Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Pronouns Up Close Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When I showed the book Spanish Pronouns Up Close to my friend who is a native speaker of Spanish and a long-time educator of the language, she exclaimed, "Pronouns are one of the hardest things to learn!" Agreed. My experience shows that I understand pronouns better after teaching them year after year to my students.
This new handy book in a lightweight, portable size is not directed at a particular level, but rather is written for various levels. Beginners can get a grasp of the basics, intermediate-level students are able to gain a fuller understanding of the use of pronouns, and advanced students and educators can use it for reference. It can also help the teacher or professor who understands the use of pronouns, but needs help articulating the rules for students. Because of the lengthy descriptions of each type of pronoun (a chapter devoted to each type or function), it helps the more right-brained reader who prefers written descriptions and explanations. On the other hand, even the left-brained reader who enjoys the typical textbook chart, with its formula-driven efficiency, can benefit from the detailed explanations by checking their comprehension.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Pronouns Up Close


Get up close and master Spanish pronouns

As you study Spanish you may view pronouns as obstacles to your full understanding of the language. Learning pronouns can be one of the most frustrating aspects of studying Spanish grammar, but it is also one of the most important for being understood and following what others say. By adding Spanish pronouns to your range of language skills, you will open up a whole new world of communication.

With plenty of opportunities for practice, practice, practice, Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Pronouns Up Close helps you better understand the nuances of this tricky grammar element and develop your skills and confidence as a Spanish speaker with:

Easy-to-absorb explanatory materials, examples, and exercises
Authoritative guidance on the different pronoun forms and when to use them
A comprehensive answer key that not only gives you the correct solutions to the exercises but explains the why behind them

Get 28% OFF

Click here for more information about Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Pronouns Up Close

Read More...

Communicating In Spanish (Novice Level) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I like this book and the others in the series. I use this book in my Adult Education classes and it works well. There is a need for more depth in practice excercises. The material is easy to follow by the novice and is low stress, just what is needed by people who are returning to school and want something that is easy yet productive.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Communicating In Spanish (Novice Level)


Confusing Textbooks? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time?

Fortunately for you, there's Schaum's.

More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's Outlines to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. In Schaum's foreign language outlines, you'll get hundreds of examples, helpful usage explanations, and practice exercises to test your skills.

Fully compatible with your classroom text, Schaum's highlights all the important facts you need to know. Use Schaum's to shorten your study time-and get your best test scores!

Schaum's Outlines-Problem Solved.

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Communicating In Spanish (Novice Level)

Read More...

Spanish Among Amigos : Conversational Spanish Beyond the Classroom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The really standout feature of this book for me is how easy and fun it is to read. I consider myself fairly capable and passably fluent in conversational Spanish, but not only did I learn completely new and unexpected phrases and colloquial vocabulary in Spanish that had previously been beyond me, but Pepa and Pili (the main characters in the dialogues) had me chuckling and at times guffawing throughout. The author has a great sense of humor and a flair for refreshingly real-sounding conversation - not the stilted repartee you usually see in language books.
After reading this book you will no longer need to sneak peaks at the subtitles during Almodovar movies. This book is great fun to read and the exercises are quite challenging - a real help in moving your Spanish past the text book into the real world.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Spanish Among Amigos : Conversational Spanish Beyond the Classroom


One of the biggest hurdles to mastering a second language is learning how to speak naturally. Here is a humorous, one-of-a-kind program that teaches readers how to carry a conversation without sounding stilted or awkward. Spanish Among Amigosallows language learners to eavesdrop on two native speakers and their befuddled English-speaking friend Tom. As they talk about a host of topics, the reader becomes accustomed to conversing naturally in Spanish.

Each of the book's 21 units of dialogue includes:

A multiple-choice comprehension check
A vocabulary quiz
Hints on grammar and usage

Get 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Spanish Among Amigos : Conversational Spanish Beyond the Classroom

Read More...

