Product Description
This English-Spanish/Spanish-English learner’s dictionary includes more than 20,000 of the most frequently used Spanish words, phrases, and idiomatic expressions.You’ll find more than simple definitions - examples show you how the most essential words are used in everyday conversations, and all information is presented with the needs of the beginner-intermediate level learner in mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Good beginning book and review material
Overall good beginning book and used in conjuction with the CDs it was a good review for me since my last Spanish lessions were back in high school.

Complete Spanish
This book offers basic knowledge of conversational Spanish.It should be accompanied by CD's so proper pronunciation and accent can be practiced along with the visual.

Not helpful
There is much material with this course-all worthless. If you want to read 100's of phrases and then hear them on cd, then this will work. If you want to be taught, this is not for you. It is a list of phrases, the end. The dictionary lettering is so small as to be unreadable. The travel phrases are on a tiny accordion card. This is truly not worth having.

far better than most


I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BECOME LEVEL ONE FLUENT IN SPANISN FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CARE TO TELL -- I'VE LISTENED TO LOTS OF TAPES AND CD'S IN MY CAR -- THIS IS WAY UP THERE -- VERY EASY TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND -- THE BOOK IS GREAT TOO -- IT'S NOT PRETENCIOUS -- IT MAY EVEN BE A BIT FUNKY SOMEHOW -- BUT IT'S VERY GOOD BELEAVE ME -- IT'S LIKE FINDING A GREAT LITTLE CHEAP RETAURANT

I believe this is the best Spanish Course on DVD.
After having reviewed many Spanish Courses on tape and DVD, this one combines a really good book plus male and femals speakers.You would make a good choice in buying this item. ... Read more

Product Description

Pictures and humor help readers build their Spanish language skills

To its millions of fans, the Pattersons are just like their own families, facing universal issues among daily concerns. Containing a selection of 100 syndicated Spanish-language versions of the strip that is widely read in Latin America, Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish provides an entertaining and effective way to expand and polish conversational skills in Spanish.

Readers learn by understanding and learning natural, everyday verbal interactions at home and about town, following John and Ell Patterson as they attempt to come to terms with middle age; daughter Elizabeth as she spreads her wings and goes off to college; son Michael dating and then marrying his childhood sweetheart, Deanna; daughter April as she rebels against discipline, anther grandpa who finds a second love in the autumn of his life. Each strip is graded by difficulty--Beginning, Moderate, or Challenging--and is accompanied by:

• Glosses that translate difficult vocabulary
• Usage notes to build proficiency
• A summarizing activity that tests comprehension
• Additional exercises for key idioms and word patterns appear at the end of each section

Customer Reviews (17)

Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish : Featuring the #1 Comic Strip "For Better or For Worse"
Very cute.You need a reference on how to pronounce some of the words, but still really great!

Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish Review by James

This is James from James Spanish (the learning Spanish blog). It is said that laughter is the best medicine, and if you are suffering from a learning block in your Spanish studies then this book is just what the doctor ordered to get you back on track.The comic strips follow the every day adventures of the Patterson family, from the popular cartoon strip "For Better or For Worse." The fun cartoons provide an easy and entertaining way to get to grips with common vocabulary and useful conversational phrases.By reading the comics you pick up language in a natural and intuitive way, by seeing how words are used in real-life context rather than stale example sentences or word lists.

The book includes 100 comic strips, each one rated for level of difficulty, from beginner to advanced, allowing you to work through them according to your proficiency.There is a great deal of satisfaction and encouragement to be had from reading the easier cartoons as you improve your knowledge of Spanish, while harder cartoons provide a way to challenge you and keep you learning.

The book is laid out with a cartoon strip on one page, with a full explanation and translation of the vocabulary and grammar on the opposite page.By including helpful insight into the sentences and grammar, the book offers a more complete learning experience than simply providing translations of the Spanish.The language used in the cartoons reflects universal themes and subjects, giving you genuinely useful vocabulary.

While you will get the most use and enjoyment out of this book if you have a basic grounding in key verbs and grammar rules, the cartoons are a great help for reinforcing how the elements of the Spanish language work together and providing easy to remember examples.The dialogue within the cartoons is mostly in first person, while the narrative is in the third person, exposing you to different types of verb conjugations.

Humor features strongly in the cartoons, making studying and fun and enjoyable experience.This book is ideal for learners who want some light relief from other text materials, but still want to make an effort to improve their command of the Spanish language.Highly recommended as a fun supplement for more traditional course materials.

In closing my review of this product, I'd like to share with you the three Amazon products that I have found most helpful in my pursuit to learn Spanish. If you are truly serious about achieving fluency, I'd recommend getting all 3 of them if you can afford it.

1.Lights, Camera, Spanish (Book + DVD): Learn Conversational Spanish by Watching a Romantic Adventure This isactually a 90 minute movie for Spanish-language learners. It gives the option to watch the movie with subtitles but I'd recommend not using them to improve your Spanish. This "movie" also includes a workbook so that you can reinforce the Spanish vocabulary words and phrases from the film.The workbook also has lots of exercises to keep you engaged in the film. But be prepared to hear Chilean accents. Although pleasant to the ear, the accents from Chile are very different from most Latin American accents.

2. Verbarrator Version 1.1 (Windows Version) This software replaces the traditional verb conjugation books and makes learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs an interactive and fun activity. This should be a required resource for anyone who wants to improve their ability to conjugate Spanish verbs. Especially anyone who is challenged by the drudgery of learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs and who is looking for a new way to make learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs an easy and fun activity

3. Diccionario esencial de la lengua espanola de la Real Academia Espanola (Spanish Edition) If you are really serious about speaking the language fluently, then at some point you will need to replace your Spanish-English dictionary and get a pure Spanish dictionary with both the vocabulary words and the definitionsentirely in Spanish. I use this one mainly because it was highly-recommended by a friend from Spain who teaches Spanish. According to him, this is the "standard" among university level Spanish professors.

Wonderful Learning Tool For All Education Levels
The greatest concept about this book other than the humor angle, is that it allows one to pick up where one feels appropriate.It literally starts with the basics, and gradually builds up into more complicated grammar such as the uses of the subjunctive.

My only complaint is that they didn't write a second or third volume.

Not exactly what I was looking for
but that's no fault of the book-dealer who got the book to me in the time and shape promised.Would do business with this vendor again.

Love It!
Did a maternity leave and used this, students loved the cartoons and it made a difference in their retention. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Great way to review and keep learning
I play Behind the Wheel-Spanish Level 2 CDs on my way to and from work every day.The CDs provide a great way for me to review and to learn more.I especially like the longer stories spoken at a normal pace because they give me some excellent practice in understanding spoken Spanish.I can repeat CD sections if I want or skip over them entirely.The small book that comes along with the CDs is very useful because it contains a translation of the material on the CDs.These audio transcripts allow me to see in print the words that I do not understand when listening to the CDs and to focus my attention on them.I am at a low intermediate level as a Spanish student.I find CDs like these to be much more effective than attending intermediate-level classes offered through continuing education programs.These classes usually are too elementary for me, and occasionally they are too advanced.I have been able to develop a nice self-study course of instruction by supplementing Spanish language CDs with Spanish reading materials and listening to Spanish language radio stations.

