It's a good book if you are lacking English grammar knowledge. If you can't understand the rules for grammar of your own language, you are not going to find it easy to do so in another language.
Yes, I found the same. A book that I found useful in learning German explains grammatical terms in English and only then explains the same terms in German.
True,
German=Better English
Ouch! Geschäft is not the past of schaffen ! THe past participle is geschaffen and the imperfect is schuf .
All in all you're right, there is only one little thing....
In Swiss German "schaffen" = arbeiten= working. So if you use it in this way the past participle would be "geschafft"
For excample: I've been working all day long = Ich habe den ganzen Tag geschafft (g'schafft)
How do you like Berlitz? I m looking to start German lessons soon. Any recommendations, tips? I would be at the beginner level.
Hestia,
Read this thread. A lot of language schools have been discussed here.
[[German] Which is the best school in Zurich?](http://www.englishforum.ch/language-corner/3147-german-best-school-zurich.html)
No i have not expereinced it. If at anything the opposite has occured
I concur - his English is getting worse .
Same for me
Hmmm ... I actually think my English has gotten worse since learning German. I find I speak English a lot slower now and sometimes can't find the right words in English.
I work mainly with Swiss colleagues, so the English I speak around them is not the sort of English I would speak back in my home country. It's not quite a "dumbed down" English, but it's a very basic, no frills English. I do this mainly because I've been told by many Swiss people that they don't like it when native English speakers speak very fast and fill their speech with metaphors, flowery descriptions and sayings that are not familiar in the German language.
Though, put me in a room full of native English speakers, and I'm sure it will all come rolling back!
German knowledge might facilitate grammatically correct English, which then sounds pedantic.
One often hears "Who did you meet?". After learning German, the more correct "Who m did you meet" sounds logical.
Another example: "It is I" is hopelessly pedantic. Everyone says "It is me".
Then again, perhaps it's just learning a new language that forces one to learn the grammar they should have earlier in school. I know I wasn't awake during most of my english grammar courses. It was my least favorite subject.