The Ramayana is the tale of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. The Ramayana is perhaps one of the best known epics in the world which transcends all barriers of time, caste, creed and space. The reason for Ramayana's great popularity is that it is one story entwined in so many amazing stories woven so beautifully that not even for a moment you feel out of place. The exciting characters, their problems, their values and the crafty situations transform you into another world. You feel like one among them. Their joys make you laugh and their pains and sorrows make you cry. They take you on a journey beyond comprehension. Rama, the son of Dahsratha, goes to the forest for fourteen years to honour his father's words. His wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana accompany him. Their sojourn with forest life is full of adventures as they make new friends and meet weird foes. Their happy life is disturbed when Ravana, the king of Lanka, abducts Sita. Rama takes help of Sugriva, Honuman and with the monkey army he manages to rescue her. In the battle that ensued Ravana is killed.But that is not the end of the story. The tale further describes Rama Rajya, Sita's banishment and the birth of Rama's sons Luva and Kusha. So here's this vivid and vibrant ancient epic of Ramayana which is laced with adventures, excitement, love and war in the amazing stories intertwined with the main story line. This delightfully retold epic is sure to steal your heart.Jai Sri Rama

This beginner-level Italian course focuses on authentic everyday situations to help users acquire basic language skills with confidence and ease. "Basic Italian" is ideal for beginning language learners who prefer a mixture of print and audio components and a fairly traditional learning approach. The audio CDs featuring native Italian speakers immerse the users in typical everyday situations allowing their language skills to progress in no time. By the end of the course, users will know how to greet people and introduce themselves, describe their friends and family, find their way around town and make plans.

This compact book reproduces fifty-two memorials in Latin taken from churches situated largely in the West Country. Each memorial is accompanied by a translation and by notes on the grammar. The book is aimed at all who would like to be able to read Latin epitaphs in churches, and whose knowledge of the language may be sketchy. The introduction explains the conventions involved in lettering, abbreviations, Latinized personal names, and stock phrases. It is followed by a very brief Latin grammar and notes on Roman numerals and dates. At the back of the book there is a word list containing all those words found in the inscriptions with numbered references, plus a selection of words which are commonly found in inscriptions generally, though not in those printed here. By combining these resources in one book, the author equips the reader with the tools to tackle other epitaphs beyond the pages of this book and further afield. Every attempt is made to help the reader understand the context in which each inscription was composed. For instance it is stressed that the composers of such epitaphs were skilled Latin scholars, and that there are very few errors to be seen. Errors attributable to the stonemasons or sign-writers are noted and corrected.

A simple approach for learning French grammar by comparing it to your first language, English

"Side-by-Side French and English Grammar" present explanations of the essential elements of French grammar alongside their English-language equivalents. This method allows you to build on what you already know; not only do you learn French grammar but also enjoy the added benefit of strengthening your grammar skills in your native tongue

Each lesson clearly explains functions and uses of the different parts of speech and includes abundant examples for each entry. Because the vocabulary is limited to frequently used words, you can concentrate more on a sentence's structure instead of becoming tangled in its meaning. A "Quick Check" section summarizes main ideas in each section and helps you retain the most important information. This third edition features a new exercise section to further reinforce what you have learned.

The story of Rama books [Pts I-II] together relate in 16 episodes, Pt II covers an introduction of the imperative mood; other important noun and pronoun declensions; "having done something" used with prefixes; the past passive participle; the conjugation of the middle voice and the verb "to be" in present, future and past tenses; and the om[letion of the standard method of transliteration.

Due to its complex writing system, Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Full literacy of Chinese requires a working knowledge of three to four thousand Chinese characters and breaking into reading Chinese literature is a daunting task.Capturing Chinese: Lu Xun's The Real Story of Ah Q presents one of the best works of modern Chinese literature as a comprehensive tool to help students of Chinese read Chinese literature in its original form. Footnotes highlight the more difficult vocabulary and pinyin is provided for the entire text. There is no need to constantly consult a dictionary or to look up difficult characters by radical. Historical events, people, and places are explained throughout and illustrations recreate the scenes.The text used in this book is in simplified characters.Free audio files of Lu Xun's The Real Story of Ah Q are also included with the purchase of this book and are available for download from the publisher's website. The audio files include both a woman and male speaker.

