Just Enough German

I had previously bought the "Just Enough Dutch" book, which was great because I haven't heard enough Dutch spoken to truly get the distinct sounds down pat - as you know, there are certain nuances in every language that you really have to hear to really get the language - and the phonetics used were fantastic. Well, I HAVE heard German spoken, so I have quite an idea as to how it's supposed to sound; when I was at a local bookstore, I browsed this "Just Enough German" book - and was pleased at how closely it captures the true German sound.For instance, in most "teach yourself German" books, you'll read some rather vague (if well-intentioned) explanation as to how the "ch" sound is supposed to sound. Well, it's not easy for most English speakers to really get unless you hear it; it's not exactly a "sh" sound, but it sounds closer to "sh" than most other sounds we use. And THAT is how you'll see words like "Ich" or "mochte" (forgive the lack of umlaut dots over the o) represented phonetically in this book. So, while you won't EXACTLY capture the sound of Standard German used officially in Germany today, you'll get the sound closely enough to be well understood (and, by the way, I once spoke to a fellow who had resided in Germany for several years; he informed me that, in certain dialects in German, the exact "sh" sound IS used!)Well, in any event, I'd recommend the "Just Enough" series for anyone who wants to learn a language that they're interested in but not all that familiar with. These folks really get the sounds and grammar down on paper in a way that you can easily grasp.

This is a compact book that provides a big service to the traveler. It is easy to carry, which is no small matter when travelling. The book's sections are divided by types of conversations and/or day-to-day scenarios in which a traveler would likely find him/herself. Examples of sections include: transportation, shopping, accomodations, dining. It is easy to read and has all the basics to get you through your travels in Germany. The only downside is that it lacks a dictionary section, making it difficult to look up an unknown word quickly. As the title implies, this is not a comprehensive guide, but it will get you through most travel situations.