German

I've used this book to help me refresh my high school German for two trips now, and both times, I feel the book helped me prepare.

I like the format. I feel like the chapters are segmented well – each feels worthwhile without being overwhelming. I like that we follow the same family through the book through extensive dialogs, and that the narrative builds on what we've learned about them. I also like the way that grammar is presented: the characters use the language feature in context, then at the end of the chapter the pattern is explained.

I'll echo what others have said. The vocabulary is dated, though my first instinct is to leave the original material and augment it, perhaps by having the children in the story grow up and have kids of their own who use more modern vocabulary. The other material are short vignettes about life in Germany, and to me, this is where the book feels at its oldest and the elements I'd most likely replace. Until that were to happen, I'll continue to use this book while supplementing with some newer material.