Excellent Refresher, or for those who already know the basics!
I am visiting Spain in 4 days, to attend a friend's wedding. I had 4 years of Spanish in High School, and did an exchange program when I was in High School, where a girl (whose wedding I'm now attending!) came and spent a summer w/ my family, and my sister and I spent a summer with hers, in Northern Spain. I'm 32 now, and the last time I was in Spain I had just turned 17, so it's been a while! I first purchased "Spanish For Dummies" - the 3 disc set, and if you have absolutely no previous experience, I would recommend that set, but I found myself blitzing through it, and very quickly ordered this one, instead. The host of the program, whose name I don't know (or just can't recall), is great, he's very conversational, and even occasionally pokes fun at some of the programs ie: "it's not this, it's that"- "No es una paraguas, es una casa!" (It's not an umbrella, it's a house!). There are short stories, and also word and pronunciation reviews. There are 2 native speakers, and I prefer the male. As someone who travels to Spain, but not South America, I also really appreciate that they talk about how certain words are used in Spain, while other words are used in the Americas. For example, "conducir and manejar" both mean "to drive"- the former used in Spain, the latter used in the Americas- they also make anote of certain words used in just Mexico, when applicable.

The word or phrase is spoken in English, and then spoken twice in Spanish, for you to repeat. If you already know/remember the basics, like how to say your name, ask for the bathroom, etc, but want to recall or learn some better words/phrases, I would definitely suggest this program.

Good course
I do a lot walking and this course is perfect for getting the most out of my time. The way I use it is to listen and repeat the first and second times through, then I listen again and try to give the correct answer in Spanish before it is read out. That way I use it as a kind of a quiz or as audio flash cards. I would say that I had to listen to each cd at least four times before I was familiar enough with it to move on.

I would not recommend this as a stand alone course. There is a good degree of verb conjugation in the course: mostly preterite (after present of course), some imperfect, perfect, progressive and command forms. I don't remember much future tense or any subjunctive at all. These verb forms just show up without much explanation - which is fine with me, but I read books on grammar so I can understand what is going on. These cds are more for practice and rote learning than instruction. Some times the materials are unfamiliar and I have to go the transcript in the book to figure out what was said, but that is not so common - more me it was about 2 or 3 times per disc. The transcripts aren't easy to read, but at least you don't have to look at them that often. I guess that might be different depending on the level of the student.

There are eight disc with this course, so you get a lot. There is a degree of repetition, but new material comes up at just the right pace I feel.

I already ordered level 3. If level three continues that the pace of this course, I don't think I will be fluent by the time I finish it, but I'll sure be a lot closer than I already am.

the good the bad and thats about it
I enjoy the content of this almost as much as the First book/study.There are a few changes in here. For one, Luis Santa Maria is no longer on the audio. And he is replaced with two equally-good native speakers.I like the Male speaker, but the Female speaker, speaks alot faster and on the 2nd time of reapeating the sentence...she goes even faster.It is somewhat overwhelming when she goes faster on the second pass becuase its overwhelming when you cant get the information you need becuase you almost understood it on first pass.So i find it frustrating, im guessing it will take some time listening to the audio a few times before it really sets in. Other than that they are pretty good and time and repition + effort will make it more usuable and im sure easier. i guess level 2 should be harder then level 1 :D

Good Deal...Behind the Wheel
This item retails for 50 bucks and to pick it up here at these prices is a real steal! As for the product itself: It's short phrase practical Spanish. Good Stuff. Of the 200 or so Spanish CD's I own it's definitely one of the best. Suggest if you are into Espanol...GRAB IT! ... Read more

Product Description

A Perfect Plan for the Perfect Score

We want you to succeed on your AP* exam. That's why we've created this 5-step plan to help you study more effectively, use your preparation time wisely, and get your best score. This easy-to-follow guide offers you a complete review of your AP course, strategies to give you the edge on test day, and plenty of practice with AP-style test questions. You'll sharpen your subject knowledge, strengthen your thinking skills, and build your test-taking confidence with

• Full-length practice exams modeled on the real test
• All the terms and concepts you need to know to get your best score
• Your choice of three customized study schedules--so you can pick the one that meets your needs

The 5-Step Plan helps you get the most out of your study time:
Step 1: Set Up Your Study Program
Step 2: Determine Your Readiness
Step 3: Develop the Strategies
Step 4: Review the Knowledge
Step 5: Build Your Confidence

Topics include: Listening Comprehension; Reading Comprehension: Longer Passages; Paragraph Completion with Root Words; Paragraph Completion without Root Words; Informal Writing (Interpersonal); Formal Writing / Integrated Skills (Presentational); Informal Speaking--Simulated Conversation (Interpersonal);and Formal Oral Presentation / Integrated Skills (Presentational)
Also includes: An MP3 disk and practice exams

*AP, Advanced Placement Program, and College Board are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Customer Reviews (1)

Good prep base for AP Spanish Exam
This is a well organized and usable text for AP preparation.this was highly recommended by a colleague whose students pass the exam. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Lots of subjunctive.So far, so goo.
I liked Behind the Wheel-Spanish 2, so when I finished it, I purchased Behind the Wheel-Spanish 3.I am only on CD #2 in the Spanish 3 set, but so far, so good.The content is very heavy on the subjunctive, and I am learning that tense for the first time via Behind the Wheel.Behind the Wheel also gives me the opportunityto review the present, imperfect, and preterite tenses.The choice of vocabulary on the CDs allows me to review words I already know as well as learn some new ones.The presentation is very clear.I like the brief explanations, the native speakers, and the amount of repetition.I listen to these CDs in the car on my way to and from work, and I usually go through a CD several times before going on to the next one.Therefore, Behind the Wheel is easy to adapt to my personal needs and is very effective for helping me to learn Spanish.The only weakness from my perspective is that the Spanish presentation is limited to words, phrases, or single sentences.At my stage of learning, I would like occasional presentation of something like 3 to 4 sentences at a time without a pause so that I can work on understanding Spanish spoken in "real time."

"Behind the Wheel" a Straight Road to Fluency
My General Impressions:
I give this course a strong four-and-a-half stars and an enthusiastic two-thumbs-up.
To speak the Spanish language properly - and truly fluently - the non-native speaker must understand and be able to employ that language's complex verb constructions; especially the moods and meanings that the Castilian subjunctive tense so precisely and poetically expresses. The Macmillan's audio course entitled "Behind the Wheel Spanish - Level 3" was created with language fluency in mind.

