Macedonian: A Course for Beginning and Intermediate Students [Paperback]

Christina E. Kramer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0299188043 | ISBN-13: 978-0299188047 | Publication Date: May 13, 2003 | Edition: 2

This is the second edition of a successful textbook for the comprehensive teaching of standard Macedonian grammar and vocabulary to English speakers. Designed by an experienced teacher to be completed in one year of intensive study, this new edition includes expanded glossaries and an answer key for those studying on their own. The student who completes the sixteen chapters will have a basic knowledge of Macedonian language as well as an introduction to Macedonian life, culture, history, and literature.

*  emphasizes learning language and culture together
*  all the basics of Macedonian grammar and common vocabulary
*  lively continuing dialogues of a Macedonian family in Toronto, Canada, and Skopje, Macedonia
*  readings from Macedonian literature, folklore, poetry, and history

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Combines sophisticated linguistic understanding with texts, grammar explanations, and cultural information. . . . The most creative and resourceful South Slavic textbook currently available.”—Margaret H. Beissinger, Princeton University

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English, Macedonian --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 542 pages
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press; 2 edition (May 13, 2003)
• Language: English, Macedonian
• ISBN-10: 0299188043
• ISBN-13: 978-0299188047
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,140,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little tough for self-instruction, December 31, 2006

By 

Karen Foulke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macedonian: A Course for Beginning and Intermediate Students (Paperback)

I've been carrying around this giant tome for 3 months in anticipation of a long-term stay in Macedonia. I've never been there and have zero background on the language or the culture so am happy to have this book to help me get prepared. However, I have learned other languages and used many other language textbooks whose layout and sequencing are superior to this one. Perhaps as a classroom text this book would work well - with the help of a teacher. But as a "teach yourself" text, I find it frustrating to try to use, especially without the accompanying CD that seems to be endlessly delayed. As an example, I would have found it helpful to have vocubulary introduced more thematically and more thoroughly. I've worked my way through 3 chapters and find that I don't have a lot of the basic, daily-use vocubulary (e.g., household items, foods, clothing, body parts, days of the week, counting, etc.). Telling time isn't covered until Chapter 7. Also, some basic layout adjustments would help, such as better demarcation between chapters, better use of headings and fonts to arrange things visually on the page, etc.
All in all, I'm happy to have the book, but as another reviewer said, it's hefty and (for me) overwhelming. I don't need 16 chapters worth of material. A beginners text of 8 chapters would have been a big plenty - and a lot easier to lug around.
I don't mean to discourage its use. Not at all. Just providing some insights for the would-be buyer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Really the only way to learn Macedonian out there, March 23, 2009

By 

Monkey Donuts (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macedonian: A Course for Beginning and Intermediate Students (Paperback)

The best book out there to learn Macedonian. If you really want to learn the language and not just a couple of phrases then this is the book you will need. Like most languages, if you really want to learn them you will need a teacher and any teacher worth his or her weight will use this book. Don't make the mistake of learning Serbian or Croation, the languages are not the same. If you want Macedonian, than you need this book.
Second generation Macedonian-American.

4.0 out of 5 stars Still reading..., November 6, 2008

By 

Christina - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macedonian: A Course for Beginning and Intermediate Students (Paperback)

I haven't gotten very far into it, but it does seem very helpful now that I have figured out my learning style. Lessons are broken down into labeled sub-sections that are easy to over look while reading, but each "2.1" or "2.1.2" Denotes a separate key item, making it easier to pick out and digest pieces of related material. It makes making your own study aids a lot easier, as well as letting you track your progress as you make your way through the chapter.
The most frustrating thing for me on this product was how they kept advertising a CD-Rom you could get to accompany it. After making it to the publisher's website, it turns out they never finished it and never published one. However, I think that is because accompany material has been made available online at [...], from the same university as the author.
Overall, if you are trying to learn Macedonian and you aren't a linguist, this book is the only one out there to help you learn it.