Product Description
The Czech Republic with its capital of Prague has become a major tourist destination. Those looking for an introduction to the language, its culture and history, are ideally catered for in this beginner's course book. The 10 lessons begin with dialogues designed for travellers and each lesson includes vocabulary and expressions, concise explanations of grammar and exercises that help to reinforce the material covered. Also included are discussions on the arts, business and everyday life of the Czech people. The two 80-minute audio CDs feature Czech native speakers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Don't waste your money or time
I bought this believing the motivated learner reviews. They're wrong. The book attempts to be comprehensive and brief and ends up failing miserably. Big chunks of vital information are not included at all and information is given in a big info dump format. Czech has, for example, 14 noun declensions. They give 12 of these in chapter 2. Although, a number of cases of stem changes etc. are either not discussed at all, or are mentioned in passing in the earlier section on orthography. When I spent time creating declension tables of the vocabulary words to build up my understanding, I had to frequently consult wikipedia and other outside sources to determine the correct format of declensions.

Vocabulary is similarly dumped on the reader. Chapter 1 has over 100 vocabulary items. I haven't counted the others.

I do recommend the Pimsleur CDs which while the pronunciation is sometimes unclear, did more for me in learning Czech than this book did. I've also put in an order for the sadly out-of-print Contemporary Czech by Michael Heim which is highly recommended elsewhere.

Beginner's??? I don't think so...
I went thru the first five chapters on this book and then decided to move on to another book. This is not a beginner's book, it is more like a grammar reference book. If you are really new to the language like me I suggest you go with "Czech Step by Step" by Lida Hola. It is more expensive but it is MORE usefull, I've learned more in just the first lesson than on the first 5 on "Beginer's Czech". If you try to learn with this book you will think that it is an impossible language... my advice... get another book!

Highly recommendable
As I will be moving to Prague shortly, I decided to try to learn some Czech before I go, and thus chose to go with "Beginner's Czech". So far, I have not regretted this.

The book is divided into ten chapters, covering the basic grammatics and a variety of common situations (with the according vocabulary you'll need in such situations) - Introducing yourself, shopping, being a guest, asking for directions, etc.

The book is clearly aimed at people who are highly motivated for learning the Czech language, which in fact is quite difficult. For instance, right in the second chapter, you'll get the complete declension tables for all genders, including plurals (the Czech language has three genders and seven cases!) This can seem a bit much all at once, but I find it very handy when I want to look back at the tables when they are all at one place...

"Beginner's Czech" does include a chapter on pronounciation, but no cd. Personally, I find it a little hard to learn good pronounciation without actually hearing the sounds, so this is a small drawback. But then again, the book would probably have been more expensive with a cd. And anyway, there are some good places on the internet where you can check up on the pronounciation (for instance [...]).

Also, there are some of the exercises where it can be quite hard to actually understand why the declensions are the way they are (some kind of exeptions which aren't explained)

In spite of these very minor shortcomings, I strongly recommend this book to any motivated person looking to learn some Czech. It is a really good primer on the Czech language, and in any case, it's definitely worth the price..

Well worth the money for a beginner
As someone who is moving to Prague in the near future, I thought I would get a jump on the game by learning the basics of the Czech language in advance. This book is great for just that: learning the basics. Not a whole lot of help conversationally, but the book is rife with tables and charts indicating pronunciation, grammar, and definitions. Definitely worth the $10. Very handy for learning proper usage, and briefly covers a bit of Czech history in the beginning. 4 stars.

From a total novice.
I bought this preparation for learning Czech. While I've only skimmed through it so far, it seems to be more focused on grammar than the "Teach Yourself Czech" book. It's full of charts and tables, which is how I learned my first foreign language (Latin). ... Read more

Product Description
Located in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic boasts a distinctive language spoken by over 10 million natives. The country has become a popular destination due to its many historic villages and castles, as well as its ski resorts and mineral-spring spas. This conveniently sized volume contains essential words and phrases for the traveler or student in both Czech and English. The concise grammar and two-way dictionary make it an ideal tool for English speakers who wish to learn Czech at home or abroad.

Customer Reviews (6)

Not possible to use as a primary dictionary
I was always impressed by the build-in dictionaries in Kindle. The function works wonderfully with English-French or English-German dictionaries. Unfortunately, this Czech dictionary is completely useless. I am disapointed that Amazon does not specify which dictionary works as a build-in one and which not.

Czech Dictionary Book
The Czech to English dictionaryCzech-English/English-Czech Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary andthat I purchased left me a little disappointed. It did a very good job explaining grammer but many words that I have read online cannot be found in the dictionary but can online.

Good guide for a traveller
If you make a trip to the Czech republic and want to understand a few words, while you are in the airport, restaurant, city centre etc. then this book is appropriate for you. It provides a brief list with the most common words you will need, when staying in Czech republic for a few days. But remember! Only the most common. If you need something more detailed, you have to look for an appropriate dictionaty.

great for helping to learn along with a program
This is a great way to learn how things are spelled and translating from english to czech.It also helps a little with pronunciation.However, it is best when used with a language program.Such as Pimsleur or any other program that helps you learn how to speak the language.

Travel Czech
This book includes a Czech-English and English-Czech dictionary, as well as a basic grammar section and even a short history of the Czech Republic. After looking at several Czech dictionaries, this is the one that I've found to be easiest to use and is best suited for a tourist or casual student of the language. ... Read more

Product Description
This Conversational program contains 8 hours of interactive audio-only instruction, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Czech structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Czech can actually be enjoyable and rewarding.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only these pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed.

With Pimsleur you get:

• Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation,
• Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically,
• The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere,
• 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting.

Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever -- without textbooks, written exercises, or drills.

Conversational Czech includes the 10 lessons from Pimsleur's Basic Czech plus an additional 6 lessons.

