"Get an approachable introduction to learning German alongside a history lesson."
German is a world language and the most widely spoken language in Europe so learning how to speak it can open doors and lead to a lot of different opportunities. Kai Graf von der Pahlen has put together a clear introduction to learning German using one of his other loves: history. The book starts by saying that English and German are linked by their connection with Julius Caesar's Roman Empire before delving into the past. While taking us through the history of Germany and England, there are odd keywords provided in German, we’re also then introduced to a chatroom where leaders and historic figures respond to questions to give us a sense of how simple questions and answer conversations are structured. The whole book is clearly structured so you can easily refer back to each section when completing the activities at the end or for referring back in the future. I also liked the additional breakdown of some words in the footnotes, giving you further insight into how they’re formed and a more in depth understanding of the language than a direct translation.
Languages have never been my strong suit however I found this method of learning about history whilst incorporating an introduction to German to be interesting. And the author was right, I think I learned a bit about English and English history too as I read. Learning German: A beginner's guide for our friends in England by Kai Graf von der Pahlen is an approachable start to learning a new language. I think it could be great as a first step that can be referred back to during further learning.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
