This textbook is intended to fill an urgent need for a reliable, up-to-date Slovak language textbook suitable for use at the university level in either an intensive or regular course. It is designed to enable you to understand and speak the language of Slovakia -- a modern country in the Heart of Europe. -- teaches you how to master the principal communicative skills in Slovak -- will enable you to read and understand (with the help of a dictionary) current Slovak texts in the media, literature, and correspondence -- presents the basic Slovak vocabulary in texts and exercises -- is the first textbook that presents Slovak with the help of findings of contemporary contrastive English-Slovak linguistics -- comes complete with a Slovak-English dictionary -- contains an abundance of well-designed exercises -- presents information about Slovakia, contemporary life, and culture, as well as some historical data -- Slovak songs (both lyrics and music) -- conversion data for measures and weights -- a bibliography of selected books about Slovakia and the Slovak language -- a number of photographs, pictures, and illustrations -- a new, detailed map of Slovakia Two supplementary audiocassettes provide exercises in pronunciation and conversation for the beginning chapters. It also includes a performance of 4 Slovak folk songs. (Beginner level)