Amazon.com
Good software starts with a good design, and the subtitle of Applying UML and Patterns, "An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOA/D) and the Unified Process" reinforces that that's what this book is about.
The first edition of Applying UML and Patterns became a standard. The second edition uses the unified process (UP) as the iterative process within which OOA/D is introduced, and extends the case study used in the first edition. Other changes have been made to reflect the growing consensus on the most effective ways to work with OOA/D and patterns.
Although you will learn UML, this isn't what Applying UML and Patterns is all about. It's designed to teach you to think of software as a collection of objects with properties and to manipulate the relationships between them. This is far more profound.
The case study enables Craig Larman to carry the design through to Java code. In practice, you will need a basic understanding of OO programming to benefit from Applying UML and Patterns, though you needn't know Java--you can implement the designs in the OO language of your choice with equal facility.
When it comes right down to it, Applying UML and Patterns is all about providing you with a language in which to think about software design. This is quite different from learning a language in which to code a design.
A facility with OOA/D will enable you to design and discuss programs independent of code, to produce more elegant and maintainable software, and to take a 30,000-foot view of the way your software interacts with the world. In effect, it can shift your viewpoint from that of a mechanic to that more sophisticated viewpoint of an engineer. Recommended. --Steve Patient. Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
“People often ask me which is the best book to introduce them to the world of OO design. Ever since I came across it, `Applying UML and Patterns' has been my unreserved choice.” —Martin Fowler, author, “UML Distilled” and “Refactoring”
The first edition of “Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design” quickly emerged as the leading OOA/D introduction; translated to many languages and adopted in universities and businesses worldwide. In this second edition, well-known object technology and iterative methods leader Craig Larman refines and expands this text for developers and students new to OOA/D, the UML, patterns, use cases, iterative development, and related topics.
The book helps newcomers to OOA/D learn how to “think in objects” by presenting three iterations of a single, cohesive case study, incrementally introducing the requirements and OOA/D activities, principles, and patterns that are most critical to success. It introduces the most frequently used UML diagramming notation, while emphasizing that OOA/D is much more than knowing UML notation. All case study iterations and skills are presented in the context of an “agile” version of the Unified Process -- a popular, modern iterative approach to software development. Throughout, Larman presents the topics in a fashion designed for learning and comprehension.
Among the topics introduced in Applying UML and Patterns are: * requirements and use cases, * domain object modeling, * core UML, * designing objects with responsibilities, * “Gang of Four” and other design patterns, * mapping designs to code (using Java as an example), * layered architectures, * architectural analysis, * package design, * iterative development, * the Unified Process.Foreword by Philippe Kruchten, the lead architect of the Rational Unified Process.
“Too few people have a knack for explaining things. Fewer still have a handle on software analysis and design. Craig Larman has both.” —John Vlissides, author, “Design Patterns” and “Pattern Hatching”
“This edition contains Larman's usual accurate and thoughtful writing. It is a very good book made even better.” —Alistair Cockburn, author, “Writing Effective Use Cases” and “Surviving OO Projects”
Customer Reviews:
A great reference, had to get the UML 2.0 edition.......2007-10-06
I found the previous edition 5 years ago, and completely marked it up. This book was instrumental in passing the OOAD test certification.
I continued recommending this book to my colleagues.
Then found the UML 2.0 edition, and plan on using this book as much as I did.
First book for anyone learning to create business software.......2007-08-11
Craig Larman's classic has reach 10 years of prime position on my professional book shelf, the 1st edition now replaced with the 3rd. Whenever anyone asks for an introduction to UML, this is always my first recommendation. Though the book focusses on software construction from scratch, it still contains much brilliant guidance for enhancement work or implementation of software packages.
This book takes you in a logical, distilled process through pragmatic application of Unified Modelling Language on real projects for which people pay. Of course the examples are simple, but relevant and helpful. The book is chock full of diagrams and little text, which makes it quick to read and easy for reference.
You could do little wrong if you used only this book to guide your first application of UML to a real project.
Review of Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development (3rd Editi.......2007-07-19
I have 30 years in the industry (and in different industries in IS management) and one thing I dislike is the author's persistence do down-grade the waterfall or modified waterfall models. He should be more objective on his comments since the waterfall and modified waterfall do have their merits on projects -- refer to "Rapid Development, Training Wild Software Schedules" by Steve McConnell, Microsoft Press, ISBN 1-55615-900-5. I have used them very successfully on big programs. The key here is, with any model, in order to be successful you need quality communications with ALL stakeholders. Just like in our personal life's, communications is everything; the models can be secondary.
