Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Learning Program
Review: I have been studying German in one format or the other since 1993. I have tried many different ways to learn and absorb the language in an environment where I have no exposure to it. I have attended classes both at Berlitz and another school; tried innumerable home study programs including computer-based training and found without a doubt this program to be not only the best designed but the one with the greatest retention capability. Even after a 6-month break from studying I can still reccount most of what I learned in many of the chapters I stuidied.Learning a language is a highlyt repetitive task and as a result sometimes a difficult and even boring one. However, this is the only course where I have found that "starting over" at times produces the best and most consistent results. The single qualification I would recommend to any one considering purchasing this course whereupon they will be teaching themselves that they gain a familiarity with the basics of the German language with a very simple learning program. This course, and similar such courses as that of the "Foreign Service", begin right with the language. There is no English instruction except for the workbook. As a result one who is not used to some of the nuances of the language may find initial studying more difficult than necessary.
Rating:
Summary: Ultimate German, perfect for motivated self-learners
Review: I highly recommend this set (book and CD's) for motivated self-learners. I completed this book, which covers the equivalent of 2 years of college study, in less than 6 months. A college German professor who has seen my writing and heard my speaking, was impressed with the mastery I achieved with this set. The CD set designed for "On the Go" learning is fabulous for commuting. Hearing vocabulary and grammar concepts helps to cement them in the mind. This type of learning requires some self-discipline, but I found that about a half hour with the book and about a half hour with the CD per day was sufficient.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty package, but...
Review: I was not happy with this book, I found it boring without pictures, just black-white text. It didn't keep me motivated. The CDs included are also not very funny.
Rating: 
Summary: A very helpful resource
Review: If you are looking for some self-education resource for learning German (read+write+speak+listen), and are wondering if you should buy the Living Language Intermediate German set, then the brief answer is : Yes, buy it, it is useful, and well worth the money. In the set there is a manual with 40 chapters in it, each chapter devoted to one aspect of German grammar (eg, one chapter for general subjunctive mood in the present tense). There are two sets A and B of 4 CDs each. Each chapter in the book has a conversation (and some pronunciation related things) that is recorded in the CDs of set A. The CDs in set B are independent of the book, and provide variants of the same dialog as in CD A, but require your participation (ie, you have to answer in German to the recorded questions). It is fun. However, the level rises pretty fast, and be prepared to go through the same CD a number of times before you can pick up all the details. There is one very bad point about the book. It has quite a few typos. They range from silly mistakes in the English instructions that you can see easily, to a few typos in the German word endings, which can confuse you for quite sometime. I had finished April Wilson's excellent book "German Quickly" before starting on this book, and that helped me a lot to steer clear of the typos. In fact, as the title suggests, it is for intermediate German, and so one should better learn the basics before venturing with this book. April Wilson's book is a perfect choice for that, in my opinion. Also, neither the book nor the CDs are supposed to be substitutes for a dictionary. You will NEED a English-German dictionary to go through the book. Not all the words used in the book are explained at the end. I used a Harper-Collins pocket edition dictionary, and it answered my needs well. But if you are not short on budget and are serious about learning German, then invest in a large dictionary (like Oxford Duden or Harper Collins).
Rating:
Summary: Yet another 5- star review for Ultimate German...
Review: Pros:
If you're interested in seriously studying German, Ultimate German is the course to get. I decided to buy this book because of all the good reviews for it on Amazon.com, and I am very pleased that I did. This is an extremely thorough, well explained and well written program. The concepts are introduced so that they build logically on one another and are presented in a clear and readable manner. The dialogues and situations throughout the book are realistic, enjoyable and full of useful phrases. There are small quizzes after every chapter and review quizzes after every five. At the end of each set of ten chapters is a German reading selection- mostly to accustom the reader to finding the main idea of a piece of writing without understanding every word. There are also interesting and informative cultural tips at the end of each chapter. Another point in favor of Ultimate German is that it includes the plurals for nearly all the nouns in the vocabulary lists. In the back of the workbook is a summary of grammatical concepts, a glossary, a listing of the changes enacted by the German Spelling Reform, and more. At the end of this course you don't have only a few memorized phrases that are meant to guide hapless tourists, but a strong and solid beginning to real knowledge of the German language.
Cons:
Other reviewers have written that it's helpful to know a bit of basic German before starting this book, which is probably true. I don't know fom personal experience because I did have some knowledge of the language before I began using Ultimate German. However, I get the feeling that if you don't, although you may have a hard time at first and have to go very slowly, you'll still survive. A greater drawback is the number of typos in the textbook. Although they aren't everywhere, there are enough to be annoying and, at times, confusing.
My Own Suggestions:
Since there is so much information in this book (the equivalent, according to the book's cover, of two full years of college- level study), I found it helpful to have a notebook for all the important points and vocabulary words of each chapter, and I also think it's worthwhile to look over the book again after you finish it. I recommend using the Pimsleur program in addition to this one to get used to conversational speaking, but Pimsleur is very expensive, so try getting either a library copy or a used one. I also recommend going to the website of Das Erste (one of Germany's TV stations), where you can download news broadcasts using Real Player or Windows Media Player. At first they may seem extremely difficult to understand, but if you keep at it you'll eventually understand more and more.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: There are a lot of German tapes and CDs out there (believe me I've looked at them all, and even have bought a few others as well), but this one really is excellent. I actually feel confident speaking and understanding German after using this. The lessons are current and interesting (and not totally outdated, like the ... beware!) and the instruction is intelligent, without moving too fast. But the best part is this method they have. It really works. This ... it's really worth it. You won't be disappointed.
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