Complete Norwegian Beginner to Intermediate Course: Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language with Teach Yourself

by Margaretha Danbolt-Simons

This product is most effective when used in conjunction with the corresponding double CD.
- You can purchase the book and double CD as a pack (ISBN: 9781444107203)
- The double CD is also sold separately (ISBN: 9781444107210)
(copy and paste the ISBN number into the search bar to find these products)





Are you looking for a complete course in Norwegian which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Complete Norwegian will guarantee success!

Now fully updated to make your language learning experience fun and interactive. You can still rely on the benefits of a top language teacher and our years of teaching experience, but now with added learning features within the course and online.
The course is structured in thematic units and the emphasis is placed on communication, so that you effortlessly progress from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations, to using the phone and talking about work.

By the end of this course, you will be at Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages: Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.

Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features:

NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One and five-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

GRAMMAR TIPS
Easy-to-follow building blocks to give you a clear understanding.

USEFUL VOCABULARY
Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for speaking.

DIALOGUES
Read and listen to everyday dialogues to help you speak and understand fast.

PRONUNCIATION
Don't sound like a tourist! Perfect your pronunciation before you go.

TEST YOURSELF
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the culture and history of Norway.

TRY THIS
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

Genres: Reference, Language, Nonfiction

506 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: despite what it says in the title, the "audio support" for this edition (ISBN13: 9781444195040) is in the form of a phone app, through which you then download audio files to your phone. There is no CD, and the audio can't be played on a computer. You have to have a modern smartphone with 226MB free space (for iPhone at least).

I might up this rating as I get further through the book, but I'm on Chapter 4, and am feeling increasingly weary. The author makes a point of saying – in the introduction – that learners shouldn't be afraid to work things out for ourselves. To this end, the book incorporates the "discovery method ... a sort of DIY approach" (as though teach-yourself isn't already DIY enough), which we're told is more likely to result in more thoroughly embedded learning. Sounds sensible, but this results in a number of frustrating features: incomplete vocab lists (this is deliberate: earlier editions have complete word lists) – of course, we're supposed to work things out for ourselves, but I've been left floundering over some words and expressions that aren't in the appended dictionary (or a separate dictionary I have) – e.g. it took a lot of googling to find the correct meaning(s) of "skal" – present tense of å skulle; grammar seems to be presented first, and explained later, sometimes quite a lot later (e.g. demonstratives are explained 16 pages after they're first used), resulting in further confusion; text in Norwegian, with no translation – meaning you have no way of knowing whether you've truly understood or not. I have no problem working hard to learn a new language (this is my 5th), but this book isn't yet suiting my learning style – which is being able to check and double-check my comprehension.

All this said, the accompanying audio files are good (ignoring the ridiculous conversations the characters have) – particularly the feature that allows you to slow down (or speed up) the rate at which people are speaking. When very slow (0.5x), they all sound drunk, but at least you can pick out individual words. Other options are 0.75x (which works best for me), 1x (i.e. normal speed, which I find too fast), 1.5x and 2x (neither of which I've tried yet). It's a shame the audio can't be downloaded to a laptop, but it's been no bother (for me) to play it on my phone. The worksheet-type questions also work well for me, although the space given to write your answers is ridiculously, and unnecessarily, small; and there are errors (p.48, for example, is littered with them); This is unforgivable in a text book.

Could work if you already have some grounding in Norwegian and don't mind a lot of head-scratching, and have reliable internet access (for all the googling you're going to be doing). Oh, and a smartphone.

[David Bauwens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not perfect, but definitely better than Routledges's 'Colloquial Norwegian'.

[Alejandro Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would marry this baby boy. Best Teach yourself book ever. You will definitely learn a lot. I would recommend it it to start your journey with norwegian.


Sue is a bitch.

[Neh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource! The iOS app with the audio lessons is a little buggy, though (hence only 4 stars). Despite this drawback, the book is super well structured and pleasant to read. I’d highly recommend it.