To say it right away: We would not recommend THE ultimate text book for learners of German.
The factors of learning goals and learning conditions to be considered in the choice are too varied. For example:

• Are you planning an evening course with only one or two hours per week or do you want an intensive course of 4-6 lessons per day?
• Or do you want to teach yourself?
• Do you want to specialize in German grammar, a mix of text work and grammar or do you just want to learn a bit German for holidays?
• Is there a specific topic area for which you want to learn German? E.g.. Business, media, history or tourism?
• What is your mother tongue? For almost every language there is a special text book, which specializes the specific requirements and learning problems associated with each language.

In answering these questions, you should be able to find the best text book suited to your needs.

To make the search easier for you, we would like to give you a summary of the most important publishing houses and their offers for "German as foreign language", main focus: "German for adults", followingly.
Furthermore you find a link for direct order (amazon.com) for the textbooks marked by # at the end of this side.

Publishing houses in alphabetical order:

• Cornelsen
  You can search for German as a foreign language publications using catalogue function. Under the key word "Erwachsenenbildung" (adult education) you can find exercises and learning hints to work with the text book eurolingua Deutsch (#1). Each week there is something different to Download.
  
  
• Dürr und Kessler
  The main focus of is "Wirtschaftsdeutsch" (business German). The complete range of books could be found on the editors homepage below "Verlagsprogramme" -> Duerr+Kessler" -> "Deutsch als Fremdsprache" -> "Deutsch für Erwachsene". The standard textbook is "Wirtschaft 1 - Deutsch im Beruf" could be ordered below (#2)
  
  
• Eilers & Schünemann GmbH Sprachzeitungen
  The "Presse und Sprache" language newspaper for learners of German brings together original articles from German press with informative topics and discussion topics from Germany. There is a new edition per month and a yearly subscription costs EUR 25,80 (including delivery). A sample copy, or subscription can be ordered online.
  
  
• Hueber-Verlag und Verlag für Deutsch
  One of the most important publishers of text books for learners of German, and has a separate site for its text book range "Themen neu": www.themen-neu.de (#3). Online exercises and links, arranged by topic, can be found at this site.
  At language institute TREFF PUNKT we decided to use the new text book Delfin (#4) in the course levels A1, A2 and B1. This reasons had convinced us, and - even more important - our students:
  • the modern image
  • the clear structure
  • the orientation on 4 learning competencies (speaking, writing, reading, listening)
  • the appending CD for pronunciation
    On the Delfin homepage you could download single chapters and work on exercises.
    
  
  
• Iudicium
  Iudicium is publisher of »Informationen Deutsch als Fremdsprache«. There are 6 editions in the yearly subscription and is "a forum of well-grounded opinions for the teaching and research field German as a foreign language". The Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) and the Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache are the editors.
  
  
• Klett Online
  The complete range for German learners can be found using the catalogue search (pull down menu). The range includes about 500 titles which can be booked simply ordered online. An overview can also be found at DaF Programmschwerpunkte.
  Otherwise, Klett offers a lot of teaching material free downloads. Under Download choose Deutsch als Fremdsprache. The text book "Stufen" has its own website at: www.stufen.de.
  The range of dictionaries by Pons is also interesting. Eg. "Euro-Wortschatz" and "Internet-Wortschatz".
  
  
• Langenscheidt Verlagsgruppe
  A good summary of the range that Langenscheidt offers is available at www.forum-deutsch.de/. Apart from that, Langenscheidt is creating Internet sites for its most well known text books. The first to be offered is Moment mal! Individual chapters can be downloaded in PDF format (Acrobat-Reader)
  
  What is otherwise at Langenscheidt? Links to dictionaries, e.g. Das Internet-Wörterbuch, Das Fremdwörterbuch (in co-operation with AOL).
  It is certainly worth regularly visiting the Langenscheidt site: Many things are still under construction.
  
  
• 'German with a Smile',  Helga Lees
  Book/Handbook, A2, 233pp with amusing colour and black and white illustrations for practice. Interesting and effective way for Adults (14+) in all walks of life to learn, teach or revise German.
  Go to interactive website: www.germanlearnteach.com for more info.
  View Contents: Chapters, Posters, Pictures, Maps, Links, as well as the incredibly useful Appendix section (button: The Book) Listen to Pronunciation. Created by a German Language specialist who knew adult learners needed appropriate, relevant, compressed yet comprehensive language material to maintain interest. Up-to-date language, presented, paced and phased in a way which would produce results fairly rapidly with proficiency up to intermediate level. Day/Evening Classes, Further/Higher Education, Business/Industry, Travel/General Interest, Schools (fast track). Fits well with any study plan. (#5)
  
  
• Prenhall
  This US-based publisher offers a the textbook "Treffpunkt Deutsch"
  
  
• Links to further publishers? We recommend to use the search at www.geist.de . It is a platform for various publisher.

* Note: On this page we have concentrated on publisher and text books where you can find more information on the Internet and where online offers are available to be used directly.

Teachers of language school TREFF PUNKT presenting their favorite textbooks

Book recommendations

Important note: the following links are for direct orders via Amazon.com. If you live in Europe the shipping rates could be cheaper if you by via Amazon.de. The corresponding links are on the German page.

Note for the direct product links:
We apologize if some links shouldn't work directly to the product at Amazon.com and at Amazon.co.uk
The article is possibly undeliverable at present.

We would like to extend this summary. If you have any suggestions please E-mail us at:
info@learn-german-online.net

Important: We are very concerned about the current internet links. We would be very grateful if you could report dead links to us. Send an e-mail to info@learn-german-online.net.