Here are some books I recommend. Because I come from Germany, most of these are useful for German speakers. I also include some books you shouldn't buy, because you'll be issued them in the MTC or when you arrive in Greece. Disclaimer: I liked these books, and they helped me. You may learn differently, or look for something else in a book. Your mileage may vary.

If you have a comments on these books or would like to submit some titles of books that have helped you, e-mail me with your suggestions and I'll add them to this page.

Also, I don't know which books the mission and the MTC currently issue the missionaries. About the time that I left, they were re-evaluating which books missionaries use frequently, and, as a consequence, some the books I'm recommending you buy may already be standard issue. Can anyone send me the list of currently issued books? Either e-mail me, or send it to me by post (my address is in the "about myself" page). Thanks a lot!

Elder Newton's list of some books he recommends:

Books to buy before you enter the MTC

• Langenscheidts Praktisches Lehrbuch Neugriechisch, Dr. Heinz F. Wendt, Langenscheidt 1965, ISBN 3-468-26210-8.

  I bought this book before my mission and was very glad I did. It helped me a lot. I read through it before I entered the MTC, and while I hadn't learned any of the contents by heart, the fact that I'd seen the matter before made it easier to learn. I also consider it a good grammar reference, and used it as such both in the MTC and during my mission.

• Langenscheidts Taschenwoerterbuch Neugriechisch, Dr. Heinz F. Wendt, Langenscheidt 1969, ISBN 3-468-10210-0. (Note: this ISBN is for my edition, which is a little bit older; it uses the polytonic system in the Greek-to-German part, while the new version uses the monotonic system throughout.)

  A good two-way dictionary, with a good set of Greek grammar tables (verb, noun, and adjective endings, etc.). Notable also for the fact that in the Greek-to-German section, it shows the conjugation pattern of verbs and the ending patterns for irregular adjectives. The pocket edition of Langenscheidt's dictionary doesn't contain these indications, and so if you're looking for a pocket dictionary that you can carry around with you, I'd go for

• PONS' pocket Greek and German dictionary. I don't know the ISBN for this one, because I don't have it; however, one of my German companions had it and highly recommends it. It, too, has notes on grammar, and also shows the verb conjugation patterns in the entries.

Books to buy once you get to Greece

• Νεοελληνική Γραμματική, Μανόλης Τριανταφυλλίδης, ΟΕΔΒ (Οργανισμός Εκδόσεως Διδακτικών Βιβλίων), ISBN 960-06-0024-4.

  This is the standard Greek grammar that is used in schools. A good basic guide to Greek grammar. It cost 355 drachmas when I bought it, so very affordable. (I believe this is now issued to all missionaries?)

• If you're really into polytonic and languages the way I am, you may enjoy buying instead Νεοελληνική Γραμματική (της Δημοτικής), Μανόλης Τριανταφυλλίδης, Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης, Ινστιτούτο Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών, ISBN 960-231-027-8.

  This is Triandafyllidis' original work; the school grammar is an abridgement, and this is the real thing. It contains lots of rules, also about the polytonic system (the school grammar is only about monotonic).

• Η Αγία Γραφή (δημοτική), Εκδόσεις Πέργαμος, Αθήνα 1995, ISBN 960-7241-25-8.

  This is the first edition of the complete bible in demotic; previously, only the New Testament was available in Demotic, while the complete Bible was available only in the "original" Ancient Greek (the Septuagint translation) or in katharevousa (the "Βάμβας" translation). When I went on a mission, this translation hadn't appeared yet, and in the MTC we were issued the Vamvas katharevousa translation. However, rumour says that now missionaries are issued this Bible instead. It's not a real translation from the original languages, but only a "modernisation" of Vamvas. (I suppose in this respect it's a little bit like the New King James Version.) It cost me 4500 drachmas. The best place to get it is the bookstore "Ο Λόγος", Εμμ. Μπενάκη 28, Αθήνα.

• When we got to Athens, we were given a pocket New Testament for the times when we didn't want to carry the whole Bible with us. It was a small blue-and-yellow book, and several missionaries I talked to didn't like the translation. It has the official approval of the Orthodox church (or at least some official-looking letters reproduced in the front). The translation I finally bought was recommended by another missionary as being a bit more faithful to what the scriptures want to say. It's a Protestant translation. Its title is Η Καινή Διαθήκη (Μεταγλώττιση), published by Εκδόσεις ΒΙΒΛΟΣ Ε.Π.Ε., Αθήνα 1991, ISBN 960-85151-6-5.

• Oxford English-Greek Learner's Dictionary. I didn't buy this for myself because I had a German-Greek dictionary; however, many missionaries bought this for their studies. The Greek-English volume was standard issue, but not the English-Greek; you had to buy that yourself if you wanted it.

Books not to buy, because you're issued them anyway

• Collin's Gem Greek Dictionary (or something like that). A good pocket dictionary. Does not, however, have any notes on grammar. (I bought this one before my mission and later found out that I would have received it at the mission home...)

Books that other people recommend:

• Nothing here yet. Send me your suggestions!

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