The 16 lessons in Conversational Czech are the same first 16 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive Czech Level 1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

OK, but lacking a little imagination
I'm already bilingual and have never used a language CD course. Their choice for the Czech-speaking man is very poor -- he doesn't breathe while speaking so it's very hard to hear what he's saying and it makes distinguishing consonants is very difficult.They should have chosen someone with a voice like the American narrator to do the Czech male voice.The female voice on the other hand, is good. The makers lacked a little imagination because they failed to use a variety of names in the lessons -- for example, they keep repeating the same street name in all conversations, when it would have been much more interesting to hear different names.In general, the amount of repetition of material is overdone in this system, because the whole idea of having it on CDs is that you can play to it over and over. They could have covered twice the amount of material with less repetition.

skip the 10-CD introductory course
The method and teaching seem to be effective; won't know for sure until my visit to Prague this autumn. The first ten lessons in this package are the same exact recordings as the introductory 10-CD course. It would be considerate of the manufacturer to clarify which specific lesson numbers the CDs contain.

Learn to speak
These programs are a great way to learn any language.They teach you how to speak the language by listening to it and picking it up the same way you did when you were a kid learning to speak english.Very helpful, I learned more from this technique than from most.

Needs written supplement
A few years ago I ordered a Berlitz German set.It had the transcript so I could read along or just listen to the tapes.I got a lot more out of it and it didn't need to be so repetative as this clearly is.

Having written material would add visual input so you could not only learn to speak better by involving another sensory channel but also READ and spell.

An excellent product
Pimsleur products are always great, and this one is particularly well-done. The lessons are repetitive, which might be bad for you.

But the upside to all the repetition is how well you retain it and actually learn it! For example, I was watching a TV show (Crossing Jordan, my favorite :-) ), and there was a scene where a character spoke Czech to another. Suprisingly, I understood bit and pieces of what the character was saying, even though she was speaking quite quickly! I caught "Ne vim" and "Mluvim anglitsky." Sorry about the spelling. Pimsleur Coversationals are entirely audio, so I have no clue how to spell it :-) *note that the Pimsleur Basic ones come with reading lessons and a booklet.

One thing to keep in mind is that you really do have to focus to get anything out of these CDs. If you just kinda have them playing in th ebackground, it won't work. You need to take a half hour to sit and listen and repeat.

All in all, worth the money. An excellent choice!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
More essential than socks (and lighter on your nose), this phrasebook is your card to the real Czech adventure--from monumental Moravia to classic countryside and Pilsner in Prague, relax and take a moment to raise your glass.Na Zdravi! (Cheers!)

Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages.Chat with the locals and discover their culture--a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A MUST HAVE!!!!
This is the best book I've come across for a quick, useful introduction to Czech. There's a bundle of useful phrases, words, and sentences, all of which include phonetic guides to help with pronunciation (very useful for beginners). The layout of the book is very user-friendly. It's also travel friendly and will fit in a pocket. This is a must have for anyone wanting a great introduction to the language or/and traveling to the beautiful country!

It's okay
The insite into Czech culture is very interesting and accurate. The pronouncation guide isn't very accurate, maybe if the user is British, but if I pronounce everything the way the book says, my Czech husband says their wrong. As a guide though I think it would be very helpful.

Great!
This is a fantastic guide to the Czech language! I learned the few words that I was able to use while in Prague from this book! It's kinda tough to use it in conversation. 50% of Czechs speak english anyway, so you won't be totally lost, but it's always nice to make the effort to say a few words in their language. Na shledanou!

Good traveling book for Czech
I love this phrasebook, it is easy to go thru and very helpful to pronounce the language.Kimberly Riha

Velká kniha! (Great Book)
This book was more than I expected. Will help me when I go to Czech Republic this year. The pronunciation aid is a little hard for me to use since I am dyslexic. ... Read more

Product Description
This Basic program contains 5 hours of audio-only, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Czech structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Czech can actually be enjoyable and rewarding.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands of words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That same learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed.

With Pimsleur you get:

• Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation,
• Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically,
• The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere,
• 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting.

Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever -- without textbooks, written exercises, or drills.

The 10 lessons in the Basic Czech are the same as the first 10 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive Czech Level 1.

The 10 lessons in Basic Czech are also the first 10 lessons in the 16-lesson Conversational Czech edition.

Pimsleur learners progress from either the Basic or the Conversational to the Comprehensive Level 1, and not from Basic to Conversational edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Effective because it isn't intimidating!
Having not studied a foreign language since high school (way back in the 70s), I wasn't sure that I would be able to succeed in learning a language that I am not exposed to in my everyday life. However, this Pimsleur method has made learning the basics fairly easy. By frequently referring back to what has already been taught, the material becomes engrained more easily than by simply repeating lists of vocabulary.

Some have criticized the lack of depth in teaching grammar, but I feel that they forget the title: Basic Czech. The lessons are clearly tailored to the needs of occasional travellers, not of someone who is relocating. So, while you may possibly end up fumbling your declensions to some extent, I see the course as a very useful tool to help one navigate the essentials. If the user decides to devote more time and energy to the subject later on, surely this course would not have been a hindrance.

I agree with the complaints about the scarcity of written text (the version I had contained a short pamphlet of vocabulary lists, to practice pronunciation). Even a 24-30 page grammar text would've been nice. Still, for the price...

One last thing: although I haven't yet completed the course (I am through lesson 6), I am 3 hours in, and have NOT seen anything about inviting someone back to the hotel for a drink, as another reviewer stated. I HAVE seen those phrases in one of the written tourist guides (possibly in Eyewitness). Since Pimsleur uses the formal "Dobry den" greeting instead of the informal "Ahoj", I seriously doubt that I will hear pick-up lines in the remaining four lessonsLOL

Great!
The CD's are great. They helped to go over pronounciation and they don't move on too quickly as most other programs do. And it starts out slow and fairly easy, which helps me from getting discouraged. I'm married to a native Czech speaker, but it's hard to learn more than a word here or there from him, although he's been a big help.

Terrible choice of vocab + no book = mostly useless
In the first two hours of Pimsleur Czech, I learned to have the following conversation (these are ACTUAL PHRASES from this course):

"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Where is Wenceslas Square?"
"It's here."
"Are you American?"
"No, I'm Czech."
"Do you want to go get something to drink?At my hotel?Maybe later?"

Seriously, Pimsleur, do you really think I'm going to the Czech Republic to hit on people?Why not give us vocabulary we tourists actually need, like "Two tickets to Cesky Krumlov, please" or "do you have a menu in English?"