The author should also strictly follow the attributes of writing good requirements. On page 72, he wrote for "frequency of occurrence", "Could be nearly continuous". Now, I ask, how ambiguous is that????
The single best book for your OO development team.......2007-07-06
As others have pointed out, the content on OO analysis and design is excellent. Equally important - Larman's book is also an excellent on "process".
Unlike many books that simply focus only on "programming", Larman gives you a working examples and excellent advice on overlapping fields like "requirements", "testing", "architecture" and "project management".
Craig Larman's "Applying UML and Patterns, 3rd Ed" is a wealth of practical advise, covering *all* significant aspects of successfully defining and implementing a non-trivial software project. If your team were to choose only one book as your "Bible" - this would be that book.
Excellent Work!.......2007-04-23
As pointed out by many, this book is a very nice introduction to Object Oriented Analysis and Design. The author's explanations were very clear. This book covers agile practices, UML, many patterns including Gang of Four (GoF), and software architecture. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. From an industry standpoint as well as an academic standpoint, I believe this book does an excellent job. This book will be part of my library for a long time to come. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Now integrating Java 5 throughout, this reference introduces Java programming fundamentals – including problem-solving, object-oriented programming, GUI programming, data structures, networking, internationalization, advanced GUI programming, and Web programming.
Includes many new illustrations. Enhances examples throughout, using small, simple, and stimulating examples to demonstrate concepts and techniques. Offers anearlier introduction to writing programs than the previous edition. Features a new chapter on recursion, expanding treatment from earlier editions.
A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about programming.
Customer Reviews:
The best programming book ever ........2007-10-19
I bought this book motivated by the good reviews that i saw on amazon. I was very pleased not only with the wealth of information(Fundamentals, OOP, MVC, JDBC, JSP/Servlets, JavaBeans, Swing/Advanced Swing, Collections etc ), but also from the presantation which is consice and very easy to follow. This was the text that did it for me. I struggled with other texts and the presentation was always missing something to say the least. Thanks to this book i was able to move to the world of J2EE and my biggest problem was dealing with application servers than with the java language itself.
My current position demands some C# .Net development and once again i am struggling with horrible incomplete Books that neglect to provide the hole code assuming previous knowledge.
I thought that may be Liang has written something about C# (Unfortunatelly not), but i was sad to see that there is
some critism which i consider unfair -not so much for the author but -for those who are trying to learn java.
I dont Know how to strech this more but listen: There is no better intro
book in programming. May be an experienced teacher has objections about the right positioning of the chapters but believe it or not after reading the first 7 chapters you are able to skip to any chapter you want(At the beginning of the book there is a flow chart that helps you guide your study according to your needs). Also dont forget that it is a programming book which tries to teach tough theoritical ideas in a practical way and dont fool yourself that there is a
way for doing this without your ability to understand.
Finally i saw that someone suggests a well-Known book instead of Liangs. I already own that book and its really confusing . A ton of information mixing together without making a specific point. If you dont beleive me just check the review for the book.
I'm shocked at the high reviews for this book.......2007-08-15
I highly recommend the Deitel Java: How to Program book instead.
Liang over and over again introduces terms that he has never defined. He does not tell you why code is the way it is. He is terse, and there is just no true explanation.
The layout of the text is also in black and green, and that's it. His code is hard to follow compared to the Deitel book.
I'm truly shocked at how people seem to like this book. It's unintelligible in my view. I dread reading it and actually read the Deitel book instead.
Excellent text, very thorough.......2007-07-31
This is an excellent text. It goes into great detail for an "introduction". The excercises at the end of the chapters are very well designed using everything you've learned up to that point and re-writing old excercises more efficiently using the new topics learned. His website also has alot of additional information. Head First Java is a good overview, while this text digs down to the details. Very good author and very good text. Highly recommended. One note though, this is a very long text with alot of information so if you plan of reading the entire book and doing all the excercises you will need to invest a large amount of time to do so. But if you do invest the time you will have a very good grasp of the Java language. I usually always say that there's never a "one-book catchall", but this comes pretty close. I feel that by reading this book, doing all the excercises, and making sure that you fully understand the topics, you can adequately program Java in a work environment.