Harrap's Spanish and English Pocket Dictionary (Harrap's Dictionaries) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I shopped extensively for a good dictionary at Barnes & Nobles, Borders and libraries and this one is the only one that met all of my requirements:
* lots of idiomatic phrases under relevant root words
* slang and "dirty" words with idiomatic usage
* recent edition with modern technology terms
* thick--no skimping on words
* flexible binding so it would stay open on a desk
Additionally, it has an excellent, 100 page summary of the Spanish language with lots of examples.



Click Here to see more reviews about: Harrap's Spanish and English Pocket Dictionary (Harrap's Dictionaries)


The ideal portable reference for beginners or intermediate learners of Spanish

Harrap's Spanish and English Pocket Dictionary is the most comprehensive portable dictionary available today. Fully revised and up-to-date, this authoritative reference features more than 57,000 references, 90,000 translations, and thorough coverage of Latin American Spanish.

Concise and exceptionally easy to use, it's the perfect dictionary for use at home or in school. In addition, this highly accessible guide:

Covers hundreds of new words and expressions, including slang, colloquial usage, technical language, and Internet terms
Provides numerous usage notes to help users avoid translation pitfalls
Includes a handy guide to Spanish verbs
Uses Harrap's extensive language databases and large-scale reading programs to guarantee thorough coverage of all areas of vocabulary and monitor new words

Click here for more information about Harrap's Spanish and English Pocket Dictionary (Harrap's Dictionaries)

Read More...

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation (Practice Makes Perfect Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As someone who studied a bit in the past, forgot some easy things, knew a few intermediate things, this great buy really gives you many fine points to help you start to actually speak the language. It's a book for someone who's already gone through a basic/elementary book. You'll get the maximum benefit if you pay attention to many parts of the conversations that aren't even emphasised: I'm referring to the tricky aspect of languages where you can't do word for word translations and the different way prepostions are used. Want to say "about" something in Spanish? Use "de"(!)--and there are many other little stumbling blocks like that, which will either frustrate you or, like me, fascinate you. Like I said, it's a great buy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation (Practice Makes Perfect Series)


Practice the Art of Conversation in Spanish!

Want to strike up a conversation with a native Spanish speaker but nervous that you're not ready? This book helps you overcome that obstacle and before you know it, you'll be speaking comfortably in your new native language.

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation is organized around twelve units that present realistic conversational situations, from making introductions to giving opinions and from making a date to telling a story. Using these engaging dialogues as a starting point, each unit is packed with helpful instruction on correct pronunciation, syntax, and word usage--in addition to lots of conversation-ready phrases that you will find indispensable as your fluency increases.

You will, of course, get plenty of practice, practice, practice using your new skills in conversation. Each dialogue is followed by a variety of exercises that not only give you the opportunity to put new concepts into action but also encourage you to construct personalized conversations. These lessons will reassure even the most grammar-phobic learners that they too can achieve a confident--and spontaneous--speaking style.

Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation will help you:
Engage in dialogues that illustrate practical conversations
Expand your vocabulary
Get clarification of new concepts with numerous realistic examples
Reinforce your new conversational skills through extensive exercises

Before you know it, you'll find yourself confidently speaking Spanish with your Spanish-speaking friends--or ready to make new ones!

Get 39% OFF

Click here for more information about Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Conversation (Practice Makes Perfect Series)

Read More...

