The Little German Notebook: A Breakthrough in Early Speaking [Hardcover]

Charles Merlin Long (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 1999

This full-color, coffee-table quality book introduces an entirely new way to learn foreign languages -- in 12 weeks -- simply and easily -- without memorization or a dictionary! The unique, self-learning technique is the result of two phenomenal linguistic discoveries and a patent-pending invention. Within one week, a novice can mentally transform 3,000 English words into correct German, Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, or Swedish words, without having seen or heard the words before. Complex German grammar has been drastically reduced to enable speaking practice in four weeks and full-sentence speaking in twelve. This is the first of a planned series of Little (foreign language) Notebooks.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Reflective Books was established in 1998 as a Division of the Dokken Corporation, with the mission to publish small, high quality, breakthrough-learning books for thoughtful people of any background. Reflective Books, therefore, stresses brevity (not verbosity), thinking (not memorization), color (not drabness), innovation (not rehashes), and durability (not paperback). Veteran national think-tank consultant and Reflectives Chief Editor, Charles 'Dutch' Long, identified foreign language learning books as the most deficient of all educational books, and the absence of an early speaking technique its most critical problem. Accordingly, "The Little Foregn Language Notebook Series" was selected as Reflective Books initial book series and "a breakthrough in early speaking" was directed.

From the Author

"The Little German Notebook: A Breakthrough in Early Speaking" is the first in this revolutionary series of little foreign language notebooks. It is not a textbook; it is -- as it says -- a book of notes. As such, it is devoid of lengthy dissertations and text. Instead, facts are presented -- not to be memorized -- but to be examined and realized why they are true and how they happen. The notes are organized in traditional storyboard fashion; that is, each subject is allotted one or two pages, and the next subject starts at the top of the next page. Forty colorful German photos are included for interest and motivation. Text is color-coded throughout to aid the readers comprehension of key teaching points.

After hundreds of years of little progress, this book presents an entirely new and highly innovative technique to learn early speaking and comprehension of foreign languages. It does not replace traditional long-term learning by serious students, but it does provide an adequate capability for the occasional international traveler or the serious students early speaking practice; and that ability will be retained -- contrary to the current poor retention record. The new technique is based on my recent discoveries of cognate verb phenomena and cognate vowel endings and my patent-pending invention that assures identification of only correct cognate words. In addition, The Little German Notebook covers well-known tips, short-cuts and useful techniques that textbooks, for some unknown reason, never reveal.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 75 pages
• Publisher: Reflective Books (April 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966717201
• ISBN-13: 978-0966717204
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #944,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One can learn enough German in 12 weeks to get by., December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Little German Notebook: A Breakthrough in Early Speaking (Hardcover)

For those of you with German on your schedules, this unique book presents a breakthrough technique for learning to speak German quickly. The author, a national think tank consultant, introduces a brand new way of learning languages in only 12 weeks! The interesting aspect of the technique is that it builds upon the language knowledge we already have. Using the technique, a novice can mentally identify up to 3,000 English cognate words and mentally transform them into correct German words --- without a dictionary or memorization.

German grammar in The Little German Notebook has been greatly simplified through a series of innovative techniques, tips and short-cuts. Sentences in early speaking are largely constructed with transformed English words; however, a few key native German words must be learned and added to complete the sentences. Simple tips are also provided for multiplying one's basic vocabulary into many thousands of additional German words.

The 40 beautiful German photos alone are worth getting the book. It could be used as a 12-week introductory course, or as a study aid for accelerating learning, or as a self-teaching tool. I believe that, if I studied diligently for the required 12 weeks, I could learn enough German to get by. The accent, well that's another story. Think anyone would believe I'm from South Germany?