Book Description
Ultimate German has everything you need to learn German from scratch or to revive the German that you learned years ago. This course combines conversation and culture in an easy-to-follow, enjoyable, and effective format. It's the perfect way to learn German for school, travel, work, or personal enrichment.

Ultimate German Beginner-Intermediate includes:

•40 lessons in a comprehensive 416-page textbook:

Each lesson contains a lively and authentic dialogue, vocabulary, grammar and usage, step-by-step character writing, cultural highlights, and plenty of practice. The first ten lessons also include special pronunciation sections that will have you speaking right from the beginning. The book also contains review sections, readings, supplemental vocabulary sections, appendixes on essential German grammar, and a German-English/English-German glossary.

•8 hours of recordings with an ingenious two-step approach:

Learn at home: Listen to the first set of recordings as you follow along in your textbook. Immerse yourself in German while you listen and repeat with the all-German recordings, and learn conversation, grammar, vocabulary, and more

Learn on the go: Then practice, review, and expand upon what you’ve learned with the second set of recordings. An instructor will guide you through each lesson, and since no reading is required, you can listen in the car, on the train, at the gym…anywhere! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A great course for self learners
I took German as the 2nd foreign language course in college and dropped it after one month after being told by the teacher that one had to be able to vibrate one's tongue in order to learn German and that one should train one's tongue with water in the morning till it starts vibrate, which meant that I was doomed to learn German because the physical limitation of my tongue.

This was more than 20 years ago.

Recently, I decided to take another look at learning the German language, partly due to my curiosity about the German culture, and partly due to my fascination of being able to read the original writings of those great German thinkers.

After an extensive search on the internet and on [...], I found this course and bought it after some hesitation about its price tag.

It's been several months since I received my book and cd's.

I am taking my time on this German course, progressing at about one lesson per week, and keeping going back to review previous lessen(s) before starting a new lessen for the week.

First, I am surprised to learn that my college German teacher was incorrect.I don't seem to need a vibrating tongue to learn and to speak German.

During this time, I have had ordered a bunch of books on learning German, as well as other course material some of which also include cd's.But none of which has the same quality as this course, either in the mixture of new words, verbs, grammar and usages, or in the dialogs and word pronunciation.

So far, this is the best German course for me.And it's $[...] well invested.

If any one knows a better one, please tell me about it.

Everything you Need to Learn German
I was terrified when my 8th grader elected to study one of the few languages that I don't speak, but the Ultimate German program has since relieved most of that anxiety.The comprehensive grammar sections and easy to introduce dialogues make learning beginning German both effective and fun.The set includes 8 CDs for both classroom and homework use, and provide for plenty of practice time.I recommend moving more slowly than the lesson a week standard with younger students, as each lesson includes A LOT of grammar, but this program is an effective tool in introducing a modern language into your curriculum.

Great for Learning German
This book is great for learning German with or without the CDs.
(Note: If you are learning on your own, I would definitely recommend that you purchase the CDs since words are not pronounced as you may think!If you want to learn in your car as well, you can substitute the Living Language's "All Audio German" CD set for the one you can get with this book, which has about 75% of the material in the book covered in a very quick manner.)

The book covers numerous topics you are likely to encounter in German-speaking countries.Unlike most textbooks, this book has an answer key in the back.Each chapter includes a reading, the translation of the reading, details on the grammar points introduced in the reading, an extended vocabulary list, problems and finally some cultural notes.

Each chapter covers a particular topic.Topics cover everything from arriving, ordering food, buying and returning items, and getting medical help.Depending upon how much time you have and how fast you learn, this book could keep you busy for a couple of months to several years.

The only book I'd recommend more for complete beginners is the PONS "Beginners' Course German" with audio CD, though I have not seen this outside of Germany.The PONS course offers less material, but the colorful format and slower speed may be better for those new to the German language.However, the Living Language book does offer so much more material for the same (or lower) price.

If you are only intersted in speaking (and comprehending spoken) German, then the Pimsleur Language Program is better (though MUCH more expensive).However, if you want to read and write German as well, I would definitely recommend this book with the CDs.

The most helpful way to get started!
I moved to Austria some years ago and this is what helped me to learn German. I had taken some classes before at a German school in my hometown, and even though it was a good school I didn't learn much. This set and the advanced were real lifesavers for me. You'll still need much more than this, and a lot of time and practice, to speak good German, but this course will give you a great start. It teaches you a lot for the price. Intensive courses in a German speaking country are surely better, if you can afford them! But if you can't, or you live far away from a language school, this set is a great choice. There were several mistakes on the previuos edition; hopefully not in this one. The program is great anyway. Good luck!

This is a Fabulous CD set.
I have listened to this beginning CD set while I was driving long distances.It is wonderful!This set is well thought through and words are grouped according to the category in which they are most used.It allows you to figure new words out without really knowing.

The speakers have different dialects which give you a real listening ability for how the sounds are made differently in the areas of Germany.

This is one of the best CD sets I have ever used.I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn quickly, easily, and effortlessly. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
This Conversational program contains 8 hours of interactive audio-only instruction, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of German structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak German can actually be enjoyable and rewarding.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only these pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed.

With Pimsleur you get:

• Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation,
• Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically,
• The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere,
• 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting.

Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever -- without textbooks, written exercises, or drills.

Conversational German includes the 10 lessons from Pimsleur's Basic German plus an additional 6 lessons.

The 16 lessons in Conversational German are the same first 16 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive German Level 1.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Nice refresher course
Would not recommend this for beginners
As there are no books
I took 2 years in high school
and two years in College
so, I know the grammatical side
and how to spell

conversational german
I have been amazed that I have been able to learn the language so fast.I truly think this is an excellent program.

Learning German in Germany
I bought this box set for my boyfriend who is serving at a German army base. He says it has been helpful and he sleeps with the cds playing in his ears. Luckily, most Germans speak English but they appreciate your effort to speak German.

