Deutsch Aktuell: Level 2 (German Edition)

This was the text book used in my high school to teach German 2. It has short chapters each with a theme, vocabulary list and dialog or short passage. Each chapter introduces a basic grammar concept. There are many review questions, so you repeat the grammar and vocab enough to recognize it later. At the end of the book is a grammar reference so it is easy to review past concepts, check what you know or look ahead. I found the grammar section and index at the end to be well done and they were helpful to me studying outside of class. (This is the second of a two book set. Deutsch Aktuell: Level 1 would be used during the first year/semester of a course.) This is a good choice of textbook to use for a class. (Teachers will want to know that a new edition has come out.) However this is not a good way to learn German on your own: It is the second of two texts. You would already have to know a bit of German to start this. Investigate Deutsch Aktuell: Level 1 or consider a tape-based course meant for independent study. If you have taken German in the past and want to brush up/review, then get the teacher's edition of this book. In the teachers edition answers to review questions are provided, so you can go through the book straight, or you can focus on a grammar weakness and work on it. In summary, instructors looking for a book to use should consider Deutsch Aktuell. It is well organized and worked for the class I was in. However the new edition has come out, so look at that one and not this (the fourth). Those studying German on their own should get the teacher's edition or consider an alternative tape based program.