I really liked the way the native speakers model the practice phrases and sentences. The phrases or sentences are said at moderate speed the first time, then at a considerably faster pace the second time. This enables the learner to accurately emulate not only the pronunciation but also the real-time pace at which the language is spoken.

If fluency is the goal, Macmillan's Behind the Wheel Spanish 3 audio method will measurably improve the serious student's understanding of and comfort in using the subjunctive and other moods and tenses as they manifest themselves in the Spanish language. For lots of intensive practice with advanced verb tenses, this course is worth a listen.

My Detailed and Specific Comments:
Starting with the subjunctive tense, the eight CDs include practice with the present and pluperfect tenses, the conditional tense and side-by-side comparisons of the preterit and imperfect past tenses in both their indicative and subjunctive forms. Reflexive forms of verbs are reviewed. There are also periodic reminders about choosing the proper verb `person' when the subject pronoun is not specified. Loads of vocabulary words as well as dozens of common phrases, figures of speech, and expressions are sprinkled throughout the lessons.

This course is not Spanish 101. The listener is expected to be at a high intermediate or advanced level. Mastery of infinitives and verb conjugations in the indicative tenses is necessary to be able to understand the orthographic changes required by the subjunctive or pluperfect ones. This course was designed for those who are well-grounded in verb conjugation basics and wish to take their knowledge - and fluency - to a higher level.

I think that a brief - very brief, maybe eight or ten-page - written explanation of each of the subjunctive and other tenses and their proper uses would be helpful. Sometimes it is helpful to read an explanation at one's own pace, as many times as necessary, and then take a few minutes to reflect on it, to let it sink in, instead of having to think fast in order to keep up with the narrative or to rerun the tract a dozen times, an inconvenience if listening while driving.

I also wish that the print of the twenty-four page transcript booklet would have been considerably larger. I would have gladly paid an extra buck for a booklet with forty-four, instead of only twenty-four, pages.

Dynamite...if you are ready and willing...
If your Spanish is still limited to taco, si and manana, then you aren't ready for this one. But if you are looking for a little challenge, some work on those tenses and a little vocabulary expansion off the beaten path, I recommend it. Unlike those lame Speak in a Week promises, this takes you through a lot of work to help improve your grasp of Spanish verb tenses. The word "work" should be emphasized, but it will help you learn. Great stuff and great value for the serious student of el espanol.

terribly random and disappointing
I bought and actually really enjoyed behind the wheel Spanish II.But this third version is horrible.There is a bunch of time spent on subjunctive and then it's completely random after that.I mean they do past tense, stick in a future, add some new vocabulary.It's all sentence by sentence so it is worthless for improving listening skills and I would say it's almost as worthless for improving speaking skills. With the second cd set, they would have stories and it was helpful for building vocabulary around a topic and practicing verb conjugation.but this third version is totally unorganized. I wouldn't waste your money buying it.better off finding a different source.I'm about to do that myself.

Very good for practicing Spanish in your car.One minor fault.
This product presents the material in digestible bits of information and then drills the listener to be sure it is understood.Plenty of review is built in.I find it easy to use while driving to work in the morning.My only minor complaint is that it gives an incorrect rule for forming the imperfect subjunctive form of a Spanish verb.The correct rule is:
To conjugate the imperfect subjunctive, take the third person plural preterite form of any regular, irregular, or stem-changing verb, drop the -RON ending to find the radical, and add the appropriate ending.That said, I recommend these CDs for drilling yourself on basic verb tenses, including the subjunctive. ... Read more

Product Description
This up-to-date edition of the Advanced Placement Spanish test preparation manual comes paired with three audio compact discs that offer practice and review in listening comprehension plus Spanish conversation exercises in which students must give spoken replies to questions that they hear on the recording.The manual features one full-length practice exam with its Listening Comprehension section presented on one of the audio CDs. All questions come with answers explained. Also featured in the manual are vocabulary lists and practice and review exercises. All practice tests reflect the most recent major changes in the AP Spanish test format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Don't Get This Unless You've Got Lots of Time on Your Hands
I'm going to take the AP Spanish Language Test tomorrow, and I do not feel very well prepared.Granted, there are other factors besides this book as to why I feel this way, but this book certainly did not help.I was attracted to this book because it had 4 CDs.A very dumb reason in retrospect.I should have read reviews before buying.Sigh...

I just took one of the practice exams the other day and got all except for a few of the multiple choice problems wrong.In my class, though I'm not earning perfect scores, of course, I can usually get the majority of the questions right.I am fairly certain that this book is meant to make the test seem harder than it actually is.And, on top of that, there are no answer explanations after the exams.There are explanations in the practice sections, so why wouldn't there be any for the test?

In one part of the book, it says that it is not good to learn vocabulary by memorizing a bunch of lists, but that's exactly what the book has for the speaking portion.Tons and tons of lists.There are portions where you can use the words in context, but still, it just seems so excessive.Books like this should supplement a course, not try to teach you every word in the whole language.

Now, it is my own fault for not being prepared.I certainly could have used my resources better.This book just was not helpful, though.

Excellent!
This book has definitely helped me with my AP test.With this book, i am more confident and i know that i will do well on the AP test.It has helped me with my worst topic on the AP test, the essay.It was very helpful and i don't know what i would of done without the book.

This book is frustrating...
I was just reading the previous review, and he is right. This book is just frustrating and demoralizing. First of all, the reading section in this book is nothing like it on the real AP test; the real AP test reading selections are actually quite easier. The listening selections were somewhat helpful for the AP test... the actual clips were probably just as hard to understand as these were. Other than that, this book was of no help for me for the AP test. Because of this, I thought I would earn a 3, when in fact I earned a 5. I would highly recommend the NEWEST VERSION of AP Spanish: Preparing for the Language Examination by Jose Diaz if you want a great grade on the exam. The test was very, very similar to the activities in this book, maybe because Jose Diaz is a table leader at the AP Spanish readings. If you purchase Diaz's workbook, make sure to buy the audio CDs and answer key seperately if your teacher does not use it as a supplement in class like mine did.

Spanish Teachers, don't bother if you have a previous version
One star!Let me explain.This book does have a lot of practice activities but the 2008 is quite misleading.There is very little that is new here.Barron's has the vocabulary lists, same listening practice, same reading practice as it has had since at least 1996.I guess coming up with new material cuts into the profits.Very little here will help with the new test formats.The paragraph grammar fill in with root word is recycled from a previous edition and doesn't allow the use of perfect and progressive tenses even though the AP exam does.The conversation speaking section is really messed up since their dialogs are impossible to interact with unless you have listened to the dialog previously which you cannot do on the AP test.For example, one between the student and a college guide has instructions for the student to indicate where to go first on the tour, then the guide answers "oh, I see that you've heard a lot about the science program."These conversation dialogs were not written according to the new guidelines and are the same ones that Barron's used in their messed up, rushed 2007 version.Also, the reading sections are not from authentic sources even though the college board is now using authentic sources.Overall, this book is harder than the actual AP test (buy a released version from 1998 or 2003 and you'll know what I mean) which one would think is a good thing but it is not.They are more difficult (especially the reading) because Barron's has gone out of its way to use extremely obscure vocabulary.Unless you have a great chance at a five you will be extremely frustrated by this book.