And it's a huge mistake not to include any written materials at all with this course.I can learn far more quickly when I can see and hear the words at the same time.My guess is including a printed supplement would make it painfully obvious how little this course is actually teaching you.

In short: don't buy this.I learned more from my guidebook's small supplement of helpful phrases than I learned from this "course."

Good for opening your taste towards Czech, but not to learn the language.
Pimsler's Basic Czech is a 10-CD collection for learning some basic phrases. You are asked to listen to the native speakers and repeat after them, some explanations being given in English. According to the product, their method is superior to other audio guides, as the phrases are repeated at specific intervals (almost like native speakers hear them when they acquire the language), which would improve remembering them.

I tend to think that learning a language this way is inefficient. I have spent a total of 300 minutes, in which I learned little vocabulary, little phonology and almost no grammar at all. The CDs go very little into how to count, how to name fruit, how to name places etc. Learning a language as native speakers do is a little utopia, as you don't have the same abilities children have and you can't dedicate as much time as them (7 years of continuous Czech listening and speaking).

In my opinion, if you really want to learn a language, take a book, which in each lesson teaches you vocabulary, grammar and has exercises associated with them.

On the other hand, I think that the CDs are very good to open up your taste for the Czech language. The speech is very clear and some particularities of the Czech language are highlighted, such as the fact that verb are conjugation, that nouns are declined, that the verb must agree with the gender, without going into details. I would also recommend this book if you plan to meet Czech people and want to impress them with a few basic phrases, to show how open you are towards their culture.

Basic Czech CD
I followed the instructions of doing a lesson every day but have to admit that the language is hard so I did one lesson in the morning on the way to work and then the next lesson on the way home - the next day I did the previous evenings lesson again - although this was only basic Czech I found that it was the perfect introduction for my first of many trips to the Czech Republic - This comes HIGHLY recommended for an introduction to the language. ... Read more

Product Description
Living Language In-Flight Czech is the perfect boarding pass to learning Czech before you land.

There's no better way to make use of all that spare time on a plane than to master the essentials of a language.This 60-minute program is the simplest way to learn just enough to get by in every situation essential to both the tourist and business traveler.

The program covers everything from greetings and polite expressions to asking directions, getting around, checking into a hotel, and going to a restaurant.There are even sections for meeting people and spending a night on the town.

Short lessons make In-Flight Czech easy to use, and a handy pocket-sized insert is included as a cheat sheet for use on the go. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

to je jedno
wow, can you slow it down a little?i have lived in the czech republic for 6 months already so when i got this program, i was hoping to just brush up on the basics.unfortunately, i was disappointed...they zip through the "essential" phrases at light speed, phrases which my czech friends have told me in between chuckles that no one uses anymore anyway.they make no attempt to explain the difference between the masculine and feminine variations and all the phrases are the formal versions even though the informal is much more commonly used these days...at least give us the option.and the numbers...well, any native english speaker who has ever attempted to say the czech word for "four" will understand that you need time to get your tongue around it the first 50 or so times, whereas this cd gives you about a second to attempt the pronunciation.

i would recommend this only if you are visiting the czech republic for a short period and want to make a polite attempt at the language so as not to be taken as the typical tourist - but you will need to have a lot of time before-hand to practice.if you are actually trying to learn the language for day-to-day use, i would invest in a more professional program...or better yet, get some czech friends and learn from them.

Not for first-time Czech learner
The lessons go by very fast, with each phrase spoken only once.In order to learn, you must either have a super-human ear and memory, or you must listen to the CD 500 times.The CD might be a good review for someone who has already learned the language, but for the first-timer, consider the Pimsleur method instead. ... Read more

Product Description
This second edition of the popular Colloquial Czech has been rewritten to bring it completely up to date. Written by an experienced teacher, the course offers a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Czech. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Czech is spoken by over 10 million people and is closely related to the other members of the Slavic family of languages but, unlike Russian, uses the Roman alphabet.
This paperback in the Colloquial Language Learning Series is available individually or as part of a pack. For more information, please refer to the cassette pack listing for this language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent book for a beginner
This is a very nice book to start learning Czech for a beginner. It doesn't overwhelm the learner with a lot of grammar right at the beginning but takes the reader through Grammar more gradually. The dialouges used in the book are rather funny which makes it interesting to read. Even learning the vocabulary is somewhat easier. It tries to reuse the vocabulary that was introduced earlier which makes it easier to practise as well as makes the learner feel more encouraged to go through without having to find the meaning of every word every time you read. The only issue with this book is that there are very few exercises. It would be good to complement it with another book that has more learning exercises. Last but not the least, like any language, if you are really serious about learning Czech it is best to use the book as complementary to a teacher.

adequate
Maybe it's just that Czech is rather difficult, but I'm struggling getting through this book.I think that the content is great, explanation is good, but I wish there was a workbook to go along with it or more questions throughout the book for practice.I am also regretting that I didn't get the audio portion, as it is quite difficult to imagine how some of the words sound.

conversation content - ick
I never finished the set.I speak Czech a bit and wanted to brush - up also wanted a set to introduce a friend to the language.We were both put off by the content of the "conversations".The comments about the women seemed very 1950's.

Utterly useless
This "course" is utterly useless for the traveler who wants to learn enough of the language to get by on a trip to the Czech Republic.
There is no logic or relevance to the dialogues.(You could listen to all of Cassette One and never find out how to say "Where is the bathroom?")Even the most basic language instruction (listening and then repeating phrases)is beyond the scope of this bizarre hodgepodge. Not even worth one star.

Good for student, but not for real beginner
My boyfriend is Czech, and his mother was coming down to visit us, so I thought it would be a wonderful idea to learn the language before she got here. I bought this book in order to aide me in that mission. It didn't work. I was more confused than anything, and my boyfriend said most of that language was wrong. There are too many dialects of Czech in the small country to compose it within one book. He's Moravian and he would help me speak Czech, but he couldn't do it from the book when he explained to me what the words really meant. Czech isnt easy to learn anyway, but this book wasn't as helpful as I thought it would be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Saved my life!
I lived in the Czech Republic when I was 16-17, and this book was a huge help! Highly reccomended. ... Read more

Product Description

Czech: An Essential Grammar is a practical reference guide to the core structures and features of modern Czech. Presenting a fresh and accessible description of the language, this engaging grammar uses clear, jargon-free explanations and sets out the complexities of Czech in short, readable sections.

