Customer Reviews

Punto y aparte: Spanish in Review / Moving Toward Fluency

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Without a doubt this probably is the best intermediate text & CD ROM available for anyone who wants to move from "advanced beginner" to a more conversational "advanced intermediate" speaker of Spanish. It will also help the "listening" component of improving communication skills in Spanish. The text is very uniquely organized and excellently done. Although relatively short, it is packed with useful information. The CD ROM is essential to maximize the total potential learning experience. The speech, dialogues, accents, and interactions are quite "real" and very understandable. There is even an concise grammar review section, and an essential spanish-english dictionary so that one could take the book and study even without immediate access to a dictionary for most unfamiliar words. (The three-page explanation of using the Imperfect versus the Preterite uniquely clarifies an often muddy concept.) The use of the five distinct Spanish speaking characters interacting through the stories in each chapter draws the student into their characters and is a great tool for experiencing the "flavor" of different hispanohablantes. These authors have really produced a program that goes beyond what any other texts out there offer. I wish I had found this several years ago. Both the text and CD are worth the price.

I used this book in my SPAN 252 class. It was well organized in terms of grammer, vocabulary and cultural learning. The online QUIA portion also helped me improve my spanish skills. Punto y Aparte is one of the best Spanish books I've used in my studies.

I am a Spanish heritage speaker and have studied Spanish at several renowned instuitions in the United States including Middlebury College in Vermont. This is the book of choice for the intermediate level and I can't agree more. The book is clear, concise, and has exercises for the seven different concepts emphasized throughout the text. The text is not only about grammar but adds an element of culture that is necessary to truly appreciate the language. I haven't seen a book better than this one!