Spanish: Content Knowledge and Productive Language Skills (Praxis Study Guides) [Paperback]

Educational Testing Service (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 088685282X | ISBN-13: 978-0886852825 | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

Complete with a targeted review of all the material on the selected Praxis exam in addition to a full-length practice test, these test preparation guides are written by the makers of the real tests. Thorough explanations of the answers are provided, and helpful test-taking strategies are found throughout the guide. The three categories of assessments covered correspond to the three milestones in teacher development-academic skills assessment, subject assessment, and classroom performance assessment. Reflecting the rigorous and carefully validated nature of the exams, these guides provide beginning teachers the information they need to succeed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Educational Testing Service (ETS) is the world's premier educational testing organization and the only publisher of GRE and TOEFL test preparation materials containing authentic test questions from start to finish.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Ets/Educational Testing Service (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088685282X
• ISBN-13: 978-0886852825
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very useful, July 28, 2008

By 

J. Hoyt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spanish: Content Knowledge and Productive Language Skills (Praxis Study Guides) (Paperback)

If you are taking the PRAXIS, use this guide!

This study guide has several good points:
1. The strategy tips are great!
2. The list of "things to study" is exhaustive (in the case of "culture", possibly even too exhaustive).
3. The practice test is identical in format to the actual test. All of the answers are correct (no typos that I noticed!), and the answer key explains _why_ the correct answer is, in fact, correct. Somebody put a lot of work into this.

Here are some caveats:
1. The practice test is considerably easier than the actual test. I took it once before studying, and got an A. Fortunately, I studied daily for a month anyway, because I still didn't do nearly that well on the real thing. Don't get too cocky based on your performance on the practice test -- just use it to get acquainted with the format.
2. Several reviews say to use Brain Quest Hispanic America cards to study culture (since this study guide pretty much says to study everything about everybody and everywhere). The cards are useful, but not sufficient in themselves. For the price, they're a great start, but make sure you have another plan too. (Sorry, I don't have anything useful to say about what that plan should be ...)
3. These free websites can help you study grammar and vocabulary: www.studyspanish.com (just the free stuff should do it), and www.nationalspanishexam.org. Levels 4 and 5 or levels 4 and 6 practice activities and practice exams are challenging enough to be useful; don't do both levels 5 and 6, because they are identical (unless you have some time to kill). The PRAXIS study guide does not provide practice activities or instruction, only the practice exam, which (as I mentioned) is too easy to be used as anything more than a preview of the format. These websites can help you fill in that gap, and they're free.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have book if you are nervous about the Praxis, June 19, 2006

By 

Chris (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spanish: Content Knowledge and Productive Language Skills (Praxis Study Guides) (Paperback)

This is the only book out there that will actually help you with understanding which questions to focus on for the test. You will need additional materials to study for art, music, poetry and history. Try BrainQuest Hispanic America flashcards for extra cultural and history questions.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The study guide is pretty good, December 27, 2005

By 

D. Ruiz "Dee" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spanish: Content Knowledge and Productive Language Skills (Praxis Study Guides) (Paperback)

I recently took the Praxis test and passed it on my first try because the study guide steered me in the right direction. The questions in the study guide are much easier than the actual questions on the test but they are similar in structure. You will be better prepared for the Praxis test after using the study guide but you still will need to use other resources to help you with culture portion of the test. I hope this review helps.