Suitable for either independent study or for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types, key features include:

* focus on the morphology and syntax of the language
* clear explanations of grammatical terms
* full use of authentic examples
* detailed contents list and index for easy access to information.

With an emphasis on the Czech that native speakers use today, Czech: An Essential Grammar will help students to read, speak and write the language with greater confidence.

Customer Reviews (3)

KINDLE EDITION IS UNUSABLE DUE TO MISSING ACCENTS AND DIACRITICAL MARKS
The Kindle Edition of Naughton's Czech, an Essential Grammar is useless.Despite multiple downloads and discussions with Kindle customer service, the book downloads to the Kindle without many accents and diacritical marks on the letters -- for example, throughout the entire book, "R" with hook/hacek -- has no hacek.Same for "r" -- no hook/hacek.The same holds true for other letters with hooks/haceks.Thus, THE BOOK IS USELESS IN ITS CURRENT FORMAT.Without the accents and hooks/hacky, one cannot learn the language.I speak Czech and can see that all the accents are missing, but a non-speaker or learner of the Czech language would not know this, and thus would learn many, many words completely incorrectly.THE PUBLISHERS NEED TO CORRECT THE KINDLE VERSION OF THIS BOOK.

Excellent Book!
Czech, an essential grammar is exactly what it is called.
Author managed to explain complexities of Czech language in logical, brief and easy to understand chapters. I was particularly impressed by the section, cases and prepositions, which was very well presented to anyone who would be interested in studying this very difficult language. Each section covers one element of the grammar which includes nouns, pronouns,numerals, verbs, prepositions and conjunctionsIn fairly short sections, the author was able to cover basic usage in plentiful examples so students can learn a simple conversation in short time.
I have discussed the textbook with my student, Dr. Lois Potter and she found the book to be an excellent tool for her understanding of basic structures oftoday's Czech.
Last but not least positive feature of the book is usage of proper and updated forms of Czech language which does not include slang or terms no longer existing in everyday communication. While Czech language is difficult by itself, many outdated textbooks make it impossible for non-native speaker to understand complicated czech grammar. In Czech An Essential Grammar, the author accomplished a very difficult task of simplifying it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn Czech without being discouraged by complexity of Czech grammar.

Val Berzinz, Berlitz Czech instructor

This, the David Short Teach Yourself Czech and the Fronek Dictionary are all you really need...
Really! First, use this work. I know it means seemingly meaningless memorization, but then the Short Teach Yourself Czech will make a lot more sense, and you can concentrate on the colloquial expressions and phrases. Then you can polish off your knowledge with Radio Praha (which has the printed Czech of their articles and sound in RealAudio or Windows Media) and the Fronek dictionary. The Fronek IS hideously expensive, but since you're not gonna find "2,000+ Essential Czech Verbs," you'll find all you need on the irregualr conjugations and declensions there. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Comprehensive Czech includes 30 lessons of essential grammar and vocabulary -- 16 hours of real-life spoken practice sessions -- plus an introduction to reading.

Upon completion of this Level I program, you will have functional spoken proficiency with the most-frequently-used vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will be able to:

* initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations,

* deal with every day situations -- ask for information, directions, and give basic information about yourself and family,

* communicate basic information on informal topics and participate in casual conversations,

* avoid basic cultural errors and handle minimum courtesy and travel requirements,

* satisfy personal needs and limited social demands,

* establish rapport with strangers in foreign countries,

* begin reading and sounding out items with native-like pronunciation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

excellent!!
i found these tapes so easy to use and found myself speaking Czech (something i thought i NEVER would be able to do) in days!somehow, these tapes made it easy to start speaking Czech.they gave you very practical phrases to learn and it really helped when i went over there!

OK Introduction, but not a complete course
On the plus side, the voice actors used in this course are very good.Most words are spoken clearly and are easy to understand.

The biggest downside with this product is the very limited vocabulary introduced here.If you are buying this course as a basic introduction to the Czech language, it will fill your needs very well.Although, is an "Introduction" worth the nearly $250 price tag?If you are buying this course in the hopes of carrying on a conversation in Czech, think again.There is just not enough vocabulary presented.This is solely due to Pimsleurs decision to waste vast amount of CD time, repeating past lessons.While repetition may be a very effective teaching tool in a classroom setting, it's a gross waste of time with recorded media.With recorded media, if I haven't mastered, or have forgotten, the vocabulary from a previous lesson, I can always go back and replay it as many times as is necessary.While reusing words learned in previous lessons, in new context, would be a good thing, don't waste time in following lessons repeating instructions and pronunciation that have already been covered.Instead, if Pimsleur had used that time to introduce new vocabulary, the course would have been excellent.

Another major short coming with this course, is the lack of any kind of written support material.For the $240 price tag, they could have included a small dictionary, or at the very least, a written list of the new words introduced in each lesson.Such a list would also be very helpful for review.Unfortunately, you get nothing.So if you want to review what a particular word means, good luck trying to find it among the 30 lessons.Perhaps Pimsleur intentionally omitted a word list so as not to draw attention to the very small number of words covered in the course.

The final major objection I have with this product is the packaging.Packaging may sound trivial, but if you want to use this course on your daily commute, or on a trip, plan on having to buy a separate carrying case.The course comes in a huge, gaudy, cheap plastic box measuring 11x13x1.5 inches.Making it totally impossible to pop in your briefcase.And what's even worse is that the case doesn't hold the CD's securely.Whenever I close the box, the CDs would come loose and bang around against the inside of the box and the other CDs.Obviously this would cause irreparable damage to the disks.Why in the world would they not package these disks in a small CD wallet with separate sleeves for each CD?Yet another very bad decision by Pimsleur.

Bottom line; think hard before spending your money on this course.Sadly, right now there are not a lot of Czech courses to choose from.I've taken two language courses by Rosetta Stone, and they are fantastic!Unfortunately, Rosetta Stone does not yet offer Czech.I also purchased the Czech course from the Foreign Service Institute, and it's nicely done, includes a larger vocabulary, and is cheaper than Pimsleur.(Plus it also comes in a nice Prologic Case.)However the vocabulary is definitely slanted to the requirements of the statesman/politician, rather than colloquial "on the street" Czech.

