Customer Reviews

Intermediate Spanish For Dummies

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This is a good book, has hard assignements, but stick with it, and you'll actually begin to learn. Some of us required a great more help. But this book certainly has everything you need!

Having gone through about a third of the book thus far, I have already encountered more typos than I can count on two hands - not nitpicky typos, like a misplaced comma; substantial typos, like a misconjugated verb in the answer key. The profusion of such errors could be quite damaging to someone just learning the language or not diligent enough to double-check.

Otherwise, it's a decent refresher book, but I wouldn't recommend it in lieu of a real textbook or a class on the language. It's sufficiently broad and, for the most part, sufficiently deep, if occasionally providing superfluous information. (I already know what an idiom is, thank you. Can you teach me how to speak Spanish now?)

This is perfect for those who are past Spanish I. It has easy to follow descriptions of how to use various points of grammar. Irregular verbs are laid out and you are able to practice different parts of grammar. It was well worth my money. So far, and I've bought a few, this is among the best to learn Spanish.

Hello,

This is a good book for learning Spanish, but better I think to refresh one's Spanish, if he already knew the language.

It has alot of tables and is very technical, not very fun. Reminds me of language lessons in school really.

I really think this book could have 40 small pages long, and much better if it were so.

It lacks a few of tenses in Spanish, two as far as I know, which are important also, and I think could have easily been inserted.

It is very elaborate, and is good for reference while writing or trying to read a text.

Have your Spanish skills become rusty? Are you looking for a way to brighten your Spanish language learning shine? Well, Intermediate Spanish For Dummies will place you back on the track for success, while enhancing your Spanish writing and communication skills. The book is divided into six parts, spanning over eighteen chapters on topics such as reviewing the basics, writing in the present, writing for specific clarity, writing in the past and in the future, and the parts of tens. The book is concluded with appendices of verb charts, an English-Spanish dictionary, a Spanish-English dictionary, along with an index of subjects covered throughout the text.

Intermediate Spanish For Dummies is not recommended for those who are now treading onto the Spanish learning territory, but rather those who are seeking a refresher course, reference book, or workbook to assist them expanding their basic Spanish knowledge. In other words, this book has been written for those who are ready to take the leap into the advanced Spanish learning level. Each chapter focuses on a different topic that provides learners with the opportunity to practice their written communication skills through writing e-mails, postcards, text messages, journal entries, and letters. Throughout the book, the author highlights nuances of the language so learners can study and practice how native speakers and writers use the language. Numerous examples are provided for learners to familiarize themselves with the Spanish that is spoken on a daily basis by native speakers.

When completing exercises and studying, learners are encouraged to write in the text and highlight the salient points of study that they desire to remember. It is recommended that exercises be completed first, before consulting the answer key at the end of each chapter.

Some other products that I recommend for Spanish language learners are Rosetta Stone Spanish. Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1,2,3,4 & 5 Set with Audio Companion is pretty good if you are a visual learner like me. My only complaints are that in Rosetta Stone Spanish the Spanish is rather basic and the course is somewhat expensive.

In order to speak Spanish fluently, you must also learn lots of new words. For increasing Spanish vocabulary, I recommend Quick Study-Spanish Vocabulary Flash Cards-1000 cards You get 1,000 of these cards at an excellent price.

To speak Spanish fluently besides having a you will also need to master conjugating Spanish verbs. The best product for that is the the Verbarrator Version 1.1 (Windows Version) software. The Verbarrator software does a great job of replacing the boring Spanish verb conjugation books and makes learning Spanish verbs enough fun that you will want to use the software every day. And the more you use the tool the quicker that you will learn how to conjugate Spanish verbs and reach fluency.

The last product that I recommend for anyone who is really serious about learning Spanish is The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice w/CD-ROM (UItimate Review & Reference Series). This Spanish grammar book covers every aspect of Spanish grammar imaginable. To get the equivalent learning-Spanish value of this one book you would have to buy 3 or 4 books in the Practice Makes Perfect series.

I ordered several copies of this book for a class of senior citizens I teach. It is a good continuation from the Beginning Spanish for Dummies which we also used. They find the exercises challenging and welcome the answer key so they can check their work. I feel this is a good option to supplement instruction outside of a regular class setting. But would not be good as a stand-alone program to learn Spanish. Less expensive and more practical usage and examples than many textbooks.