What (text) books are you using?

Question

I am using:

Complete Spanish Grammar- Spanish Verb Tenses- Spanish for Dummies (large book)- Easy Spanish Step by Step- The Everything Spanish Series- Easy Spanish Phrase Book - Spanish Pronouns & Prepositions- **Larousse Dictionary****- **Barron's 501 Spanish Verbs- Spanish Now Levels I & II- Spanish Phrase for Dummies- Past-Tense Verbs Up close- Spanish Subjunctive Up close- Spanish Irregular Verbs Up close- 1001 Pitfalls in Spanish- **The Streetwise Spanish Survival Guide- Hide this Spanish Book- Schaum's Spanish Grammar

Anyone have other suggestions?

sorry tried to put in columns put no luck - Ann-Frances, Dec 1, 2010

Answer 1

I am using Webster's New World Spanish Grammar, Dorothy Richmond's Spanish Verbs and Spanish Pronouns and Prepositions, this site(a lot), studyspanish.com (not as a member, sometimes), about.com-Gerald Erichson for selected topics. I have Madrigal's Magic Key- but haven't used it much. I have 501 verbs, which is useful when I do not want to get up and go to the computer, but all the verb conjugations are here anyway.

I am at a more basic level than a lot of people here.

I checked out " Breaking Out of Beginners Spanish" by Joseph J. Keenan from the library- I think it will be great when I am ready for it, so ultimately plan to buy it.

I am thinking about getting Verbarrator (the program).

I do try on occaison to listen to TV, and the UTexas link that has native Latin Americans speaking with transcriptions, in varying levels of difficulty (i can't remember who exactly provided that, but THANKS):

UTTexas

Once I feel capable of stringing one sentence together to follow the first I plan to use local library based intercambios that let you have a 50/50 exchange with an ESL learner.

I look forward to reading everyone's other suggestions.

Lots of errors in that Webster grammar book btw. - jeezzle, Dec 1, 2010

I'm considering getting the Verbarrator program also. Maybe as a Christmas present to myself. - swampy, Dec 1, 2010

jeezzle- I have noticed a few so far in the Richmond books as well. That's part of why it is good to be here with native speakers (who point out that some of the homework people bring here is also wrong). - Stadt, Dec 1, 2010

Answer 2

I recently bought," Breaking Out of Beginners Spanish" by Joseph J. Keenan after seeing the book mentioned here in the forum about a month ago. I paid $6 for a used copy on E-bay and I'm real happy with the book.

Answer 3

I read books and newspapers in Spanish, and listen to/watch Spanish language radio/TV/movies. Other than that I use the dictionary here and the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española. I can't remember what I used in school, which is a good indication of how useful they were.

I've never used the Schaum's language books, but I've found them quite good for other subjects.

I think that this is a good idea. Often merely using textbooks doesn't give you conversational language, whereas these help fill in the gaps. - RAWRKAL, Dec 1, 2010

Hi I just wanted to know what textbooks everyone used....I live in a city where I go out every single day and use it. - Ann-Frances, Dec 2, 2010

Answer 4

I agree with Kevin, I use regular books, like fiction books in Spanish. Read one in Spanish that you already read in English. Most Spanish texts don't teach much without the accompanying teacher to ask questions.

I'm a sucker for the Harry Potters in Spanish. - KevinB, Dec 1, 2010

Answer 5

Answer 6

I studied one year at college, and have forgot the name of the textbook.

right now I have spanishdict app, babbel app, and bought basic spanish by dorothy richmond.

Answer 7

I've been using Realidades for 4 years but this year I'm using Reflejos (which, personally, I don't like quite as much). I also read Spanish newspapers and try to translate Spanish songs, using dictionaries as little as possible.

If you have an iPod go over to iTunes store: I have alot of Spanish vocalists on my pod and it is a fabulous 'study' method - Ann-Frances, Dec 2, 2010

Answer 8

I use an old version of ¡Claro que sí! (ISBN: 0-395-74552-7) and just recently, The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice (ISBN: 978-0-07-149240-9). I have other non-book methods I use, too.

Does anyone know of any "must-haves"?