Product Review

KALEIDOSKOP features a flexible four-skills, learner-centered approach that promotes communication and focuses on the literature and culture of the German-speaking world. KALEIDOSKOP is essentially two books in one--a cultural and literary reader (Lektuere with ten Themen) with a comprehensive review of grammar (Kapitel). This combination allows maximum flexibility for instructors to design their own programs. Presented in a brand-new four color design, the text features a fully integrated short film (Kurzfilm) in every other chapter. Reading plays an important role in this text, with exercises for listening, speaking and writing revolving around the wide range of authentic reading selections including: advertisements, charts, newspaper and magazine articles, letters, e-mails, forum mails, polls, interviews, biographies, songs, poems, and fiction. The self-contained grammar section (Grammatik) allows instructors to work with the grammar topics in whatever order they choose; the grammar chapters may be treated independently of the reading chapters or used concurrently with the Themen of the same number. With these materials the instructor can provide a learner-centered classroom with activities that lend themselves to cooperative learning.