This is a practical course in everyday written and spoken Estonian, requiring no prior knowledge of the language. It is designed for anyone seeking to develop a sound command of contemporary Estonian, whether studying independently or with a teacher. The book is divided into 20 lessons which introduce you to the core functions you will need to communicate effectively in Estonian, such as ordering food, speaking on the telephone, and discussing subjects like health and the weather. The course includes: a pronunciation guide; a useful and up-to-date vocabulary; situation-based conversations; a wide range of interesting texts; aspects of Estonian culture, customs and history; concise grammar notes; various exercises with answers; a ready-reference grammar; English-Estonian and Estonian-English glossaries; and a grammar index. Two 60-minute cassettes, recorded by native Estonians, are available to accompany "Colloquial Estonian". These complement and reinforce the material covered in the book.