| Do you have to pass a German translation exam | | | | bucks or so online). But I really recommend |
| in order to be able to progress farther in your | | | | getting the current edition if at all possible. |
| graduate program? There's plenty of help. Read | | | | And not just for the answer key, but also |
| on for a review of one of the books that has | | | | because they did an excellent job in making the |
| been instrumental in helping countless students | | | | explanations clearer and much more complete |
| pass their exams. | | | | than they were before. |
| "German for Reading Knowledge" by Hubert | | | | And here's the second drawback if you're an Art |
| Jannach and Richard Alan Korb is my all-time | | | | History student, which many students are who |
| favorite German exam preparation book. Why? It | | | | have to take German translation exams. |
| works! | | | | Jannach's book is NOT specifically written for Art |
| Even the older editions were all excellent, but with | | | | History students, and deals more with science |
| the current edition, the authors have outdone | | | | texts. |
| themselves. | | | | It does have a few articles on Art History related |
| What I like about it is that if you work through it | | | | subjects, but it's definitely pretty skimpy on |
| diligently and get feedback on how you're doing, | | | | specific vocabulary. |
| you're pretty much guaranteed to be able to | | | | Don't let that bother you. The vocabulary is |
| handle just about any German text, even the | | | | helpful, but to be honest, since most of you WILL |
| most convoluted types that you're bound to | | | | be able to use a dictionary, I expect that you'll |
| encounter. | | | | manage. |
| Jannach's book is very well put together, has | | | | What's far more important is that you'll be able to |
| excellent explanations, so you can use it on your | | | | figure out what's what in the sentence, and that |
| own (with SOME guidance and a resource person | | | | you'll be able to handle and take apart long and |
| who'll review your translations and who'll explain | | | | complex sentences (the favorite kind of German |
| some of the things that might not be so clear | | | | scholars). |
| after all). | | | | And the Jannach book is THE best by far in |
| There are two types of exercises: Individual | | | | teaching you how to do that. |
| sentences AND texts. There is actually now an | | | | You can always get your art history vocabulary |
| answer key available for the sentences (but not | | | | from other sources. One possibility: Find a few art |
| for the texts). | | | | history articles to translate. That'll be good |
| The book does have one drawback, but it's not | | | | practice anyway. |
| too big of a problem. Besides, you can easily | | | | Your advisor will probably give them to you |
| work around it. | | | | anyway for practicing, and if not, just ask and he |
| Well, actually, there are two drawbacks. The first | | | | or she will be glad to help. Or look in the library, |
| one is that the new edition is kind of pricey. So if | | | | find some that have been translated into English, |
| money is an issue, you can always get the third | | | | and see if you can dig up the original version. |
| edition (which you can get for something like 10 | | | | |