Stories from Spain / Historias de España (Side by Side Bilingual Books) (English and Spanish Edition) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Genevieve Barlow's Stories from Spain is part of a series of bilingual books containing legends from Spanish-speaking countries. (See my anonymous review of Barlow's Stories from Latin America, 15 April 2000). This is a good book for anyone learning intermediate Spanish. It contains eighteen legends from Spain, and through these stories, some of which date back to the Moors' conquest of Spain, one can get a sense of Spanish history and culture.
Although I enjoyed the tales, I don't think the book is as good as Stories from Latin America. In that collection, the stories are roughly four pages in length; in this book, they are only two pages long (two pages each of English and Spanish). The writing seems a bit simplified and at times I felt that I was reading summaries of more intricate, and richer, legends. Also, an English-Spanish vocabulary section at the end takes up nearly one-third of the book, leaving only 113 pages for the stories themselves (as opposed to Stories from Latin America, whose sixteen tales total some 149 pages).
I'm glad I have both books in my collection, as this type of book is hard to come by. If you can afford to buy both, read Stories from Spain first, as the writing is a little bit simpler. If you can only afford to buy one, I'd go with Stories from Latin America.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Stories from Spain / Historias de España (Side by Side Bilingual Books) (English and Spanish Edition)


Dive into the tales of Spain-in Spanish and in English!

In Stories from Spain/Historias de España, we've placed the Spanish and English stories side by side--lado a lado--so you can practice and improve your reading skills in your new language while enjoying the support of your native language. This way, you'll avoid the inconvenience of constantly having to look up unfamiliar words and expressions in a dictionary. Read as much as you can understand, and then look to the facing page for help. As you read, you can check your comprehension by comparing the two versions of the story. You'll also find a bilingual vocabulary list at the end of the book, so you'll have a handy reference for new words.

Stories from Spain/Historias de España allows you to explore Spain's rich history. It included 18 well-known Spanish legends that chronicle almost 1,000 years of Spanish history. These tales will introduce you to an array of characters as dynamic and colorful as the country that gave birth to them. Moors, kings, nobles, rogues, and pirates are among those who will make these pages come alive for you! As you read these stories side by side, you will be not only fine-tuning your language skills but also gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Spanish people.

Click here for more information about Stories from Spain / Historias de España (Side by Side Bilingual Books) (English and Spanish Edition)

Read More...

Perfect Phrases in Spanish for Confident Travel to Mexico: The No Faux-Pas Phrasebook for the Perfect Trip (Perfect Phrases Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is one of the few books I have found that specifically addresses Spanish for Mexico and I found it entertainging and helpful.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Perfect Phrases in Spanish for Confident Travel to Mexico: The No Faux-Pas Phrasebook for the Perfect Trip (Perfect Phrases Series)


More than your average phrasebook, this portable title shows you how to be a well-mannered visitor and speak the local language in the correct context

Any phrasebook can give you a line listing of essential phrases. But if you use a phrase or term without knowing the correct way to use it, you can find yourself in an embarrassing situation.

Perfect Phrases in Spanish for Confident Travel to Mexico addresses this problem expertly. Yes, you get the basics but you get a lot more background and guidance on how to use these words and phrases correctly without making a faux pas. With the confidence that you are using a phrase correctly, you will enjoy a smoother adventure in Mexico.

Click here for more information about Perfect Phrases in Spanish for Confident Travel to Mexico: The No Faux-Pas Phrasebook for the Perfect Trip (Perfect Phrases Series)

Read More...

Read & Think English (Book + Audio CD) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my boyfriend in Argentina, who wants to move to the US. His English is good, but could be better. This book has tons of articles in English about different parts of America and its culture, very informative! As the person reads, certain important words are translated on the outside margins, so the person doesn't have to look somewhere else in the book... the definitions are right there on the page as you read! And the audio CD helps train the brain to pick up the accent and pronounciation while keeping up with the reading. Highly recommended for non-native speakers looking to improve their English.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Read & Think English (Book + Audio CD)


Aprende inglés a medida que descubres la riqueza de la cultura estadounidense

Construye un efectivo vocabulario en inglés sin la carga de aburridas repeticiones o tediosas memorizaciones con Read & Think English. Dentro encontrarás más de cien fascinantes artículos escritos en inglés sobre cosas tales como los apreciados rituales de Acción de Gracias o cómo interpretar el lenguaje corporal y la comunicación no verbal. Cada artículo presenta el nuevo vocabulario en negritas dentro del mismo artículo; en los márgenes encontrarás las traducciones. Aprenderás inmediatemente toda palabra que te sea desconocida.