Not bad
Fairly solid grounding in beginning German; strong on pronunciation but short on vocabulary.And possessed of some very strange interchanges.You ask Frau Meyer if she wants some wine. She does.Then you ask her if she also wants a beer, as apparently she's either an alcoholic or you're trying to get her looped.So while you learn a little bit of German very well, it doesn't quite build enough vocabulary to have a conversation much beyond "I know a little German but I don't speak it well."And you'll sound like you're kidding when you say it with such good pronunciation, rendering the phrase almost useless.

Guten Tag
This product works fairly well for me. Being a person that learns more by listening rather than reading, this type of media fits me more than just picking up a book. This set works at a slow enough pace that anyone should be able to pick up on the phonetics of the german language. ... Read more

Book Description
It's easy to become intimidated by the prospect of learning a foreign language, and many consider German to be the most difficult of all. The Everything® Learning German Book has eliminated the stumbling blocks of learning a language to bring you quick and easy success.

Whether you're a first-time learner, a re-learner, or an international traveler, The Everything® Learning German Book effectively teaches the German language through step-by-step instruction, practical exercises, and cultural information that make it both simple and entertaining. Readers learn pronunciation, parts of speech, and basic vocabulary and usage that can benefit students, travelers, restaurant-goers—and anyone seeking to learn the language upon which English is heavily based.

Learn how to:
·Understand verbal etiquette
·Order in a restaurant
·Ask directions
·Communicate efficiently when traveling
·Greet strangers properly

Supplemented by both English-to-German and German-to-English dictionaries, The Everything® Learning German Book is the perfect way to learn—or relearn—the language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A great buy
I am really pleased with this book. I have a friend who speaks German, and I have had the opportunity to use some of what I have learned with them. The book does more than just give you the words to memorize, it provides details such as the formal way of saying things as well as the casual context. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning the language.

A Valuable Tool
As someone who just recently started taking German classes, this book has been proven to be an invaluable resource.The author writes in a friendly, easy-to-understand manner, and the book is well-organized.I especially found the pronunciation guide to be one of the better ones I've come across.

Great place to start
I'm coming back to German language learning after a long hiatus - about thirty years since High School German.This book is a great place to start; it provides interesting history of the German language, discussion of various parts of speech, and always ties it back to analogous words and phrases in English.There may be more advanced texts available, but this is an excellent starting point.

its ok
its an ok book for telling you things about the german language, but its phonetic listings are vague because they dont tell you how to pronouce some special charactors. you're probably better off getting a english-german dictionary and some audio cd's

common sense approach
Ive sampled many books and cd,s and this book takes the most direct and logical approach Ive found ... Read more

Book Description
The top-selling Complete series has been fully revised, with all new supplemental material and a bonus wallet phrase card for travelers. Each program contains everything a beginner needs–a coursebook with 40 lessons, three hours of recordings on three CDs, a quick-reference learner’s dictionary, and an all-new indispensable wallet phrase card, all in a convenient and compact package.

The courses still use the popular and effective conversation building-block method, but all content has been thoroughly updated and now includes e-mail essentials and internet resources for each of the eight languages in the series. In addition, 18 supplemental vocabulary sections, covering such topics as “Family and Relationships,” “On the Job,” “Sports and Recreation,” and “Around Town,” are now included. As an added bonus, the new handy wallet phrase card with 300 essential words and phrases is the perfect reference for on-the-go learners, travelers, and businesspeople.

With a fresh look, great new features, and the same rock-solid approach to language learning, the best-selling Complete series is better than ever! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

very satisfactory
We really appreciate the speed in which our order arrived.A very satisfactory transaction.Would recommend this seller.

Great Intro Course
I used this course before visiting Germany after I graduated from High School. Prior to my trip I studied French in high school (the boring grammar, drills, verb conjugations, teacher saying, " Ecoute tout le monde, repite... "). At first I worried that I had picked up a phrase book that would not be helpful in forming sentances. I was also wary of the idea that only German was spoken on the cassette tapes. The German-only tapes turned out to be more helpful than a burden. It turns out that the proper way to study the course is to review the book prior to and then along with the audio a few times. Then you must use only the audio. When you hear and repeat the audio try thinking of the meaning of the sentance in terms of imagages and feelings instead the English translation.

The results that I experienced were that my listening comprehension in German was better than that of the French that I studied for 3 years in high school. I was able to form sentances more intuitively than by trying remember verb congugations. Latter in college I studied German and I was well ahead of my classmates. In Germany I was able communicate even though I could not have a full conversation.

This course will not get you to fluency but if you learn that way I learn (intuitvlely with little emphasis on rules)then it is a great beginning. There is very little in the way of grammar, but hey, do you really diagram your sentances in the middle of speaking English?

The only drawback is that there are numerous helpful drills in the text that are not included with the audio.

Good... for some
I had purchased this set primarily to learn conversational german for a two-week stay in Germany, although I did have some interest in learning the language for a long time.While this set does provide a good method for learning a large amount of the language, it is not easily approachable for casual learners.For instance, it will take a while to get to lessons involving important phrases for travelling.
However, if you are looking for a rather in-depth introduction to the language, this may be just your ticket.
Considering the sheer number of lessons, the coursebook will likely take a few months to get through (at least if you intend to retain the knowledge).The requirement to use both the CD's and the book make it quite difficult to set time for learning.Also, the CD's are filled with German phrases or words without any actual dividers, making for a very muddled and confused rambling of german words - you really need to follow along with the book!
I feel that I am learning little bits, but this program is not as easy to use as others have been.