Lu Xun, the father of modern Chinese literature, is an essential read for the intermediate and advanced student of Chinese. A New Year's Sacrifice is one of Lu Xun's best works from his second collection of short stories, Wondering. Due to its complex writing system, Chinese is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Full literacy of Chinese requires a working knowledge of three to four thousand Chinese characters and breaking into reading Chinese literature is a daunting task. Capturing Chinese: Lu Xun's A New Year's Sacrifice presents one of the best works of modern Chinese literature as a comprehensive tool to help students of Chinese read Chinese literature in its original form. Footnotes highlight the more difficult vocabulary and pinyin is provided for the entire text. There is no need to constantly consult a dictionary or to look up difficult characters by radical. Historical events, people, and places are explained throughout and illustrations recreate the scenes. The text used in this book is in simplified characters. An English translation of the story is included and helps readers gain a full understanding of the story. * Full story unabridged in simplified Chinese * Pinyin for the entire text * Definitions for difficult vocabulary * Historical explanations and summaries * English translation * Illustrations throughout * Free MP3s read by two native speakers Free audio files of Lu Xun's A New Year's Sacrifice are also included with the purchase of this book and are available for download from the publisher's website, www.CapturingChinese.com. The audio files include both a woman and male speaker.

Learn Japanese through crossword puzzles!

"Easy Japanese Crossword Puzzles" offers you an entertaining but effective way of expanding your knowledge of the Japanese language and use of Kana script. The puzzles in this book cover a wide variety of topics that will challenge and help you develop your Japanese-language skills.

Using Kana (Japanese characters) throughout, the crosswords are arranged according to difficulty. They begin with simple Japanese-to-Spanish puzzles, followed by English-to-Japanese puzzles. Complete vocabularies and solutions are provided at the back of the book.

Do you want to develop a solid understanding of Italian and communicate confidently with others? Through authentic conversations, vocabulary building, grammar explanations and extensive practice and review, Complete Italian will equip you with the skills you need to use Italian in a variety of settings and situations, developing your cultural awareness along the way. What will I achieve by the end of the course? By the end of Complete Italian you will have a solid intermediate-level grounding in the four key skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening - and be able to communicate with confidence and accuracy. Is this course for me? If you want to move confidently from beginner to intermediate level, this is the course for you. It's perfect for the self-study learner, with a one-to-one tutor, or for the beginner classroom. It can also be used as a refresher course. What do I get? -25 learning units plus verbs reference and word glossary and revision section -Discovery Method - figure out rules and patterns to make the language stick -Teaches the key skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking -Learn to learn - tips and skills on how to be a better language learner -Culture notes - learn about the people and places of Italy -Outcomes-based learning - focus your studies with clear aims -Authentic listening activities - everyday conversations give you a flavour of real spoken Italian -Test Yourself - see and track your own progress *Complete Italian maps from Novice Low to Advanced Low level proficiency of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) and from A1 Beginner to B1/B2 Upper Intermediate level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) guidelines. What else can I use to learn Italian? If you require an absolute Beginner course, you can try our Get Started in Italian Absolute Beginner course: 9781444174717 If you want to take your Italian further, you should try our Perfect Your Italian: 9781444151053 This pack includes a full-colour book and two MP3 CD-ROMs of audio material. You can also stream the audio from library.teachyourself.com or download the Teach Yourself Library app to listen offline. Rely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language learners for over 80 years.

