Published in The Prague Post, c. 1999. Text from the author's final draft; the printed version may differ slightly.
Despite Czech for foreigners textbook-making being a relatively small field there are dozens of books bearing Czech for foreigners in their title. Not all of them are readily available, however, and very few of them are worth a second look. This section lists existing coursebooks which may be seen at bookstores both in the Czech Republic and overseas and which are of any value. Many of these materials are available through Internet bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, Czech company Leda also offers its dictionaries over the Internet at www.leda.cz. The prices given are for guidance only and may vary significantly.
Textbooks
+--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Price | Author | Title | Year | Notes | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | $16 | | Berlitz Czech Cassette Pack | 1993 | A quality Berlitz tape with a lot of 'we're so great', British talk. Unlike the Fast and Easy Czech tape, it gives you more time to repeat. The speakers pronounce more distinctly and the first utterance is always slower than the second. Good for jogging, cooking, or driving. The pack also contains a script and a phrasebook with a negligible dictionary and grammar section. The phrasebook can be purchased separately. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 300 Kč | Čechová M., H. Trabelsiová, H. Putz | Do You Want To Speak Czech | 1993 | Do You Want To Speak Czech is not very suitable as a course book. The language is too hard and sometimes unnatural. Very often grammar introduced in a lesson is not sufficiently practiced in the subsequent exercises. The dialogues contain too much descriptive language to be used in a communicative classroom. More advanced students, however, will find this book very useful. It will help them to see what they've learned in a different light. | | | | | | | | | | | | The 2 tapes that come with it are not very good because the recordings are too fast, and hard to follow. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 300 Kč | Aignerová, A. | Tschechish Anders/Čeština jinak | 1994 | If you don't understand the title this is probably not a book for you, because as its title the rest of the book uses German as its language of communication. Otherwise this is a very interesting book. It is the only one I know that uses songs for its dialogues. It also contains many interesting exercises. You can buy a tape with all the songs. I would recommend it to people who speak some German, or to those who can read musical scores. | | | | | | | | | | | | An interesting tape comes with the book, uses non-professional speakers which sometimes hinders understanding, and also the songs (important part of the tape) are sung by people with untrained voices (but if you're into opera buy Pavaroti). | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 500 Kč | Bednářová and Pintarová | Communicative Czech (Elementary and Intermediate) | 1996 | Although far from perfect, these are probably the best books in print. It covers a wide range of grammar and communicative topics. It contains a vocabulary list and a collection of grammar charts. Probably the best choice for a course book on the market. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | $18 | Heim, M. | Contemporary Czech | 1982 | A more advanced book presupposing some knowledge of a related Slavic language (Russian, Polish), certainly not very good for communicative study but could be useful for reference. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | $15 | Heim, Meyerstein, Worth | Readings in Czech | 1985 | The only text meant and structured as a reader for Czech learners I know of. It presents a variety of excerpts from literary and folklore works in Czech. It lacks everyday language such as newspaper articles completely, however. Most of the texts are at intermediate or advanced level. There is a fairly comprehensive glossary/dictionary at the end of the book. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 200 Kč | Hronová, Turzíková | Čeština pro cizince | 1989 | A revised edition of a classic. Very comprehensive but also very traditional. Includes many dialogues, pictures, charts, and a lot of useful phrases. In the back, it has a small dictionary with equivalents in 3 languages. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 80 Kč | Kamiš | Učíme se česky I. and II. | 1992 | Nicely printed textbook in nice covers. Plenty of pictures but also very traditionally grammatically oriented. Contains no English. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1200 Kč | Kelly, M. | Czech For You | 1993 | Contains many drills and countless flashcards. Otherwise it is very superficial and not well outlined. The dialogues are sometimes inappropriate to the context, and not very well structured. Its main virtue is the 8 tapes, all recorded by professional speakers, giving you enough time to repeat everything several times. The book contains several mistakes. