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July 14, 2026
I found German Vocabulary (1996) on Open Library, and as a university level German language instructor, I both really like and also hugely appreciate Susan Ashworth-Fiedler's set-up, her introductory words regarding vocabulary acquisition and how the book, how German Vocabulary is specifically designed to make vocabulary acquisition easier as well as less stressful, less frustrating (since learning but also successfully retaining vocabulary is or at least can be a massive language learning obstacle). And yes, I might actually consider purchasing a copy of German Vocabulary online and photocopying some of the activities and vocabulary lists to use with my first year college level German students, because (at least in my humble opinion) the vocabulary lists appearing in a vast majority of first year university level German language textbooks generally only pertain to what is being shown and talked about in the given chapters and that these sections sadly do tend to more often than not be somewhat limiting theme and contents wise (and sometimes even downright silly and ridiculous), so that students therefore do not actually end up leaving a beginning and even an intermediate German language class with the required vocabulary needed to, say, adequately visit and be travelling in Germany, converse in German etc.
Now I would obviously not ever use ONLY German Vocabulary in the classroom (and yes. there are probably more current and more up-to-date German vocabulary books out there anyhow, and especially so for self learning), since and quite frankly, no language course (and no language acquisition) would work and be successful if this is based on solely learning and acquiring words and on nothing else. But indeed, German Vocabulary looks like a very nice additional language learning tool for me personally, for me as a language instructor, that in particular many of Ashcroft-Fiedler's suggestions in the introduction of German Vocabulary regarding successful vocabulary retention make a lot of common sense (and that I will also be mentioning these to my students). However, with the author's suggestion of saying vocabulary words aloud, I definitely want to add that students will of course need to learn how to both read and also to write German vocabulary as well as just speaking, listening to and understanding words (well, any language's vocabulary for that matter), albeit I do appreciate Susan Ashcroft-Fiedler pointing out in German Vocabulary that because people learn differently, they also need to experiment with the best way for them to retain vocabulary and to use the methods that work best for them, and indeed, even if a teacher or a professor does something entirely different and finds their learning methods strange etc.. For example, I know, that many language teachers and instructors just read through lists of vocabulary and have their students repeat said lists, but I always tell my students to practice both orally and in writing since not everyone remembers oral vocabulary all that well and vice versa in fact, as there are students who are auditory learners and students who rely on reading and writing.
So yes, the introductory words for German Vocabulary and Susan Ashcroft-Fiedler's tips for learning and also for retaining vocabulary words are absolutely excellent (and that simply for this and for the use I am expecting to be getting from said introduction and also from the vocabulary lists and activities), I am going to be rating German Vocabulary with five solid stars.
Now I would obviously not ever use ONLY German Vocabulary in the classroom (and yes. there are probably more current and more up-to-date German vocabulary books out there anyhow, and especially so for self learning), since and quite frankly, no language course (and no language acquisition) would work and be successful if this is based on solely learning and acquiring words and on nothing else. But indeed, German Vocabulary looks like a very nice additional language learning tool for me personally, for me as a language instructor, that in particular many of Ashcroft-Fiedler's suggestions in the introduction of German Vocabulary regarding successful vocabulary retention make a lot of common sense (and that I will also be mentioning these to my students). However, with the author's suggestion of saying vocabulary words aloud, I definitely want to add that students will of course need to learn how to both read and also to write German vocabulary as well as just speaking, listening to and understanding words (well, any language's vocabulary for that matter), albeit I do appreciate Susan Ashcroft-Fiedler pointing out in German Vocabulary that because people learn differently, they also need to experiment with the best way for them to retain vocabulary and to use the methods that work best for them, and indeed, even if a teacher or a professor does something entirely different and finds their learning methods strange etc.. For example, I know, that many language teachers and instructors just read through lists of vocabulary and have their students repeat said lists, but I always tell my students to practice both orally and in writing since not everyone remembers oral vocabulary all that well and vice versa in fact, as there are students who are auditory learners and students who rely on reading and writing.
So yes, the introductory words for German Vocabulary and Susan Ashcroft-Fiedler's tips for learning and also for retaining vocabulary words are absolutely excellent (and that simply for this and for the use I am expecting to be getting from said introduction and also from the vocabulary lists and activities), I am going to be rating German Vocabulary with five solid stars.
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