Product Description
Bestselling language courses now with audio CDs !

From Catonese to Thai, Gaelic to Modern Persian, learning the languages of the world is attainable for any beginning student. Learners can use the Teach Yourself Language Courses at their own pace or as a supplement to formal courses. These complete courses are based on the very latest learning methods and designed to be enjoyable and user-friendly.

Prepared by experts in the language, each course begins with the basics and gradually promotes the student to a level of smooth and confident communication, including:

• Up-to-date, graded interactive dialogues
• Graded units of culture notes, grammar, and exercises
• Step-by-step guide to pronunciation
• Practical vocabulary
• Regular and irregular verb tables
• Plenty of practice exercises and answers
• Bilingual glossary

The new editions also feature:

• Clear, uncluttered, and user-friendly layout
• Self-assessment quizzes to test progress
• Website suggestions to take language study further

Customer Reviews (20)

mediocre

If you are new to Hungarian and want to learn the language reasonably fast, then this book is only slightly better than Colloquial, but still not as good as Hungarian Basic Course (Hippocrene Language Studies) which is both cheaper and more effective.

In TY Hungarian, the grammar is explained more clearly and at slower pace than Colloquial, and the reader is not overpowered by new vocabulary in each chapter.

The crucial part of successfully communicating in Hungarian is having a good grip on the grammar.
So when you judge a book that teaches beginner's Hungarian, it is how well it explains the grammar, that you should use as your decision paradigm.
In my opinion, TY Hungarian is better than Colloquial in this regard, but the absolute best book for getting a solid grasp of the grammar is the above mentioned Hippocrene book: Hungarian Basic Course (Hippocrene Language Studies).
So if you want a solid foundation, use Hippocrene.

Fantastic Working Tool
Great tool for learning an extremely difficult language. Not disappointed with anything. Vendor was great in getting package here when promised and in fantastic condition. Would highly recommend.

Worth Getting
I was only preparing for a holiday in Hungary.I did not expect to become fluent.Yet, I am glad I got this book and CD, instead of just relying on a little phrasebook.The conversations on the CD quickly became too complex, but the pronunciation section was invaluable.

The Hungarian language is too different from English to rely on phrasebooks alone.Most vowel sounds are unfamiliar to our ears and tongues.The supposed "phonetic" spellings in every phrasebook I encountered were unhelpful and even misleading.Without listening to (and practicing) the examples on the Ponifex CD, I would not have been understood.I do not know whether this is the best CD-and-book product on the market.I am just glad that I got one, so I could hear magyar spoken aloud.

Here is my advice if you are planning a holiday in Hungary:Alot of Hungarians speak some German, so if you know German then perhaps learning Hungarian is not even necessary.But if you don't know German, and you plan on exploring outside of Budapest, I highly recommend a CD-and-book combo such as this one for practicing before you leave.Then just take any phrasebook with you for reference.And have a great time!

Very detailed, but hard to learn from
I bought this book/cd set when I was trying to learn Hungarian prior to a trip to Hungary.It is similar to other language textbooks which teach you grammar, but I thought it was difficult to stick with for an independant study.If you are only trying to learn conversational hungarian (like me) this is not the book for you.You have to listen and follow in the book at the same time.I was wanting something I could listen to and learn from without having to follow along in a book.I felt like I was back in college doing homework.I did not find this as easy to use as other CDs I bought.

Best beginner's book
This is a fascinating book, aimed at the complete beginner. It is well-written, and gives insights into Hungarian life and culture, not just grammar. Each chapter sets-out its objectives, and begins with a reading. The new concepts of grammar in the reading are then explained.

Its good points are as follows:

* Up to date and modern
* For complete beginners (choose this over Rounds/Solyom if you are a novice)
* Varied style and vast numbers of exercises, with solutions
* After each reading, new words and phrases are detailed in a chronological (not alphabetical) glossary.
* It comes with two CDs.


Its downsides are as follows:

* The grammar concepts should be detailed before the reading, not after (I spent ages searching in previous chapters for concepts that I thought I had missed, whereas it turned out that the concepts were being introduced in the current chapter).
* The readings do not have translations (at least in the 1992 version).
* The index is next-to-nothing
* The original (~1992) version is not as good as the re-edit (~2003) version. The earlier edition's dictionary is only unidirectional (Hungarian to English).


