Language World

Slovakia 

Excellent Resource, August 20, 2001
Reviewer: Don Yancheson from Garden City, KS United States
I used this phrasebook while traveling in Slovakia this year. Since I know nothing of the language, the extensive list of phrases was very helpful. It's easy to use--find the general heading in the table of contents, locate the specific phrase, point to it and watch the smile of understanding appear on the face of the person you're trying to communicate with! The English-Slovak and Slovak-English dictionary in the back is also helpful in those unique situations where a phrase is not available. A few times I handed the Slovak-English dictionary to a person and they were able to communicate through it. Its small size is perfect for carrying in a back pocket or large shirt pocket. Highly recommend this book!

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Good introduction to the Slovak language - with some flaws, 11 November, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from Emsworth, UK
"Beginner's Slovak" begins with information and history about Slovakia, which some may find extraneous when the objective is to learn the language. However, there is reasonable coverage of grammar throughout, with a number of example conversations translated into English. The book does not contain any exercises - it is simply a case of "read and learn". There is a basic glossary of terms and useful expressions at the end, although a definitve list of common verbs is sorely missing. Overall, a worthwhile buy if the intention is to simply gain a basic knowledge of the language.

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Very Concise, 10 September, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from London United Kingdom
If you are a complete beginner and have no prior knowledge of the Slovak language, it is probably best to avoid this dictionary as it has many limitations. Firstly, the phonetic spelling of many slovak words is misleading, while the book also has a very limited amount of words. That said, this dictionary is a handy companion for those who have prior knowledge of Slovak and who possess a more extensive and useful guide to the language. If you are looking to learn the language from scratch, you are probably best buying a concise phrase book instead!

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A dictionary and useful phrasebook in one, 15 November, 2000
Reviewer: Ed Hesketh from Lancaster, England
This dictionary is a good reference for anyone new to learning Slovak. Not only does it include a short section at the beginning on language and pronunciation, it also acts as a useful phrasebook. Most of the words in the English/Slovak section of the dictionary have relevent phrases linked to those words. For example, look up the word 'buy' and you will find Slovak phrases for 'where can I buy...?' and 'I'd like to buy...'. Personaly I found this layout a lot more helpful than most standard phrasebooks and its surprisingly easy to find the phrases you are looking for.

On the down side the Slovak/English part of the dictionary only makes up 50 pages of the book and is therefore not very useful for those wanting to translate from Slovak text, especialy those new to the language.

I'd recommend this book as a phrasebook and a language guide for anyone wanting to translate, what they want to say in English, into Slovak. It could therefore prove useful for someone visiting Slovakia with little or no knowledge of the language. However anyone only interested in buying a dictionary may be advised to look for something more substantial.

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Excellent for tourists or beginners, September 10, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Washington State, USA
I lived in Slovakia for two years, during which I had to pick up the language mostly by myself. When I discovered this book partway into the second year I was delighted. It is excellent for any English speaker, easy to understand and very to follow. The only drawback is for missionaries and diplomats - those who are MOVING to the country. By the time you get to the chapters on grocery shopping and going to the post office you might have died of starvation! Skip to these right away and don't be afraid to take the book with you into stores. Have a good time!

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An Excellent Book for Learning Slovak!!!, April 19, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from San Diego, CA
I had been searching for a comprehensive yet simplified text book for the Slovak language for several years with out any luck whatsoever. The language books I had gotten hold of previously were not thorough enough for my tastes. Of course I was put off by the price for this book and cassettes but I decided to buy it because I had read that the Department of Defense recommended it for their employees stationed in Slovakia. For myself, who is serious about learning Slovak, I never regretted spending this money and think it is a good investment for anyone with real interest.

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