An innovative and lively first-year program, VORSPRUNG: A COMMUNICATIVE INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, 3E uses a five-skills approach that emphasizes the acquisition of communicative and cultural competence without sacrificing attention to formal accuracy. Utilizing "focus on form" activities in an engaging, personalized fashion, VORSPRUNG helps students develop realistic abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing German. The program presents a systematic, clear introduction to the essentials of German grammar and practices high-frequency structures and vocabulary in interactive activities. In addition, it provides students with the cultural knowledge that is relevant to their own lives and then asks them to compare their cultures to the habits and behaviors of the German-speaking people of Europe--thus activating cultural awareness in the classroom. Thoroughly preparing students for successful communication in today's rapidly changing world, VORSPRUNG exposes readers to a wealth of spoken and written authentic textual materials, while an array of in-class activities promotes accuracy and provides ample opportunities for students to practice German in current contexts.