Customer Reviews

Communicating In German, Advanced Level

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...but not really to learn on your own. We used this text in my University German class. In class, we groaned when we had to do the chapter on car parts (I mean I don't really even know what a spark plug is in English!), but the book does teach you important vocabulary while utilizing a thematic approach. It is one of the texts I always take with me for reference. Also, for a classroom environment, the book gives situations and asks questions which are good starting points for conversational practice.

I am quite pleased with the service of this book seller (Dreamboat Books, LLC). I ordered the book on Oct 20th, it was shipped on Oct 25th (from Texas), and I received it (in Québec) on Nov 7th. Also, as specified by the seller, it arrived in great condition! While I'd like to grumble about the price for a used book, I recognize that it is now out-of-print and that I acted as a willing participant in a free market. So, "5 stars" to the seller.

Schaum's "Communicating In German" three-book series, co-authored by Lois M. Feuerle and Conrad J. Schmitt, covers three levels of competence: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced. I was tempted to acquire the full series based on my very favourable experience with Shaum's "Outline of German Grammar" (I confess to being a Schaum's Outlines Series Junkie since High School). So, I tracked down the three books. The topics covered in the first book are reprised and developed within the subsequent levels. With each pass, newer, "higher level" vocabulary and/or grammatical structures are presented. Although exercises are provided, there is no answer key. In the preface, the authors note that "the answers to most exercises and activities are open-ended." Okay, I'll buy that. However, in many cases, the authors could have provided "suggested" or "likely" answers, but chose not to do so. So, what do I "really" think of them? The objective of the series is to lead the reader through common situations and introduce useful vocabularly at each successive level. In this since, the authors achieve their goal. However, I have to agree with some other reviewers' complaints, particularly with respect to the lack of answers for the exercises. I'm rating the series as "3 stars", as it represents genuine value for a dedicated student of German.

For anyone seriously interesting in expanding their understanding of German, I would recommend Cambridge University Press's "Using German Vocabulary" by Sarah M.B. Fagan, first published in 2004. While her approach is "somewhat similar" to that of above series; that is, there are increasingly difficult levels of vocabulary to be mastered, she really hits a home-run with her book!

I want a German language book which is completely translated in English Language with German grammar rules explained in English