Colloquial Estonian

by Christopher Moseley

Colloquial Estonian is a practical course in everyday written and spoken Estonian requiring no prior knowledge of the language. It is ideal for anyone seeking to develop a sound command of contemporary Estonian, whether studying independently or with a teacher. The book is divided into 20 lessons which introduce the reader to the core functions needed to communicate effectively in Estonian, such as ordering food, speaking on the telephone and discussing subjects like health and the weather. The course includes: a pronounciation guide; useful and up-to-date vocabulary; situation-based conversations; a wide range of interesting texts; aspects of Estonian culture, customs and history; clear, concise grammar notes; a variety of exercises with answer key; a ready-reference grammar; English-Estonian and Estonian-English glossaries; and a grammar index. Two 60-minute cassettes recorded by native Estonian speakers are available to accompany Colloquial Estonian. These complement and reinforce the material covered in the book and should prove useful in helping the reader to develop their pronunciation and understanding of Estonian.

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 1994

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great self-study aid for learning Estonian. The book is smaller and less condensed in comparison to Colloquial Lithuanian (just under 500 pgs.). The mp3 audio files are great at explaining the alphabet sounds, vowels/consonants, and unique letters found in Estonian. The book follows the standard dialogues, vocabulary drills, and grammar sections. The accompanying audio is extremely helpful.

The only book/audio pack to compete with this is 'Teach Yourself Estonian'. I would recommend both of these to any serious learner of this beautiful sounding language. Thanks!