Complete German
I am taking a german class, and hearing the words is helpful. I also like the tests in the text. I wish the text was a larger scale of the font. There are some errors in the text. ... Read more

Book Description
Traveler's Language Courses provide everything the traveler needs to feel comfortable learning a new language. The CD format is ideal for language study, giving crystal clear sound reproduction of accent, tone, and pronunciation, to train the ear and make imitation easy. In addition, CD programmability means students can easily move from section to section, and choose tracks for study and repetition, fashioning a completely flexible and personalized study plan. Lessons are ingeniously engineered so that the student absorbs the sounds, vocabulary, and rhythms while simply listening and participating. English translation and explanation is provided so there are no mysteries, just easy learning. The lessons can be used without referring to the printed text, so they're perfect for learning 'on the go'. Each course includes these components:Two full-length CDs Lesson Booklet containing the complete text of the recorded lessons Guide to Study with pointers on getting the most from your course Plus bonus: a Vest Pocket book with special features: easy travel phrases, pronunciation, and a 4,000-word bilingual dictionary For more than 120 years, Cortina has been producing outstanding language-learning materials. With these new courses in CD format, both ticketed and armchair travelers will find the learning easy and fun - and the price is right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Misleading
This course is not as great as the previous review rated it, in my opinion.Although the course pauses, its almost long enough time for you to think.Unless you are familiar with the language, this is not something you can listen to in the car.This is something that should be taken with a class.For someone who was looking for a learn while you drive CD, this was not it.As mentioned, the pauses weren't long enough.The lessons were extremely short.You quickly moved on to a new one.Unfortunate for me, the course is also based on talking to people in Germany, like they are you friends, instead of acquaintances.That was not helpful for me.I will not ask the waiter, "What are you doing later?I will come with you?"I need to say things like, "I would like to have coffee and toast, please."If that is what you are looking for, do not get this CD.If you have people in Germany that you will be socializing with, then by all means, this CD is the one for you, otherwise, its best to get a different one.

Ausgezeichnet! I love this course.
I guess I am a little biased toward Cortina language courses. For one thing, I learned Italian with Cortina materials when I was in high school. I found their materials (both printed and recorded) to be of high quality and lively. Also, they are very reasonably priced.
Now to this course in particular... It will not make you fluent in German (i.e., you will not hold conversations about Mozart's music or read Wittgenstein) after completing this course. However, you will have the tools to function in essential situations, if you master the material in this course. Also, you will have a solid, very basic introduction upon which to build. If you want to get a broader introduction to the language, buy the 10-part version of this course... it rocks!
One last thing about Cortina's recorded materials... they are crystal clear, and the accents are gorgeous (I have courses from them in Italian, Spanish, French and German). I worked with these until I could repeat the accents perfectly. Now, I get great compliments from native speakers about how nice my accent in the respective language is. That alone speaks volumes.

I am sorry that this next comment appears in a sort of strange place... I decided to edit this post a little so as to give you better info in your decision to buy this or not. This course will provide you with four lessons. Each lesson follows the same plan: (1) A conversation in the language and English. This is done at a moderate pace with pauses for your repition. (2)Pronunciation pointers. This time, the conversation is repeated, with advice on tricky aspects of pronunciation. Actually a very useful exercise, since you get to hear the conversation again and work on your pronunciation at the same time. (3) New vocabulary. This section introduces grammatically and materially relevant vocabulary, using sentence patterns from part (1). (4)Grammar and Sentence Construction. Just what it says it is. Here, you get to learn the principles underlying the lesson conversation. (5)Questions and Answers. Here, you get to put it all together, where questions are asked and answers are provided, all based on the material previously covered. (6) Common idioms. What more can I say? They are introduced here, with English translation and a pause for your repetition. (7)Conversation. Here, the conversation is repeated at native speaker speed. When I was learning with these courses, I would listen to this part first. It would blow right past me. Then, after I had worked through the course, I would listen to again, with understanding. This had a great effect of encouragement for the next lesson, because here was evidence of the progress I had made. By purchasing this part of the course, you will learn :

Definite articles - nominative and accusative cases - plural of nouns - present tense of 'sein' and 'machen' -indefinite article - present tense of 'essen' - negative article and adjective 'kein' - nominative and accusative of nouns preceded by articles - present tense of 'haben' - indirect object personal pronouns - present perfect tense of 'kaufen' and 'reisen' - negative statements - familiar 'du' and 'Sie' forms.

This may not seem like much, but you really learn it, and that is a solid foundation for your studies. Also, when you learn a single verb like 'essen' or 'kaufen', each acts as a model type of verb. So after you learn the conjugation of one of these, you can conjugate a host of similar ones, and you are taught to do this in this course. Sorry to be so longwinded! Thanks for your time. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Great, REALLY ADVANCED stories
Each of these stories is a gem.This is some great story-telling, and it's worth the price of the book just to read these masterpieces in English.As literature, this would probably warrant five stars.If your are truly proficient in your German, by all means buy this book.

BUT... if you are at more intermediate level you will find this book well beyond your abilities.In my case I know a few thousands words, can hold simple conversations, managed just fine ordering dinner in my last trip to Germany, and do okay with a German comic book.The complex vocabulary and intricate sentance structures were well beyond my grasp.

The shortcoming in this case is the reader.If you have been studying German for many years and wish to hone your skills, this book could be for you.If you have been at this for just a couple years, you will only find it frustrating.

A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF IMPORTANT GERMAN SHORT STORIES
I am a retired Internist. In college, I was privileged to Major in both Chemistry and German Literature. Now, after so many years, I find myself again reading familiar stories in the original German, without the need of a large and clumsy German-English Dictionary to spoil the flow of the prose. The works in this slim volume are all masterpieces, and, for me, old and much beloved friends. I am grateful for the dual-language series which brings me such tremendous pleasure.

Quiter awful
I am a german III student,so I am quite proficient in german. I found this book absolutely horrid. The translation was helpful yes, but the stories themselves were grotesque. After reading two of the stories I gave up trying to read a decent story. This book is best used a table decoration rather than reading.

