Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish (Student Edition) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Martha Alford Marks (Author), Richard V. Teschner (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

DESTINOS is an innovative beginning Spanish program based on a 26-week television series premiering on PBS in the fall of 1992. The 52 half-hour shows of the series use the powerful appeal of a uniquely Hispanic genre -- the telenovela (soap opera) -- to make language and culture come alive. The situation and context of each episode introduce students to the basic structures, language functions and vocabulary groups of Spanish that are then presented in the print materials. (Most grammar explanations and exercises are in the workbook/study guides.) This complete one-year course is designed to help students develop communicative proficiency -- listening, speaking, reading, and writing -- as well as cultural awareness in Spanish. The plot of DESTINOS is designed to engage student viewers from the very beginning. A wealthy Mexican patriarch, nearing the end of his life, reveals a secret he has kept from his family for many years. His revelation leads to some important questions that must be answered before he dies. Raquel Rodriguez, a Mexican-American lawyer, embarks on a search for those answers, a search that takes her to Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and back to Mexico. Students and viewers can join in the search -- learning Spanish and about the rich and diversified cultural context in which it is spoken throughout the world.

Language Notes

Text: Spanish, English

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 1 edition (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0070020698
• ISBN-13: 978-0070020696
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #229,146 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun way to learn Spanish, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

Destinos is a set of materials (books, videos, audio cassettes) that function together. The primary learning tool is the video. It allows the learner to listen to conversations in Spanish, but unlike audio cassettes, you have the aid of contextual clues provided by the scenes acted out on the video to help you understand the dialog. I found that to be an excellent learning tool. The chapters are designed to start with a basic vocabulary and add more with each chapter. Each chapter incorporates new vocabulary, and that vocabulary is tailored to include what a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country is most likely to use. The video is written in a soap-opera format, which "hooks" you into the story and characters, thus helping you to maintain interest and not quit the learning process. And the story introduces you to several different Spanish-speaking countries. The audio cassettes provide further listening practice, and the book provides the core of the grammatical curriculum.

I think it's better for an intermediate student rather than a complete beginner.

All in all a good way to improve listening comprehension and learn travelers vocabulary. For speaking, there's no substitute for live practice with a fluent teacher.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Encorages Bilingualism and Culture, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

Last May (1999) I finished my fifth year of Spanish. For two and a half years my class used Destinos. After the AP exam, of the 7 Students who took this years exam, 4 non-native "4's" and one non-native "5". I myself and a much stonger speaker now that I am in college. Destinos promoted speaking from day one and it gave real results. I am exceling in my cuture classes and also with different Spanishes (mex, castilano, argentinian) Destinos gives a well rounded look on the Hispanic Culture. I enjoyed following the charaters through their journeys (video series). I highly recommend this text/video series too all.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars muy excelente para todos quien quieren aprender el idioma!, August 4, 2005

By	D. Pawl "mariposarosa2" (Seattle) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

(translation of title: Very excellent for everyone who wants to learn the language!)
I cannot emphasize enough how beneficial the Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish series is for those who want to learn Spanish, or become more familiar with the language. This was used in a course I took at college, and it felt like we were all travelling along with the main character, Raquel, a lawyer who travels from her home in Los Angeles, to Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Puerto Rico, as part of her work with her clients, a family living in an estate in Mexico City.

The format of this program is styled after the Latin American "novelas" (soap operas). In other words, you will need to carefully watch each episode, to keep up with plot details. But, not to worry, because Raquel reviews what happened with you, at the end of every episode. Each episode is entirely in Spanish, and it gets you thinking in the language, comprehending what is going on very quickly, as well as picking up interesting information specific to the cultures she is immersed in, during her travels. We learn about art, music, dance, food and slang. (Slang is also a very valuable thing to know about, when travelling in Spanish-speaking countries. Words that are acceptable in one country could get you shot in another country---this isn't addressed in the episodes, but that is really important to be aware of)

I am pleased to say that the series is entertaining, educational and very beneficial to students. It makes you WANT to learn, and also, in spite of the melodrama, you will want to stick it out to the last episode to see how things turn out. Muy excelente!