I suppose for students studying on their own this book would be ok although it doesn't matter really, unless you are pretty close to fluent or have had extensive traditional instruction in the language you'll fail anyway or if your lucky get a three which is good for nothing.However, language teachers don't buy this book if you have any previous Barron's edition.These greedy money suckers come up with ten new pages and call it a new version except in this case the 2007 version and the 2007-2008 version are almost exactly identical.

It's too bad there isn't an AP practice book filled with practice activities and with no explanation about the test, no vocabulary lists, no wasted pages - just practice.100 dialogs, 100 reading selections, etc.Now that would be a real practice book.

... Read more

Product Description
Speak Spanish Fluently with the Most Complete, Up-to-date All-Audio Course Available

LEARN SPANISH ON THE GO–LEARN ANYWHERE
If you have trouble finding time to fit in language lessons, All-Audio Spanish is the perfect solution. Developed by the experts at Living Language®, this program is designed for people on the move. You can learn Spanish as you drive, work around the house, or exercise at the gym.

SHORT, EASY-TO-FOLLOW LESSONS–NO READING REQUIRED
An English-speaking narrator guides you through 35 short lessons–just listen and repeat after native Spanish speakers.

VOCABULARY–GRAMMAR–DIALOGUES–CULTURE
Begin with vocabulary and grammar basics before hearing a lively dialogue that includes the most current Spanish idioms and usage. Interactive exercises reinforce what you’ve learned. You’ll also learn some intriguing facts about Spanish customs and culture.

HANDY LISTENER’S GUIDE
No reading required, but our newly expanded 112-page listener’s guide is a handy visual reference for spelling and text of all the dialogues. The guide also provides a brief grammar summary and a glossary of grammatical terms.

Includes:
·6 compact discs
·Listener’s guide ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not really for beginners
This CD won't help much if you really are a beginner. I find it reasonably helpful, but only because I have done about 12 months of courses and am using it for revision.
One irritant is some of the questions and answers they teach you. Things like:
How much do you earn? I earn a large salary.
Very bizarre. A bit too American for most people's tastes.

An Amazing Deal for the Price!
This is a really comprehensive CD set - 6 cd's that take you from the basics to almost an intermediate level. Native speakers, clear concise dialogue, interesting cultural facts, VERB CONGUGATIONS (!) and enough time for you to listen and repeat after the prompts (eschuca et responde!)- I was pleasantly surprised! There is a little book with this set, although it does not cover all the 'dialogues' or lessons, it gives you just enough of the right information to see you through the next lesson. I have already recommended this to several friends! Just got through the 1st cd and I already feel more confident speaking!! ... Read more

Product Description

Making reading fun…in English and Spanish!

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book
This book was a gift for a close friend, he and his family loved the book. It's great if you want your kids to learn another language and spend quality time with them!

The magic frijoles are sanitized for your protection
In this version, Jack steals the giant's gold, but his crime is justified because his mother claims the giant robbed them of their gold in the past.This is probably best for 4-8 year olds. In a few years when the older kids start stealing their lunch money, they will realize fairy tales are make-believe.

Jack and the Beanstalk: Juan y los frijoles
Excellent resource for pk-k curriculum unit on plants, fantasy, beans ... Read more

Product Description

Making reading fun…in English and Spanish!

Customer Reviews (2)

PC Little Pigs?
I can't believe they changed the story to make it PC... No animals were harmed in the re-telling of this story

Cute book, bad Spanish translation
Even though the book has very cute pictures and my two-year-old daughter loves it, I couldn't give it more stars because the Spanish translation is just horrible. One page didn't even make any sense. I wonder who edits these books... and how hard it could be to properly translate a children's book with one or two simple sentences on each page... I know I may sound picky here but the point of buying a bilingual book is to have a correct version of the story in both languages, so whoever reads it can understand either of them. Of course I can translate to Spanish (it's my first language), but the idea is that I shouldn't have to.
Other than being very disappointed with the translation I was satisfied with the book (and that's why I still gave it three stars). The pictures are really cute and there's enough text to tell the story while at the same time it is not too long to keep a small child entertained.
... Read more

Product Description
Illus. in full color. Trans. by Pilar de Cuenca & Inés Alvares. "The presence of the English text beneath the Spanish makes it especially helpful in the primary-grade bilingual classroom."--Booklist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

very cute
my sister's baby is only a year old, but ive started buying them books already.since my bro-in-law is half peruvian (and my sister loved taking spanish in school), i thought it would be nice if my niece would be started early in her foreign languages.unfortunately, this is a kinda flimsy book, and not at all suitable to let a baby play with, but as she gets older im sure that this book will be a regular.it is cute, and should make learning fun and semi-easy.

Grande/Pequeno
A fun first bilingual book.Easy to read and fun for a beginning reader.

Great spanish english book
I got this for the dual language text and i have to say i am happy i did, great way of showingboth styles of text.

bi lingual kids book
particularly good for the kids we work with in South America who want to learn ENGLISH

Neat
Pros:

Colorful
Bilingual
Easy to follow
Teaches Opposites

Cons:

Hmm. ... Read more

Product Description
What's preventing you from teaching Spanish in your homeschool or learning it on your own? If you're intimidated because you've never studied Spanish, bewildered by traditional Spanish books that move too fast, or just don't know where to begin, then Getting Started with Spanish is for you! Specifically designed to overcome these types of obstacles, Getting Started with Spanish is divided into simple lessons that explain the fundamentals of Spanish grammar in a way that anyone can grasp. Instead of burying you in mountains of information to memorize, new words and concepts are introduced in a gradual and systematic way. You can immediately apply what you've learned by translating the fun exercises at the end of each lesson. To hear the words pronounced, simply download the free MP3 files from www.GettingStartedWithSpanish.com. Quickly check your work by turning to the included answer key. With everything you need here in one book, why aren't you Getting Started with Spanish? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Bite-sized lessons for sure!
I was so excited to be asked to review this title by some students who were moving away. They had been to four weekly lessons, so I was looking forward to finding them a textbook that would help them keep going.

As a Spanish teacher and curriculum author, I'm pretty tough on other people's work.... I would've liked to have given this title a 3 1/2 stars. I rounded up.

