Complete Serbian Beginner to Intermediate Course: Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language (Teach Yourself)

Great conversations to listen to and follow in Latin or Cyrillic text.

great product

Not a bad book but they should really offer an mp3 download of the audio files, which are essential to the book. Who has a CD drive these days?

I was learning Serbian for about six months, but when I got this book, it was very helpful. The CD is very helpful with hearing how the language sounds, but the book is just as good without the CD. The explanations of grammar rules are very helpful, and the book teaches both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabet, and truly gives you an understanding of the language. And unlike some lessons, it teaches you useful things that you will actually use, with each chapter based off of a different experience in a trip to Serbia.

Beware this book did not come with two cds. Book also came banged up and with a cut along the front of the book.

Over the years I've tried out various self-study language books, and the range of quality is quite wide. This book rates as one of the best I've encountered, with short dialogues, **useful** vocabulary, and gradual exposure to grammatical structures. It's easy to create an account to access all the audio files on line. The only complaint I have is that the speakers on the audio files talk at a very fast pace -- it's almost like they are in a hurry to finish each dialogue. It makes the conversations very difficult to follow, even while reading the text. I appreciate the benefits of hearing language samples at a natural speed, but for beginners, it makes it very difficult when there is no hint of slowing down just a bit. This complaint aside, I can recommend the book for self-study.

Book looks nice but CDs are not available as it is described. It’s written that audio is online but there is no link or instructions. But book by itself by now looks helpful

I bought this book for my daughter to provide some structure as she practices Serbian with me - I am a native and a translator, she was bilingual as a kid but forgot most of the language during her school years (she's in college now). I find the book very difficult to use, it is confusing even to me (I speak/dream/ think in both languages) let alone a foreigner. First, the format is small and pages packed with information which can be intimidating right off the bat. Second, the book uses both Cyrillic and Latin alphabet, in the first chapter both alphabets for all text, then alternatively one alphabet in one chapter, the other one in the next, etc. In introducing the 2 alphabets not only do we see each letter (its lower and upper case) but also a number above it. Why? Nobody ever refers to letter number 3 or 5, it just makes for a cluttered page. It is true that in Serbia you will find both alphabets used, however in recent years they have moved more towards Cyrillic. I think it would be much better to stick to one alphabet and create 2 different versions of the book using Cyrillic and Latin alphabet respectively. Unless you are a foreign languages whiz it would be easier to master the language in one alphabet and then simply learn the other alphabet. Certainly, a comparison of the 2 alphabets would be helpful but you will go berserk if you try to follow this book (2 alphabets, a bunch of tenses, formal and informal You, 6 different forms of a verb in just the present tense... something's gotta give). Additionally, the conversational texts sound formal without an indication that they are formal, though granted, this is where you need a teacher to warn you of the nuances. For example, "Dobar dan" is given as the equivalent of "Good day" - I don't think anyone in the US (perhaps in England?) would ever say that in the 21st century (sounds archaic), they would say "Good afternoon." Although "Good day" is the literal translation and it keeps the meaning of the phrase in the originating language it is the equivalent of "Good afternoon." It is always difficult to write a good handbook for beginning students of a foreign language and Serbian presents extra difficulties but don't count on this book making it any easier for you. In my case, I will be creating my own lessons for my daughter.

Great for beginners

As a student of languages who has studied many before, with many different resources, this is such a unique and fun course to learn the Serbian language, I highly recommend it!

I received this item the day after i ordered which is great but returned it immediately due to inaccurate product description. My expectation with this was when I ordered and paid $70.90 for this, I'd be receiving exactly what's advertised. Firstly, it is not a 400-page book. 380 pages. I'm not making a huge fuss about it but i need to make a point about false advertising, i felt mislead by this. Secondly no CDs are available as described. The bottom left hand of the book cover says "audio included" with an icon of a CD, however i checked the book and there is no further information or instructions on where and how to access the audio online. There are a lot of audio lessons in the book, so having the cd's or the instructions on how to access it is essential. Thirdly - the book isn't a hardcover one as advertised.

I love it , but the bad part I cant have the audio on my mobile ..

The book is quite nice, but it arrived without the audio CDs, which are very important for me and my reason for buying this book in the first place.