OK study at a German 3 or higher level
This book provides five short stories, with English and German versions provided side-by-side:German on the left hand side, English on the right.This can definitely save time with a dictionary (but can also be a crutch - so watch out and discipline yourself).The stories are listed in the product description.

I'm assuming that you will be reading this to help study German.After about two years of a language you should be able to read a book on your own (slowly but surely).But many books will still be too complex.These are borderline.The stories here are at a level that could be read during a German 3 class, or between classes to maintain and build skills.I don't recommend this book during a German 1 or 2 class.Instead try Graded German Reader by Cossgrove during German 1.(It is expensive, but is very good if you know almost no German.)At a German 2 level move onto comic books like Tintin and Asterix, which have more complex grammar but use pictures to reinforce.Oh and by the way try replacing .com with .de on large websites for the German version.(This works on Amazon!)Especially look for fashion pages and "light" reading.You can understand more than you think!

Basically if you can already read moderately complex German then this is an economic book to read through.If you can't already pick up a book and read through it then this is not for you.However to get a book at your level ask advice from a German instructor.Chances are they will have had to study German, including literature, in college and will be familiar with the authors here.They can recommend authors to you and tell you if this is over your level.This is a book that you will never "outgrow", which means you have to be pretty skilled already to read it.

(And if you are German and trying to learn English, then you should be fine.Afterall you read this review;-)

Teach yourself German
For the avid self-teacher, this book will be very useful.Textbooks give you sentences here and there that are translated, and that's very useful.However, having entire stories translated for you is an even better way to learn a language.You have sentence after sentence of correct grammar and vocabulary.You can see how a proper sentence is constructed time and time again.

The translation looks like this:German on the left page, English on the right page.The five stories are by some of German's most famous writers...Hoffmann, Kafka, Kleist, Mann, and Schnitzler. ... Read more

Book Description

Graduate from the fundamentals to fluency!

For language learners stuck at rudimentary greetings and memorized phrases, this new Teach Yourself Improve Your Language Audiopack series is the ideal way to move beyond beginners' basics. By building on existing knowledge, readers improve the competency of their spoken and written communication.

Lively, authentic dialogues cover a range of situations, such as making invitations and suggestions; writing job descriptions; talking about past events; conveying hotel requirements; making complaints; shopping; and describing ailments. The course also expands sophisticated linguistic skills, such as expressing obligation and needs; probability; contrasting ideas; and regret. Features include:

• Two 60-minute audio CDs with paperback book
• Clear explanations of key structures
• Extensive vocabulary lists
• Easy-access verb tables
• Useful practice exercises

Customer Reviews (1)

GREAT!
LIKE ALL TEACH YOURSELF BOOKS, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK, JUST LIKE GERMAN EXTRA, BUT NEWER, JUST MAKE SURE TO BUY IT WITH THE CD'S, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. ... Read more

Book Description
Speak German Fluently with the Most Complete, Up-to-date All-Audio Course Available

LEARN GERMAN ON THE GO–LEARN ANYWHERE
If you have trouble finding time to fit in language lessons, All-Audio German is the perfect solution. Developed by the experts at Living Language®, this program is designed for people on the move. You can learn German as you drive, work around the house, or exercise at the gym.

SHORT, EASY-TO-FOLLOW LESSONS–NO READING REQUIRED
An English-speaking narrator guides you through 35 short lessons–just listen and repeat after native German speakers.

VOCABULARY–GRAMMAR–DIALOGUES–CULTURE
Begin with vocabulary and grammar basics before hearing a lively dialogue that includes the most current German idioms and usage. Interactive exercises reinforce what you’ve learned. You’ll also learn some intriguing facts about German customs and culture.

HANDY LISTENER’S GUIDE
No reading required, but our newly expanded 112-page listener’s guide is a handy visual reference for spelling and text of all the dialogues. The guide also provides a brief grammar summary and a glossary of grammatical terms.

Includes:
·6 compact discs
·Listener’s guide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Perfect for advanced beginners
For those new to learning German, this program may move too fast to fully understand the content (especially CD 2 onwards), however it would be recommended to sit down with the handbook and move through the exercises in accordance with the CD to gain a fuller understanding. The content is great and covers various important areas of the German language (especially situations that may arise when travelling in a German speaking country). Therefore great as a 'do-at-home' resource but too intense for the car.

So Far I'm Impressed
My German is very rusty. I'm not a beginner but chose to start at disc 1. The pace is good, the lessons varied and its not too tedious. Grammar is covered but in such a way that its not overbearing. I wish there were a few more drills at each section but I realize they can't do everything. I've only finished 2 discs and for me while there is much that is already familiar, there is still enough new to keep me interested.

Be careful and check your package. My original set came with 6 CDs but I had discs 1-3 twice (4-6 were missing). This was replaced no problem, but I'm glad I discovered it up front, not when I needed disk 4!

Good starter tapes!
This was pretty good, listened to it in my car for a few weeks before I went to Germany for my first visit. It is an easier way to learn. Just pop it in and learn. Won't make you an expert, but very helpful.

It Works!Slow But Sure!
I listen only when I drive, but it works. I didn't try to understand everything at once, but more to first understand the dialogues which were entertaining. Each time I replayed I heard things (grammar points etc.) I hadn't noticed before. At first I understood such points only in the context of the specific lesson. After going back to the CD's after a break of a few months, I realized that I was now understanding the grammar in a general sense and cross-referencing automatically with other lessons.
I have studied French and Russian quite thoroughly in the past and recognize from those experiences that my German has progressed to a quite practical level, i.e. I could now say most things I want to say in German, although badly and with odd construction based on my limited vocabulary.
I am happy to have reached a practical stage through "all audio" and believe that the use of real conversation and pleasant speakers makes it not unpleasant or hard work to play the CD's over and over.
I have now purchased a more advanced German audio course and credit "all audio" with the progress I have made to reach that next stage.