Con Read & Think English:

Comprenderás el vocabulario en inglés rápida y fácilmente con la ayuda de las traducciones al español
Revisarás y reforzarás el nuevo conocimiento adquirido con preguntas al final de cada capítulo
Aprenderás sobre los Estados Unidos, la diversidad de su gente, y sus tradiciones únicas

¡Elimina lo aburrido de aprender un idioma y descubre una herramienta lingüística innovadora que te mantendrá entretenido/a en tu recorrido hacia el manejo competente del inglés!

Click here for more information about Read & Think English (Book + Audio CD)

Read More...

Don Quijote de la Mancha (Adapted for Intermediate Students) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use this adaptation with my high school Spanish 4 Honors class. The reading level is a little high, but it is a good challenge for them. Most of the difficult words are footnoted and there are comprehension questions at the end of each section. The questions are mostly recall, but there are also one or two thought-provoking questions for each section.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Don Quijote de la Mancha (Adapted for Intermediate Students)

A reader for intermediate Spanish studentsDon Quijote de la Mancha (Miguel de Cervantes) is a skillful adaptation of the first 12 episodes of Don Quijote that brings the "Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance" into your classroom. This reader is softcover, 6" × 9", and 40 pages in length. An audiocassette is also available.

Get 5% OFF

Click here for more information about Don Quijote de la Mancha (Adapted for Intermediate Students)

Read More...

Listen 'n' Learn Spanish with Your Favorite Movies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I couldn't believe it when I saw this on the shelf. I use this method frequently in my Spanish classes - we study a list of words, change the language in the DVD menu to Spanish, and then watch the movie in Spanish and discuss it in Spanish. It's a WONDERFUL way to improve your understanding and ability to speak the language, in a fun, non-stressful way.
This book has a very exhaustive list of words for each chapter of the movies, and I believe has a great selection of movies to use for your benefit. There is no pronunciation guide, but I suppose you can watch the movie and hear the words. I do wish the phonetic spellings were next to each word, so that students could sound it out before they listen for it in the movie.
The book has a fairly well laid out plan to help you get the most out of your Movie time, and begins with a basic Core Vocabulary, if you have no Spanish background at all. I don't know if it's a good beginner book, but after even a month of study, I do believe the movies in the beginner section would help you. So here are my step-by step recommendations:
1) Choose a movie you have seen more than once already.(You already know what the actors are saying, so your comprehension level will be up, and you won't experience as much frustration)
2) Before you watch your first movie, study the listed words for at least a week before watching the movie - make flash cards, say them aloud, read them several times over. This will increase your chances of success, and therefore cause you to want to do it again sooner rather than later!
3) Watch one chapter at a time - or about 15 minutes - and then watch it again. See if you can jot down or check off some of the words you hear.
4) Look at your words again. Can you make a complete sentence using three or four of them together? If yes, watch the next chapter. If no, then watch the chapter again.
5) I would be sure to not to overwhelm yourself - keep it to an hour or so or less - too much more, and you'll end up just shutting down a bit unless you're already beyond the beginner stage.
If you have young kids in your house, having this on in the back ground is a GREAT way to facilitate the "immersion method" if they are already familiar with the movie that is playing.
This is a great tool for conversational classes, self-study, and just plain fun! Great job!
The only reason I deducted one star was because I do wish there were some questions for discussion for each movie - just to give the student a chance at forming some original sentences with a bit more direction. Otherwise, excellent!
Sra. Gose
Bilingual Mother of Five, Teacher, Author
Flip Flop Spanish

Click Here to see more reviews about: Listen 'n' Learn Spanish with Your Favorite Movies