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Japan again! Your ideal pocket-sized travel companion and the accompanying free ebook will ensure that you can say what you need in Japanese with ease and confidence. Reliable, portable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi. With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don't go anywhere without this little book - an essential guide to speaking and understanding Japanese when travelling in Japan. Access your free ebook at collins.co.uk/ebooks

Do you want to develop a solid understanding of French and communicate confidently with others?Through authentic conversations, vocabulary building, grammar explanations and extensive practice and review, Complete French will equip you with the skills you need to use French in a variety of settings and situations, developing your cultural awareness along the way.What will I achieve by the end of the course?By the end of Complete French you will have a solid intermediate-level* grounding in the four key skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening - and be able to communicate with confidence and accuracy. Is this course for me?if you want to move confidently from beginner to intermediate level, this is the course for you. It's perfect for the self-study learner, with a one-to-one tutor, or for the beginner classroom. It can also be used as a refresher course. What do I get?- 25 learning units plus verbs reference and word glossary and revision section-Discovery Method - figure out rules and patterns to make the language stick -Teaches the key skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking -Learn to learn - tips and skills on how to be a better language learner -Culture notes - learn about the people and places of France-Outcomes-based learning - focus your studies with clear aims -Authentic listening activities - everyday conversations give you a flavour of real spoken French-Test Yourself - see and track your own progress *Complete French maps from A1 Beginner to B1/B2 Upper Intermediate level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and Novice Low to Advanced Low level proficiency of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) guidelines. This pack includes a full-colour book and two CDs of audio material. This title can also be used in conjunction with the French Teach Yourself Languages Online course (www.teachyourselflanguages.com)What else can I use to learn French?If you require an absolute Beginner course, you can try our Get Started in French Absolute Beginner course: 9781444174595If you want to take your French further, you should try our Perfect Your French: 9781444151008Rely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language learners for over 75 years.

Quickstart French is an audio course for complete beginners. Two 70-minute CDs introduce you to essential holiday language so you'll learn how to find a place to stay, get around town, order in restaurants, hit the shops, have a drink and enjoy the nightlife. Quickstart French is a simple and effective way to get going and build your confidence - fast! This engaging and well-structured approach breaks down the key language into manageable chunks and gives plenty of opportunity to listen and practise, as well as produce the language yourself. Learn French at home or on the move: play it on your CD player or computer load it onto your MP3 player play it on your iPod or iPhone and take advantage of the special features, which enable you to view the dialogues and their translations as you listen. Each episode has been chapterised so that you can navigate easily between sections to revisit what you've learned. Contents: 2 audio CDs (CD 1 includes the optimised MP4 files for installation via your PC or Mac, allowing you to use the special features on your iPod or iPhone) 40-page booklet Also available in the series: Arabic, Chinese, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish. Special features compatible with: iPod nano (1st generation 1GB, 2GB, 4GB) iPod nano (2nd generation aluminium 2GB, 4GB, 8GB) iPod nano (3rd generation video 4GB, 8GB) iPod classic (80GB, 160GB) iPod (5th generation video 60GB, 80GB) iPod (5th generation video 30GB) iPod touch (8GB, 16GB, 32GB) iPhone (4GB, 8GB, 16GB) iPhone 3G (8GB, 16GB) (iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc.)

Learning to write fluidly in Arabic takes practice. This short workbook helps beginning learners practice each letter in all of its forms by tracing real Arabic words. Learners trace different words across each line to practice letter formation on tracing paper that is bound into the book. The words, handwritten by a native Arabic speaker, show a natural flow and present a model of clean handwriting. Write Arabic Now! can be used independently or alongside a textbook giving beginning learners a proven, effective means of improving their Arabic handwriting. Along with the workbook, audio of the practice words is also provided. Listening to the words as learners trace the handwriting facilitates acquisition of the Arabic writing and phonetic system, which strengthens reading comprehension skills. Audio of the words will be freely available on the Georgetown University Press website (press.georgetown.edu) as downloadable MP3s.

Oxford Take Off in Spanish makes learning or brushing up on your Spanish quick, easy, and fun. Follow an integrated course including activities and dialogues with native speakers so you can feel confident in day-to-day conversation. Advance from beginner to intermediate level in one integrated book and audio course. This complete language-learning kit contains everything you need to speak, read, write, and understand Spanish, and gives you flexibility when learning. The pack includes a clear, easy-to-use coursebook, full mp3 audio to download, 5 CDs, including extra audio to practise on CD or mp3, a handy 2-in-1 travel dictionary and phrasebook to support you in learning a new language. Flexible and structured course units allow you to work at your own pace and check your progress with regular self-testing exercises. New, market-tested packaging provides a portable and compact complete language-learning course.