Pimsleur Czech
I agree with most of what the other reviewers have said. The repetition is very helpful, even when it is driving you crazy. What I didn't like, was that the speakers go over and over certain words, but not others. With words that difficult for English speakers, they tend to not go over as much. (chtel bych) Other than that, it is great. I followed it up with Czech Step By Step (the new one) and a tutor and now I understand where the words are coming from and listening to Pimsleur is better.

Most unclear
I know it is the basis ofthe Pimsleur method to have everything delivered into the ear. But this has at least a couple of downsides, one inevitable, one aggravated by how this particular recording seems to have been done. The inevitable problem is the inability to consult some accompanying study guide either tolook up a word or phrase or for a fuller explanation about how or when, say, word order or endings are used in the manner presented on the tapes. I gather the whole method is premised on NOT studying but just following the spoken examples, as we do when children. But most of us do not have two or three years of all day interaction to pick up the language as we did so long ago. To help the process along some supplementary material (even if in phonetic approximations rather than in actual Czech) would be extremely hepful. If you can't recall the Czech word for beer, it would be nice to have a resource in which to look it up. But all of that is a built in downside to the entirely aural Pimsleur method.
Not inevitable are the shortcomings of this particular set. I agree with a previous review that not enough time is given to respond. Also there is the problem of modeling your own mastery on speakers as indistinct and inconsistent as these. Another reviewer mentions that he sometimes hears another syllable we were not led to expect on some words. I hear it too. Another problem is the speed and lack of clear articulation. It is no answer to say that this is how Czech is actually spoken in the hurly-burly of native conversation. This is designed to be a teaching model for someone to clearly understand and to follow (without, under the Pimsleur method, recourse to anything else). There are Mississippi field hands, Liverpool dock workers, and Bronx waitresses who speak a kind of standard English. Their use of the language may be regionally colored but otherwise quite correct. But I would never offer their way of treating the language as the pattern for someone learning English. If the speakers more slowly and distinctly articulated the Czech responses ( the male speaker is much worse than the female) it would be clearer how the words are making the sentance and how the endings are to be distinguished. The rapid fire mush mouth is tough to make sense of. And it would seem to be BECAUSE Czech has sounds that English speakers do not make, that the Czech articulation should be slower and more distinct, even at the risk of some artificiality.
It would also be helpful if the our prompter would offer more explanations of things we need to keep in mind. More "did you hear how. . . " and "note how the . . ." and "be careful to distinguish the X, which means Y, from the Z which is used to. . ." would clarify matters. There is some of that, but it is mostly "listen to this." Sometimes word order and sentance structure are never explained or even mentioned. Just following, then, an example is much harder, especially when the exemplar put it into one great slurred blurt.
Much more care should have been taken with articulation, explanation, and consistency. I also agree with the technical criticisms made by others about how the discs have been tracked. But that is a minor inconvenience compared with constantly backing up the disc while yelling "WHAT did he say???"

Okay for what it is
This course is alright for acquiring a very tiny amount of Czech, but it shouldn't be assumed that one will be able to function well in the language once one has finished the course.It works very well, however, as supplementary speaking practice with a good Czech text such as New Czech Step by Step.

If you plan to use the tracks on these CDs in your MP3 player, be aware that the electronic labeling of the tracks and the CDs is very sloppily.At least one CD comes up in the computer as part of an Italian course, and one as Greek.Some aren't labeled at all.

A downloadable version of this course is also available, but unfortunately it works only in Windows and on devices that work with Windows Media Player, which shuts out most of the MP3 players on the market. ... Read more

Product Description
Make new friends with the help of the revised Rough Guide Czech Phrasebook. Whether you want to book a hotel room, ask what time the train leaves or buy a drink from the bar, this pocket-sized phrasebook will have you speaking the language in no time. Laid out in a clear A-Z style, the third edition includes 16-pages of additional scenario material. The scenarios have been recorded by native Czech speakers; downloadable either to your computer or iPod – ideal for practicing your pronunciation. There is a detailed grammar section and a helpful menu and drinks list reader, perfect for choosing the right dish in a restaurant. With this phrasebook in your pocket you will never run out of things to say! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great little book.
A handy little Czech phrasebook packed with lots of current, everyday phrases that you're more likely to hear on the street (common rather than formal language). ... Read more

Product Description
BERLITZ CZECH IN 60 MINUTES

Start speaking Czech in just one hour!


Get a quick start to learning basic everyday Czech words with an all-audio course including more than 250 essential words and phrases needed to start communicating no textbook needed and no grammar rules to learn! Repetition helps learners retain what they ve heard and a 16-page booklet with audio script is provided for those who want to follow along as they listen.


Start Speaking Today:

*1 audio CD (1 hour)

*Completely portable--compatible with your iPod® or other MP3 player

*Learn by listening to native speakers

*Essential everyday language

*Reference booklet included
... Read more

Product Description
Designed to be a child's very first foreign language dictionary (5-10 years). 500 entries, each accompanied by a large illustration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

AWESOME in every way!
From the moment I researched this book until it arrived in my mailbox, everything was so easy and the quality of the book was superb!The bookstore even contacted me via email to be certain I was pleased with my purchase!What a find!Thanks.

Dictionary great for English speakers.
The Hippocrene Children's Illustrated Czech Dictionary is filled with great pictures of everyday items. A child or adult wishing to learn the language through naming items and learning verbs will find it easy to do with this dictionary. The pictures are cleverly illustrated, and the Czech word is given in the English and Czech languages accompanied by the English phonetic pronunciation of the Czech words. This is not a true dual dictionary, however. We wanted to give it as a gift to a Czech child to learn English. No phonetic pronunciation was given for the English words, and the English phonetic pronunciation for the Czech was confusing to the Czechs. It definitely is made for the English-speaking person trying to learn Czech; then it is delightful. ... Read more

