Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice w/CD-ROM (UItimate Review & Reference Series)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have studied Spanish at the college level before, but since then have not had the opportunity to practice speaking or writing except in informal settings with friends, while traveling, etc. So when I needed to speak with a Spanish client for business, I found my conversation and writing skills somewhat lacking. I turned to "The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice" after having it recommended to me by a few business associates. After one month of working intensively through the book, I feel much more confident in my formal Spanish skills. The book is well thought out, organized into 28 chapters, each focusing on a different topic. Starting with the present tense of verbs and other basic language topics and progressing through the subjunctive and other advanced forms, it provides a comprehensive text to learn and perfect both oral and written Spanish. The explanations and examples of each topic are very clear, and the exercises provide a challenging test of the subject matter presented in each chapter. The short and lively cultural notes add an authentic touch to the language, and provide interesting observations of Spanish and Latin American culture. I found Part IV particularly helpful as it included chapters on common idioms and frequently found errors that have helped my conversation skills measurably. Although targeted at intermediate and advanced learners, I can see the text helping beginners as well, and I have recommended it for associates and friends. In sum, this is a very helpful and comprehensive review of Spanish.

As a Spanish teacher I was delighted to find such a grammar gem on the market for Spanish students at all levels. I bought the book with the intention of using it as a guide and review of many difficult grammar concepts in Spanish and I definitely was pleased with the grammar material and brief cultural readings that are included in the book. The book covers all key grammar concepts that must be mastered in order to speak Spanish confidently and with superior grammar control. The book contains twenty-eight valuable chapters in which key grammar concepts such as verb conjugation and verb usage, tenses and moods of verbs, the passive voice and other key elements are analyzed. The heavy emphasis on verbs and verb usage is indicative of the quality of this book especially since the ability to conjugate and use verbs correctly are the key to mastering any language. The practice exercices are also very valuable and readily force the student to apply the knowledge learned in the chapter thus understanding the practical use of verbs, prepositions, idiomatic expressions or whatever the grammatical concept may be. This book is definitely one of the most handy Spanish grammar tools available and can always be used as a reference for clarification of one's queries in Spanish be it a written grammar concept or an oral query. The purchase of this grammar book will enable you to fortify your Spanish and clarify many grammatical queries. A highly recommended purchase.

If you have already studied Spanish and want to strengthen your skills, this is the book for you. It would also be a good supplementary text for first, second and third year students of college level Spanish. Better than most books that cost twice it's price, it not only gives you clear, well thought-out, and well organized descriptions of all the essential grammar points in Spanish, it also includes copious exercises to drive the points home. This "workbook" aspect of the book is an invaluable asset, since once you have understood the grammar point, you still need to practice it a bit make it second nature. I guarantee that if you work you way through this whole book and absorb its contents, you'll have a very good grasp of Spanish indeed. Coupled with something like the Pimsleur courses, a person could get quite fluent is six months of solid daily study.

This book is an excellent way to regain the elements of Spanish you've lost from lack of study or exposure to the language. Although it covers every major aspect of the language, it's not designed to teach Spanish from scratch, but rather to assist the backslider in regaining his/her lost knowledge. I bought this book prior to returning to Spanish studies after an 18-year absence, and the preparation enabled me to enter the program almost as if there had been no break.

If you really want to review your studies or pick them up after a long absence, it's important to do the exercises in the book and to check your answers. Also, go through each chapter, as even simple stuff like the present tense contains subtleties that are easy to forget.

This book is more comprehensive than the grammar textbooks we use for class that cost three times as much. Again, I wouldn't try learning Spanish from this book alone, but I would recommend it as a supplement regardless of which approach you are taking to learning the language.

Be careful when reading other reviews. When you see that this book is recommended for people who have already taken "a couple of years of Spanish", they must mean four years in high school PLUS a couple of years in college.
The book looks good and the CD is handy, but if your Spanish isn't already pretty good, this book isn't for you. I can carry very basic conversation in Spanish (in the present tense only) and couldn't even understand the first exercise on the CD.
So just beware that if you only had two years of Spanish in HIGH SCHOOL, this book isn't for you. I must sell mine.

This book was highly recommended to me by a number of people from a Learning Spanish newsgroup or forum. They highly recommended this book and the Learning Spanish Like Crazy lessons. Their recommendations are working very well for me.

With very little reluctance, I say that the Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice is the ONLY Spanish grammar book that you will ever need. The book consists of 28 chapters and over 400 hundred pages of grammatical explanations, exercises, vocabulary, verb charts, and cultural notes written in Spanish.

I have been studying Spanish for more years than I care to tell you. Finally, I am making drastic improvements, and becoming fluent in the language seems very realistic for me and not merely a dream. Thanks to the Ulitimate Spanish Review and Practice and Learning Spanish Like Crazy. And when I say that I have made drastic improvements I am not just speaking from my personal opinion. My Spanish speaking clients are constantly asking me what method am I using to learn to speak Spanish so well.

A few days ago, I was at a store and I asked the "chica" behind the counter "cuanto es?" and she could not believe that I am actually learning Spanish and that I am not a native. Well I admit, maybe she was pretending. But I really am making a lot of progress. And if you are really serious about taking your Spanish to the next level, consider purchasing the Utlimate Spanish Review and Practice.

This book is perfect for higher level learning of the Spanish language. It is is great resource and a must have item. Clear, thorough explanations and examples for everything included. Practice excerises with an answer key in the back of the book. All verb tenses are included and well presented. This book is well formatted and easy to use. I used the book to help prepare for the New York State Content Specialty Test. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

I agree with most of the positive remarks about this textbook.
It has (1) detailed coverage on each of its topics.
(2) Excellent + numerous exercises. They are more than your typical "Conjugate every verbs below" format. Quite a few exercises have scenarios. Lots of sidebars + cultural commentaries.
(3) High quality bright white paper + large typeface, good binding. Big format. You are definitely not getting a cheap pulp paperback.
(4) ALL the exercises have answers in the back section.
Only disadvantages: no audio materials (CD, tapes); too heavy to carry on vacation.

I'm using "The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice" as an overall brush-up, having recently completed the Pimsleur courses, the two "Spanish Now!" books and Dorothy Devney Richmond's two "Practice Makes Perfect" books. This book is doing an excellent job of tying everything together, particularly with its extensive exercises. Like any good review book, each chapter builds on the ones before it as opposed to introducing a topic, reviewing it, and dropping it for good. And several of the exercises will give your brain a good workout.

I'd quicky recommend this book for someone with a solid basic grasp of the language -- perhaps a second-year student. It may prove to be too advanced for early students of the language, as some concepts (such as commands) appear in exercises several chapters before they're actually reviewed.

All-in-all, an excellent resource

I have had a few spanish courses and I am one of the people that really like the language so I decided that I wanted some books to help me get to know the language even more. The book is great! It gives you enough exercises so that you understand the material being taught, but it doesn't give you too many so that it gets boring. There is tons of vocabulary within the book. If you are one of the people that really wants to learn the language, just as I did, then... GET THIS BOOK!! It's GREAT! If a second edition comes out, I will definately be getting one!