Spanish for Dummies (Paperback)

by Susana Wald (Author)

Textbook Details
* Paperback: 432 pages
* Publisher: For Dummies (December 15, 1999)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0764551949
* ISBN-13: 978-0764551949
* Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1 inches
* Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
* Rating:

Textbook Description
Is speaking Spanish nothing more than a bad high school memory for you? Are the phrases “Yo quiero Taco Bell” and “Hasta la vista, baby” the extent of what you can say in Spanish?

Whether you need a quick primer for an upcoming business trip or want to build on a basic understanding of the language, Spanish For Dummies can help. But the book is more than just a language text full of cool phrases and useful vocabulary — it’s also a cultural guide for those moments when you really need to know how and why things are done.

Part of what makes this book so valuable is its whole-language approach to Spanish. Instead of burdening you with endless vocabulary lists and tricky grammar rules, Spanish For Dummies gives you the tools to take your Spanish on the road. Focus on everyday situations and hone your small-talk skills that help you with basic communication in Spanish. What’s more, the authors have scattered throughout the book tidbits that contextualize the language so you understand the people, places, and things that are unique to Spanish-speaking cultures. An audio CD enables you to hear Spanish as it’s really spoken by presenting dialogues between native Spanish speakers.

Spanish for Dummies Review
Thank God I didn’t have to pay for this book. It’s overloaded with information that I didn’t find helpful in actually learning to speak Spanish. Even a retired person, such as myself, began to grow impatient with the abundance of information that was not directly related to speaking Spanish. If you really want to get to the “meat” of Spanish vocabulary and grammar, you would do much better by purchasing “Spanish Grammar for Indepedent Learners.” It is expensive but I think it’s much better than Spanish for Dummies. But even with Spanish Grammar for Indenpendent Learners, you will still need private lessons or a good Spanish course. If you like learning on your own, Pimsleur is excellent. It’s my favorite because the Spanish is very formal, you’d have to go to Spain if you wanted to learn Spanish more formal. If you don’t like the formal Spanish and just want to learn Spanish for communicating with employees, customers, co-workers, or for dating, then you may prefer Learning Spanish Like Crazy.

I wish I had purchased this book before, because it’s A LOT better than the textbook used in my college Spanish class. While it’s true that this book, alone, will not make you fluent in Spanish, there is no one book that will do that. What this book will do is act as a great tool to help your Spanish fluency along.

In keeping with other books for dummies, Spanish for Dummies is easy-to-read and understand. You get a quick grasp on Spanish basics and many conversational interactions that are also available on a CD that is included. I would also recommend purchasing the handy pocket-sized Spanish Phrases for Dummies that is great for travel. For more intensive practice in speaking Spanish, check out Transparent Language software.

I am a huge fan of the Dummies books, I think they are great! This was a wonderful, very useful book, during college Spanish 102 for my daughter. She was able to use it more than the recommended books, and this one cost a whole lot less. A great addition to the Dummies books, thanks!

The book is easy to understand and the Spanish words spelled out phonetically so that the user may pronounce them without difficulty. Like most of the Dummies books, this is laid out in a way that is easy to use. It also has a CD in the back so the words and phrases can be actually heard to improve pronunciation.

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