Product Description
With a keen eye for revealing details, Hillel J. Kieval examines the contours and distinctive features of Jewish experience in the lands of Bohemia and Moravia (the present-day Czech Republic), from the late eighteenth to the late twentieth century. In the Czech lands, Kieval writes, Jews have felt the need constantly to define and articulate the nature of group identity, cultural loyalty, memory, and social cohesiveness, and the period of "modernizing" absolutism, which began in 1780, brought changes of enormous significance. From that time forward, new relationships with Gentile society and with the culture of the state blurred the traditional outlines of community and individual identity. Kieval navigates skillfully among histories and myths as well as demography, biography, culture, and politics, illuminating the maze of allegiances and alliances that have molded the Jewish experience during these 200 years. ... Read more

Product Description
Developed by Professor Michael Heim (UCLA), the text contains grammar, extensive model sentences, and exercises (Part 1) and a series of review lessons (Part 2). Vocabulary and sentences are recorded along with a selection of exercises. Czech-English, English-Czech glossaries are provided. This intermediate course is particularly helpful for those who have a command of Russian. 3 audio CDs and a 271-p. text. Product no. AFCZ10D ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Another reader
This book serves as an excelent reference for learners of Czech -- far better than any book you'd run into in your average book store.It has been my staple and savior for years of learning and using Czech, and I still depend upon it for reference.The russian examples, as mentioned by a previous reviewer, are extensive.This is excellent for a slavophile such as myself, coming to Czech after studying Russian.The book does not rely upon them entirely for explanation, however, leaving its usefullness unscathed should the reader have no prior familiarity with slavic languages.My only cause for disappointment is the exercises, which I found to be entirely insufficient.If you won't be practicing Czech frequently otherwise, look elsewhere for a workbook, but keep this one as your grammar bible!

Great Book
The last person to review this book was not satisfied due to the large amount of Russian examples in the book.I think the evaluation is quite critical and in my opinion, quite wrong.The book covers czech.It occasionally mentions a russian example for those who have a knowledge of that language.It is particularly useful because there are grammatical topics in czech which look like russian but are not used as often as in russian speech or writing(compare czech mozne vs. russian mojno).There are also examples that point to similar attributes between the two languages.As the author states in the preface, it is not necessary to know russian to use this book succesfully.In fact, every concept that uses russian, also has an explanation without the use of russian.The russian examples are merely side notes which can be useful to those with a knowledge of russian, but are by no means essential.In fact one can flip by many pages on which no russian examples are present.In all, this is a first rate book.I recommend it to anyone with or without a knowledge of russian.

The Abridged Version
Unless you speak Russian, tear out everything but the first chapter and the appendices, and call it an "abridged" language reference.The first few pages give the best, most concise explanation of grammaticalcases I've ever seen.In less than an hour an average student willunderstand that which professors/teachers spend months trying to get acrossto English-speaking students. Then the author immediately jumps intolengthy comparisons of differences between Russian and Czech, leavingbeginning students dizzy from "extraneous information overload." As a result, the wonderful appendices may be overlooked in the haste tofind an easier second language.

Like the first chapter, the Appendicesare very concise, as grammatical tables ought to be.My fellow studentsand I actually spent hours copying them onto poster-sized paper for thewall, and miniaturizing them for laminated pocket references.As the modelwords for the "declensions", or "cases" (see Chapter1), the author actually used the SAME model words that Czech studentslearned in grammar school.I can't explain how much of a help that is! (The only improvement I can suggest for the tables, would be for the authorto label what each word is the model for.For example:"kniha - hardfeminine", "hrdina - masculine animate ending in 'a'",etc.")

The first few pages and the last few pages became dog-earedand worn, while everything in the middle is still virgin white.Buy it,"abridge" it, and use it in conjunction with a different book.

Excellent learning resource
I found Contempory Czech by Michael Heim to be an excellent learning tool for Czech IF you already know and understand another foreign language. In fact, Heim even states that his book is intended for Slavophiles who'vealready been exposed to other Slavic languages, particularly Russian.Overall, it's an excellently written grammar.

A decent choice for the intermediate academic learner.
The thing I like most about this book is that it offers many sentences in Czech to give you an idea of how sentences are structured. It also includes a nice review section. On the other hand, it immediately throws you intorather complex grammatical forms with minimal explanation. You'll findyourself discussing Czech and Russian literature before you can ask wherethe library is. In this sense, the book is aimed more at academia than atpractical use. There are exercises throughout the text. However, the authorchose not to provide the answers, maybe because the book was intended forclassroom use. That can be very frustrating when you're learning Czech"sám/sama"(solo), as there is no way to be absolutely sure thatyour answers are correct. Also, it would be nice if the book offered moreexamples of conjugations and declensions, concepts native English speakersrarely consider. In summary, for someone who already knows the basics ofCzech or knows Russian or another Slavic language, this book will probablybe quite helpful. But if you're new to Slavic languages, you may very wellfeel left behind from the outset and might prefer a book like David Short's"Teach Yourself Czech." ... Read more

Product Description
This second edition of the popular Colloquial Czech has been rewritten to bring it completely up to date. Written by an experienced teacher, the course offers a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Czech. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Czech is spoken by over 10 million people and is closely related to the other members of the Slavic family of languages but, unlike Russian, uses the Roman alphabet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Not for Beginners
I don't understand the positive reviews given to this program.Yes, the book might be useful as a text, but the audio part of the program is next to useless for beginners. After the short audio introduction on pronunciation, the program proceeded to rattle off conversations which were unintelligible and impossible to imitate since there was no time for repetition.I tried to use the book to help, but found that the conversations did not follow the lessons presented there!

If you want to try and learn to read Czech, maybe this is OK, but if you want to learn to speak the language I highly recommend the Pimsleur beginning Czech. After Pimsleur I plan on getting the Foreign Service Institute Czech series.

Perfect for Beginners
After ressearching and reading review after review trying to find the very best "teach-yourself" Czech course, I stumbled upon this. This book is incredible. Everything you need to know to build a strong foundation in the language. The book includes two cassettes (who uses these still I do not know) and two cd's. I ripped the cd's onto my iPod, and can study just about anywhere :) The cd's have native and non-native speakers of Czech, so you can hear the language as it actually sounds. I have read several books on the Czech language, and not one comes close to being as comprehensive as this. A+. If you are relocating to Prague, as I am, or simply desire to learn a very confusing language with relative ease, buy this book. You will not regret it.

Very good product
I dont think this is the best language course pack, but it's the best you can do for teaching yourself Czech... let's face it, there really arent many options on Czech books. I think the learning process the book follows is excellent. It teaches you all the case forms and declinations, etc. Which a lot of language packs dont do.