Just OK
I was disappointed by this CD set. For the most part there is no apparent method to the madness. You are given a random english word or phrase and the german translation. Most of the time with no to give you time to repeat the phrase in german. Some sections have a little order. It takes you through days of the week, counting, months. And all of the information was accurate. But overall it seems like I was listening to an audio english to german dictionary. I would recommend checking out Pimsleur's language program. It is a much better program...though much more expensive. Cheers. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

German Vocab Builder
I have mixed feelings about the German Picture Word Book. First, I thought the book would be in full color, but the inside looks more like a coloring book, just black and white. I bought it for my young daughter, but the words are much too advanced for her,and the lack of color made her loose interest almost immediately.
On the up side, my husband is a German teacher and is planning to use the book to make handouts for his vocab lessons.
All and all, if you have an older child that is learning German, this is a great help, but I would not recommend this for younger children that just want to color or look at pretty pictures.

not worth it
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with this book. Nowhere did it say that this is a coloring book, so the title page is deceiving with its nice colors. For an older child who is crazy about coloring (because of the very busy and detailed scenes) this may be something, otherwise you can't even make out much on the black-and-white scenes. My toddler picks it up often because of the colorful title page and then is always disappointed once we open it. As a German mother, it therefore has no value for me in teaching my child German, which is too bad.

B&W pictures to colour in with german labels
Nice busy pictures for children to colour in. I think it's best for 5-10 years old that like colouring in. Younger kids won't be able to read the words and the pictures are busy. Good set of vocabulary is covered. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

The joy of German poetry
"Introduction to German Poetry: A Dual-Language Book," edited by Gustave Mathieu and Guy Stern, is a wonderful anthology.It contains the work of thirty-four poets, mainly ranging from the 18th to 20th centuries.For the most part each poet is represented by a single short poem or excerpt, although some are represented by two or three pieces.The poems are presented in bilingual format, with the German and English versions on facing pages; this makes the book especially useful for those who are learning, or brushing up on, German.A note on the copyright page indicates that this book "is an unabridged and updated republication of the work originally published under the title _Invitation to German Poetry_" in 1959.

This is a diverse and enjoyable collection which shows how, in the hands of a skilled craftsman, the German language can be an instrument of great power and amazing beauty.The poems cover many topics and are varied in tone.Some of the poets whose work is represented include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Rainer Maria Rilke, Hermann Hesse, and Bertolt Brecht.For each poet there is a picture and a short biographical note; I found this supplemental material to be very informative.

Some of my favorite pieces in this collection are as follows.Heinrich Heine's "Ich wollte, meine Lieder" ("I Wish That All My Songs"): a delightfully witty and funny variation on the love poem.Viktor von Scheffel's "Altassyrish" ("Old Assyrian"): a humorous story-poem about a drunkard in an ancient tavern; it has the delicious flavor of a drinking song.Detlev von Liliencron's "Die Musik kommt" ("The Music's Coming"): uses wonderfully rich language to evoke the sights and sounds of a military marching band.Christian Morgenstern's "Der Werwolf" ("The Werewolf"): a funny and clever satire of German grammar.Erich Kastner's "Die Entwicklung der Menschheit" ("The Development of Mankind"): a witty satire of humankind, full of funny lines and written with a remarkable, scientific-sounding vocabulary.

Also worthy of note is Franz Werfel's Whitmanesque "An den Leser" ("To the Reader"), with its sweeping embrace of humanity.But my favorite of all is Stefan George's "Du schlank und rein wie eine flamme" ("You Slim and Pure Just Like a Flame"): a passionate, exquisitely constructed, and hauntingly beautiful love poem.For the best experience of this book, I recommend reading the poems out loud, and sharing them with a friend.

German on the left English on the right
39 full text poems focusing on the Age of Goeth (1749-18320.There are pictures of the poets and they do not lose anything in the translation.You can go back and forth from left to right and see what the German is in small in small bites to start to think both languages instead of translating.Just don't go around talking like that. ... Read more

Book Description
Now anyone can learn a foreign language while commuting to work, running errands, or even taking a trip with the family. The new all-audio Drive Time series starts with an ingenious “On-Ramp” CD that eases language learners into Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, or German with simple, practical expressions and engaging warm-up exercises. Three additional CDs contain 18 lessons that cover all of the essentials—vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and basic conversation.

Drive Time also includes a 64-page reference guide for anyone who would like to see spellings or read dialogues as a review—from the passenger seat, of course! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Helps Alongside A German Course
I can't really review this product from the perspective of someone who didn't already speak German. When I first started listening to the CDs, I was a few months into an elementary German course, and had grown up around adults who spoke the language. So I was somewhat familiar, but certainly not an expert (or intermediate, for that matter). I have only listened to the first CD (twice) so far, but it has helped me a lot with articles and colors. I found my second time through the CD to be grueling, as I had listened to it all once before. But for anyone who is learning German and wants a little boost, I do recommend these CDs. Just pay close attention the first time so you don't have to pull your hair out for a second hour.

Quite simply, it's just a crappy product.
I bought this tutorial after using and enjoying the Drive Time: Japanese set.Frankly, this series sucks.The main problem is that the speakers speak WAY too fast.It's not something that being comfortably familiar with the German pronunciation of letters will solve either.They just speak too quickly.It's as if you're eavesdropping in on a conversation between two people in Berlin which, for me, means I'm going to catch about every other word, if that.So, as an intro tutorial, it's just too fast.The narrator says you can learn from their CD's without any books or materials which is not true for me.If I didn't have the book to refer to, I'd never confidently learn some of these words b/c I wouldn't be able to see them spelled/written in order to discover what letters are making those words that they're flying through at 90 mph.The CD's would probably be good for an intermediate speaker who simply wants to practice HEARING German spoken as a native would speak it.For the beginner who only knows 'frankfurter' and 'kindergarten' and is just starting out, these are vastly more frustrating than they are helpful.