It's a thumbs-up for this movie-inspiredguide to learning Spanish

Pop in a movie in your DVD player
Turn on the Spanish soundtrack in the DVD optionsmenu
Open up Listen ‘n' Learn Spanish with Your FavoriteMovies, and relax as you learn core Spanishvocabulary and phrases

It is as easy as that to learn thousands of essentialSpanish terms and expressions. You follow alongusing the book to decipher difficult Spanish passageswhile watching (and listening!) to a movie's Spanishsoundtrack. Listen ‘n' Learn Spanish with Your FavoriteMovies features comprehensive language notes andtranslations for:"The Fox and the Hound," "March of the Penguins,""The Absent-Minded Professor," "Tarzan," "EightBelow," "Home Alone," "Holes," "Rocky III," "Eragon,""Hoosiers," "The Chronicles of Narnia," "The PrincessBride," "Anne of Green Gables," "Finding Nemo," "TheIncredibles," and "Mary Poppins."

These films are all family favorites and can be easilyrented from Netflix or other rental stores.

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Listen 'n' Learn Spanish with Your Favorite Movies

Read More...

Teach Yourself Spanish Verbs Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I found this book to be extremely helpful when I was learning Spanish on my own. It has 200 model verbs, and an index of hundreds of additional verbs that are referenced to the appropriate model verb. The format is easier to use than the popular "501 Spanish Verbs" book. And it has more usage examples than that book does. I especially recommend this book for self-learners and students in their first two years of high school or college spanish. I continue to use it as a convenient reference on Spanish verb conjugations.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Teach Yourself Spanish Verbs


Master the verbs of a new language without intimidating textbooks or confusing charts

Learning verbs and remembering their correct usage is a daunting task for anyone studying a new language. The experts at Teach Yourself have developed the Teach Yourself Verbs series to deal with this perplexing yet necessary part of language learning. Perfect for students at any level of experience, the Teach Yourself Verbs series will increase their knowledge and proficiency and give their language confidence the boost it needs.

Each book contains:

Helpful hints on learning verb forms
Explanation of various tenses and their useage
Verb categories, their patterns, and their conjugations
Full coverage of the main tenses for frequently used verbs, arranged alphabetically for quick and easy reference
Examples of the verbs in everyday use, with colloquial expressions and keywords based on the verbs
A glossary of verbs with details of the patterns they follow

Click here for more information about Teach Yourself Spanish Verbs

Read More...

Beginner's Spanish Grammar (Teach Yourself) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Every topic is well chosen (not only everything a language learner needs to stay out of trouble, but also everything that helps the language learner thrive),
clearly explained with effective examples,
cross-referenced as needed,
clearly arranged,
easy to find,
easy to understand,
easy to remember
and easy to put to immediate use.
The book is cheap.
The book almost the dimensions of a paperback Louis L'Amour novel.
What more can we ask for in a pocket reference grammar?
Carry this little gem with
your favorite compact dictionary,
the Spanish-language paperback that you're enjoying
and Alfredo González Hermoso's "Spanish Verb Manual" (ISBN 0844213462, almost the same dimensions as this book, yet a big improvement on "501 Spanish Verbs").

Click Here to see more reviews about: Beginner's Spanish Grammar (Teach Yourself)

Designed for those who recently started Spanish and would like the opportunity to practice some of the important points of Spanish in a systematic way.Softcover.Beginner's guide.

Click here for more information about Beginner's Spanish Grammar (Teach Yourself)

Read More...

Señor Pepino Series: La momia desaparece (Senor Pepino) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a good intermediate learning spanish book. It has vocab on the side of the page, which keeps you away from your spanish-english dictionary, a very good thing. This is part of a trilogy, all of which are comic detective novels with history bytes in the story. A fun read for a third year spanish student, ar second year for a very advanced class.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Señor Pepino Series: La momia desaparece (Senor Pepino)

A reader for your intermediate and early advanced Spanish studentsLa momia desaparece (Arturo de Rosa) is one of three readers in the Señor Pepino Series. This high-interest reader presents cultural information and extends students' vocabulary in a highly entertaining way. Señor Pepino (a would-be Sherlock Holmes) and his sidekick blunder their way through mystery, adventure, comedy, and romance. This reader is softcover, 6" × 9", and 64 pages in length.