The only negative thing about this book is that the audio cd's that go with it are too fast for complete beginners. In most language tapes, you get to listen to the dialog in slow speed so you can learn pronounciation, etc.... then the dialog is repeated at normal conversational pace. But on this cd, you can only listen at normal conversational pace, which is too fast to grasp things when you're just starting out. But if you can make it through about the 1st couple of chapters, you'll be fine and the speed wont be much of an issue anymore.

I'd definitely recommend this product for people wishing to learn Czech. Dont take a chance on the other Czech books, because I researched those and they all looked like crap. Unless you can get ahold of the books the universities use (which are hard to find and costly) then get the Colloquial Czech series.

This Book Saved Me
I got this book years ago when I was living in Prague. I had learned some by immersion and by studying on my own using whatever grammar book I could find. What most native-Czech speakers told me back then was, "You will never learn Czech; don't even try." I rarely met a non-native Czech speaker. Most Americans there didn't even bother. But I did, but not without some struggles.

I struggled for the first six months until this book started floating around the ex-pat community. Immediately after finding a copy of my own, things started looking up. I had some bilingual Czech friends who helped me out. What they liked about the book is that it was, in their opinion, a fine example of regular spoken speech, even with amusing dialogues.

If you don't know Czech grammar, I can briefly summarize it as being only slightly more complicated than Russian. It has 7 cases of declination. At the time (1993?), I think what was so revolutionary about this book is that it didn't teach all of the Czech grammar, but just what you would find most often in day-to-day conversation, or at least what you should know at a minimum. Just to say, "I'd like a glass of water" is complicated. You can't say anything until you understand that every word in a sentence will have a different ending depending on how the word is used in a sentence. It's not enough to learn vocabulary, conjugation and tenses. Even the numbers change, depending on how they're used in a sentence.

I think it helps to live in the country to appreciate the book. I purchased the Russian version of this book, and also Castillian Spanish, but this was back in the states, outside of a live context. It wasn't the same.

Important Western Slavic language
I got this book (no cassettes or CDs came with mine) for a half-semester course I took on Czech history and culture; those of us who wanted stayed behind after class with our professor to learn some Czech.He didn't assign any book for those of us who were interested in the optional language part, but this was the only book on Czech I could find at the off-campus textbook store.As a native speaker, the professor thought it was really good.Of course it doesn't have the most comprehensive dictionary in the back, but that's to be expected with any teach yourself language book.You have to go out and get a real Czech-English dictionary if you're inspired enough to keep learning.

Czech isn't an easy language, but I found it easier than many would, already being familiar with the Russian language.Czech is a Western Slavic tongue and Russian is Eastern, but they're maybe about 75% similar, with some regional changes (for example, many words starting in G in Russian are exactly or nearly the same in Czech, only they start in H, such as hrad/grad [castle]).And even though the accent marks over the consonants can give some people a hard time at first, at least Czech is written in the Roman alphabet.And as the professor told me, it's 98-99% similar to Slovakian, my paternal grandpap's native language, so learning Czech meant I could talk to him and understand most of what he said.Since it's so hard to find a good dictionary or instructional volume on the Slovakian language, this book on Czech is a real bargain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

So-so
It is good if you want to learn a wide range of things. It has lots of phrases, and the phrase book is small enough to carry around, and you can use the index to flip right to pages with sentences using the word you looked up. For actual learning i dont think it is that great though. The tapes only say each phrase twice, and not slowly enough. Also, this set is just words and phrases- there are no activites or anything to give you practice using the language. If you just want to pick up some words for a trip, sure get this product, but for really learning some of the language i would suggest investing a little more $ in a more educational product.

Convenient tool for travelers
I recomment this book for someone planning to visit Czecho Republic both on business or pleasure. The contents covered most of the situations we might encounter in the country and some crucial terms for emergency. Mostsentences are concise and not long enough to make you feel tired ofrepeating them. Since the textbook is very compact, you can carry it inyour bag, as well as your portable cassete taperecoder, and show some ofthe sentences to people, ask them to write down the answer. I would neversay that you will become able to speak Czecho fluently by just learning theexpressions in this book. But at least, you will be a bit familiar with oneof the most complexed language in Europe. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 7,500 entries
Includes a phonetic guide to pronunciation in both languages
A glossary of Czech menu terms
Perfect for students and travelers
Completely modern and up-to-date ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

This dictionary is more than adequate
I purchased this dictionary some years back, in conjunction with the 'Hugo Czech in three months' language package.
First up, all the rubbish presented here regarding the font etc. is entirely irrelevant. (If aesthetics is your primary concern, then channel your interests elsewhere.) Secondly, there are absolutely NO problems with the lexical content, and every lexical item (in the Czech section) is accompanied by its relevant gender marking, includingparts of speech, i.e. noun, adjective etc.
Subsequent to the aforementioned purchase, I went on to acquire many more Czech language-learning resources, Josef Fronek's massive English-Czech Dictionary being the costliest of these purchases.
Now, whilst little argument remains that Fronek's lexical tome stands out as the giant-killer of all Czech-English dictionaries, I still find myself constantly referring back to Trnka's little book. Why, you may ask, when Fronek's is within easy reach on my study desk? The simple answer is the instant accessibility of Trnka's... Fronek's is chock full of helpful turns-of-phrase that provide great examples of the various words in use, in both the Czech and English sections, and the list of synonyms is an ever useful and reliable source in itself, but if it's a quick reference that I'm after, and I can't be fagged wading through a rainforest of dense headings and numbered references, then Trnka's concise edition is the one - its straightforward approach, coupled with the added benefit of gender and part of speech references (which Fronek's and many others fail to provide) makes this a winner. Trnka's is also the only one that accompanies me on any journey outside of the house, whether it's to the Czech Republic, or the cafe at the end of the street... Fronek's size & weight simply renders any such undertaking as an entirely unsustainable exercise!
Bear in mind that every negative comment you've read here (including the positive ones), all amount to nothing more that personal opinion. Both dictionaries mentioned here are entirely deserving of merit. If, however, portability and compactness, coupled with reliable and accessible information are what you're after, then this dictionary (Trnka's) fits the bill.