Not for beginners
I was very happy with disc 1.Each new word was repeated 3 times, each was spoken slowly and distinctly enough for a beginner, and each was used several times throughout the disc.There was plenty of time to repeat the words, phrases, and sentences.You were quizzed regularly, and the correct answer was given immediately afterward.

Today I played disc 2 and see no reason to ever try discs 3 and 4.You hear each new word, phrase, or sentence once.They are spoken at the rate a fluent German speaker would use.Although the instructions at the beginning of the disc say to repeat things as often as necessary, that is not only impractical, it would be dangerous to do while driving.There is so much new vocabulary and grammatical information that it is (for me, at least) impossible to remember.I could not even hear the words distinctly.How many words in that sentence?I have no idea because it's not possible to hear the words separately.

I listened to the entire disc, hoping that the beginning was only a sort of introduction and that the remainder would go back over things.It was a false hope.The disc is jammed full and quickly done.There are entire conversations that you are supposed to participate in after only one exposure to the content.Not only that, verbs are conjugated (once), and you must remember it all for use later.

If you have some exposure to the language already, are concurrently taking a class, or have a German-speaking friend or relative, this set would probably be a nice supplement and way to practice.But for a complete beginner, it is, in my opinion, frustrating and depressing.I feel as though I wasted my money.

Learn while sitting in traffic
This is a very good product, worth buying. You can definitely learn some language basics while sitting in your car.

Really helpful
I got so much out of these CDs that I gave mine away to my sister and bought myself some more.We are both using them in addition to a beginner German class we are taking.The CD does an excellent job of drilling in the pronounciation and vocabulary, and adding a few extra words or phrases along the way.

I don't know how this CD would work to teach someone who is starting from scratch who is doing absolutely no studying outside of listening to the CDs.But for someone who is doing a little bit of work, this is a fantastic way to reinforce what you are learning, get more exposure with the sounds of the language, and practice pronounciation and vocab.It's really a great program. ... Read more

Book Description
Do you want to learn Spanish? Es mas facil que el pan (It's as easy as pie). Do you think French a bit daunting? Il n'y a pas de quoi fouetter un chat (It's nothing to make a fuss about). Believe you could never learn German? Man soll nie nie sagen (Never say never).Have you always wanted to learn Italian?Va de se (It goes without saying). Living Language Calendars are the perfect way to bring a little bit of a foreign language into everyday speech.Full of amusing dialogue, they give a lighthearted touch to language study. Each page highlights a common expression along with an English translation and a simple phonetic pronunciation guide. No drills or rote memorization here. And on top of these useful and entertaining phrases, each language features a specific cultural theme throughout the year. German music is featured in this calendar, from classical composers such as Bach and Mozart to modern musicians like Kraftwerk and Nena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Interesting and Informative
Our 7 year old daughter is in a German immersion elementary school.This calendar has been an interesting and informative way for all of us to learn additional German phrases.

Without a basic understanding of German, this may be a little advanced for the beginning language student, but still interesting.It would be helpful if all of the words in the daily phrases had phonetic spelling(not just the word of the day)for those of us just beginning to learn the language.

Good guide to German phrases!
I was actually born in Germany while my parents were both stationed there, and we lived there for 5 more years. Naturally, as a little kid, I couldn't help but pick up German. But, as we moved back to America, my German skills have diminished while i grew into adulthood. But recently, with the help of German movies and small phrase guides like this, I've largely become fluent again. This calendar isn't perfect, but its an enjoyable way to pick-up on some of the everyday phrases German speakers use, and some cultural tidbits as well. I'm looking forward to trying the Italian one next year.

Zehr nett.
I minored in German in college, but I can't speak it fluently.This little day calendar with a new phrase for each day of the year is so cool!So far I've already learned how to say, "I have a hangover!" (Ich habe einen Kater!) in German.;)I'd recommend this calendar and give it 5 stars.

It's fun
It's a fun addition to my husband's learning process. As a native German speaker, I recommend this item.

Gentle, easy way to increase language skills
This review is actualy for the Spanish Living Language desk calendar, but I assume the whole series has similar characteristics. This is the second year I've used the calendar, and will probably do so agian next year. It's a painless way to increase vocabulary and maintain familiarity.
I'm taking a beginning Spanish class at a local college and this a perfect daily reinforcement. Can you learn a language with this alone? Nope. But it helps. ... Read more

Book Description
SPEAK GERMAN WITH CONFIDENCE IN JUST 6 WEEKS!

The Living Language® German Complete Course teaches the basics of German language and usage. It uses a highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach languages to overseas-bound service personnel and diplomats.

THREE 60-MINUTE COMPACT DISCS WITH 40 LESSONS
•Begin with simple words and progress to complex phrases and sentences.
•Just listen and repeat after the native speakers on the recordings to learn naturally, the way you learned English.

GERMAN COURSEBOOK
•40 lessons from the recordings with translations, additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, quizzes, and reviews.
•Verb charts, a comprehensive grammar summary, and a section on letter writing are also included.

GERMAN–ENGLISH / ENGLISH–GERMAN DICTIONARY
•More than 20,000 words, idioms, and expressions.
•Examples show how words are used in everyday conversation.
•1,000 frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not the Best Audio Language Teacher
Of the purely audio language learning systems I have used Living Language and Pimsleur.(Rosetta Stone, which I have also used, is computer-based).Of the two audio systems, Pimsleur is the most effective at building up the ability to speak.This is mostly a matter of approach -- Pimsleur builds from very simple questions and answers up to beginner conversational abilities; Living Language is focused on memorization of words and drills.

If you are taking a language course with a human instructor, Living Language provides some good supplementary practice and drills.But, if you want to learn to speak, Pimsleur is the right choice.

you can't just listen and learn
I wish I didn't buy this.