Click here for more information about Señor Pepino Series: La momia desaparece (Senor Pepino)

Read More...

Cuentistas hispanoamericanos de entresiglo Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This compilation textbook is ideally suited to native Spanish speakers who are extremely well-read in world literature and with some knowledge of major philosophical postulates; it is not for a non-native speaker who is not a Literature major and would prove difficult for a native Spanish speaker not versed in world Literature.
However, for a non-native speaker (I am an advanced student of Spanish of level 3.1.2 on the E.U. framework), I find the book very difficult as a non Literary major, compounded by the stories not having been placed in the best didactic sequence; the editors could better have placed the stories in order of increasing linguistic and literary complexity and sophistication.
The primary goal of students is to gradually increase their linguistic understanding and mastery. You are thrown into the deep end with the first author, Borges, a particularly convoluted writer who has a habit of making reference to other literary works and philosophers that only the most educated would be able to follow; his works should be towards the end of the compilation. Would you be putting Proust in a text destined for foreigner learning a language?
On a technical issue, the vocabulary in the footnotes are also not always what I would have chosen.
I suggest that a reorganization of the stories to provide a more progressive didactic approach and to use native English (or other language natives) to choose the vocabulary set.
Thanks

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cuentistas hispanoamericanos de entresiglo

This exciting new literary anthology comprises 32 Latin American short stories. Intended primarily for advanced students of Spanish, the rich collection includes writers from the literary canon as well as contemporary authors. Pre- and post-reading activities facilitate the reading experience and provide the appropriate guidance for students at this level.

Click here for more information about Cuentistas hispanoamericanos de entresiglo

Read More...

Practice Makes Perfect: The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close (Practice Makes Perfect Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've always thought that the Spanish subjunctive was so complicated that it could be covered in a book by itself. I've always hoped for such a book, too. Following is its table of contents:
1. When to use the subjunctive and how to form its four tenses
2. Sequence of tenses and the subjunctive
3. Subordinated noun clauses
4. Subordinated adjective clauses
5. Adverbial expressions
6. Contrary-to-fact statements
7. Comprehensive exercises
The author states early in the book that many Spanish students assume that the subjunctive is all about doubt. The author is quick to explain that this assumption is problematic. The use of the subjunctive in doubt or uncertainty is only ONE of its many uses. I'm glad there's a book on the subjunctive that addresses this issue. I used to tutor a student in Spanish who thought the subjunctive was all about doubt. And trying to get her to understand that there was more to the subjunctive than just doubt was a difficult task.
The book explains how to conjugate all four tenses in the subjunctive, then it moves on to its uses. This book explains the uses of the subjunctive in the same order as many other books. First, it explains its uses in nominal clauses, then it moves on to adjective clauses, adverbial clauses, and contrary-to-fact statements. The end of the book has exercises.
I think this book is incredible, but I personally don't think it's a good idea to explain all four tenses at once. I think it's better to start out with the present subjunctive, learn how to use it, and then move on to the other tenses. The author mentions the future subjunctive and the future perfect subjunctive, but he doesn't explain how to use them. I wish he had; it's difficult to find reference materials that explain the future subjunctive.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars!!!
Brandon Simpson

Click Here to see more reviews about: Practice Makes Perfect: The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close (Practice Makes Perfect Series)


Get up close and master Spanish subjunctive

As you study Spanish you may see the subjunctive as an obstacle to your full understanding of the language. Learning the subjunctive can be one of the most frustrating aspects of Spanish grammar, but it is also one of the most important for being understood and understanding what others say. By adding Spanish pronouns to your range of language skills, you will open up a whole new world of communication.

