workbook combo. It was only $25, so I had to get it, but I figured I’d finish the other books I already have before trying it.