Here is why:
PROS:
- definitely NOT overwhelming. Step by step lessons sometimes don't even have Spanish in the lesson- it's just an explanation of the grammar concept coming up in the next lesson.
- MP3's are a great way to be able to listen to the words. - not to mention the commentary by the author.
- by the last lesson, Lesson 177, the last lesson, the student is definitely able to put together some pretty long sentences.
- nice and simple
- many concepts are covered, and this is a great Jumping Off book - Just like the title says.
-thorough answer key
- nice pronunciation guide in the back.
- nice use of white space on each page - it's not too cluttered, and the explanations are well written.

CONS:
- These lessons are simply boring. The key to learning is motivation. While it's very important to keep it simple and small, to keep the student motivated, the lack of any pictures, story lines, jokes, etc. makes it rather dry and uninteresting.
-slow moving. Though the lessons are short and small, it takes forever to get going. Lesson 33 is when the word "IS" is introduced. This slow pace can reduce the likelihood of completing the text. It's a bit painstaking.
- Seems like the pronunciation guide should've been included in the lessons, not in the back somewhere.
- MP3s can only be accessed if you take the time to load them onto your ipod, or are near a computer. Of course you can burn them a CD, but many people simply won't do that. Not a huge deal, but one that I will mention to the family.
- basic conversational topics - introductions, how are you, etc, -are not covered in this textbook
- lack of very many words at all. I don't think you learn more than 200 words in this text. That's not enough to even hold a basic thematic conversation...

Over all, if you are totally petrified by Spanish, this is a good place to start. If you are looking to get a studentmotivated to learn Spanish, this may not be the best first step for him. On the Book's website FAQ section, the author states that this book will get you about 1/3 of High School Spanish I... I would agree, that may be a little high, simply because of the lack of vocabulary.

Will I recommend this to the family that has moved away? I can not, as they are already past this level. But, for absolute beginners, I would recommend it for ages 12 and up. There are solid teaching techniques here!
Just be ready to choose another curriculum rather quickly. I would expect you would want to start with maybe three lessons a day, and then slow to two or one per day, but getting started a little more quickly would make it feel less like molasses.

Hope this helps you to make the right choice for your learner.

Sra. Gose
Homeschooling Mother, Teacher, Author
Flip Flop Spanish Series

Just what we needed
The pace of this book and the topics covered have been very helpful in getting us (a mom and a sixth grader) started with Spanish.I love learning step by step and that's what this book offers.We are about 50 lessons into it and are remembering what we've learned so far.We tried another Spanish curriculum before this book, but we were having a hard time catching on to it.(I've never taken Spanish lessons.)I joked that I needed a remedial Spanish course!I found this book and it turned out to be just what we needed.I feel we will be able to go back to the other Spanish curriculum after picking up the basics with this book.I highly recommend this book, especially if you have no prior knowledge of Spanish like me!

Very good start
Great introductory text to the Spanish language. Recommended for beginners with little or no Spanish experience. Will definitely get you started down the right path.

Digestible bits
This is very much the same method used in the author's other language book entitled Getting Started with Latin,which I also reviewed. Amazon reviews are consistently positive and this reviewer agrees. Lessons are presented at times in tiny digestible pieces, and build from there.

Since my native language is very close to Spanish, it was so interesting to me to see how Lesson One was all about articles-- so important in Romance languages: all four lines and five examples. Job done. Lesson Two talks about gender, another crucial bit in learning Spanish, and lesson Three finally introduces the first word: el. Lesson Four introduces one noun--Nino--and by lesson 10 you will be actually translating 10 lines, if mostly one-word lines.

Exercises are simple lines for the user to translate. Answers included.

This simple method, presented in an uncluttered, handsome large-format paperback, will serve and Spanish students of any age. Their website at [...] offers Mp3 sound bites by the co-author.

A Spanish Book for Older Beginners that is Not Demeaning
I have two students, thirteen and twelve, who are beginner Spanish students.This book is perfect.It is geared toward homeschoolers and self-taught students.

It has 177 lessons beginning with a very simple lesson on the articles: El, La, Un, Una with an explanation of the gender use in Spanish.The first lessons can easily be done in about five minutes.Thirty minutes a day would be sufficient.The lessons build on each other so that by lesson 177 the student should be able to understand: Hoy nosotros estamos haciendo mucho trabajo.Or:Tú no puedes dormir porque tus perros y tus gatos duermen in la cama contigo todas las noches.

The lessons include pronunciation help and there is also an MP3 download at their website to aid in pronunciation.
This book also touches on the use of a word that has more than one meaning.For example, 'en' can mean 'in,' 'at,' or 'on,' depending on the context.This book explains it.

There are exercises with each lesson which can be done on a separate paper so that the book can be reused.Answers are in the back.
This is a good basic beginner Spanish book for the older beginner and not demeaning. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent for brushing up on spanish
The author/editor made some good choices of stories and laid out the paragraphs well so that the left page lines up with the right, the words are sometimes changed from english to spanish in order to make it more conversational but the majority is a very close translation. ... Read more

Product Description
Spanish words, phrases, and instructive exercises are presented to help English-speaking attorneys and paralegals communicate effectively with Hispanic clients who have little or no English. Every Spanish word and expression in the book is followed by its phonetic pronunciation and easy-to-follow tips to help its readers understand colloquial spoken Spanish. Author William Harvey concentrates on words and phrases likely to be used in law offices, courtrooms and similar settings, and which pertain to contracts, wills, real estate transactions, law suits, legal rights issues, misdemeanors, and felonies. Presented in these pages and on the enclosed audio CDs are true-to-life dialogues that dramatize typical encounters. This bookÂ's approach to teaching practical Spanish bypasses grammar rules and concentrates on practical conversational situations. Vocabulary and sentences presented on the compact discs relate to the bookÂ's text and provide practice in listening comprehension. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Spanish for Attorneys and Paralegals with Audio CDs
The book is easy to navigate and provides a good start with relevant information for the legal field.

Great Resource
Spanish for Attorneys and Paralegals ("SFAP") would be most beneficial to someone who is at least a little conversant in Spanish and wants to acquire a legal vocabulary.Although SFAP includes a good basic review of the Spanish language, it is not a beginner's Spanish book.SFAP does, however, make a great companion to a general study of the Spanish language.The content is comprehensive and well organized.I appreciate the cultural comments.The audio CDs are a bonus and fun in the car.This is my second Barron's Spanish book/CD purchase and I'm happy with both of them! ... Read more

Product Description

Learn the Spanish you need. Gain the language skills you want.

Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish is a trusted companion to your Spanish-learning experience. In each bite-sized lesson, author Dorothy Richmond explains one--and only one--grammar concept and illustrates it with many clear examples. The accompanying fun and interesting exercises let you practice, practice, practice what you have learned. Although these lessons are purposely short so you can complete them in twenty minutes or less, you can go at a pace that works for you.