A thorough coverage.......2007-07-21
My only complaint is a lack of summary information organized by language feature (similar to Java in a Nutshell presentation style). The result is that when you want confirmation on a particular detail of the language, it may take you a while before you find the right page.
Not an improvement.......2007-06-25
While I feel this is a good book for learning Java, I don't find the 6th Ed. to be an improvement over the 5th Ed.
I don't understand the author's motivation to move complex topics into earlier chapters. It only seems to distract my students, who are learning OO principles for the first time. In particular I feel that packages, regular expressions, and text i/o, are introduced unnecessarily early. The piecemeal treatment of GUI issues at the ends of the earlier chapters only seems to undermine the reasons for having a whole chapter on GUIs later. Also, why not deal with the ArrayList collection in the chapter on collections?
I liked the 5th edition better, and the 4th edition even better than that, because they dealt with the fundamental issues first, and didn't try to mix in so many marginally related issues early on.
Amazon.com
Aimed at any serious programmer or computer science student, the new second edition of Introduction to Algorithms builds on the tradition of the original with a truly magisterial guide to the world of algorithms. Clearly presented, mathematically rigorous, and yet approachable even for the math-averse, this title sets a high standard for a textbook and reference to the best algorithms for solving a wide range of computing problems.
With sample problems and mathematical proofs demonstrating the correctness of each algorithm, this book is ideal as a textbook for classroom study, but its reach doesn't end there. The authors do a fine job of explaining each algorithm. (Reference sections on basic mathematical notation will help readers bridge the gap, but it will help to have some math background to appreciate the full achievement of this handsome hardcover volume.) Every algorithm is presented in pseudo-code, which can be implemented in any computer language, including C/C++ and Java. This ecumenical approach is one of the book's strengths. When it comes to sorting and common data structures, from basic linked lists to trees (including binary trees, red-black, and B-trees), this title really shines, with clear diagrams that show algorithms in operation. Even if you just glance over the mathematical notation here, you can definitely benefit from this text in other ways.
The book moves forward with more advanced algorithms that implement strategies for solving more complicated problems (including dynamic programming techniques, greedy algorithms, and amortized analysis). Algorithms for graphing problems (used in such real-world business problems as optimizing flight schedules or flow through pipelines) come next. In each case, the authors provide the best from current research in each topic, along with sample solutions.
This text closes with a grab bag of useful algorithms including matrix operations and linear programming, evaluating polynomials, and the well-known Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) (useful in signal processing and engineering). Final sections on "NP-complete" problems, like the well-known traveling salesman problem, show off that while not all problems have a demonstrably final and best answer, algorithms that generate acceptable approximate solutions can still be used to generate useful, real-world answers.
Throughout this text, the authors anchor their discussion of algorithms with current examples drawn from molecular biology (like the Human Genome Project), business, and engineering. Each section ends with short discussions of related historical material, often discussing original research in each area of algorithms. On the whole, they argue successfully that algorithms are a "technology" just like hardware and software that can be used to write better software that does more, with better performance. Along with classic books on algorithms (like Donald Knuth's three-volume set, The Art of Computer Programming), this title sets a new standard for compiling the best research in algorithms. For any experienced developer, regardless of their chosen language, this text deserves a close look for extending the range and performance of real-world software. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: Overview of algorithms (including algorithms as a technology); designing and analyzing algorithms; asymptotic notation; recurrences and recursion; probabilistic analysis and randomized algorithms; heapsort algorithms; priority queues; quicksort algorithms; linear time sorting (including radix and bucket sort); medians and order statistics (including minimum and maximum); introduction to data structures (stacks, queues, linked lists, and rooted trees); hash tables (including hash functions); binary search trees; red-black trees; augmenting data structures for custom applications; dynamic programming explained (including assembly-line scheduling, matrix-chain multiplication, and optimal binary search trees); greedy algorithms (including Huffman codes and task-scheduling problems); amortized analysis (the accounting and potential methods); advanced data structures (including B-trees, binomial and Fibonacci heaps, representing disjoint sets in data structures); graph algorithms (representing graphs, minimum spanning trees, single-source shortest paths, all-pairs shortest paths, and maximum flow algorithms); sorting networks; matrix operations; linear programming (standard and slack forms); polynomials and the Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT); number theoretic algorithms (including greatest common divisor, modular arithmetic, the Chinese remainder theorem, RSA public-key encryption, primality testing, integer factorization); string matching; computational geometry (including finding the convex hull); NP-completeness (including sample real-world NP-complete problems and their insolvability); approximation algorithms for NP-complete problems (including the traveling salesman problem); reference sections for summations and other mathematical notation, sets, relations, functions, graphs and trees, as well as counting and probability backgrounder (plus geometric and binomial distributions).
