I used this book in high school too and am now an education publishing designer/illustrator. I just hunted it down because we cuts costs and rarely make books like this now - with good page quality and so many charming 4-color illustrations to enhance the learning experience. Those illus. stuck with me over the years.
This is an excellent text for the novice.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
In 1982 as a freshman in High School, I was in Spanish 101 and we used this book. Eventhough I am a hispanic being born here, believe it or not there are a lot of us who have challenges with our parents language. I remember having attrocious grammer and was frequently guilty as many of us are, of speaking in "spanglish." For those of you who aren't latino, "spanglish" is regarded by Latin Americans to be the spanish equivalent of ebonics. I was a US born hispanic who was barely literate in Spanish. Sad, yes I agree, and sadly it's very common now. I highly recommend this book. It helped correct many of my language weaknesses and put me on a solid path the getting very proficient in Spanish. And as for the true first timers who were in my class at the time, I was very surprised at how quickly everyone seemed to learn the language. Don't think this book or any other will be enough to make you fluent - none will do that. If you really want to learn this language or any other language for that matter, take a book like this and pair it with good software like Berlitz or Rossetta Stone. Both are excellent and will really drill you but in a very fun and friendly way. Try to watch a film in that language. I like picking comedy's because they are funny and I remember more detail. It would probably be a good idea try to take a language class or two at a community college. Learning a new language can be very difficult, but if done in stages patiently, you will be surprised at how easy it really is. One day it will just make sense. I'm in culinary school, and I am fascinated by Italian Cuisine but don't know a lick of Italian. The path I'm taking to learn Italian is exactly what I proposed above. I have new text book, I have ordered Berlitz and once done with at least levels one and two of the software, I'm going to take a class. Right about the time that the class is completed, I'm going to travel to Italy to enroll ia a monthlong culinary internship. The trip to Italy kills two birds with one stone. I think the excitement of going there, coupled with new found language skills, will make my culinary training experience even greater.
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