Anyone living in Hong Kong who could help me?

[PassionforChJap]

I'm an Italian student of Chinese and Japanese. To review my basic Japanese I'm using a textbook published in 1987, and I've found the tape cassettes for the dialogues and exercices only at the 香港城市大學 library. Unfortunately I will stay in Italy for the next 2 years. If anyone who lives in Hong Kong could help me (loan those cassettes, convert them into mp3, and send me the files), it would be great, and obviously I would pay for the service.

Best!

[Flickserve]

You would probably be better off finding a japanese person to read the textbook for you.

 

Cassette players are incredibly rare now.

[TheBigZaboon]

Might, just might, be a good idea to let somebody know the name, author's name, and place of publication of the texts and tapes you're talking about. That might help your cause immensely...

 

Just sayin'...

 

TBZ 

[PassionforChJap]

@TheBigZaboon you're right.

The textbook is:

"An introduction to advanced spoken Japanese",

by Delmer M. Brown,

Inter-University Center for Japanese language studies, Yokohama, 1987

[TheBigZaboon]

I don't live in HK, but I might (no promises), just might, have that book. If I do, I might (no promises), just might, have the tapes, too. I'll risk divorce and root around in my closets to find out if my memory can still be trusted. I think the book was light green in color, and maybe a bit bigger than A4 in size. There may be others on this forum who actually took the course, and they may already have digital copies, but I didn't, and I don't... If somebody speaks up, it would be better for you.

 

If I find the tapes, I think there were six, maybe eight, I'll try to find the time to copy them into an mp3 format over the next couple of weeks. Beyond that, I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do. Time wise, I can't promise any more, but unless somebody makes you a better offer, this'll have to do...

 

Just sayin' (not promisin')...

 

TBZ

[TheBigZaboon]

An afterthought... It might save us both a lot of trouble if you tried contacting the Inter-university Center directly and asked if they have digitized copies of the audio of their older textbooks that they make available to interested students, including their own current students. I've never had much luck with academics, but maybe that's just me. It might be worth the time and effort for you, and it certainly can't hurt.

 

It's been nearly forty years since this stuff was published, and there have certainty been revisions and updated editions of the materials since then. Allowing you access to older versions can't possibly be any threat to their livelihood or reputation, but then, one never know, do one...

 

Just suggestin'...

 

TBZ 

 

 

 

[TheBigZaboon]

I checked the website of the language school, and the book is different from the one I had in mind. However, it is listed on their website under materials available and (seemingly) used for study. I would strongly advise you to contact them and see if they will supply you with mp3 audio for the book. Emphasize the fact that you have a copy of the text, that you are a student, and that you live in Italy where it is nearly impossible to find this book and it's accompanying audio.

 

Don't be embarrassed to play on their sympathies. I have never been successful in eliciting any cooperation from them in the past, but I am an American living in Japan, and I was never affiliated with any of their sponsoring schools. Frankly, I got the impression that they felt that I, and the school I was associated with at the time, were beneath them. This is probably just a beef between Americans, but that's all blood under the bridge. Don't be embarrassed to emphasize "Italian", "student", and the difficulties you have in finding their exceptional materials in "Europe". 

 

I will continue to try to find the audio here in Japan among my friends and colleagues, but I urge you, do not miss the opportunity to go directly to the source for your needs.

 

TBZ