This guide/workbook will help you master
present tense verb conjugation • the ser and estar verb forms • adjectives • possessive pronouns • sentence structures • the contractions al and del• indefinite articles • tener idioms • and more

Whether you are learning on your own or taking a beginning Spanish class, Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish will help you build your confidence.

Customer Reviews (11)

Basic Spanish Review
This is James from James Spanish (the learning Spanish blog). This book is a great textbook for Spanish students who find grammar a little overwhelming.Each lessons clearly focuses on a single grammar element and explains it thoroughly before offering examples and plenty of practice exercises to help you get to grips with the concept.Although each element is covered in depth, the lessons are deliberately kept short to prevent frustration, and you should be able to fully understand each element with under thirty minutes of study.

Ideal for beginners, the lessons walk through some of the key building blocks of Spanish grammar, such as how to conjugate common verbs in the present tense, when to use the verbs "ser" and "estar" as well as covering many adjectives, pronouns and other essential parts of sentence structure.Having a concrete understanding of these elements will give you confidence as you progress through your Spanish learning experience.

There is plenty of everyday vocabulary presented in the lessons, covering clothing, family, animals, food and drink, days of the week, emotions and other basic topics that are good for new students.Some of the verbs covered are also the most commonly used, for example "hacer", "poder" and "saber".Combined, the book presents a strong basic introduction to Spanish grammar and the language in general.A clear index lets you find and revise specific topics and grammar elements as needed.

As the title suggests, there are lots of exercises included for each lesson, encouraging you to practice, practice, practice what you have learned in order for it to sink in.Each exercise is presented clearly, with spaces to fill in the answers, letting you work through the book at your own pace and record your progress.Although not an in depth study text by any means, this is a great introductory book for new learners.

Great for revision of key concepts as well as initial learning, Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Spanish is a good choice for students looking to strengthen their grasp of the basic grammatical elements of the Spanish language.

In closing my review of this product, I'd like to share with you the three Amazon products that I have found most helpful in my pursuit to learn Spanish. If you are truly serious about achieving fluency, I'd recommend getting all 3 of them if you can afford it.

1.Lights, Camera, Spanish (Book + DVD): Learn Conversational Spanish by Watching a Romantic Adventure This isactually a 90 minute movie for Spanish-language learners. It gives the option to watch the movie with subtitles but I'd recommend not using them to improve your Spanish. This "movie" also includes a workbook so that you can reinforce the Spanish vocabulary words and phrases from the film.The workbook also has lots of exercises to keep you engaged in the film. But be prepared to hear Chilean accents. Although pleasant to the ear, the accents from Chile are very different from most Latin American accents.

2. Verbarrator Version 1.1 (Windows Version) This software replaces the traditional verb conjugation books and makes learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs an interactive and fun activity. This should be a required resource for anyone who wants to improve their ability to conjugate Spanish verbs. Especially anyone who is challenged by the drudgery of learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs and who is looking for a new way to make learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs an easy and fun activity

3. Diccionario esencial de la lengua espanola de la Real Academia Espanola (Spanish Edition) If you are really serious about speaking the language fluently, then at some point you will need to replace your Spanish-English dictionary and get a pure Spanish dictionary with both the vocabulary words and the definitionsentirely in Spanish. I use this one mainly because it was highly-recommended by a friend from Spain who teaches Spanish. According to him, this is the "standard" among university level Spanish professors.

Fun!
I purchased this book along with others in the series, to help with my quest to relearn the language.I love how the author makes it very easy to follow along, and I love how she uses humor, and pop culture to help in the learning process.The chapters are not very long, and it is very easy to answer the questions at the end of each.There is also an answer key in the back of the book, to help you see how you did.Overall, this book has been very useful, and I can't wait to continue on in the series.Definitely worth buying, if you are looking for a great way to begin learning Spanish.

Excelente!
I use this book with my students.It has all the basic grammar for non-spanish speaking students.I love it, great book, very thorough, excellent oral and written practice exercises.

Great Book - Not for the absolute beginner.
I am fairly new with Spanish having only taken a short 8 week community course at our local library.This book is a perfect place to go from there.You should not use this book to learn pronunciation or absolute basics.Instead, this book will help you build upon your basic vocabulary and help you to start forming sentences.

I already feel more confident in my Spanish after only a few lessons.If you're just starting out, I would supplement this book with either a short course in Spanish or some audiotapes. Otherwise, I think this is a great resource for teaching yourself Spanish!

Practice Makes Perfect Basic Spanish by Devney Richmond
Devney Richmond does an excellent job of going step by step with the most basic skills required in Spanish speaking, mixing in vocabulary, and continuing to use these as the course progresses. ... Read more

Product Description
Now beginners can master Spanish grammar with the proven Practice Makes Perfect method!

Combining clear presentation, exercises, and a focus on practical conversational skills has proven a winning formula for the Practice Makes Perfect workbook series. Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar builds on the series' success with a similarly interactive approach, embracing all aspects of Spanish grammar that you need to master. This engaging guide offers:

• An extensive grammar review, highlighted by illustrative examples
• Dozens of exercises, including fill-ins, translations, and creative writing
• Time saving thematic vocabulary panels to cut down on dictionary drudgery
• Boxed summaries of key grammar points for focused learning
• Detailed answer keys for progress checks

Customer Reviews (47)

Missing of total 32 pages
The book jumped from page 150 to page 83. Total 32 pages are missing. I did not find this until now. The binding seems fine. Looks like something, during the printing, goes wrong and unnoticed.

Most excellent!
I am a native spanish speaker.I am using this book to tutor an intermidiate student.The book is really well done. It totally takes the sharp edge out of learning verb tenses.

Satisfied
We ordered three of these books to increase our usage of the Spanish language.They are being used like a textbook, and thus far we are all thoroughly satisfied that the book will meet our expectations and need.Basic grammar is there along with verb endings to help formulate sentences correctly, enabling you to properly speak Spanish.It's a keeper.

excellent spanish grammar
This book is fantastic. Simple, easy to follow and valuable in improving one's Spanish grammar skills
You do need a reasonable basic vocabulary, but it's no problem using the dictionary for unfamiliar words -
helps build dictionary skills as well! There are no errors like other reviewers have stated just the use
of some different vocab examples in the answer section.

Anna Rivera Reviews Complete Spanish Grammar
I am Anna Rivera editor of the Learning Spanish Products Reviews site and author of Anna Rivera's 1000 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Words (Spanish Edition) and Anna Rivera's 800 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Phrases (Spanish Edition). I am also a native Spanish speaker and a professional Spanish instructor.

This is an excellent book forlearning Spanish. As the title suggests, it Is very complete. Not only are the various verb tenses covered, but in the book's 26 units the following topics are also covered very thoroughly:Nouns and Articles, Adjectives, Personal Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Possessive and Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns, Adverbs, Prepositions (incuding Por and Para) indefinite Negative Words and Expressions,Interrogative and Exclamatory Words, Numbers and many other topics for the learner of the Spanish language.

