What students say about the Pimsleur Japanese audios:
I have purchased a number of Japanese language learning books, all producing poor results. The primary issue, for me, with most language learning programs is lack of practical context. In many cases, after learning how to say "hello, goodbye, please and thank you", the next challenge is learning how to say "The dog is on the chair", or something equally irrelevant. I have traveled many places, and yet, perhaps surprisingly, I've never been in a situation where I thought to myself "I really wish I could say 'the dog is on the chair' right now."
The Pimsleur Comprehensive Language program provides a practical context for the learning. They have made the realization that it is in fact possible to teach sentence structure and grammar while using phrases that might actually come in handy.
The proof for me came on my most recent Tokyo trip. On previous trips, I have been stuck searching for people who can speak English, despite the many hours I've logged with language programs. On this trip, however, I was able to communicate in Japanese, thanks to Pimsleur (I am currently halfway through Pimsleur Comprehensive Japanese II). I was able to order a bus ticket to Shinjuku from the airport, check into my hotel, and ask for directions several times while trying to navigate the extensive Tokyo metro system. And again, as opposed to other language methods, I was actually prepared to comprehend the responses to my inquiries. Because I had learned sentence structure and certain critical word forms, I was even able to understand conversations outside the boundaries of what is learned in the Pimsleur method.
I also like the fact that, rather than needing to dedicate time to sit down with a book and study, I get all my studying done on the drive to work, and on the way back home. It has become something I look forward to, without adding any time to my schedule.
The main drawback is the lack of writing development. Especially with Japanese, which uses four writing systems (hiragana, katakana, kanji and good ole' arabic letters), learning to read is essential. I purchased a book specifically devoted to learning to write in hiragana and katakana, and it has proven to be a good supplement to the Pimsleur method. Guide to Learning Hiragana & Katakana
I recommend using Pimsleur as a primary source of study, with supplements such as the book referenced above to fill in the gaps. With this approach, Pimsleur has been the most effective language learning method I've used. - C. Wright, Santa Clara, California, USA