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German Easy Reader: Super 500
This easy reader is based on the 500 most common words in German. Knowing these will enable you to understand 80% of average German texts. The original German text is side by side with an English translation. All new words are introduced with an English translation in the text.Numerous pictures illustrate new words.Many verb tables show you how to conjugate new verbs correctly.MP3 recording of the German text in each unit is available for FREE as download.13 simple stories to practise and learn in an easy and fun way.This book is for beginners. If you are more advanced check out 'German Pre-Intermediate Reader Super 1000' by the same author.www.briansmith.de
- GenresGerman Literature
120 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 17, 2019
Who reviews language books? I do and this one deserves it. Not only is it a great resource for the beginner learner (and very light on the grammar, you haters!), but it can be reviewed on its own merit as a harrowing descent into modern family life.
Ah, the Schmidts! Die Familie Schmidt, led by Leo and Lisa, the former a hard-working commuter, the latter his free-wheeling wife who spends her days shoe shopping to Leo's chagrin and lounging about the garden sleeping to Leo's envy. Their children Peter and Maria are tormented by both their widely disparate school experiences and the gender fluidity with which their Uncle Thomas (himself a dashing ingenue frequenting the cafes of Germany with young "ladyfriends") treats his gift-giving. Marie is horrified to receive a car from him.
Seeking succor from the rigors of modern city life, they take to the forests where Marie watches the circle of life unfold to her horror as a feral white cat devours the little black mouse she sees (perhaps some sort of race symbolism?). Meanwhile, the Schmidts take their seething frustrations out on Frau Muller, the morbidly-obese equestrian whose horse throws her off, injuring what seems to be every part of her corporeal form. The Schmidts try to help her, but she eludes them, capped off with the Schmidts composing a macabre lieder about her on the drive home.
Grandmother pesters Grandfather who just wants to be left alone wandering through the dim autumn of his last-gasp effort to live, only to be accused of attempting to run out on his tabs.
Not only one of the best German grammar books you can get, but a stark exploration of the dark harrowing of the modern family.
Ah, the Schmidts! Die Familie Schmidt, led by Leo and Lisa, the former a hard-working commuter, the latter his free-wheeling wife who spends her days shoe shopping to Leo's chagrin and lounging about the garden sleeping to Leo's envy. Their children Peter and Maria are tormented by both their widely disparate school experiences and the gender fluidity with which their Uncle Thomas (himself a dashing ingenue frequenting the cafes of Germany with young "ladyfriends") treats his gift-giving. Marie is horrified to receive a car from him.
Seeking succor from the rigors of modern city life, they take to the forests where Marie watches the circle of life unfold to her horror as a feral white cat devours the little black mouse she sees (perhaps some sort of race symbolism?). Meanwhile, the Schmidts take their seething frustrations out on Frau Muller, the morbidly-obese equestrian whose horse throws her off, injuring what seems to be every part of her corporeal form. The Schmidts try to help her, but she eludes them, capped off with the Schmidts composing a macabre lieder about her on the drive home.
Grandmother pesters Grandfather who just wants to be left alone wandering through the dim autumn of his last-gasp effort to live, only to be accused of attempting to run out on his tabs.
Not only one of the best German grammar books you can get, but a stark exploration of the dark harrowing of the modern family.
December 15, 2017
Very useful book. Some obvious sexism in the dialogues which make them seem dated, but nonetheless a worthwhile learning tool.
October 7, 2020
Pretty good review of basic German. It has been a while since I last regularly read a newspaper or worked with classics articles (maybe 9 years?) and I am trying to get back to reading proficiency.
Only one issue found, a small typo on p.110 ('and' for 'und'). Otherwise, pretty solidly put together. I will likely work though all 8 (?) of the available titles.
Only one issue found, a small typo on p.110 ('and' for 'und'). Otherwise, pretty solidly put together. I will likely work though all 8 (?) of the available titles.
February 3, 2021
This was probably the easiest way for me to brush up on my German and expand on my German vocabulary.
I had so much fun reading this.
The breakdown and reading is perfect for any beginner wanting to read/speak German and it’s a great book to practice/brush up on their German as well.
I had so much fun reading this.
The breakdown and reading is perfect for any beginner wanting to read/speak German and it’s a great book to practice/brush up on their German as well.
January 29, 2022
Pedagogically speaking, this is a great book. It uses repetition of the vocabulary in an effective way that makes it easy to read progressively more difficult texts and introduces new vocabulary and grammar concepts at a pace and in a way that feels very natural. A single story is told in both present and past tense, so you are able to follow the action and learn verb forms.
My struggle with the book was cultural. The women's actions were largely limited to shoe shopping, cooking, sitting quietly, singing and complaining that they are too fat to walk. The men worked and avoided their wives, swam for hours, ran in the forest, drove cars and played with toy cars and boats. As an American, it felt like a book from the 1950's and left me wondering whether it would also feel dated to a German reading the story.
My struggle with the book was cultural. The women's actions were largely limited to shoe shopping, cooking, sitting quietly, singing and complaining that they are too fat to walk. The men worked and avoided their wives, swam for hours, ran in the forest, drove cars and played with toy cars and boats. As an American, it felt like a book from the 1950's and left me wondering whether it would also feel dated to a German reading the story.
January 3, 2020
Great book, incrementally and efficiently teaches you a lot of vocabulary
December 3, 2016
The Kindle edition was very reasonably priced (just a few dollars) but the formatting was very bad.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews