Learning German Through Storytelling: Genowrin - an interactive adventure for German learners (Aschkalon)

Aschkalon #1

by André Klein, Sanja Klein (Illustrator)

After a long and terrible war a warrior returns home, but nothing is as he remembers. The kingdom is haunted by a dark curse. Can you find out what happened and restore peace and glory? This interactive adventure ebook for German learners puts you, the reader, at the heart of the action. Boost your grammar by engaging in sword fights, improve your conversation skills by interacting with interesting people and enhance your vocabulary while exploring forests and dungeons. Why brood over grammar sheets and lifeless workbooks when you can be entertained and learn German along the way?

Genres: German Literature, Language, Fiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2013

About the author

André Klein was born in Germany, grew up in Sweden and Thailand and currently lives in Israel. He has been teaching languages for more than 15 years and is the author of short stories, picture books and non-fiction works in English and German.

Reviews

[Iulia Alexandra Oprea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little fantasy book with short vocabulary after each chapter. Easy to read, structured in short chapters (no more than 3-4 pages) and interactive. You can choose how the story unfolds by answering the questions at the end of each section - your choices will lead to different chapters and outcomes. I read each line of narrative, by changing my answers. A nice and engaging way to learn and improve my German language skills. Recommended to intermediate learners.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I applaud André Klein for trying something new with this series of books designed to help students learn German. As anyone who has taught knows, the more interactive the work, the more likely the teacher is to keep the students engaged. And what could be more interactive and engaging that a choose-your-own-adventure story?
The premise is solid, the effort noble, and the story itself not a half-bad sort of Game of Thrones pastiche. But it’s not a very good mixing of elements, and somehow the options feel not just limited and unimaginative, but constraining. In the best choose-your-own-adventures, you feel as if you have a little bit of agency, even though the answers are obviously limited and for the most part predetermined.
Here, however, in Genowrin, the reader-student is basically cattle-chuted around without much option at all. Whatever you choose, you end up in the same place. The idea of “doing battle” via process-of-elimination by selecting the correct word is an interesting concept: i.e. correctly choosing one of three words as a synonym for the main word will lead to a successful “thrust” or “parry” while a mistake will mean taking a sword to the ribs.
But there aren’t enough of these battles for the thing to get past the conceptual stage and become integrated into the whole of the story.
It was a nice attempt to try something different, but I much prefer Klein’s other, more straightforward offerings. Others obviously may feel different, and for those that do, I can only encourage you to buy this and the rest of the series. With lots of well-rendered pencil drawing of medieval fantasy realms, crenelated castles and rollicking green-hilled landscapes.

[Ashlaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it easy to read and although the story is a bit boring, it might be my own choices and it's not that bad for a book that I read only to learn vocabulary in a fun way.
Just when it gets interesting seemingly, it's to be continued! (which is ok, I'm looking forward to reading the next!)
I'll read it again and make different choices.

[Alejo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like there's something missing from the story. But for german learners it's perfect. It is for intermediate level. ANd I really enjoyed the interactive parts of the book.

[Hercules Merscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is fun and entertaining but I had a hard time to follow it before acquiring at least B1 level. After this the reading was quite pleasant. Not recommended for beginners but a good resource for intermediate learners.

[Adolfo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro para alemán intermedio.
El concepto de ser un libro interactivo lo hace bastante divertido de leer, sin embargo, las elecciones siempre terminan llevándote a un sólo punto y se pierde la sensación de estar viviendo una aventura única.

[Ruth clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the book , i will be reading it a number of times