Perspektiven: Texte Zur Kultur Und Literatur

by Manfred Bansleben

This intermediate German reader with cultural and literary selections is part of an integrated package and offers a spectrum of exercises and activities for developing all four language skills. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0030632382
• ISBN13: 9780030632389
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace College Publishers
• Length: 1272 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

So you want to revisit College German class?

This textbook of reading and comprehension exercises, isnt much different than most College German textbooks, meant for intermediate German. Even tho they say this book is designed for second year students, I'd guess it's closer to third year, at least. I'm enjoying many of the articles and short stories in the book. For instance, it begins with the dialect problem in German, most of which are mutually incomprehensible. Maps explain where the major dialects divide. After your reading assignment, comes the vocabulary lists. Then, you "VILL ANZWER ALL DE QUEZTIONZ" about what you read, and practice modal verbs, grammar, expressions, and so on. And, that's how each chapter runs. The book contains lots of visual aids, photos, illustrations, and the like, to give a little more visual punch. If you check out the contents, you notice right off, that this book is a bit dated. If you dont mind learning about the DDR, even tho it hasnt existed now for 20 years, then here you go. Other articles explore the German's collective guilt for the NAZIZEIT, and even the historical reasons why this dictatorship could occur in a country, that was ravaged from WWI, was used to authoritative governments, and loved to dress up in uniforms. One positive feature of the German literary selections, is that they are NOT the same stories, that seem to be in EVERY textbook designed for the English reader. The focus here ISNT strictly on literary works, but rather a combination of literary work, and cultural essays. You get some BROTHERS GRIMM, and various writers under various thematic headings. If your german isnt totally up to par, there is a page or two in English before each chapter, letting you know who the writer is, and what the topic under discussion is. If your German has slipped to the point of being a faint memory, dont start to review here. Even tho there are plenty of footnotes, vocabulary translation in side bars, and a little dictionary in the back of the book, some of the pieces could be too difficult. Also, if you need extensive grammar review, dont expect to find it here either. This textbook focuses mostly on reading, vocabulary building, and comprehension. The type of grammar here, was quietly sneaked into the comprehension questions, so you wouldnt run away in fear. After one of the essays (on the woman's rights movement in the BDR), one of the exercises is to use the correct form of der-, die-, or dasselbe, in order to express THE SAME. There are writing exercises, and topics for Oral conversation, which of course isnt helpful if you are using this book for your own review. I cant see how a college course could possibly use this book currently, due to the cultural content being 20 years out of date. Still, the language hasnt changed, so its useful for what it is. Since this is a rather inexpensive way to get a used textbook, with some very interesting cultural insights, not to mention small, bearable chunks of grammar and vocabulary that NEVER go out o