Free eBooks Mastering German Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach (Mastering Vocabulary) Available To Downloads

                
              
Free eBooks 
Mastering German Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach (Mastering Vocabulary) Available To Downloads
Unlike your average A-to-Z German/English dictionary, Mastering German Vocabulary presents more than 5,000 words in 41 separate categories. This arrangement allows students to understand the relationships of various words. Categories cover the human body, health and medicine, sports, culture and religion, and dozens of other subjects. Engaging example sentences help illustrate the meanings of words and also inform readers on idiomatic expressions, grammatical exceptions, and cultural and geographical information.English-speaking readers will find help in translating those German words and phrases that may be too specialized to be found in ordinary alphabetically arranged bilingual dictionaries. Engaging line art illustrations, charts, and a comprehensive alphabetical word index enhances this volume's usefulness. A fine school supplement for language teachers, students, and language labs, and an aid for anyone who must sometimes get information from German journals and other publications.
Series: Mastering Vocabulary
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 8/22/95 edition (September 21, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0812091086
ISBN-13: 978-0812091083
Product Dimensions:  4.8 x 0.8 x 7.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:  4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #58,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)   #25 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Foreign Languages > German   #78 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Vocabulary, Slang & Word Lists > Vocabulary   #102 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Study & Teaching
It is usually the case that we look up the translation of a word we want to use in a dictionary. And then, it turns out to be not the word we've wanted, for the fact that the usage of it is somewhere different. Thematic approach was what was missing, and needed at the same time.This book, however, has changed that. With its 40 chapters on different themes that include 'eating', 'clothing', 'actions and behaviors', 'feelings and instincts', this book offers german-learners everything they need to know for both learning German and living in Germany. Now, it is possible to walk into a shop and tell exactly what kind of a shoe you want, without any difficulty. The book offers another feature: example sentences that help you understand how you use the word. Therefore, every word can be used fluently during talking.It is concise, and simple. Its small size allows for carrying in a bag. Any further grammatical complications,such as the plurals and different tenses of the verbs, unlike other reviewers, I think, would make the book difficult to use, and heavier to carry. This book can be used with an additional grammer companion, if very necessary. But, for the sole purpose of building vocabulary, the book is excellent. Yet, the grammar section at the end is quite satisfactory for quick referrals. I highly recommend 'Mastering German Vocabulary: A Thematic Approach' for all german-learners.
I moved to Germany 6 months ago (I'm in the military). I had a good start in German, having completed a German technical translation program in college. But that was 15 years ago. I have a LOT of German instructional books, but this is by far the one I use the most, since I already have the grammar and pronunciation down. I try to go through at least a page every day before I go to bed. This book has taken me a long way towards my goal of total fluency, because even if you have perfect grammar and have an excellent accent, you can't get around the fact that there are thousands of words you simply have to know cold.I HIGHLY recommend this book!
The biggest flaw, as noted by other reviewers is the omission of the plurals for nouns (sometimes it's in the example sentences, but not enough). Because the rules are complex (when they apply at all) it is always best, when learning a noun, to memorize the grammatical gender, plural, and any irregular case endings. They also need to give the conjugations (at least the third person present, past and participle forms) of strong verbs. A substantial number of German verbs are strong (irregular) verbs and here, too, one needs to memorize the conjugation when learning the word. Also in the conversational past tense, verbs take either haben or sein and it would be helpful if that were indicated.I have found the book to be useful, but if they added what I and others here have suggested, it could sweep the field.
I just finished my first year of German, and I found that my weakest area was vocabulary. This book changed that. If you want to learn German vocaubulary, this book is for you. The thematic structure makes it easier for someone to grasp and remember German. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because I felt that the book could have used two improvements: 1) The plural forms of the nouns are not given. There is a section at the end of the book that gives rules on determining the plural forms, but it would have been much easier to just give the plural form next to the singular. 2)When an irregular verb is listed, the authors do give the conjugations in the present, simple past and present perfect tenses. However, they fail to include the auxilliary for the present perfect tense.
I picked this book up after struggling with learning vocabulary. While I like the book, and it covers a broad range of subjects (or themes), there are a few things that could be altered, that I think would help the book overall.First, the book should include the plurals of all nouns. As any German learner knows, there's roughly 12 different ways to form a plural on a noun, and while there are ways to try and figure them out, it's best (and easiest!) to just learn the plural along with the noun. Having to look up the plural of each noun as you go through the book is irritating.Secondly, while I think the book is useful, I think it would be more useful if each subject comprised two or three paragraphs, making use of the words, in full context. Learning words in context is the *best* way to learn vocabulary, hands down. Learning it via static sentences is better than just a plain old vocab. list, but if the words were grouped into paragraphs on a topic, I'd give this book 5 (or 6, if possible) stars.And don't forget to add in the plurals in the next edition! :)
I bought this book quite a while ago. I previously put it down because one of my language partners (via Skype and email) said the german sentences were sometimes strange or weird. I picked it up a few months ago again - thinking that perhaps my language partner was biased toward her own southern dialect. I have a few new language partners now, and they all agree - some of the sentences are just plain wrong. Some are great, but the frequency of poor sentences is too great to recommend this book.For example (not the best example, but the last one I encountered):Ich bin um 10 Uhr 30 beim Frauenarzt bestellt (bestellt sein) -- I have an appointment at the gynecologist at 10:30.One friend said this is absolutely bad german. 3 other friends said it's possible if you replace "beim" with "zum", but even then, it has the meaning of being subpoenaed, which is really strange for an appointment with the doctor.Langenscheidt has a "basic german vocabulary" with 4000 words. I took a few pictures of pages from this book and sent to german friends, who all said those sentences looked good. Langenscheidt also shows the plural forms for nouns
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