Lab Manual to accompany Puntos de partida [Paperback]

Marty Knorre (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072382457 | ISBN-13: 978-0072382457 | Publication Date: February 27, 2001 | Edition: 6th

When Puntos de partida first published in 1981 it introduced a new era in language materials and language instruction in this country through its hallmark focus on communicative language proficiency and the development of the four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Puntos has established itself as one of the market leaders among introductory Spanish textbooks. In this 20th Anniversary Edition, Puntos will continue to offer the most teacher- and student-friendly textbook on the market as well as a host of exciting new features, most notably a state-of-the-art Instructor's Edition.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 6th edition (February 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072382457
• ISBN-13: 978-0072382457
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent teaching tool, January 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Puntos De Partida (Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

The book by itself would be lacking as another reviewer suggested. But it doesn't stand alone -- if you buy the package you get a lab manual, a workbook, audio CD's for vocabulary prep and for the lab work, and a software CD with more exercises. The lab manual works with audio CD's for listening & speaking related exercises, and the workbook has reading & writing exercises, plus if you do the software exercises and the additional exercises and quizzes on the website, you find you have learned the grammar and vocabulary of the chapter without having to resort to making your own flash cards or writing out sentences on your own. The volume of exercises is perfect. And the exercises in the workbook & lab manual have explanations of the purpose of the exercise, with lots of repetition. (e.g. "the purpose of this exercise is to listen for specific information. Don't get distracted by unfamiliar vocabulary").
I have not worked with other Spanish materials, but I have with German and Arabic and I think Puntos is excellent. Make sure you buy the whole package and not just the book.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, December 8, 2003

By 

Natalie H. Family "elvereview" (Hoboken, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puntos de partida (Student Edition + Listening Comprehension Audio CD) (Hardcover)

This is the most comprehensive foreign language book I've seen. It's simple, a 6th grader could teach themselves Spanish with this book. Open it, read it, and memorize it. I had a terrible time with French and was not looking foward to learning Spanish, but I picked it up immediately as I went along with this book. When the semester was over, I spent the summer reading the rest of it at my leisure. As far as the other reviews go, I'm not sure what the problem was. It couldn't be explained any more clearly, perhaps they are moving too fast? Take a day for each page or something, whatever works. If you're not picking it up, it may be your study techniques and not the book. If you want extra practice, get the workbook. Both the workbook and the textbook have the answers to every practice exercise (of which there are an adequate amount) in the back of the book. Maybe the previous reviewers were unaware?

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A poor excuse for a learning tool., December 29, 2002

By 

Dwayne D. Hudson "Psychology Major" (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puntos de partida (Student Edition + Listening Comprehension Audio CD) (Hardcover)

This book is touted as a beginners volume yet it fails to perform as specified. The contents are poorly written and few examples are given to help in the learning process. To further complicate the learning of a new language, Puntos de partida provides very little explanations and direction to ensure sufficient comprehension and understanding of the Spanish language. Unfortunantly, this review can speak for most Spanish text books on the market as my Universities Spanish program has realized. Puntos de partida will not help the beginner to learn Spanish. It will deter the beginner to seek further understanding and learning of the Spanish language. This is unfortunate.