Gilda Nissenberg also does a great job breaking down many of the most complex topics of Spanish in Complete Spanish Grammar.The student will also find it very helpful how she provides example sentences in order to illustrate and clarify different areas of Spanish grammar. There are also literally thousands of exercises to help the student develop a clearer understanding of the topics in this book and reinforce everything that the student learns.

I highly recommend this book to all students of Spanish, regardless of their level of Spanish.
... Read more

Product Description
Do you want to improve your Spanish using a learning style that suits you? Why not Mind Map your way to fluency? Following the huge success of the Language Revolution Beginner level, international best-selling author and inventor of Mind Maps(R) Tony Buzan continues on his quest to alter the way language is learnt - forever.Collins Language Revolution Beginner Plus is:Flexible - Whether you are completely new to Mind Mapping or already a convert to Tony Buzan's revolutionary language learning techniques, you can reach a new level of conversational ability with Beginner Plus. Fun and easy - All you need is your imagination, a sense of humour and coloured pens. Effective - Mind Maps(R) are a system proven to successfully unlock your brain's potential for learning and memory, and are used by many of the world's most successful politicians, business leaders and educators.Unit 1: Welcome! Unit 2: What do you do? Unit 3: I feel like ...Unit 4: In touch Unit 5: Home Unit 6: At the estate agent's Unit 7: Then and now Unit 8: Travelling Unit 9: A the wedding Unit 10: Congratulations! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

language revolution plus
I was looking for a program to help me teach elementary Spanish and I really like Collins products.This one is good.It's colorful and well thought out.The CD listening exercises are current and natural sounding.It is geared towards castellano, spanish spoken in Spain. I went ahead and tried out iMindMaps, a learning tool that is based on associative thinking. Pretty cool. The mind maps at the end of every chapter are pretty sparse, perhaps forming a base for more learning. I can't say how it would be for a new learner who is trying to be self-taught, but the concept of how to learn is valuable for anyone. ... Read more

Product Description
The WorldÂ's Best Selling Verb BookÂ-- and with good reason!


Fluency in Spanish starts with knowledge of verbsÂ--and BarronÂ's 501 Spanish Verbs shows students and travelers exactly how to use the 501 most common and useful Spanish verbs in all 16 tenses and moods. Each verb is alphabetically listed in easy-to-follow chart form, one verb per page with its English translation.

Important added features includeÂ--

Product Description
Unlike conventional grammars, this guide to Spanish usage, for students with basic knowledge, focuses on areas of vocabulary and grammar causing the most difficulty to English speakers. The new edition has been extensively revised and updated to emphasize Latin-American (particularly Mexican) usage. Significantly expanded vocabulary sections now include examples which contextualize each word or expression. Finally, some completely new material has been added on semi-technical vocabulary and Anglicisms. First Edition Hb (1992) 0-521-42123-3First Edition Pb (1992) 0-521-26987-3 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I have a feeling this will become on of my top references
I was a little skeptical buying yet another Spanish usage book.I already have an entire bookcase full of Spanish material.But when it arrived, I realized that it was amazingly well put together and a really valuable tool.My favorite section is the one where they break down all of the applications of various verbs and show the wide manner of meanings possible and common verb combinations used.There is also a really great section with Nouns that gives the subtle distinctions between noun variations (i.e., just a chaqueta vs. all the various types of coats).I can't wait to really dig into this thing.Well laid out, easy to read and to grasp.Really a wonderful reference.

Using Spanish
I have found the book an excellent help and enjoy using it - one of the best. Now and then there are still more interpretation or applications of a word lacking - but it is very comprehensive and thoroughly compiled.

An innovative way of organizing "Grammar"
This book was an amazing tool in my study of Spanish.It is not a traditional grammar, but it is still amazingly quick, succint, and too-the-point.It is technical book, in the sense that it doesn't waste time or space with those corny dialogues and phrases that seem to abound in beginner books.Instead, this book fills a critical gap: what you need to know about the structure and syntax of the language in order to go from low-intermediate speaker to advanced fluency.Most intermediate-advanced books resemble "readers", this book is the opposite.There is a wealth of information on false cognates, "registers" (ways of speaking according to the situation), and - my favorite - the right prepositions to use after nouns and verbs, a constant source of errors for non-native speakers who have trouble grasping how "pensar en" means "to think about".This book was just what I needed to move from intermediate foreign Spanish speaker to a fluent speaker.It is especially accessible and meaningful for language learners who - like me - actually find "grammar" to be one of the exciting and valuable parts of language learning.

A first rate intermediate level Spanish text
Having English as my first language I have appreciated the virtues of this book for a number of years. It is well organized with clear explanations and many examples. One of the features I value highly is the classification of words and expressions by their "register", meaning the social context in which the usage occurs. Anything from obscene to formal and legalistic. You will need a year or two of Spanish before the book can be useful.

for more advanced students
Excellent book for serious students of Spanish and treats the language at some depth.Includes usages from both Spain and Latin America in various registers.Words and and phrasesappropriate for informal and more formalusage.Quibble in that the book has come apart with fairly light andcareful use. ... Read more

Product Description
The Teach Yourself Language Grammar series brings the languages of the world within the reach of any beginning student. Prepared by experts in the language, each course begins with the basics and gradually elevates the student to a level of confident communication. Enjoyable and user-friendly, the new editions and titles feature improved page designs and even clearer explanations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Keep this one around for reference...
"Teach Yourself Spanish Grammar" provides a great overview of the Spanish language replete with examples, exercises, and illustrations. Nearly every grammatical aspect of the language receives treatment somewhere in this book. As such, it makes a great reference. Keep it on the shelf for those inevitable moments of confusion when verb tenses seem coagulated or when grammatical nuances feel obscure. That said, this book serves better as a reference than as a teaching tool. Those already possessing Spanish skills will get far more out of it than those with little or none. The book's length (232 pages including exercises, dictionary and index) necessitates a compromise of breadth for detail. Most subjects receive cursory treatment. The later discussions on the subjunctive tenses are particularly brief and do not allow enough study for mastery (though they provide decent introductions). This will only present a problem for absolute newcomers, though, who should start with more detailed resources such as "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses" or "Teach Yourself Beginner's Spanish, 3rd Edition (Book & 2 CDs) (Teach Yourself Language)." Those with more Spanish knowledge, from late beginner or early intermediate, will find a rich and brisk refresher course in the totality of Español. The examples help reinforce verb tense usage and pronoun disambiguation. The book's comprehensiveness also gives a bird's-eye view of the language's entire structure in a quick read. For more experienced readers, "Teach Yourself Spanish Grammar" will increase aptitude and grammatical acumen. It remains a fun and easy read throughout, just don't start learning Spanish with this book without extra help. But definitely return to it again and again for a great review and honing of grammatical knowledge.

