Mastering Spanish, Level 1 (with Audio CDs) [Audio CD]

R. Stockwell (Author), J. Bowen (Author), I. Fuenzalida-Silva (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764175971 | ISBN-13: 978-0764175978 | Publication Date: April 2003 | Edition: 2nd

The new edition of this intensive language-immersion course has been updated with new references, and up-to-date vocabulary and idioms. The program package consists of a textbook and a set of 12 compact discs. This comprehensive language program is the same as the one used by the U.S. Government to teach Spanish to personnel in the diplomatic service and other internationally related government agencies. Students who complete the course successfully will have much more than a few foreign phrases at their disposal, but will possess a solid understanding of a new language. The program is ideal for classroom instruction but is also designed so that serious individuals who want to become fluent in Spanish can teach themselves. This course teaches every aspect of the language: vocabulary, grammar, conversing, reading, writing, and listening comprehension.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…helps seriously motivated students master essential grammar, vocabulary, and writing and pronunciation skills."


— LibraryJournal, November 1, 2003

From the Back Cover

MASTERING
SPANISH
Level One
2nd Edition
BOOK & 12 COMPACT DISCS

This comprehensive language course gives you much more than lists of words and phrases for travelers. It will help you develop fluency in Spanish, and in less time than you ever thought possible.
You will master grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary as you gain command of the spoken language.
Barron'sMastering Spanish, Level One, is the same course used by the U.S. Government to train diplomats.
Package includes an in-depth textbook plus 12 compact discs using native speakers to familiarize you with the sound of conversational Spanish.
TEACH YOURSELF TO SPEAK SPANISH FLUENTLY

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 2nd edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764175971
• ISBN-13: 978-0764175978
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.8 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #691,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars New cover, same content, April 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mastering Spanish, Level 1 (with Audio CDs) (Audio CD)

I originally learned Spanish years ago with the Foreign Service Institute Basic Course in Spanish, and purchased Barron's previous edition of "Mastering Spanish" a couple of years ago thinking it would be easier to use than the original. What I found was that it was a copy of the 1957 original--but the page sizes had been photographically reduced from letter-size to 9" x 7", making the text very small and difficult to read. The previous edition of Barron's Mastering Spanish on Amazon had numerous reviews, many of which pointed out usability problems: small, indistinct text; too-fast and sometimes indistinct speech on the audio; an intrusive and not useful phonetic alphabet which dominated and sometimes replaced the normal Spanish; and a preponderance of political/military situations and vocabulary inappropriate for most users. By comparing Barron's with the FSI original, I found that Barron's is nothing more than a photocopy of the old original; the audio is also a copy.

My curiosity was therefore aroused when I saw on Amazon that Barron's had a "new edition with new references, and up-to-date vocabulary and idioms". Unfortunately, the "new" is limited to a twelfth compact disk, which does contain some valuable information. However, it does nothing to address the problems with the previous version (and with the almost 50-year-old original) which numerous reviewers had commented on in Amazon's pages.

While the content of Barron's Mastering Spanish (and the FSI original) is perhaps the most proven, effective way to learn to communicate in Spanish, the usability issues militate against its successful use by any but the most dedicated and stubborn students. The fact that it is almost in its entirety a copy of a U.S. Government public domain publication may also help explain Barron's relatively low price. Not having to invest in development is probably a big help in keeping cost low.

Another problem is that Barron's sells the first half of the FSI program as a complete course, promising that learners will "master grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary..." as they "...gain command of the spoken language." Well, that's true as far as it goes, but if the FSI program, of which Barron's is a copy, is considered the model, it only goes half way. Those interested in a truly modernized version of the Foreign Service Institute approach will have to look elsewhere.

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Holy Grail of Spanish courses!, March 31, 2006

By 

Randy "randy310" (Russellville, AR. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Spanish, Level 1 (with Audio CDs) (Audio CD)

As others have said this course is only for those who are serious about learning spanish and are not afraid of working their asses off to do it. There is no silver bullet. Learning a foreign language is tough and not for lightweight learners. This is the heavyweight division folks. No you will not master this while doing other activities. When you were in college did you expect to learn calculus, physics, or other heavy duty courses while driving to the bar? I think not! You are going to have to use the book with the cd's in a quiet place without distractions every day. This course is going to drill you like being in boot camp in the Marine Corps. There are a variety of different types of drills that will drill this material deep into your DNA and when you master it and the next three levels after it you will be able to handle yourself in all but the most technical of situations. If you have no background in Spanish I would reccomend pimsleur first. I would also supplement this course with slangman's street spanish with audio and penton overseas vocabulearn. Something else that i have found helpful is listening to dvd movies first in english, then in spanish with spanish subtitles and then without subtitles. This is an excellent aid to comprehension. Even though I feel that these FSI courses are the SINGLE best way of learning spanish, your ability will be enhanced even more with these auxillary methods. Where this course is a bit light is slang and vocabulary but the products that i mentioned above will shore that up. If you want to speak with near native ability then this is the one for you...all others should take a pass on this one and check out spanish while you sleep.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hard work produces results..., April 23, 2003

By 

Hugh Roth (Merrick, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering Spanish, Level 1 (with Audio CDs) (Audio CD)

I have an older edition with 12 audio tapes. As pointed out elsewhere, the "textbook" is a reduced version of the original, and is clogged by the most annoying amount of transliterations. I find the drills really valuable, and feel like I am actually SPEAKING Spanish instead of reading it. I feel it is well worth the price, assuming you have the perserverance (sp?) to stick with it, and it does require disipline. If you did the three courses through to the bitter end while drilling the vocabulary separately, you would know a ton of Spanish.
From a learning perspective, the most difficult thing about tapes (and maybe even the CDs, although I have no direct experience and Barron's was not much help when I inquired) is their lack of usable indexing. If, say, each tape is gone over from start to finish 4 times, there are yet sections which require many more repititions. To do this on a "walkman" tape player is difficult at best. Here is where the "bookmark" feature in a language lab really shines. I thought about a dictation transcription machine, but I really don't want yet another piece of electronic equipment.