Complete Bengali Beginner to Intermediate Course

Complete Bengali Beginner to Intermediate Course: Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language with Teach Yourself by William Radice

392-page book (with 40 illustrations) and double CD.

Are you looking for a complete course in Bengali which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Complete Bengali will guarantee success!

The course is structured in thematic units and the emphasis is placed on communication, so that you effortlessly progress from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations, to using the phone and talking about work.

By the end of this course, you will be at Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages: Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.

Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features:

NOT GOT MUCH TIME?

One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS

Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

GRAMMAR TIPS

Easy-to-follow building blocks to give you a clear understanding.

USEFUL VOCABULARY

Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for speaking.

DIALOGUES

Read and listen to everyday dialogues to help you speak and understand fast.

PRONUNCIATION

Don't sound like a tourist! Perfect your pronunciation before you go.

TEST YOURSELF

Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Extra online articles at: www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding of the culture and history of Bangladesh.

TRY THIS

Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

• The sounds and script are introduced step by step in the first part of the book
• There are plenty of exercises in every unit
• Contains a section on Bengali literature
• The second part of the book contains realistic dialogues and grammar explanations to enable you to communicate in everyday situations
• Allows you to progress quickly beyond the basics and gain a thorough understanding of the Bengali language

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Script diagrams
• Part One: Sounds and script
• Review of part one
• Part Two: Conversation and grammar
• 1. Finding out about someone
• 2. Talking to a rickshawallah
• 3. Buying fruit and vegetables
• 4. Finding out about schools
• 5. Arranging a visit
• 6. Health and diet
• 7. Meeting an artist
• 8. Talking to a child
• 9. Conversation on a train
• 10. Telling stories
• 11. Meeting a writer
• 12. Learning Bengali Review of Part Two
• Part Three: Literature
• 1. The tailor-bird and the cat
• 2. Sakuntala
• 3. Satyajit Ray
• 4. Tagore in England
• 5. The Bangladesh War
• 6. Shamsur Rahman
• 7. The coming of the monsoon
• 8. Jibanananda Das
• 9. Review of Part Three
• Key to the exercises
• Glossary
• Grammatical index

Complete Bengali Book/CD Pack: Teach Yourself - About the Author(s):

William Radice is Senior Lecturer in Bengali at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He has pursued a double career as a poet and as a scholar and translator of Bengali, and has written or edited more than twenty-five books. He has given numerous lectures and poetry readings in Britain and overseas, and has been awarded literary prizes in India and Bangladesh. For the last three years he has written a fortnightly column for the Statesman newspaper in India, and has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2's early morning 'Pause for Thought'.