<p>As I'm going into my PhD in medieval history in a few years, I have to learn several languages. I taught myself Latin from Wheelock's, but now I need to learn French and German (I took a couple years of German in high school, but that was a long time ago). The problem I'm encountering is that most language books (especially for French) are either immersion method or concentrate on phrases. These types of books do my no good - I need a strong understanding of grammar and other language rules. Learning how to say, "I prefer eggs for breakfast" really doesn't help me! Wheelock's was terrific for that - now I need the same in French and German.</p>
<p>If anyone out there learned French and/or German (independently or in a class) and had a really good textbook that taught solid grammar, what was the title of the book/books?</p>
<p>yeah
for the most part books suck, unless you already know somewhat how to speak it, and the grammer.</p>
<p>Theyre only reall good for dictionarys and verbs.</p>
<p>i reccomend you get a private tutor or somethin, that will teach you how to speak the language from scratch.</p>
<p>Im a junior in highschool, and
my private college counselor told me that i should get one (i love languages) so i could get a head in school.</p>
<p>Starting in january im getting a tutor in spanish and japanese
im in spanish 4 right now,
and my counselor says that the one on one time u get from a tutor helps you learn like 5 times faster. He said when i take ap spanish it should be a walk in the park
as for japanese,
i havent taken any yet
but after being tutored, my senior year ill probably start in japanese 3, and then take honors japanese 4</p>
<p>I don't want a tutor or classes - they're too expensive and I'm already taking grad classes, so no time. Thanks though - I really need just the names of some books.</p>
<p>On the topic of a foreign language and a PhD I was wondering what level of proficiency is generally expected to pass this requirement? Why do some programs want this? I can see the reasoning behind knowing a foreign language if you are doing history, classics, archeology but there are some programs in for example Sociology that require one to speak a foreign language?</p>
<p>Thanks for the book list, DRAb, I'll have to check some of them out. I was hoping someone had personal experience with French books and could share, but your list is the closest next best thing!</p>
<p>Blobof - Yes, I realize medieval Latin is different. But I can't learn medieval Latin until I learn classical Latin. In fact, the medieval Latin class I am going to take requires approximately 2 years of college classical Latin. Hence the Wheelock's, which between the book and the Reader cover about the first 2 years.</p>
<p>psmyth - Check your institution's requirements carefully. If you're in sociology, I have no idea why you would need foreign language. For history, it's a vital research skill, especially for non-U.S. While the department may say "reading knowledge" and cite the translation test, it's also important to know whether you will need the language for other classes. For example, Harvard runs reading classes to help prepare for the exams. On the medieval reading list are books in both French and German. I don't think I could get by with just a passable reading knowledge, to be honest. Plus, the more fluent you are, the better research you will do. If you're struggling with the language, you may miss the meaning in the document (and be thoroughly embarrassed by your advisor), and it will also take you twice as long to research, as you're spending way more time on each document. I want to attain a decent level of fluency in each of the languages before starting my PhD, both as an important skill an so I don't have to work on languages while getting slammed by crazy classes.</p>
<p>I was more curious than anything. I am lucky that I was born in a non english speaking country so I am fluent in a latin based language and have a good working knowledge of another one. A few of the sociology Phds I was looking at required a foreign language but they were in the minority. Thanks for answering my question.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Blobof - Yes, I realize medieval Latin is different. But I can't learn medieval Latin until I learn classical Latin. In fact, the medieval Latin class I am going to take requires approximately 2 years of college classical Latin. Hence the Wheelock's, which between the book and the Reader cover about the first 2 years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, in your case it's clear. My brother went to the UK where he was only asked whether he had done any latin before, which he did, a long time ago in high school, though he could barely remember declinations. Since there was only "beginner's" and "advanced" he got stuck in the latter, where he had to translate complicated battle accounts as opposed to the Lord's prayer...</p>