I have read the 1992 version but not the 2003 version; I merely note that in the later version the dictionary has improved greatly.


As a novice, this book is great.It's the perfect book to start with.From there, progress up to Rounds/Solyom and finally to Whitney, all the time using Miklós Törkenczy as a handy reference. ... Read more

Product Description
Expanding on Barron's handsome and easy-to-use TravelWise books and cassettes, all programs are available as a book-only, or as a sturdy, compact boxed package containing the book with a cassette and script booklet. Each book/package is rich with full-color photos of the subject country and covers typical travel situations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Phrases in conversations are not helpful
Of all the resources I found on learning Hungarian, the tape with this was the least helpful. The conversations have you learning phrases that are unlikely to be used. (Can you imagine that you would be renting a waterbicycle on your trip to Hungary?) It can be useful for practice at a moreintermediate level, but is not the tape that a beginner needs. ... Read more

Product Description
This unusual method uses no text or printed materials. You learn by listening to audio recordings while driving, cooking, gardening, walking, or doing some other monotonous task. You give only time that you are already devoting to something else you are doing. That's why it requires "no time"! This course was developed by A. E. Van Vogt, the well-known writer and language expert. The course is introductory-level, and helps you master the basics of the language for business or travel; yet the grammar and sentences are contemporary and not simplistic. There is extensive vocabulary and conversation practice, plus an explanation of the language's structure and grammar. The course consists of 2 hours each of conversation and speaking, plus 2 hours of vocabulary. In just 40 minutes a day for one month, you can learn a 2-hour segment. Before you know it, you will begin acquiring vocabulary and comprehend sentence structure by hearing it only ... and it does work! Reissued in 2005 on 6 CDs (6 hours of recording). Product No. AFN200D. ... Read more

Product Description

Time and Modality is a unique work of reference; not only does it unite studies which explore the syntax and semantics of tense or modality but it is the first book of its kind to embrace the interaction of tense and modality within a coherent generative model. Various topics are covered in this volume: among them are the counterfactual uses of conditionals, modals, and past tense; the irrealis use of perfective aspect; a special English subjunctive; the interaction of tense assignment and the definition of an event; the modal verb as a causative verb; the interaction of modality, tense, and aktionsart; the contrast between deontic and epistemic modal with respect to tense interpretation; the syntax of epistemic modals; the long-awaited definition of generic and habitual sentence; and the introduction of intensionality in copular clauses.

Product Description
Contains more than 30,000 entries and valuable resources including pronunciation guides and measurement conversions. Intended for beginners, intermediate and advanced students of Hungarian. However, the modern vocabulary will aid anyone who desires to practice, develop, or enrich their skills in Hungarian. Also holds over 20,000 phrases and examples within the entries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I LOVE this dictionary
Contrary to the other review.I MUCH PREFER this dictionary to the Kiadó dictionaries.This one includes many more usage suggestions and expressions SO KEY to figuring out hungarian.Plus it has 30,000 words where the Kiadóhas 19,000.Tall and skinny - OK to travel with.

The dictionary is good but Hippocrene's printing should be avoided
Akademiai Kiado's two English-Hungarian dictionaries, MAGYAR-ANGOL SZOTAR (ISBN 9630569434) and ANGOL-MAGYAR SZOTAR (ISBN 9630569426) are excellent concise dictionaries that are very suitable for students. Edited by Tamas Magay and Laszlo Kiss, the dictionaries are sold in bookshops in Hungary and are mainly focused at Hungarians. However, the editors were kind enough to make these entirely useful for English speakers. The Hungarian foreword has an English translation, the list of abbreviations has explanations in both English and Hungarian, and there's a layout of Hungarian speech sounds just for foreigners. MAGYAR-ANGOL SZOTAR contains three appendices. The first, a table of English irregular verbs, and the second, a short list of English irregular nouns, need not concern us. However, the third, conversions between metric and imperial weights and measures (and their English and Hungarian terminology) will prove quite useful for the foreigner travelling in Hungary.

