Full description not available
K**R
A friendly, flexible, fulsome resource
Really a fantastic book for making progress with German. // For context: I studied German for two years in college, then immediately lived with a German family for a month (which seemed to cement things in place), and kept my German on life support for the intervening 45 years by leading college semester-abroad programs four times in Europe (though none in Germany). I'm going to Freiburg for the Goe:the intensive course next month, and tested into the B1 level. To prepare, I ordered this book, German All-In-One For Dummies, the three-text Learn German: German Grammar Complete set, and The Everything Learning German Book, expecting I might need to return some if they weren't a good match for me. // 1. To me, German A-I-O For Dummies felt extremely chatty and light, a book you must slog through that leaves you with a Babbel experience. Better, I think, to get the Babbel advantage of including speech and hearing from the beginning. 2. The Learn German set's strengths are its provision of exercises and graded readings--that is, the second and third volumes. The primary volume's strength is that it falls into three sections, for the European A, B, and C proficiency levels. It's weakness is its extremely terse, jargon-laden approach to teaching, usually giving very little context; sometimes there is simply a table with a German heading, orphaned from explanation or example. It could be helpful as a review book, but would likely be very difficult as a way to learn new material. 3. The Everything Learning German Book is a really helpful, concise but wide-ranging, approachable, explanation-rich resource. My wife, who had one term of German 33 years ago, is using it to prepare, and that has been a very good match. I think it could also work well for a fresh beginner. 4. Complete German is a text for the UK GCSE, and is pitched to prepare one for A2 or B1 proficiency in the European system. It has the winsome attributes of Everything Learning German, but aims to take you farther. I think a disciplined student, with some practice exercises and readings and conversation incorporated from elsewhere, might be able to move from beginner to B1 with this text. Hospitable writing style, just enough reviewing, easy-to-navigate organization, a thorough tour of the German verb forest, intuitive explanations wherever they are possible, a generous and well-organized vocabulary-builder.
C**N
Love it!
Item ship very fast and was in perfect condition! Thank you!
T**Y
Small portable size. Good bust have not read it yet
Looks good so far. Smaller than expected, wish ink of text was darker.
D**.
Great basic German grammar
Had to look hard for a basic no frills German grammar. This filled the bill. This will really build your German!
J**E
Five Stars
Very Informative. Using it in a German Language Class.
E**O
Lousy binding
The content of the book seems helpful but this has to be the worst binding job I've seen in years. With regular use, this will be a handful of loose pages in a year or so.
Trustpilot
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4 days ago