Book Description
There are books on algorithms that are rigorous but incomplete and others that cover masses of material but lack rigor. Introduction to Algorithms combines rigor and comprehensiveness.
The book covers a broad range of algorithms in depth, yet makes their design and analysis accessible to all levels of readers. Each chapter is relatively self-contained and can be used as a unit of study. The algorithms are described in English and in a pseudocode designed to be readable by anyone who has done a little programming. The explanations have been kept elementary without sacrificing depth of coverage or mathematical rigor.
The first edition became the standard reference for professionals and a widely used text in universities worldwide. The second edition features new chapters on the role of algorithms, probabilistic analysis and randomized algorithms, and linear programming, as well as extensive revisions to virtually every section of the book. In a subtle but important change, loop invariants are introduced early and used throughout the text to prove algorithm correctness. Without changing the mathematical and analytic focus, the authors have moved much of the mathematical foundations material from Part I to an appendix and have included additional motivational material at the beginning.
Customer Reviews:
good book for a graduate course.......2007-10-13
The aspect I like the most of CLRS book on algorithm is that, the style of the book is lucid, the authors have made a sincere effort in putting forth the complicated aspects in analyzing the algorithm in way that could be understood by a wider audience taking some course in computer science in under-graduate or graduate level. The mathematical rigor makes s me wonder computer science algorithm analysis is nothing more than applied discrete mathematics for specific problems.
Excellent buy.......2007-09-24
I bought a new copy of the book, and was happy to receive it the way I expected. Got free shipping with this one.
Confusing to say the least.......2007-09-14
This book does not provide enough examples to really get the ideas across. It is a thick read that provides little help to the subject matter unless the reader already has a wealth of knowledge on mathematical proofs and algorithms to begin with.
If the book had a solution manual, or at least explained many of the things that occur in the problem sections that never show up in the actual reading, then it would be a much easier to understand textbook.
Fantastic algorithms book.......2007-06-03
This is one of the few books that I've kept from my undergrad days as a computer science major. Although I haven't been doing software development in a while, I still use it for reference once in a while. It's easy to understand and timeless reference book. I work for a large DoD company and quite a few of my co-workers have this book on their shelves as well. (We all went to different colleges.)
Good Reference, Poor Textbook.......2007-04-19
This is a good reference for researchers, but it is not suitable for beginners. For anyone who try to study algorithms in the beginning, he just needs the big picture of this course, but this book contains too many mathematical proofs. In other words, the beginners just want a cup of milk, but the authors of this book give them a whole cow.
Although this book is quite huge, it does not contain some important topics, like online algorithms, randomized algorithms ... etc. In fact, this book should try to 'lose its weight' in order to get more useful knowledge.
The book contains a lot of interesting exercises, but does not indicate any hints or solutions. In fact, some of those exercises are too hard for students, and the authors should try to announce all sloutions in the website.
Book Description
This book is designed to be used as the primary textbook in a college-level first course in computing. It takes a fairly traditional approach, emphasizing problem solving, design, and programming as the core skills of computer science. However, these ideas are illustrated using a non-traditional language, namely Python.
Although I use Python as the language, teaching Python is not the main point of this book. Rather, Python is used to illustrate fundamental principles of design and programming that apply in any language or computing environment. In some places, I have purposely avoided certain Python features and idioms that are not generally found in other languages. There are already many good books about Python on the market; this book is intended as an introduction to computing.
Features include the following:
*Extensive use of computer graphics.
*Interesting examples.
*Readable prose.
*Flexible spiral coverage.
*Just-in-time object coverage.
*Extensive end-of-chapter problems.
Customer Reviews:
better for programming than Python.......2007-08-26
I got this book after finding a recommendation on Peter Norvig's web site. It works out pretty well as a "Computer Science 101" text. The author does a good job of explaining how one might solve typical programming problems, using Python as the example programming language. It does this pretty well, although I think it really should have an early chapter on TDD. How else is the student to gain confidence their programs are correct?
It has its deficiencies. It has examples of how to program using graphics but these aren't supported for the Mac, other than an oblique reference to Tkinter. How is a new CS student to figure that out? Also, it teaches some poor Python habits, like using camelCase naming.