Now Hippocrene has brought the English-Hungarian dictionary to the United States, but I'd recommend against getting it in this form. It is a poorly-made book, and is sized as a trade paperback annihilating the advantage that the original Hungarian printing had in its pocket size. Get the Hungarian print instead, which is durable (hardcovers with no dust cover) and insanely cheap (especially when bought on the spot). There's no better option for pocket dictionaries than that. ... Read more

Product Description
This course is intended to be colloquial and emphasis is placed on idiomatic use and proper pronunciation of the spoken language. It also provides grammatical notes and instruction in the use of the written language.
24 CDs (16 hrs.) and text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Teaches through listening, speaking, writing, etc.
This set was really helpful to me in learning Hungarian. The neat thing about it is that it uses audio, repetition, grammar, writing, etc. when teaching. It starts from the beginning and moves its way through many facets of the language.

I was able to become very comfortable with this difficult language through this set. I spent one week on each unit, working on it at home by myself, and in less than six months was really confident with the language. I actually was using it on that time table because I planned to move to Budapest after six months.

My one recommendation would be to use a picture dictionary with it for a little more visualization. The set has no pictures whatsoever.

Another note is that I think this is great/perfect for a person who is comfortable with English grammar, but would not be good for a person who struggles a lot or does not feel comfortable with the names of grammatical elements in English. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Simple List of Phrases
I did not find this book and pair of cassettes at all helpful in learning Hungarian.The book consists of a list of Hungarian phrases, and the cassettes are just a reading of the phrases in English and then Hungarian.The phrases are read too quickly to understand, and the next English phrase is read before you can even think about what you just heard in Hungarian.
If you were learning Hungarian and wanted to hear how a phrase was pronounced, this system could help, if you could find the phrase on the cassette!But they are just read one after the other with no guide to which cassette has the phrase or where on the cassette the phrase is located.
It would be easier to go to Hungary and ask a Hungarian how the phrase is pronounced.

to fast...
this program goes way to fast. You have no time to pronounce anything and they do not explain anything.

Speak the Right Way ...
As someone of Hungarian origin learning the language, I am painfully aware of how important it is to pronounce words correctly. The Language 30 tapes are an excellent way to learn words and phrases with the correct pronunciation so Hungarian people will be able to understand you! This is also the only Hungarian language cassette series that my mother, an educated Hungarian, has not scoffed at. Highly recommended and thank you Language 30, because I now excel in at least the basic Hungarian phrases!

Language 30 - Very disappointing
The Hungarian language has several consonant and vowel sounds, which are very challenging for Americans to pronounce.Because I am already familiar with Hungarian, I recognize the shortcomings of the lessons.The Language 30 tapes race through the lessons with no regard for this unusually difficult language.The words and phrases are spoken too quickly and the listener does not clearly hear the intonation and enunciation of the Hungarian words.The words and phrases are then quickly repeated so there is not enough time for the listener to attempt to repeat the words without talking over the speaker.A word or phrase should be pronounced slowly the first time, in order to capture each sound.Unfortunately, these tapes do not emphasize a critical element of this language.Americans who want to learn basic Hungarian words and phrases are at a definite disadvantage with the Language 30 tapes.

Language 30 is the top introduction series
Most English speakers wishing to learn a little Hungarian are up against a formidable project. Language 30 makes the best foreign language introductory series I've seen. The guidebook follows the two tapes listing the word or phrase in English alongside the phonetic pronunciation as well as the Hungarian text. Any polite expressions a traveler can master will certainly make a visit more fun, as well as reflect well on Americans. The book is indexed well, and the section on customs and behavior, as in all Language 30 tapes, is quite worth reading. If you are a serious student of Hungarian, the tapes will still prove worthwhile over the long run. If you listen to them as often as possible, take a language class, then listen to the tapes again, a great deal will open up. ... Read more

