A recent renewed interest in the Basque language and culture has nudged many people to start looking for learning materials on the subject. If you’re one of these people and considering a self-study course, Colloquial Basque should be on your short list.
Overview
Unlike almost all other tongues spoken in the world today, Basque is considered to be a language isolate, meaning that it cannot be linked to any other living language. This fact alone adds a certain air of mystery to the language, causing many people to want to learn the subject even if their only reason for doing so is to keep it alive. Others have more practical reasons, such as planning a vacation to the Basque Country, for their studies.
Colloquial Basque: A Complete Language Course, written by Alan R. King and Begotxu Olaizola Elordi, is a resource that attempts to satisfy all the various reasons student might have for embarking on the study of the Basque language. The current edition of the collection includes a 256 page book and a CD that is 120 minutes in length. Older editions of the language study pack include cassette tapes instead of CDs, and you should still be able to find them in many used book outlets if you prefer that method of audio instruction.
Intended Audience: Beginner
Colloquial Basque is an entry-level language study program that assumes no prior knowledge of the subject. Although used in many formal courses, the package has been designed so that it can easily be used as a self-study tool as well.
As the title of the course suggests, the primary audience targeted by Colloquial Basque is the traveler who plans to spend some time in Basque Country and wants to be able to converse in the native tongue, even if it is at the most basic level. However, this doesn’t stop the resource from being valuable to others who just want a good introduction to the language either as preparation for further studies on the topic or just to broaden their own general knowledge base. In my opinion, the book and CD set is an excellent resource for any beginning student of the Basque language.
Instructional Method
Rating 
The Colloquial Basque course focuses on a conversational style of instruction, explaining the grammar and structure of the language as needed. In short, the book’s emphasis is on being able to communicate in Basque, and it tries hard not to get too bogged down in technical aspects of the language.
A number of references to contemporary Basque culture are interspersed throughout the book. These tidbits of information add a lot of color to the subject and are invaluable to students who really want to understand the language in the context of Basque lifestyle.
My favorite feature in this study course is the inclusion of a “Strategies for Communication” in many sections of the material. These segments point out particular distinctions between the “style” of English and Basque, helping students understand why a phrase that sounds perfectly polite and innocent in English would be considered nonsense, or even rude, in Basque. (Yes, too much politeness can actually be a bad thing in the Basque Country!)
Up Next: Continue to the next page of this review to find out about the course layout, included dictionaries, and price of Colloquial Basque.