Really good book.......2007-05-30
I've been interested in learning programming for years. This book is a very good introduction to computer science in general and python in particular. If you're just learning how to program, this would be an excellent first book to choose.
Possibly the perfect intro to CompSci Textbook.......2007-04-02
As a young professional programmer who has never taken a CompSci class of any kind I have quite a fondness for intro books as they tend to 'fill in the gaps'/ stroke my ego. Thus I've read a LOT of intro to CompSci books most of have been rather awful. This book however, is simply not one of them.
The books small size, approachable language, excellent examples and Socratic pedagogical orientation in addition to the authors seemingly effortless lucidity is enough to drop any jaw.
If we were to be critical, we should perhaps ask the author to show greater concern for data casting. Python is a loosely casted language and thus this important concept takes a back seat.
Nonetheless for the books scope (a first course in Computer Science) I can not imagine and have yet to read a better primmer.
Best book to get started in Python and programming.......2007-03-08
I have been doing a lot of searching and this is the best book for actual beginners to get a solid working foundation with Python and programming. The logical progression of the material is by far the best. I had a fortran class many years ago and can only wish we were using Python and this book. His style is such that just when you have an important question that seems to be glazed over - He answers it just as you're pondering it! I have quickly moved on to more intricate Python and programming techniques and am even using Python coding to interact with CMS apps and databases. There is a wealth of info on the web to further your interests after you start here. Thank you, Mr. Zelle for a fantastic book. For the sake of clarity(sanity), start here and actually enjoy, grow, and use this language for REAL world projects.
Easy to Understand.......2007-02-23
I have not read the book all the way through yet, but I have found it to be a very easy read so far. I was required to use the book for my Intro to Computer Science course, so I didn't get a choice in the matter, but I have found the book to be very helpful. The explanations and examples are easy to follow, and there is no unnecessary repetition of ideas and concepts. The appendix in the back of the book is a valuable tool that gives a list of all the basic features that are helpful in writing Python programs.
Customer Reviews:
Too bad printing..........2007-06-27
I was frightened when I opened the book... The characters in the book look like a copied-material of a very very old 8-pin dot-printer output...
Teaches "Roberts," not C.......2006-06-07
This book is annoying with the way the author asks the user to write programs using his custom library functions, as opposed to the standard C commands. Because of this, I did not learn about scanf until probably the 7th or 8th week of the C programming course I was in. I feel like that alone warrants a 1-star rating. If you buy this book, you will be learning to program in "Roberts," not C.
Two great books.......2004-09-14
I have read and worked through both of Eric Roberts books on C.
Of all the programming books I have read, and there are many, his two are the best.
My only regret is that he has not written books on C++.
The Art and Science of C.......2004-06-01
I thought this was a wonderful beginners book. It gave me the basics and then allowed me to go on and try new things by myself. By the end I really felt like I could write my own programs in C.
I only gave it four stars because I think five would have to be a textbook that really brought the information to life, while this one was rather dry.
The Art and Science of C.......2003-08-17
I borrowed this book from library and believed I had made a right decision.
Quoted from the book, Mr. Roberts have been teaching computer science for over 20 years, I'm not sure how long he has taught C language but I suppose this book is written in a way that he believes is most beneficial to the readers, based on his teaching experience.
C is a cryptic and complex language, so the author teaches in a stepwise manner, he hides the complexity by introducing his private libraries and data abstractions. So the readers implement the functionality of C, which is independent from the complexity of C; once the readers have enough grasp at C, they may move on to explore the complexity of C.
The author have done these with good intention because data types in ANSI C are limited in size, for example, the data type int is different from our perception of integer in daily life. The address operator & may be confusing as well.
How did I use the book? I rewrited all the examples presented in book without his private libaries. I did the exercises in the book without his private libraries as well. Instead of copying all his codes and getting them work, I tried to make errors: for example, in the simple hello world program, omitted the preprocessor operator #, then read the error messages. I also tried to improve the efficiency of my algorithm.
This maybe a good introductory book for people who have experience in programming in languages other than C since the syntax of C may confuse them, but owning it is not recommended.
Book Description
In a conversational style, best-selling author Walter Savitch teaches programmers problem solving and programming techniques with Java.
