Customer Reviews

Colloquial Slovak: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I learned Slovak with this book and now read at an intermediate level and speak at a beginning level. I've been to Slovakia several times and successfully used what I learned. The cassettes provided pronunciation guides and speaking practice that work in Bratislava (I can't vouch for other dialects). What more do you want from a language book?

Some of the other reviewers criticize this book for not being a systematic grammar. That's fair, since it's not a systematic grammar (though it does have grammar tables in the appendix). By introducing some major grammar points gradually over several chapters, it can be frustrating as a reference source.

As a learning tool, however, there's a lot to be said for introducing things slowly. If you work systematically through this book and its exercises, and repeat (or memorize) dialogues, you'll learn Slovak. Some of the material is boring ("Zuzka hears a train crossing the bridge") though Naughton occasionally livens things up ("Don't be afraid! Kiss me!"). I'm not sure that any language-book texts can really be exciting. However, if I were giving Naughton advice, I'd add more paragraph-length texts about Slovakia and its people, along the lines of the Bratislava texts late in the book.

I've been looking for such a book for a very long time. My grandfather is from Slovakia and the only word I coud tell him were in Czech or Polish. The book shows clearly how the language works. Good tapes also. Slovak language deserved such a good book.

This set of tapes and the book was just what I was looking for. I wasn't just looking for another phrase book telling me how to say, "Where is the train station?" This set actually teaches you the basics of how to speak the language. Finally some real help. I highly recommend it.

If you plan on spending any time in the Slovak Republic this is an essential investment. The book is well organized and easy to understand and it is geared towards the English speaker who wants to learn this language as quickly as possible. As a schoolteacher and frequent visitor to the Slovakia, this book has my ringing endorsement. Dobry!!

When I first began to learn Slovak this was the first and only book I found. I was able to learn a lot from the book, but what makes the book a little difficult to understand is that it jumps around from subject to subject. You might learn how to congicate verbs one way, and then it won't teach you the other forms until chapters later leaving gaps in between. I had to keep going back and forth between chapters. I searched for a while and found a book: Slovak Language Laboratory Course. This is a much better book written by a native Slovak who was a language proffesor here in the US in the 1950's. I have found that if you can find older Slovak books that were used as original text books they are much more accurate and easy to use. This book breaks down all congicated forms of verbs, adjectives everthing with easy to read text and tables that are also very helpful with both slovak and translated english dialouge. Make sure you also purchase a good dictionary. Beware the dictionary written by Nina Trnka. As this dictionary actually has a lot of Czech words that are not used in the slovak language. Get a good dictionary and paraphrase book. Good luck this is a very difficult laguage to learn with out a teacher.

Although the first couple of lessons on the CD are OK for beginners, the CD rapidly progresses to complex dialog. The CD would probably be more useful with the companion book or as an adjunct to another course in Slovak. By itself, it is not helpful.

I purchased this book before going to Slovakia for the second time...this time I was alone without my English-speaking friends to interpret for me. Having only minimal knowledge of the language, this book taught me things I didn't think I'd ever pick up (such as proper grammer, which is difficult in this language). My friends in Slovakia were amazed at my knowledge of their language in such a short amount of time. I definitely recommend this book for anyone (even raw beginners) traveling over there.

Ahoj! Som Ahmet z Ciprusu.
Hovorim po Slovenski ale len velmi malo.

(24 November 2001)

This book starts with the pronunciation and explains in detail, how to pronounce vowels and consonants in Slovak, which is quite different from English. The accompanying cassettes are very good for this purpose and I strongly recommend you not to ignore them if you will buy the book.

The following chapters teach all the details of Slovak grammar.
So, if you manage to finish this book, I guess, you will not only learn the Slovak grammar and many Slovak words, but also be able to speak with Slovak people, as the name of the book, "Colloquial Slovak" also implies.

However, I feel that there are also some drawbacks that have to be mentioned:

First of all, if you are planning to study alone, like me, you will find this book very complicated and very boring. But with a Slovak teacher it might not be the same case.

I knew some Slovak before using this book, but I guess for someone who sees Slovak for the first time in his/her life it will be very difficult to follow it because it does not have graphical illustrations and it, in my opinion, teaches all the details of the language not in a very logical order.

In other words, the book is full of useful information which is not given in an attractive looking and easy-to-follow way.

Perhaps, this might be used as a second book to improve yourself after you began with an easier-to-use and more attractive looking book, of course if you find any Slovak book like that...

(6 July 2002)

I am buying another book which seems to be better than this:
"Slovencina pre cudzincov"
Tomas Dratva and Viktoria Buznova
Edited by Ph.Dr. Pavol Zigo, CSc. and Taisa Nikolajevna Protasovova
Illustrated by Frantisek Jakisics and Eva Kyselicova

I will soon write comments about it.

I am pleased to know that such a book about slovak language is out there. It is practical and easy to use. I congratulate to people who study this beautiful language. I am a slovakian myself and if there is someone who needs my help or guideness please let me know. I would love to help someone to learn Slovak language. (juhu18@yahoo.com)

It's hard to find a university that offers Slovak and books are scarce too. This one is well orgranized and easy to use. If you finish the book, it is probably equivalent to taking three Slovak classes. I really like the book and think that it is very helpful.