Product Description
Hungarian is a unique language, completely unrelated to the languages of its neighboring countries. Its grammar is full of complex features and a vocabulary deriving largely from Asia. Hungarian, the first comprehensive descriptive grammar of the language available in English, covers the morphology, syntax and basic lexicon of Hungarian. A much needed resource for specialists in Hungarian, this volume addresses current issues in language description and applies up-to-date research techniques to the language. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a complete book/CD course in spoken and written Hungarian. If you have never learned Hungarian before, or if your Hungarian needs brushing up, Teach Yourself Hungarian is for you. Zsuzsa Pontifex has created a practical course that is both fun and easy to work through. She explains everything clearly along the way and gives you plenty of opportunities to practise what you have learned. The course structure means that you can work at your own pace, arranging your learning to suit your needs. The course contains: - 21 graded units of dialogue, culture notes, grammar and exercises - A guide to Hungarian pronunciation - A Hungarian-English vocabulary list. By the end of the course you'll be able to cope with a whole range of situations and participate fully and confidently in Hungarian life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Very Useful Part of My 'Arsenal'
Though Hungarian can be daunting this course is quite good, especially for anyone with a bit of knowledge of the complexities of Hungarian and a bent for languages. But it is not an easy ride. The CD's are quite helpful & contain 13 & 11 tracks respectively, when copied to a player. Pontifex knows her stuff as a professional educator and presents it pretty concisely & with precision. Accompanying illustrations & socio-cultural tidbits add to the mix rather well. The course is designed to progressively move the traveler/businessperson learner to reasonable fluency. Her school and experience lean more toward Hungarian for the English-speaking business & gov't. communities than the casual learner. Since other reviews have delved deeply into the course's contents, I'll stop here and add...

The serious student should be motivated to search for other sources, of which there are many, especially on the web: Webforditás, Sztaki Szótár, Hunglish Korpusz, Hungarotips, My Language Exchange to name a few. Google 'em.

Correct pronunciation of this vocalically & consonantally rich language requires practice, as all letters, including doubles, are pronounced, with nothing truncated- ever. Syntax & grammar are exotically different- & tough, as a single 'word' may be 5 in English (Felprobálhatom? 'May I try it on?') which in such cases are more strings of meaning than single words. Hungarians are very economical with words. Hear it spoken and sung on Youtube (Heti Hetes, Gálvölgyi, Hol Vagytok Székelyek?, Crystal, Márta Sebestyén, Zámbó Jimmy, Kistehén; etc). They've had a difficult & tumultuous past, but the upbeat Magyars' big party town Budapest, music, food & wines are the best of eastern Europe, imo.

Except for Chinese & Arabic, Hungarian's the most difficult I've tackled, yet it's the most fascinating.

Armed with this program, Miklos Törkenzcy's concise grammar (both if you can get them), 'Lonely Planet Hungarian', 'Culture Shock! Hungary', & Hudoba's lessons thru Hungarotips I'm confident I'd be able comfortably to party hearty in Budapest & travel about Hungary for months.

Nick doesn't know what he's talking about.
Nick's problems with the Hungarian language stem from just that; the language.It is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn, up there with Russian and Japanese.People who come here as children still need seven years to master the language.

The book is a wonderful aid to the person living in Hungary and struggling to understand the language.For anyone else, it won't be that big of a help, simply because Hungarian is just so difficult.Don't knock the book or the author; she did the best she could.And she did a good job.

I doubt the other reviewers actually read the book
I found Pontifex's text the best Hungarian language course on the market. The first five chapters focus on the necessities of the traveler (numbers and shopping, eating, bus and train travel etc.), while the others are more focused on a progression of grammatical concepts. She does give a large amount of vocabulary words per lesson (ca. 100) which may intimidate the beginner. I found the exercises useful and entertaining. If you work your way through this book and actually learn the material, you will be able to talk reasonably well when you go to Hungary. I did!

One star being the highest
These cassettes and this book have honestly got to be the worst investment that I've ever made in language-learning. It constantly skips around from one section to another, without even telling you! They hardly "teach" you anything. In fact, they only let you hear a dialogue once, and from that you are expected to know everything about what was said. As I'm teaching myself my third language, I feel that I can say that it was terrible compared to other purchases. Don't throw away your money on it like I did, try another one instead

Up to date, colloquial, and conversational, but not thorough
Insufficient exercises and shallowness in the explanations of grammar are the biggest problems with this book.Use it as a supplement to a more thorough text, though, and it is very useful.The dialogues have very good content and the recorded versions are excellent--easy to listen to and not at all dry or stilted.The tapes also have question-and-answer sections where you can practice your spoken Hungarian.It's better than the average Teach Yourself books, so if you like that style you can expect satisfaction from this. ... Read more