Introduces object-oriented programming and important computer science concepts such as testing and debugging techniques, program style, inheritance, and exception handling. Includes thorough coverage of the Swing libraries and event-driven programming. Provides a concise, accessible introduction to Java that covers key language features. Covers objects thoroughly and early, with an emphasis on applications over applets.
A useful reference for programmers who want to brush up on their Java skills.
Customer Reviews:
The best book about programming I've ever seen-.......2007-06-12
and I've seen a lot of programming books(Computer Science student)This book will have you learning Java almost effortlessly. I'm the kind of person that needs to read something several times to fully understand it, but with this book, I immediately understood the material. The author's writing stlye and simple explanations of complex problems make this book a pleasure to read. Also, you not only understand what the author says, you remeber it as well, unlike other textbooks, where you've forgotten the material 2 seconds after you close the book.
He makes the subject matter so simple and easily understood, you will know how to write Java programs after only an hour of reading. They'll be small, simple programs, but you'll be a programmer. And when you do get to more complex topics, you'll breeze through those as well.
I wish there had been a Java compiler( a compiler is what you use to write programs) included with the book, but a Google search will give you some sources for free Java compilers you can download, so no big deal.
Great book; unethical publisher.......2006-09-28
This book is excellent. The author writes about programming in a clear and concise way that makes Java make sense. While Java may not be the simplest language to start with, it is widely used throughout the industry and provides a solid stepping stone to other languages. Savitch provides many examples of code and explains how it works, step by step. Too many programming books assume the reader will fill in missing pieces. Finally, an author who fills them in for us!
But buyer beware: the access code to the website that the book promotes as free is missing. If you go to the website you will find that you actually have to pay for the privilege. Sounds like the classic bait and switch to me, and in a book this price, it's a real disappointment.
I exchanged many emails with the publisher, Pearson. Finally they admitted that some booksellers do not include the access code in their books. Well, why can't they make this clear in the book and on the website, instead of luring people to spend money for what is supposed to be free access?
So it's the same old story: the author is excellent but the publisher, Pearson, is unethical.
Best Written Java Book.......2006-01-11
The author, Savitch, writes some of the best-written, easy-to-read computer language books. The fourth edition is a concisely-written, enjoyable book with excellent examples and coverage of Java 5.0, which is the newest, latest revision as of January '06.
I used this book to supplement a Java course on Game Programming and got an A in the class.
The "Absolute Java" book, also written by Savitch, is a bigger book and probably more comprehensive. However, I enjoy reading this one more.
1st edition review.......2005-08-18
I have just completed (i need only two more chapters) the first of edition of this book. While not as exhaustive as the the edition for sale here I can tell you the author is good at what he does. I haven't decided if I am going to purchase this edition but let me say that the author's prose style reminds me of the best computer programming books I read while I was an undergraduate at the University of Florida in the early 90's. This book is suitable for teaching a first or second year class of computer science students at a university. Unlike those silly "Teach yourself Java programming in 24 hours" this is the kind of programming book that really teaches you something.
Absolutely The Best Introduction To Java .......2005-01-30
This book was written by someone who truly knows how to teach and not merely transmit knowledge from brain to paper. His treatment of object oriented programming concepts in chapters 4 and 5 is FLAWLESS. No other author does such a thorough job (this includes Deitel, Horton, Schildt, Cadenhead, etc) and I speak as the owner of these (and other texts). Let this book be your first stop towards obtaining the Sun Java Programmer and Developer Certifications as well as IBM's Websphere Certifications. But don't forget to purchase the Java Language Specification as well.
Book Description
DESTINOS is an innovative beginning Spanish program based on a 26-week television series premiering on PBS in the fall of 1992. The 52 half-hour shows of the series use the powerful appeal of a uniquely Hispanic genre -- the
telenovela (soap opera) -- to make language and culture come alive. The situation and context of each episode introduce students to the basic structures, language functions and vocabulary groups of Spanish that are then presented in the print materials. (Most grammar explanations and exercises are in the workbook/study guides.) This complete one-year course is designed to help students develop communicative proficiency -- listening, speaking, reading, and writing -- as well as cultural awareness in Spanish. The plot of DESTINOS is designed to engage student viewers from the very beginning. A wealthy Mexican patriarch, nearing the end of his life, reveals a secret he has kept from his family for many years. His revelation leads to some important questions that must be answered before he dies. Raquel Rodríguez, a Mexican-American lawyer, embarks on a search for those answers, a search that takes her to Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and back to Mexico. Students and viewers can join in the search -- learning Spanish and about the rich and diversified cultural context in which it is spoken throughout the world.