The WORST dictionary (maybe even book) I have ever graced my eyes upon
This Czech dictionary caught my eye as I was in a physical bookstore (sorry Amazon), because I have barely ever seen Czech dictionaries in real life. Because I was buying many other books that day, I did not have a chance to look at the content; I just picked it up, and went to the register. As I arrived in my hotel room, I started to pull out my books and then saw the seemingly smexy dictionary that I had just bought. I started to flip through the pages, and the horrific font just gazed back at me, as if had just punched me in the face. If you are looking at my review, and you are planning to buy the book, just click the "look inside" button at the top, and look at the print. Then, I started to look at what was written, and it didn't impress me at all. Next to the Czech words there is no IPA, which is almost a no brainer thing to put in a foreign language dictionary. Then, it only got worse as I flipped to the back cover of the dictionary. It claimed that the dictionary only had 7,500 entries, which is laughable by many other dictionaries' standards; my small and compact Merriam Webster French Dictionary has over 100,000 entries!

I have found that the only reason to buy this book is for satirical purposes, and even then...

A great little Czech dictionary
In my quest to learn Czech, I have now purchased four pocket English/Czech dictionaries, this being the last of the four.I have now cast the other three away.This book is obviously directed to native English speakers trying to learn Czech.The pronunciation guide is very easy to use.My only complaint about the book is the "typewriter" script it uses.I would prefer seeing more of a standard type style, such as is used in the other Hippocrene books I own.As a side note, I am impressed with all my Hippocrene language books.

very basic
This is a VERY basic dictionary. It is set with a single simple font and doesn't have much help if any for common phrases or usage. Just basic word with a list of translated words. It is nothing close to what I have for Spanish. It is better than nothing and cheap.

Buyer Beware
This book is a cheaply made piece of junk.The font for the script looks like someone's typewriter, and the "book" literally fell apart within the first day, the pages pulling away from the cheap glue used in the binding.This is a DO NOT BUY. ... Read more

Product Description

Live the cultural life in the Czech Republic – immerse yourself in a Dvorák symphony or chill out at a Prague jazz club. With the special section on architecture you’ll know your Gotika from you Rokoko. Or if that's not your scene, get out of town, stay in a chalupa and hike in the mountains or swim in a jezero. And in the evenings, chat soccer with the locals over a piva. Nazdravi!

• clear pronunciation guide and transliterations throughout to make sure you’ll be understood
• packed with phrases for shopping, eating and drinking
• confidently roam around the Czech Republic with essential travel talk
• camping, hiking and cycling sections to get you outdoors and into the action
• special section on architectural styles
• extensive two-way dictionary

Customer Reviews (8)

czech please
ideal for long trips, but impossible to digest on a whim during short stays.it is definitely a good idea to practice beforehand as this is not an easy language to acquire.

VERY POOR- CHOOSE ALTERNATIVES
American bashing is for pedantic cave people. Regarding this book, it is perhaps the poorest language tool for acquiring Czech on the market. It might look nice in its package, and Lonely Planet might lend confidence in the product, however my review comes from 2 sides. From Czech Speakers themselves, and as learner of the language to whom this book was left to me.

Let me just say this, if my Czech friends want to have a laugh, they request I bring this book with me to the pub! Avoid this book and demand quality fromLonely Planet, not a half baked product out to suck quick tourist money.....

GET THE VERSION WITH THE ATTACHED CD!!!
The person who pointed out the problems with the phonetic translations in this book is completely correct.I'm not saying this just because I'm an American and I expect everyone to speak as I do (if I felt that way, why would I be using this book?).The thing is that the Czech language isn't very similar to English.If I had pronounced "prosim" (the most useful word in Czech) as "prah-sim" (the way this book leads you to believe) I would have been completely wrong.Fortunately, the version I bought also came with a CD.(The CD doesn't follow the book, but it still has the important words and phrases.)The point is: YOU MUST LISTEN TO AUDIO RECORDINGS OF CZECH IN ORDER TO PRONOUNCE IT PROPERLY.No matter how good the phonetic transcription is, Czech is just too different from English to sound it out.

Good, but with a few problems...
I am not a language specialist, but I found some flaws with this book,most especially with the phoenetics written next to the Czech text.For example, according to the book, the letter o sounds like "the o in 'dot'".Now this makes perfect sense within the context of the book.But in the introduction, it tells us the author "was born and educated in Czechoslovakia, and has been living in Australia since 1983."This tells me that the guide to the vowels are based upon the Australian/British vowel system.So the Australian pronunciation of "dot" has a more pronounced "o", while the American "dot" sounds almost like an "ah."My concerns of this were proven when I listened to recordings of certain Czech phrases by native speakers ("prosim," or "please," does not sound like "prah-seem," like the book may lead an American to deduce).

Also, vial phrases to traveling are hidden in various places in the book.The phrase "where are the toilets" is hidden on page 205, under "emergencies..."I don't categorize needing a toilet as a true emergency (like the phrase "it's an emergency!")But then the most complex phrases are located in the beginning of the book ("Are you here on holiday?" and "How long are you here for?")Perhaps it's just me, but as a traveler in a foreign country, I want to learn the basic phrases before in-depth conversation starters.And, with all due respect, how am I ever to understand the response to the phrase "Are you here on holiday?" in Czech?!!

This book has thousands of phrases you will never need to know.If you want to be able to ask questions and UNDERSTAND the responses, perhaps a real language book or formal class is necessary.And if you can memorize all the phrases in this book before leaving for the Czech Republic, then you probably don't need this book!By the time you find the phrase you need in the heat of the moment, the conversation is dead.

For the information in the book, it is surprisignly compact.The introduction to the language and the culture in the foreword to the book is extensive and informative.

Some of my favorite phrases:

Prilezitostne si dam kokain ("I take heroine occasionaly")
Nerozumel jsem tomu dobre ("I had a few problems with the language")

Yeah, I wonder why.

If you REALLY want to be able to use most of the phrases in this book effectively, you need a language class!This book will give you the essential phrases, but you had better find their page number before leaving on your trip, or you will have your nose buried in its 281 pages!

CZECH Phrasebook
Very consise and compact and easy to use.

Wish I had ordered it in LARGE print. ... Read more