With plenty of opportunities for practice, practice, practice, Practice Makes Perfect: The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close helps you better understand the nuances of this often-confusing grammar element and develop your skills and confidence as a Spanish speaker with:

Easy-to-absorb explanatory materials, examples, and exercises
Authoritative guidance on how to form the four subjunctive tenses and when to use them
A comprehensive answer key that not only gives you the correct solutions to the exercises but explains the why behind them

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Practice Makes Perfect: The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close (Practice Makes Perfect Series)

Read More...

Teach Yourself Improve Your Spanish Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This CD/textbook combo does a great job in teaching Spanish effectively. The text provides vocabulary and grammar skills through everyday situations (mostly tourist related, such as finding apartments or shopping), and the CDs include listening exercises for each unit to help learners grow accustomed to recognizing the vocabulary as it's used. If used correctly, this course can be an excellent tool for building a stronger foundation in the language.
The focus is on European Spanish, and the recorded material was done by native speakers of that dialect. A number of conversations and listening drills feature South American dialects (namely Chilean and Peruvian), added to provide familiarity with the intonation and pronunciation of the language in those dialects. Although the vocabulary isn't exhaustive for each situation handled in the textbook, it helps learners gain a better working knowledge of how to use what they learn in everyday situations. The audio drills on the recordings are often not transcribed, so listeners build comprehension skills from the start. Throughout most of the book, the native speakers talk at a speed just slightly slower than that of everyday speech, but this shouldn't discourage perspective buyers from purchasing this course -- the audio is clear and instructional, and the listening skills a person can gain from this course are without a doubt essential.
After completing the course, learners won't be fluent by any means, but the main objective -- improving your Spanish -- will definitely have been reached if the course was used correctly. Moving on to a more advanced course (Living Language Ultimate Spanish : Advanced is an ideal choice) is the next step toward continuing self-study in the language.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Teach Yourself Improve Your Spanish


Graduate from the fundamentals to fluency!

For language learners stuck at rudimentary greetings and memorized phrases, this new Teach Yourself Improve Your Language series is the ideal way to move beyond beginners' basics. By building on existing knowledge, readers improve the competency of their spoken and written communication.

Lively, authentic dialogues cover a range of situations, such as making invitations and suggestions; writing job descriptions; talking about past events; conveying hotel requirements; making complaints; shopping; and describing ailments. The course also expands sophisticated linguistic skills, such as expressing obligation and needs; probability; contrasting ideas; and regret. Features include:

Clear explanations of key structures
Extensive vocabulary lists
Easy-access verb tables
Useful practice exercises

Click here for more information about Teach Yourself Improve Your Spanish

Read More...

Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary (National Textbook Language Dictionaries) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A dictionary is just one of those books that doesn't have much to speak of (no plot twists, no character development, etc.), so I'm afraid this review will be rather short.
That said, this is the BEST Spanish-English dictionary I've ever used. It contains over 85,000 entries, plus complete descriptions of both English and Spanish grammar, tables of all the irregular verbs, and a 45-page section that defines literally thousands of commonly used phrases and idioms in both languages. It also has synonyms for words that have multiple translations so that you know the difference, for example, between a person's hand ("mano") and the hand of a clock ("manecilla"). Nevertheless, it comes in a convenient size with easy-to-read font so that it's perfect for use by students. If you're a school student who's studying Spanish, this is the only Spanish-English dictionary you'll ever buy.
~El Fin~

Click Here to see more reviews about: Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary (National Textbook Language Dictionaries)

The Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary contains more than 85,000 headwords, phrases, and examples, including the latest additions to the language plus technical, scientific, and business terms. This bestselling reference includes a 45-page section of Spanish idioms and expressions.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Click here for more information about Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary (National Textbook Language Dictionaries)

Read More...