Customer Reviews:
Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish.......2007-03-29
The format and content of the course is the best I've found. A great way to supplement your learning and practice. We are using it in an informal conversation group to give us a basis for discussion as we view and do our workbook practice.
muy excelente para todos quien quieren aprender el idioma!.......2005-08-04
(translation of title: Very excellent for everyone who wants to learn the language!)
I cannot emphasize enough how beneficial the Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish series is for those who want to learn Spanish, or become more familiar with the language. This was used in a course I took at college, and it felt like we were all travelling along with the main character, Raquel, a lawyer who travels from her home in Los Angeles, to Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Puerto Rico, as part of her work with her clients, a family living in an estate in Mexico City.
The format of this program is styled after the Latin American "novelas" (soap operas). In other words, you will need to carefully watch each episode, to keep up with plot details. But, not to worry, because Raquel reviews what happened with you, at the end of every episode. Each episode is entirely in Spanish, and it gets you thinking in the language, comprehending what is going on very quickly, as well as picking up interesting information specific to the cultures she is immersed in, during her travels. We learn about art, music, dance, food and slang. (Slang is also a very valuable thing to know about, when travelling in Spanish-speaking countries. Words that are acceptable in one country could get you shot in another country---this isn't addressed in the episodes, but that is really important to be aware of)
I am pleased to say that the series is entertaining, educational and very beneficial to students. It makes you WANT to learn, and also, in spite of the melodrama, you will want to stick it out to the last episode to see how things turn out. Muy excelente!
¡Destinos es muy fantastico!.......2002-06-24
I'm using Destinos in a telecourse, and am having lots of fun with it, and even learning some Spanish. My listening skills have improved dramatically, since the video is the main learning tool, which forces one to sharpen up and really listen to what's going on. The workbook that accompanies Destinos is really detailed, making it possible to learn a considerable amount of Spanish grammar on one's own. Overall, the best Spanish textbook I've used yet! ¡Adiós!
Destinos rules!.......2000-03-16
okay, if you don't like Destinos, then you just aren't with the picture. Its the best, its the bomb, and if you don't like it, don't diss it! Go back and do your own little fancy thing! Forget the world around you and sit on your couch!
Encorages Bilingualism and Culture.......1999-07-23
Last May (1999) I finished my fifth year of Spanish. For two and a half years my class used Destinos. After the AP exam, of the 7 Students who took this years exam, 4 non-native "4's" and one non-native "5". I myself and a much stonger speaker now that I am in college. Destinos promoted speaking from day one and it gave real results. I am exceling in my cuture classes and also with different Spanishes (mex, castilano, argentinian) Destinos gives a well rounded look on the Hispanic Culture. I enjoyed following the charaters through their journeys (video series). I highly recommend this text/video series too all.
Book Description
The beauty of the Arabic language, both spoken and written--and the richness of the Arabic-speaking world, its history and culture--has recently become of increasing importance and a matter of revelation for the English-speaking world. It is essential as this new century unfolds, that understanding develops between nations--and language is the magic key.
The Al-Kitaab Arabic language program is among the English-speaking world's most widely used Arabic language learning texts. Alif Baa with DVDs: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds is the first part of the Al-Kitaab program. This revised, second edition contains updated readings, new and revised exercises, and completely new audio/video materials on two DVDs bound into each volume.
In teaching the sounds and letters of Arabic, Alif Baa provides a variety of exercises aimed at developing the crucial nascent skills of reading, listening, writing, speaking, and cultural understanding. In conjunction with learning how to read and write the alphabet, Alif Baa introduces about 150 basic vocabulary words, including conventional forms of politeness and social greetings.
Standard Arabic vocabulary is distributed throughout the book, enhanced by the visual and audio materials on the DVDs and implemented in practical exercises. It introduces a range of Arabic from colloquial to standard in authentic contexts, including social greetings in dialogues that take place in an Egyptian context, the most widely-used and understood Arabic dialect.
Finally, Alif Baa includes capsules on Arab culture as well as an English-Arabic glossary. Alif Baa provides the essential first twenty contact hours of instruction that are the foundation for the rest of the Al-Kitaab language program.
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2007-09-26
I love the book, and the DVDs are incredibly helpful. An excellent buy for anyone who wants to learn Arabic.
