Spanish Now! Level 1 with CDs (Spanish Now) 
asked by artdealer on November 19, 2006 3:53 PM
The updated 7th edition of this combination textbook and workbook is designed as an introduction to Spanish for classroom use. The emphasis is on oral proficiency—conversational speaking and listening comprehension—but the authors also present detailed instruction in the fundamentals of Spanish grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing in Spanish. The book is filled with exercises and answers, true-to-life dialogues, humorous cartoons, illustrations of Hispanic art, and photos that capture the flavor of Spanish culture in Spain and Latin America. In this new edition, the lessons have been enriched with subtopics to enhance conversational speech. Also new with this edition are four compact discs that have been updated in content, and which replace the previously available tape cassettes, This audio component supplements the book, providing valuable instruction in listening comprehension and correct pronunciation of spoken Spanish. A teacher's manual is also available.
Reviews
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This is an incredible value for the money. To purchase CD's, a workbook, and textbook could be easily over $100.00.
The book is good with some errors. I am using it for a Continuing Education class. It is really perfect for that purpose. It also is good if you already know some Spanish and want to do a refresher on your own.
The book is good with some errors. I am using it for a Continuing Education class. It is really perfect for that purpose. It also is good if you already know some Spanish and want to do a refresher on your own.
reviewed by shirley49 on November 21, 2006 8:43 AM
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One has to wonder if the other reviewers either didn't actually use this book or if they work for Barron's because this book is a very sloppy effort and should be an embarrassment to Barron's, especially the chief editor, Nathan Quinones. To begin with, anyone using previous editions of this book will notice that almost all of the errors remain in the book. Misspelling, misplaced accents, they're all still exactly where they were in previous editions of this book.
The CDs are especially a disappointment. Only 14 of the 31 chapters are recorded and do not have the conversational exercises in Part Four (the CD's are far from being filled to their 80 minute capacity). The story introductions are not recorded on the CDs, just the story dialogues, and Lesson 3 was omitted altogether. Additionally, the stories are not translated in the answer portion of the manual which significantly reduces the value of this book for self-study.
Nevertheless, with a good classroom instructor to guide the student through this book's many landmines, it can serve as a decent introduction to Spanish but lacks the perfection necessary to serve as a self-study book.
The CDs are especially a disappointment. Only 14 of the 31 chapters are recorded and do not have the conversational exercises in Part Four (the CD's are far from being filled to their 80 minute capacity). The story introductions are not recorded on the CDs, just the story dialogues, and Lesson 3 was omitted altogether. Additionally, the stories are not translated in the answer portion of the manual which significantly reduces the value of this book for self-study.
Nevertheless, with a good classroom instructor to guide the student through this book's many landmines, it can serve as a decent introduction to Spanish but lacks the perfection necessary to serve as a self-study book.
reviewed by davedriver on November 24, 2006 10:47 AM
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I have been using this book and find the format helpful. However, I have come across numerous errors/typos, which can be confusing for a beginning language student. Additionally, the CDs included with the book do not match the lessons. It is almost as if the CDs were made for an earlier edition and never updated.
reviewed by crafty1 on November 27, 2006 11:54 PM
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This is a good textbook for learning the basics of spanish...but I wish I would have bought the version with audio CD. So make sure you do that, and you will be all set.
reviewed by speed5599 on November 29, 2006 8:04 AM
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I personally like both the book and the CD very much.
I bought the book only first. Then I found it was very interesting with its stories in each lesson, combined with graded vocabulary and grammar. Those features encouraged me to put more time on studying Spanish. I felt that I need the CD to listen while driving, so I bought a book and CD package lately.
English is my second language, and I considered Spanish to be my third language.
Self studying with this book&CD is not difficult to me. I made a lot of progress in just a couple of months. The CD and the book actually shared 50/50% in helping me to study Spanish.
I bought the book only first. Then I found it was very interesting with its stories in each lesson, combined with graded vocabulary and grammar. Those features encouraged me to put more time on studying Spanish. I felt that I need the CD to listen while driving, so I bought a book and CD package lately.
English is my second language, and I considered Spanish to be my third language.
Self studying with this book&CD is not difficult to me. I made a lot of progress in just a couple of months. The CD and the book actually shared 50/50% in helping me to study Spanish.
reviewed by trailrider on November 29, 2006 12:19 PM