1.You can't just listen and learn:you MUST have the book with you.Why?THEY DON'T SAY WHAT THE WORDS ARE IN ENGLISH BEFORE SAYING THE GERMAN WORD.They just start speaking in German.

2.The only thing they do on the CD is pronounce things.

3.The CD track names are:Lesson 1, Lesson 2, etc and not things like:Numbers, Greetings, etc

4.The book is not very informative for beginners.I don't know what someone who already knows how to speak German would say, but I'm not really learning a thing.

It's all about repetition
I bought this item because I have never learned German and this has audio. I will not buy any language program that does not come with audio. I'm concurrently using it to supplement my work through the three volumes of Pimsleur German, and am more concerned with vocabulary building. Studies have shown that there is no limit to how many languages the human brain can absorb. This has emboldend me to try my hand at different languages and has made me an enthusiastic language learner. Thus, patience and enthusiasm are needed to make this program useful, for it is not effective for learning German instantly. For one thing, the phrases are said just once. In my experience, phrases should always be repeated at least twice, if not three times. I am thus forced to continually rewind my cd player, and waste time rewinding instead of practicing. Secondly, I strongly feel there should be the English translation on the audio, before the word is said in German. Without it, I am beholden to the text book. I cannot be mobile or do anything else while practicing, which is a hinderance to my busy schedule.
On the up-side, I am pleased with the pleathora of basic vocabulary and basic grammer it offers and the audio is very clear. In figuring out how to learn another language (I've taught myself basic Cantonese and intermediate Mandarin), I've realized that repition is key. If you want to use this program and really learn from it, I recommend you do as I now do. I listen to a set of 3-7 vocabulary words, and as each word is said I repeat it fast for 3 times, in the silence before the next spoken word. I do two rounds of this, dividing each round with other sets of vocabulary. Then on the third and fourth rounds of the same set of vocab., I do the same as normal, except that I pause the audio before each word is said, look at the English word, and try to recall from memory how to say the German word. This really forces me to learn it. I do this routine for at least four days. So, by the end of the fourth day I've heard a given new word 100 times, said it 240 times, and recalled it 40 times. Chances are, I'll then know that word and the correct pronunciation forever, and I'll go back and review from time to time. This routine is time-consuming, but yields highly staisfying results, and makes an otherwise ineffective program a highly effective one. If you follow the course as the instruction manual tells you, as I have attempted, then good luck with that.
After I've gotten through this, I'll probably move on to the Ultimate German series, which I hear is much better. The excellent Pimsleur series is really helping me to make sense of this program as well. Thus, I think this program is good for building a basic foundation but ought to be supplemented with other programs.

Leaves a lot to be desired
I had already been trying to teach myself German for a little while before I bought this course. I primarily purchased it for the CDs, so I could listen to German while driving to work. I have found the CDs quite helpful; they are a great way to practice pronunciation and after listening to them over and over I've unconsciously memorized many phrases. My major problem with this course is with the written materials. Compared to the other German coursebook my friend brought me from Germany (Deutsch in 30 Tagen/German in 30 Days by Langenscheidt) the Living Language course is abysmal. For example, the book never once mentions the existence of the double 's' letter (it looks like a capital B), which is a common German letter. The grammar explanations are hopelessly inadequate for a beginner, and if I hadn't had the other more helpful text I would have had no idea what they were talking about. I asked my German friend about some of the words and phrases, and found out they have included many old-fashioned words--like teaching people learning English to say "my Lady." The dictionary also is just terrible compared to the other German dictionary I've purchased, and I gave up using it altogether after consistently trying to look up words that weren't included. I would only recommend this course if you, like me, want CDs to listen to; however, I would highly recommend finding a superior text to learn from.

Excellent- but you need dedication
I plan on working towards being a diplomat after leaving college, so I take learning languages very seriously.I can only assume I'm the kind of person this course was designed for: there's no english on the cd, you need to follow along w/ the book to make any progress, and there are 40 lessons in the coursebook, which is about 400 pages long.I usually come home from school and spend about 30 minutes to an hour to go over 1 lesson several times until I understand everying in that lesson.Having said that, dont buy this if you just want to learn a few quick phrases in your car, but for someone like me this is a godsend.It takes a long time but it works (I have several german friends and can function perfectly well with them in german).So, to anyone considering this book, I warn you- FOR THE ENTHUSIASTIC LEARNER ONLY! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (20)

An Excellent Book!!
The Dover books are some of the best to use when learning a new language. I bought the French version of this book a few years ago when brushing up on my high school French. So when the time came that I had finally decided to start learning the German language, this was the first book that I bought. I like the fact that this book is good for both beginners and intermediate learners. The book is a bit dated, but the basis of the book for teaching the language comes through. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is beginning the German language.

Practice beats theory
I have spent 3 months studying this book and am now reading 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear but in the original German text. I of course need a dictionary to do so but that is all I need to enjoy the novel without any trouble.
There is a Japanese maxim that says `practice beats theory' and this book is an excellent example of it, although as such one needs a little patience to finish it.

Patience in any case is what one needs to learn any foreign language and the numerous illustrations of the book are then one of its strengths to help one sustain the patience.
A movie critic once said a good movie is one that does not age. I believe this applies to illustrations as well. In fact, those in this book do not appear old at all, despite the fact that they must predate the year of my birth of 1954. They are as expressive as they are alive.

The many photographs in this book on the other hand do look old, what they depict as well as themselves. One of them even fails to convey the depth, which however only contributes to the overall charm that they possess. Some of them even appear magical to me, for example the one entitled WO DIE ZEIT STILL STEHT or NATIONALTRACHT.

Pictures however are not the only strength of this book.
It develops a consistent story around a pair of families, their introduction, their relation and their interaction, in a manner that encourages continuous reading.
Furthermore, this basic thread is interspersed with numerous funny short stories and even poems. They serve their purpose very well; they do make one laugh and they do make one appreciate the language the book is teaching.