~*~*Totally Awesome!!*~*~.......2007-09-24
The book I purchased was brand new so of course it was in perfect condition. The book also contained DVDs as part of the lesson. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn Arabic because it provides you with listening material for you to practice with and perfect your pronunciation.
Great starting point for students of Arabic.......2007-09-17
Alif Baa text and DVDs provide excellent written, visual and audio descriptions of all the letters, many of which are indistinguishable to the native English speaker. Limited vocabulary and dialogues are included to keep the focus on learning the letters as spoken and as written.
Excellent Introduction to the Alphabet. .......2007-09-13
To is by far the best package for learning the arabic script/alphabet. If you can only afford one thing, I would definitely buy this. You may find other books more helpful but the addition of the DVD makes this indispensable.
There are a few reasons why this book is superior to other Arabic books that attempt to teach the script. However there is one that stands out in my mind.
The teaching of arabic letters as unique sounds apart from the English alphabet and the exact position of the tongue in the mouth, throat constriction, level of aspiration, and great tips for practicing foreign sounds and exercises.
When speaking a language, I pride myself on the accurate pronunciation of it. Once past the conversation level, pronunciation of the language is my priority and I believe that Alif Baa does an excellent, superb job of this. Especially clearing up the tricky difference between Thaa and Dhaa. I knew of the difference, but could not separate it in speech. Now I do it with much greater accuracy.
I recommend this book whole heartedly.
Addendum: I was reading the reviews and someone said it assumed that you had a teacher. This is true and not true at the same time. MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE ANSWER KEY, WHICH IS ONLY $5 EVEN BEFORE YOU BUY THIS BOOK. When you buy this answer key, this becomes the best way to teaching yourself Arabic script.
Did it for me! ... From "romanization" to actual Arabic!.......2007-07-30
This work provided the structure in a comfortable format for me to make the difficult transition from Arabic, phonetically approximated in English letters, to sounding and writing actual Arabic. There are more concise statements of the rules, but this is an actual "work-book" with space to fill in exercises as you progress. Brustad sets a good pace - ten lessons each taking about 2 hours apiece to complete. Sprinkled throughout are elements of Arabic culture ~ and as a bonus you will learn 100+ real words in Arabic as you master the letters and sounds. The DVD's are helpful as you watch the physical act of forming the letters in script and training your speech muscles to make the 9 or 10 sounds Arabic uses that English does not. I did lessons 1-5 without the Answer Key: and there were just enough times I wondered "Have I got that right?" that I ordered it. If you do not have a teacher (I do not) I would suggest buying the Answer Key up front. Remember when you first discovered you could "read English"? I had the same experience - in Arabic - after finishing Alif Baa!
Book Description
AN INTRODUCTION TO LANGUAGE is ideal for use at all levels and in many different areas of instruction including education, languages, psychology, anthropology, teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and linguistics. All chapters in this best-seller have been substantially revised to reflect recent discoveries and new understanding of linguistics and languages.
Customer Reviews:
Thanks!.......2007-09-23
The book came very quickly. The book's condition was very good. I really appreciate it.
: ).......2007-07-16
I had to buy this book for school, but I actually enjoyed it. I don't usually read text books, but this was one worth reading. Very interesting facts, and really helps to spark interest about language.
IT IS A GOOD BOOK.......2007-07-05
I LIKE THE BOOK BECAUSE IT HELPED ME A LOT IN MY CLASS... IT HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS VERY USEFUL...
The best basic level introduction, but overpriced.......2006-12-12
This is, hands down, the best book to take a rank beginner and introduce him or her to the science of linguistics. The price, however, has placed it out of reach of my introductory courses in linguistics. It's sad that such an important volume has become unavailable as a text in many courses.
Continuing Education.......2006-03-14
For those of us wishing to continue learning, this is a very educational book. It is written so that you can consume small chunks, digest them, and come back for more.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good text with online adjunct videos for free.......2005-10-30
Used for my college English II class, this text presents many literary ideas which could be useful for fully learning the many apsects of english.
There is an adjunct video course also usually taught in conjunction with this text, and its available for free on demand online at learner dot org.
I've kept this text for the many stories and usefull English info. Worth having.
Great teaching book.......1999-09-20
This book has a companion video series called Literary Visions. That series alsoo includes a study guide. I would highly recommend it.
Is there a teacher's manual with this book?.......1999-03-18
This is not a review. I am searching for a teacher's manual for this book. Is there one?
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