March 23, 2026
Soviet Self-Study Book
A few days ago, I was studying again at a small library in my neighborhood. I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted. This time, I spent almost 4 hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list. During the breaks, I was skimming through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf. This textbook really caught my attention, since it had been published in 1978 and therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda. The book contains numerous texts praising ordinary East German residents for their hard and diligent work for the benefit of the state. In the future, I plan to explore this historical artifact further. The book also contains various exercises, but I'm most
interested in the texts.
Vor ein paar Tagen war ich wieder am Studieren bei einer Bibliothek in meiner Gegend. Ich mag, dass es dort um diese Zeit kaum jemanden gibt und dass man in aller Ruhe ins Lernen eintauchen kann. Diesmal habe ich insgesamt 4 Stunden dort verbracht und dadurch wirklich viele Aufgaben aus meiner To-Do-Liste abgehakt.
Während der Pausen las ich ein Selbstlernbuch für Deutschlernende, das ich verstaubend auf einem fernen Regal entdeckt hatte. Ich fand dieses Buch äußerst interessant, da es 1978 veröffentlicht wurde und daher mit kommunisticher Propaganda überfüllt ist. Im Buch sind zahlreiche Texte zu finden, in denen einfache DDR-Einwohner für ihre harte und fleißige Arbeit zum Wohle des Staats gelobt werden. Zukünftig habe ich vor, dieses historische Artefakt weiter zu erkunden. Das Buch beinhaltet auch verschiedene Übungen, aber mich interessieren die Texte am meisten.
Correction Settings
Soviet Self-Study Book
A few days ago, I was studying again at a small library in my neighborhood.
I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted.
This time, I spent almost 4 hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list.
During the breaks, I was skimminged through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
During the breaks, I skimmed through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
This is a nitpick, but "skimmed" sounds more natural than "was skimming" here. The past progressive is most often used to express an event that was ongoing when another event occurred, for instance: "I was skimming through a self-study book when a strange noise suddenly caught my attention."
This textbook really caught my attention, since it had beenwas published in 1978 and therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda.
This textbook really caught my attention, since it was published in 1978 and therefore is saturated with communist propaganda.
"Oversaturated" sounds redundant. Other options for emphasizing the intense nature or amount of propaganda include the phrase "over-the-top" ("saturated with over-the-top communist propaganda") or a word like "stuffed" ("stuffed with communist propaganda").
The book contains numerous texts praising ordinary East German residents for their hard and diligent work for the benefit of the state.
In the future, I plan to explore this historical artifact further.
The book also contains various exercises, but I'm most
interested in the texts.
March 24, 2026
I appreciate your explanations, frpzzd!
Soviet Self-Study Book
A few days ago, I was studying again at a small library in my neighborhood.
I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted.
This time, I spent almost 4 hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list.
During themy breaks, I was skimming through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
During my breaks, I was skimming through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
This textbook really caught my attention, since it had been published in 1978 and therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda.
The book contains numerous texts praising ordinary East German residents for their hard and diligent work for the benefit of the state.
In the future, I plan to explore this historical artifact further.
The book also contains various exercises, but I'm mostly The book also contains various exercises, but I'm mostly
interested in the texts.
Feedback
Very well written!
March 24, 2026
Thank you, Thomas!!
I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted. I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted.
"Calmly dive in" is perfect English. The image is a little unusual, but it works for me if I imagine a duck or a loon floating motionlessly on a pond and diving to feed.
This time, I spent almost 4four hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list.
This time, I spent almost four hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list.
Also good: During the breaks, I was skimminged through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
Also good: During the breaks, I skimmed through a self-study book for German learners I found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
You could use fewer extra words, but the conciseness might be too fast. You might prefer the original wording because it feels like it took longer and was leisurely--kind of like the difference between walking and strolling.
This textbook really caught my attention, since it had beenwas published in 1978 and is therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda.
This textbook really caught my attention, since it was published in 1978 and is therefore oversaturated with communist propaganda.
The simple past is fine and works better with "is" for the present. "Is" can go in either place, I think, but the parallel structure of "was published" and "is...oversaturated" flows better.
Feedback
Well done! Good consistency of tone and style.
March 24, 2026
This textbook really caught my attention, since it had beenwas published in 1978 and is therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda.
The simple past is fine and works better with "is" for the present. "Is" can go in either place, I think, but the parallel structure of "was published" and "is...oversaturated" flows better.
Many thanks, Liag! I find Past Perfect Tense a bit confusing: It's evident that the book had been published before it has caught my attention, so why should we use Past Simple here?
March 24, 2026
Also good: During the breaks, I was skimminged through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
You could use fewer extra words, but the conciseness might be too fast. You might prefer the original wording because it feels like it took longer and was leisurely--kind of like the difference between walking and strolling.
And the same question goes for this sentence.
Sorry if it's a silly one, it's just been a while since my last grammar class :D
March 24, 2026
Many thanks, Liag! I find Past Perfect Tense a bit confusing: It's evident that the book had been published before it has caught my attention, so why should we use Past Simple here?
Grammar is not my strong point, so I consulted an authority we can trust:https://ludwig.guru/s/had+been+published
If you scroll to the bottom you will see best practice and common error. I am super pleased to see that my intuition based on experience aligns with what I read there!
March 24, 2026
And the same question goes for this sentence. Sorry if it's a silly one, it's just been a while since my last grammar class :D
I think the citation from Ludwig covers this situation: it's optional if you want to emphasize the sequence of events, so my correction is on point: either works, and it depends on you. Thank you, Ludwig!
March 24, 2026
Indeed, big thanks to Ludwig!
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Soviet Self-Study Book This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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A few days ago, I was studying again at a small library in my neighborhood. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted. I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted. I like that there are barely any people there on weekdays, so you can calmly dive into learning without getting distracted. "Calmly dive in" is perfect English. The image is a little unusual, but it works for me if I imagine a duck or a loon floating motionlessly on a pond and diving to feed. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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This time, I spent almost 4 hours there and checked off a lot of tasks from my to-do list.
This time, I spent almost This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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During the breaks, I was skimming through a self-study book for German learners I had found gathering dust on a remote bookshelf.
Also good: During the breaks, I You could use fewer extra words, but the conciseness might be too fast. You might prefer the original wording because it feels like it took longer and was leisurely--kind of like the difference between walking and strolling.
During
During the breaks, I This is a nitpick, but "skimmed" sounds more natural than "was skimming" here. The past progressive is most often used to express an event that was ongoing when another event occurred, for instance: "I was skimming through a self-study book when a strange noise suddenly caught my attention." |
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This textbook really caught my attention, since it had been published in 1978 and therefore is oversaturated with communist propaganda.
This textbook really caught my attention, since it The simple past is fine and works better with "is" for the present. "Is" can go in either place, I think, but the parallel structure of "was published" and "is...oversaturated" flows better. This sentence has been marked as perfect!
This textbook really caught my attention, since it "Oversaturated" sounds redundant. Other options for emphasizing the intense nature or amount of propaganda include the phrase "over-the-top" ("saturated with over-the-top communist propaganda") or a word like "stuffed" ("stuffed with communist propaganda"). |
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The book contains numerous texts praising ordinary East German residents for their hard and diligent work for the benefit of the state. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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In the future, I plan to explore this historical artifact further. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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The book also contains various exercises, but I'm most The book also contains various exercises, but I'm mostly The book also contains various exercises, but I'm mostly This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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interested in the texts. This sentence has been marked as perfect! This sentence has been marked as perfect! |
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