Jump-Start Your Learning, September 22, 2001

I can't say enough good things about this book. There's so much useful information, including common words and how to pronounce them. Best of all, it's presented in an entertaining, fun way that makes you want to use it. In addition to reading, you have to write the words and phrases, which as anyone knows from school is the key to remembering what you've learned. I particularly like the stickers for rooms and items around your house. Every time you look at the item or room you see the sticker and this helps to reinforce the Norwegian words. Before long you're counting to yourself or looking at things and mentally saying the Norwegian word. Finally, there are cut-out flash cards and a laminated pocket guide to take with you so that you can work at learning Norwegian wherever you are. I wish there were intermediate and advanced versions of the book. This truly does make learning fun. I highly recommend it.

Great!, March 6, 2001

I teach English to immigrants and international students in the U.S., so I'm very familiar with techniques for teaching and learning languages. If you are not planning on actually taking a class, I would say that this book is excellent. It provides tips on pronunciation based on American English. (Most other books don't have the pronunciation tips, but you have to spend extra money on a cassette or CD.) The person who complained about the book missed one important factor. This book provides language than gradually integrates it into the "directions." Most book give directions in English only, this one substitutes those words that you've learned already in Norwegian! It also does what is called "Scaffolding" - they introduce an idea or word in one place, then re-introduce it later. This book is also very colorful and offers flash cards, sticky-labels and more! Personally, I recommend the English as a Second Language version of this book to my beginning level students- because if you really are interested in learning the language, this is a very inexpensive and effective tool. The down side to this book is that some of the sticky-labels don't make any sense. For instance, where are you supposed to stick "Good morning???" Others, like "Kitchen" or "glass" are better. I would recommend doing this book first and then moving on to "Teach Yourself Norwegian" - or use both at the same time, because they reinforce each other.

A good help in expanding your vocabulary, May 24, 2000
Reviewer: A reader
I see another review on this book and I believe that author missed the point of this book. The objective of this book is not to have you write a sentence in English then translate to Norwegian, nor be a comprehensive source for learning Norwegain, but expand your vocabulary used in learning the language.

The book has several mutually supportive exercises in expanding vocabulary and proper word usage. There are sentences with fill-in-the-blank missing words. There are little stickers to help you memorize the names of common household items. There are also exercises that help with gender, numbers, and common expressions.

This book is definately not going to teach you Norwegian except when used with other resources, but this is a great addition to the other tools that one uses to learn Norwegian.

Stickers were the only useful part., March 24, 1999

This book tries to get the learner to translate sentences into Norwegian by substituting isolated words and phrases. What the learner does, instead, is translates the Norwegian word or phrase into English and goes on reading the sentence! The sticker labels were the only useful part of this book, in my opinion. I have been studying and teaching Norwegian for years, and could suggest other books that are more helpful than this one.