For over 6 months, Vester's team of experts analyzed thousands of articles from newspapers, books, letters, speeches and hundreds of hours of real conversation. This research led to the conclusion that 90% of day-to-day Spanish uses only 1500 words. A"Spanish in 1500 wordsA" is the result of this research. The book is designed to facilitate learning through the use of semantic categories and includes: * Nouns * Verbs * Adjectives * Pronouns * Numbers * . Spanish in 1500 wordsA" will help you build an effective Spanish vocabulary with minimum effort. By devoting just 30 minutes a day, in 90 days you will have learnt the 1500 words that make up 90% of day-to-day Spanish. Executives, students and workers all around the world have already succeeded in learning Spanish thanks to the world's most efficient vocabulary building book. Why miss out on it?

This synopsis refers to the coursebook+double CD pack. Teach Yourself Panjabi (comprising a coursebook and audio support on a double CD) has been designed for the absolute beginner who may or may not have studied a language before. The course will be useful to people who want to learn Panjabi in order to speak with their Panjabi friends and relatives, to communicate with Panjabi communities in relation to their work, to learn about aspects of Panjabi culture and society or to travel to the Panjab itself. The course will also be useful to those who already know a little Panjabi but who may not have the confidence to speak, or to those who are fluent but need to learn to read and write the Gurmukhi script. The course is divided into two parts: - the first part (units 1-10) is specifically designed for those who want to learn the basics of grammar and vocabulary in order to be able to communicate in a simple manner and to read and write simple sentences. - the second part (units 11-16) will help you expand your knowledge of spoken Panjabi further and become proficient in the Gurmukhi script. Overall, the course introduces you to a wide range of vocabulary and covers the basic grammar of Panjabi. By the end of the course, you will be able to understand the spoken language to communicate in Panjabi in a number of everyday situations and also have a level of understanding of the written language to begin to read newspapers and write letters. The book (ISBN 9780340958902) is accompanied by audio material on two CDs (9780340958926). The course is available for purchase as a pack comprising the coursebook and double CD (ISBN 9780340958919).

The Ultimate Guide to Learning Italian ASAP! You know how to order your favorite "ravioli" or "vino"--but that can only get you so far. If you are planning to travel to an Italian-speaking country or want a jumpstart on on how to "parlare" for a class, Learn Italian in a Hurry is your ideal pocket-sized primer to learn this beautiful language, with sections on Commonly used Italian phrases (days of the week, letter, numbers), Pronunciations and conjugations, Grammar and sentence construction, Useful words and terms, and Helpful Italian-English and English-Italian dictionaries. Complete with easy-to-read tables, pronunciation guides throughout, and even a must-visit list of Italian cities, Learn Italian in a Hurry is your key to learning Italian "rapidamente"!

Get By in Italian is the ideal travel companion - a quick and easy introduction to Italian and a phrase book covering all the essential language you'll need on your trip. With the help of the audio CD, get to grips with the basics of a conversation before you leave, then take the book away with you as a handy reference guide. Download the tracks on to your MP3 player to learn on the move. Understand the basics of the language with clear and easy-to-follow explanations. Try out what you have learned with mini role-plays and activities. Communicate with confidence with thousands of essential words and phrases. Get around easily with useful tips for the visitor. Eat out the Italian way with the comprehensive menu reader. Also contains a two-way mini dictionary so you'll never be stuck for the right word, and a full pronunciation guide so you'll always know how to say it! 160-page book and 60-minute audio CD. The book is also available separately (9781406612691). Also available in these languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin American Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish.

Bridging the gap between a basic phrase book and a full language course, this book covers all the essential words and phrases that the traveller can expect to use while they're away.