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 530 Kč | Naughton, M | Colloquial Czech | 1989 | Funny dialogues, not very well structured and suited to learners' needs. More of an annotated soap-opera than a textbook. More advanced learners, however, might profit from listening to the tape. Some people also like the grammatical explanations. Contains very few exercises, and a modest dictionary. Feminists beware, dialogues in this book are a way from political correctness. Other than that, the language is much less colloquial than the situations. | | | | | | | | | | | 1999 | Tape to the book which may be good for learning pronunciation of some less common or more complex phrases. It will also give you a chance to listen to soap opera like dialogues. The recordings are very professional if little educational. | | | | | | | | | | | | A new revised edition should be available soon. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 170 | Němečková, Bailey | Czech-In, Listening Practice in Czech | 1993 | This set is meant mostly as a supplement to a regular course rather than an independent text book. It is geared toward comprehension exercises and in the communicative area. The book is really very well done. Not only is the layout professional but the exercises are to the point and well thought out. Not so much can be said about the tape which is a little too fast and obviously not the best recording ever made. Don't be deterred by the skimpy cover. | | | | | | | | | | a tape with a book | | | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 200 Kč | Parolková and Nováková | Czech For Foreigners | 1993 | Contains a plenty of pictures and flashcards. It also has some very interesting exercises. It is far from comprehensive and generally disliked by students using it regularly. It may be a good springboard to better things. | | | | | | | | | | | | The book is accompanied by a fairly good tape. The dialogues are rather fast, and don't give you much time to repeat. It is the only tape, however, that contains comprehension exercises, and dictations. Unfortunately, the authors tried to squeeze too much into little space. I would recommend it for self study at a more advanced level to increase comprehension. | | | | | | | | | | | | A set of scored tests are available with the book but it doesn't tell you what the scores mean. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | $15 | Short, D | Teach Yourself Czech | 1993 | A professionally looking book. It is very well organized if a little too traditional. More advanced learners may profit from the dialogues which often contain less common phrases. The same fact may obscure the meaning of some dialogues to a beginner. The plentiful grammatical explanations are very thorough and detail. Also contains useful appendices (index, vocabulary list). The language is sometimes unnatural but that can't be helped in a textbook. It contains a lesson on archaic language used in written texts of today. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | out of print | Sára, Šárová, Bytel | Čeština pro cizince | 1969 | Old school book written for foreign students coming to Czech universities. Lesson structure: text > grammar > exercise. It is very comprehensive but definitely a witness to its period. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 100 | | Malý most (Initiation en Tchéque) | 1989 | All explanations in French. It contains rather traditional exercises with a very interesting reference section. | +--------------+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Dictionaries
535 Kč J. Fronek English-Czech/Czech-English Dictionary 1998 Without argument the very best dictionary usable for learners on the market. Provides useful grammatical information, context and clear layout. A must have for a serious learner.
350 Kč Filipec et al. Slovník spisovné češtiny 1994 Very good reference work. Pretty much the only single-volume Czech-Czech dictionary. Gives you all the necessary grammatical information and more. Its entries often contain short examples. The downside: Everything is in Czech for Czechs. Also available on CD-ROM.
1200 Kč Hais, Hodek Anglicko - český slovník I.-IV. 1993-94 The largest English-Czech dictionary available. Designed for Czech users with no regard to foreign learner. Recently also published in a two-volume revised edition. Available on CD-ROM which is a great thing for translators but at 10 000 Kč pricey for mere mortals.
80 Kč Knežovič et al Anglicko-Český/Česko-Anglický Slovník 1993 This is a dictionary for Czechs, therefore, while being the most comprehensive pocket dictionary available it has severe limitations in providing necessary grammatical information (gender, aspect). When using it the student has about a fifty percent chance of getting the right equivalent, and much less of being able to use it correctly. But for all its shortcomings, unlike other, more lexicologically correct volumes, it does fit in a pocket.
$20 Nina Trnka Czech-English/English-Czech Concise Dictionary The only dictionary published in the US, designed specifically for non-native speakers. It is the only dictionary to give phonetic transcriptions of Czech words. Its main limitation is the vocabulary range. While potentially useful for complete beginners, it will not be enough for serious learners.