Basic German: CD/Book Package (LL(R) Complete Basic Courses) [Paperback]

Living Language (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0609602772 | ISBN-13: 978-0609602775

Speak German with confidence in just 6 weeks!

Living Language German Complete Course is a step-by-step guide to the basics of German conversation and grammar. This revised course uses the highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach foreign languages to overseas-bound servicemen and diplomats.

40 lessons on three compact disks
Begin with simple words and phrases and progress to more complex expressions.
Just listen and repeat after the native speakers.
Only German is spoken on the recordings, so you learn naturally, the way you learned English.
The accompanying German Coursebook includes the English translations.

German Coursebook
The pocket-size book contains all the translated phrases from the recorded lessons, plus additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, and quizzes.
The book also features verb charts with all tenses included and a comprehensive summary of German grammar.

German-English/English-German Dictionary
More than 15,000 words are defined.
Idiomatic expressions and common phrases show how words are used in everyday conversation.
The dictionary doubles as a phrasebook.
1,000 of the most frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference.

The best-selling language course that really works--revised, updated, and expanded!

For Beginners or Those Who Want a Thorough Review

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Speak German with confidence in just 6 weeks!

Living Language German Complete Course is a step-by-step guide to the basics of German conversation and grammar. This revised course uses the highly effective speed-learning method developed by U.S. government experts to teach foreign languages to overseas-bound servicemen and diplomats.

40 lessons on three compact disks
Begin with simple words and phrases and progress to more complex expressions.
Just listen and repeat after the native speakers.
Only German is spoken on the recordings, so you learn naturally, the way you learned English.
The accompanying German Coursebook includes the English translations.

German Coursebook
The pocket-size book contains all the translated phrases from the recorded lessons, plus additional vocabulary, detailed explanations, and quizzes.
The book also features verb charts with all tenses included and a comprehensive summary of German grammar.

German-English/English-German Dictionary
More than 15,000 words are defined.
Idiomatic expressions and common phrases show how words are used in everyday conversation.
The dictionary doubles as a phrasebook.
1,000 of the most frequently used words are highlighted for easy reference.

The best-selling language course that really works--revised, updated, and expanded!

For Beginners or Those Who Want a Thorough Review

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Living Language (April 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609602772
• ISBN-13: 978-0609602775
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 6 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,017,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Terrible, but Not Good, October 30, 2000

By 

Gracejoy "gracejoy7" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic German: CD/Book Package (LL(R) Complete Basic Courses) (Paperback)

The biggest problem with this course is that it is so boring. The book is just a collection of words and phrases--no dialogs, no pictures, nothing even remotely interesting to add a real-life context to what you are learning. The CDs are merely recordings of what's in the book. Basically, you learn in this course by just listening and repeating, like a parrot, the various words and phrases. And yes, in the long run, that system might "work". But it is completely unenjoyable, dry, and bland. And it gives you no conversation practice, so you'd have trouble actually communicating with German speakers--language is about more than merely memorizing. You need to learn to formulate your own sentences and thoughts, and this course doesn't teach that at all. However, if you would like to practice your pronunciation, then it would be very useful, as the recordings are crystal clear. And it might work well in conjunction with another course to give you extra practice. But don't try to learn German on your own using only this course unless you can sit for hours and be a parrot.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extensive, yet not without flaws, December 11, 2000

By 

B. Smith "gamble" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basic German: CD/Book Package (LL(R) Complete Basic Courses) (Paperback)

I would say that my experience with Living Language German has been generally quite positive. The lessons are comprehensive, including a mix perhaps one-fifth vocabulary, three-fifths worth of phrases, and a fifth of fully conversational material. From my point of view, (this being my first attempt at a foreign language) the learning curve is neither too shallow nor too steep. I wouldn't call the writing itself innately interesting, though. More worrisome, however, are the numerous small mismatches between the recorded material and the text. It could clearly have benefited from more careful editing before being published. Don't let that keep you from picking it up, though. Overall, it's a solid start that can easily be supplemented with more interesting secondary sources.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Glorified phrasebook with some grammar lessons thrown in., August 7, 2002

By 

M. Pollack - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basic German: CD/Book Package (LL(R) Complete Basic Courses) (Paperback)

I agree with a previous reviewer gracejoy7. This course is little more than a glorified phrasebook with an all German CD accompaniment. Repetition/memorization may work for some, but there is no true learning of the language. Too many lessons focus just on adding new vocabulary or phrases, with very little explanation of the grammar or helpful historical/cultural notes. Conversations (or some semblance thereof) start at about lesson 33 out of 40, way too late. For the cost (about [$$$]) I suppose you get what you pay for, but I understand the Teach Yourself German (NTC series) is a better deal. If you just want a phrasebook and CD for a trip perhaps the Berlitz German CD pack or Fodor's German for Travelers would be a better deal.