excellent
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Overall, and excellent and fun experience!
It is well organised and in manageable chunks.
I worked through this in 4 months, doing approx 1 chapter a week, spending approx 8-10 hours on each chapter. It helped to keep my own vocab book, and write down useful phrases in a phrase book to aid learning. At the end I typed up my phrase book to consolidate.
Ok I admit I still struggle to understand spoken Norwegian simply because it is so fast, ie faster than the dialogues on the CD, but this is inevitable and probably the case with learning any language. However I can pick up words, and once someone realises Im not Norwegian, I can hold conversations as they slow their speed etc.
The topics and phrases seem so useful for real life situations.
There is a storyline moving through the book, and the dialogues sound quite 'real'. Infact my family understood the 'gist' of the plot, and were waiting for the next 'episode'!
I go on holiday to Norway and hope to live there one day and this is a great start. I now plan to read articles on the web to expand vocab, and to try the specific conversation packs that are part of the same course.
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Excellent way to learn norsk
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I bought this book/CD combination just before going to live in Norway for 20 months; it helped me a great deal, even though, listening to it first, I thought that I would never master the language. When I started on a norsk course after the first month in Norway, this package gave me a real advantage in the class, and I went onto finish the book in my own time. The last chapter is called "Autumn in Bodø" which is where I lived. You just have to ignore the part at the beginning where they say that every letter is pronounced in Norwegian (with hva, hvor, gjenta etc. it is clearly not the case). I have frequently been complimented on my pronounication and vocabulary, and this book really helped me on that road.
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Best book on the market
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This is a great book and a brilliant introduction for anyone wanting to learn Norwegian. Everything is explained really well and the author makes no assumptions about the reader's proficiency with grammar, which was good for someone like me.
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be warned
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I can see where all the previous reviwers are coming from as regards the quality of the CD; it is quite user friendly. But be warned, if like me you expected an 'audiobook' ie cd AND book combination, then you'll be disappointed; especially as the total price in p+p is about £18.50. If your style of learning is to repeat from a cd then you'll be fine. If you like to SEE grammar and how sentences are constructed, words spelt etc,then like me you'll have to invest in the accompanying book too.
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Thankyou Margaretha
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I'd messed round with Norwegian in the past - using the old (very old) Teach Yourself Norwegian which I found in a second hand bookshop - not the easiest of books to read! I decided to do it properly with the latest edition. It was easy to follow, entertaining (what did eventually happen between John and Bente?), and extremely informative. The grammar is explained well, the exercises are good, and the vocabulary at least as extensive as the old edition. Indeed, at times it is so entertaining that I didn't want to put the book down! I didn't buy the cassette at first, but last summer, before going to Norway on holiday, I realised I should (fortunately Amazon do sell it separately!). I was only really guessing at the pronunciation - though the book attempts to give a guide. I realised I was pronouncing it quite badly in parts, but with the aid of the cassette, I really got it quite good. Whilst in Norway, I had many compliments on my Norwegian, and felt confident enough to use the language in shops, campsites, and in simple conversation with people I met. I've never been to a Norwegian class; just about all that I know came from this book. The only thing I regret is that there's not more. I'd really love it if Margaretha Danbolt Simons could write a follow-up.
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