I read every single page of this book and did all the exercises. If you follow my example, you should be able to be reading normal German books in three months.
This is such a fine book.

I love the way this book is made.
It's a simple, well thought out book that makes the reader learn through examples. The benefit is that it's not all memorization that you forget after 3 days of not studying it. Another good thing is that all parts of the lessons are separated in 3 : 1 line in german, 1 line in pseudo-english that makes you prononce the sentence in german and 1 line that is the translation.

Overall great book.

Learning German
As others have noted, this book looks a little bit dated; the illustrations seem to have come from a by gone era. There have also been some changes in German society that are not reflected in the book, which would make the learner sound a bit old fashioned.

However, there are some very good examples of simple phrases and sentences, with explanations of structure and grammar. With the additional words, it would be possible to quickly put together some fairly good conversation pieces.

The guide to pronunciation is not always entirely clear; some others do a much better job. However, no book is going to prepare you for the reality of conversational German; but this will help get you started.

This is not really for someone that has more than a basic grasp of the language, although it might be useful to help brush up if you haven't used the language for many years. It would however, be good for someone starting to learn, particularly as part of a structured plan.

Ein ausgezeichnetes Buch!
I am an enthusiast of Germanic languages, and this book is one of the reasons why. I started out studying Romance and Asian languages, and this book led my first foray into the German tongue. It is simply great!
For one thing, it is very thorough regarding topics of everyday life. For instance, it does not simply teachyou the word for 'shoe' or 'boot', but has a whole page devoted to most types of footwear, past and present (p. 224). Another example of this is on p.230, where there are actual diagrams of a cow, a calf (for veal), and a pig; these are divided into the various cuts of meat! The grammatical discussion is practical, and Mr. Rosenberg avoids using dense linguistic terms, communicating important concepts in plain English. At the end of the book, there are diagrams showing the alphabet, both the Latin alphabet (the same one English uses), and the old German alphabet. I especially appreciate the beautiful examples of old German handwriting (Fraktur). This section is for reference only, something Mr. Rosenberg points out, but the diligent student may use it to his advantage. Finally, the book has an excellent study guide to German literature, which directs the student to seminal works of the great German-language writers. Thus may the student use his new language skills in a useful and fulfilling manner. The drawings are well executed, and for those who are like me, and have tastes lying in times gone by, very appealing. The only thing I wish this book had was a set of accompanying recordings.
I have to correct some things I have read in the reviews below.

1. All of the main German texts in the lessons have translations. The only exceptions to this are tidbits of realia at the end of each chapter. These consist mostly of short jokes and anecdotes, and supplementary vocabulary are given for these. If you have learned the material up to each of these, then you should have no trouble enjoying these.

2.I do not know what one of the reviewers meant by using the word 'ludicrous' to describe the illustrations in this book. They are admittedly old fashioned, but they are very clear and true to life. They certainly surpass much of what I have seen in more modern foreign language texts. Indeed, the illustrations in this book, when compared to those of many current texts, make the case for a return to this style of art. Neither are they 'anachronistic to every extreme'. The styles of clothes, vehicles, houses, etc. are indeed old, but they were up-to-date at the time of publication. BTW, I know what the reviewer meant when he said this; they are completely dated for us. Nevertheless, the objects depicted are easily recognizable, Mr. Rosenberg did not use 18th century illustrations for the clothing section. You will find pictures of pants, not of breeches and stockings.

3. I think some of the reviewers who cite outdated vocabulary are too worried about too little. Bear in mind a couple of things about this topic:
a. I have served on several occasions as a German interpreter at the airport where I work. I have used much the same vocabulary as is herein presented and I have never had a problem.
b. If you use a word like Fraeulein, most German-speakers will bear in mind that you are a foreign speaker, and will bear with you. If a woman gets offended by your use of this word (unless you have native fluency), then she is probably easily offended anyway. Most of the young ladies I used this with in the beginning laughed a little at me (that's o.k.), and politely explained that this is outmoded. They told me what I have told you about sensitivity.
c. Finally, if you don't believe me, do the following: buy this book (it is after all very affordable), work through it, and then go to a website like dw-world.de. There, you can read German newspaperarticles online. Be sure to arm yourself with a dictionary. (This last does not reflect negatively on the completeness of this book; it is a fact that German has an especially rich vocabulary, and you will need a dictionary after completing ANY beginning course.) The point is, you will have no trouble reading the articles, since the German in this is sufficiently up-to-date to serve as a foundation in your studies.

To the readers of this review, I thank you. Thank you for reading this through. I can be a windbag, but I want to give you as much perspective as possible to help you make an informed purchase. ... Read more

Book Description
Barron’s is now taking a comprehensive approach to foreign-language reference volumes. This definitive German-English dictionary features 100, 000 entries with translations, and makes an ideal reference book for schools, libraries, businesses, and the home bookshelf. Yet its manageable size and reasonable price also makes it a practical learning tool for students taking a German language course. It features:

Book Description
Reading German is a structured reading course designed to take a wide variety of users to an independent reading of authentic German texts. It is ideally suited for courses in colleges and universities, for students or specialists in any discipline, and for independent learners. Drawing on recent research into reading in a foreign language, the course chapters focus on the recognition and decoding of progressively complex written structures, before rehearsing a variety of strategies (such as skimming and scanning) for negotiating longer and more complex texts. The book has four sections:*a 16-chapter reading course *an extensive reference section containing a specially-designed grammar of written German *a further exercises section, for further work on recognizing structures *a text corpus containing 23 texts of various types, with facing English translations. Grammatical points explained in the reference section are frequently illustrated using examples located in the text corpus. The only other resource the user will need is a bilingual dictionary. Advice on how to use a dictionary is contained in the reference section. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)