Great concept...
I was a bit skeptical when I first noticed that there was a "grammar reference section" in this book--why would a grammar book need a grammar reference section??? It soon made sense, though.

It turns out that this TY grammar book is presented and arranged a bit differently than most. It's generally broken down into usage, function, and application, rather than abstract parts of speech as most grammar books are. It has chapter titles such as, Expressing Existence and Availability, Expressing Location, Describing Process and Procedure, rather than the typical headings such as present tense, preterit, subjunctive, etc. All the concepts are in there, but they are grouped according to task, idea, or usage.

For example, the Talking About Habitual Actions chapter covers reflexive verbs, position of reflexive pronouns, common reflexive verbs, adverbs ending in -mente, frequency adverbs, soler + infinitive, and acostumbrar + infinitive. So these are grammatical constructs you would use for Talking About Habitual Actions. Make sense? It's a nice idea.

I find this a refreshing change. It's much easier to read. I have lots of Spanish grammar books and they are great, but none present the material quite like this book does. This format is very handy to look something up quickly and get a brief answer (including good examples) of the concepts. The grammar reference section in the back lists topics more like a standard grammar text would and goes into a bit more depth.

Systematic but brief
I used this book after I had learned some Spanish from tapes. I was going to a Spanish speaking country, and I needed to see what the words actually looked like, as well as to get an idea of how the language is structured. Here's the thing you need to know: although it says "Teach Yourself Spanish *Grammar*", this book is extremely useful as a practical guide to speaking the language. It's organised according to functions (for example: expressing wants, likes, giving opinions, describing the past). This makes it about a thousand times more useful than an ordinary phrasebook. A phrasebook only teaches you how to ask for, say, fruits at a market. If you're lucky, it'll teach you how to ask for vegetables too. With this book, you can just look up "expressing wants" and learn querer and preferir, and how you can use them with a noun, a verb, or a pronoun.

It's really a more "building blocks" approach to language, but it still provides sample sentences for each idea, so you can see how it's done. This book won't have you speaking fluent, advanced idiomatic Spanish (nor is it a good reference grammar for advanced learners), but it will definitely prepare you to say a wide range of things in basic Spanish.

By the way, I've lent it to two other friends who have also used it to get a basic knowledge of Spanish for reading or travel. One of them refused to give it back to me until he'd finished it!

Clear, concise, GREAT tool!
For any student, I would recommend this book. When I teach my classes, I often reference it for a second or third way to present the material, and have recommended it to any student wishing to review.

It starts off with conversational help, and then the chapters delve into more grammatical lessons, always chock full of examples to help the information make sense.

It would be an excellent textbook if there were exercises, but it's not intended for that purpose. I would say the ages are mature high school students and up.

Sra. Gose
Author of Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 1 & Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 2

Easy to Understand, Concise
This is a fabulous tool for anyone studying the Spanish Language! It is explains Spanish grammer in a simple concise form which is much easier to understand that many textbooks! Everyone studying Spanish should pick up this bargain of a supplemental tool!! ... Read more

Product Description
With this enjoyable and effective textbook developed by the experts at Living Language, you'll increase your fluency, add depth to your vocabulary, and perfect your grammar. You'll also get plenty of practice with exercises both in this book and online. In this book you'll find:

· 20 lessons with lively dialogues that take you everywhere from ancient ruins to an interview with a bank president to a soccer match
· Advanced grammar and usage, with extensive notes on pronunciation and vocabulary
· Culture notes filled with facts and intriguing details
· Business vocabulary, etiquette, and facts in every lesson
· Quizzes and review sections to check your progress
· Complete summary of Spanish grammar, and verb charts covering all major tenses
· Letter writing for business and social occasions
· An extensive two-way glossary

While this book stands on its own as a complete course and an invaluable reference, you'll find that it's even more effective as part of an audio CD package. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Super gift for the advancedoral Spanish Language learner
Well priced for the content. This was a Christmas present for my sister, who was formerly fluent years ago but needed an intensive warm up. She loves it!

Anna Rivera gives Ultimate Spanish Advanced 5 Stars
This is Anna Rivera editor of the Learning Spanish Products Reviews site and author of Anna Rivera's 1000 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Words (Spanish Edition) and Anna Rivera's 800 Plus Most Powerful Spanish Phrases (Spanish Edition). I am also a native Spanish speaker and a professional Spanish instructor.

Since the readers of my learning-Spanish newsletter often complain that there are not enough quality learning Spanish products for advanced students of Spanish, I am constantly on the look out for useful learning-Spanish products for advanced students.

Ultimate Spanish Advanced is a terrific product for advance students. Many times intermediate students will buy learning-Spanish products that are designed for advanced students. If you are an intermediate student you may find that this product is a little too advanced for you. You should start with Ultimate Spanish Beginner-Intermediate (Book) (LL(R) Ultimate Basic-Intermed)before attempting to use this course.

When you finish this Spanish course, you will have a huge vocabulary. And as you know, the more words that you know in Spanish the better you can communicate. Another great feature of this course is that it has lots of dialogs covering numerous topics. Here are just a few examples of the topics of conversation that you will hear: at the book fair, job interviews, Christmas at the beach, buying a computer, watching television, at the post office, looking for employment, at the gas station, buying a car, buying a computer, visiting missions in the jungle, at a big political rally, at a soccer match, and so many other topics. I advise that you listen to these dialogs over and over again so that the new vocabulary words stick in your head.

But make sure before venturing into this course that you are truly an advance student or that you have already finished Ultimate Spanish Beginner-Intermediate (Book) (LL(R) Ultimate Basic-Intermed)

Word of caution. You can buy the books separately for both the Beginner and Advanced Ultimate Spanish courses. Be sure that what you are ordering isn't just the textbook for either course, but the complete set of CDs. Both this course and the Beginner course contain 8 CDs - 4 of which are to be used "at home" and the other 4 contain similar content but are designed to be used "in the car" to reinforce what you have learned at home.

Excellent Book for the Intermediate to Advanced Learner
I really like this book, especially the "notes" section they have for each chapter, which gives information I haven't found anywhere else.I haven't as yet found any drawbacks with this book. This book would be particularly helpful if you're a person who travels below the border.

I'm satisfied
My main criticism is some obscure situations, like the section on harvesting equipment.But I guess there are those that want to know about the names of harvesting related equipment and activities.For me, I prefer everyday situations.For me, only parts of the book are very useful, some parts only marginal.

Excellent Book
This book is NOT for beginners, it's for people who already have a command of Spanish but want to increase their fluency and vocabulary, especially in areas of business and marketing. It also increases your vocabulary for every conversations.
It's a very good book. ... Read more