Useful Spanish text books

[Marina]

Is there any Spanish text book or grammar book that you find particularly useful?

In a previous thread (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=791) Greytop and Cynthia recommended the following book: Breaking Out Of Beginners Spanish (http://books.google.com/books?id=UPtaNwoeyLoC&dq=breaking+out+of+basic+spanish&pg=PA63&ots=WfZlSbtzIM&sig=lZc_H695qOn-XIY-lomsRPIgOQE&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fsourceid%3Dnavclient-ff%26ie%3DUTF-8%26rlz%3D1B2GGGL_enES177%26q%3Dbreaking%2Bout%2Bo f%2Bbasic%2Bspanish&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1) By Joseph J Keenan.

Any other suggestions?

[Jimmy]

I have these few, which I find great:

For Beginners to Intermediate :-

School Spanish Course
http://www.amazon.com/School-Spanish-Course-John-Pride/dp/0003222144/sr=8-1/qid=1159196347/ref=sr_1_1/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books (http://www.amazon.com/School-Spanish-Course-John-Pride/dp/0003222144/sr=8-1/qid=1159196347/ref=sr_1_1/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books)

Dos Mundos
http://www.amazon.com/Dos-mundos-Student-Tracy-Terrell/dp/0072492937/sr=1-2/qid=1159196473/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books (http://www.amazon.com/Dos-mundos-Student-Tracy-Terrell/dp/0072492937/sr=1-2/qid=1159196473/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books)

Reference :-

501 Spanish Verbs
http://www.amazon.com/501-Spanish-Verbs-Conjugated-Alphabetically/dp/0764124285/sr=8-1/qid=1159196651/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books (http://www.amazon.com/501-Spanish-Verbs-Conjugated-Alphabetically/dp/0764124285/sr=8-1/qid=1159196651/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-0964711-0446524?ie=UTF8&s=books)

Current Favourite :-

Diccionario de Dichos y Frases Hechas
http://intransbooks.com/book_story/Spanish_Monolingual/846700116x (http://intransbooks.com/book_story/Spanish_Monolingual/846700116x)

[Flexichick]

I was going to ask this as well.

Owning almost 50 books on learning Spanish (maybe I should read more of them instead of just buying them;D ), I will go look at my list and post some titles.

I do agree about Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish. I read that one several times and often go back to it again.

[Flexichick]

I was going to ask this as well.

Owning almost 50 books on learning Spanish (maybe I should read more of them instead of just buying them;D ), I will go look at my list and post some titles.

I do agree about Breaking out of Beginner's Spanish. I read that one several times and often go back to it again.

[Flexichick]

Ok, here are some more:

1) The Ultimate Spanish Verb Review and Practice (workbook) and The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice

[/URL]
http://tinyurl.com/ljlm4 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071416730/sr=8-3/qid=1159206439/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-9340945-4714326?ie=UTF8&s=books)

2 Stories From....(Spain, Latin America, Mexico and Puerto Rico). Four different side-by-side English/Spanish books. The stories are short and intermediate and they're easy to carry around


[URL]http://tinyurl.com/msjqo


3) Street Spanish - 1, 2 and 3

Three books - one on slang, one on idioms and one on "naughty Spanish)

http://tinyurl.com/oojum

4) The Firefly Spanish/English Visual Dictionary.

This is large (not easy to read in bed), but with GREAT visuals describing things that are just hard to describe - kitchen utensils, parts of the universe, parts of your body, your bicycle....

http://tinyurl.com/oanyt

[Cynthia]

A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071440496/ref=pd_ys_iyr5/103-3903344-3559843?ie=UTF8) by John Butt and Carmen Benjamin is excellent. The format is kind of like the Chicago Manual of Style--meaning that it's useful for looking rules up, but it's not exactly something you would sit down and read. It's probably not best for beginners, as you will learn most of the grammar you need along the way and this book may just complicate things if you're just starting out. However, it's excellent for clearing up any doubts you have while writing. I suggest it highly, as it's proven useful for me on many occasions.

Also, as far as dictionaries go, my favorite is the HarperCollins Unabridged Spanish Dictionary (http://www.amazon.com/HarperCollins-Unabridged-Dictionary-Harpercollins-Dictionaries/dp/0060537361/sr=8-3/qid=1159214240/ref=sr_1_3/103-3903344-3559843?ie=UTF8&s=books) (this link is for the Amazon.com page for the 7th Edition, but an 8th Edition is also available in bookstores). This dictionary is wonderfully comprehensive, with an extensive list of modismos/idioms, and a user-friendly format.

Beyond a Spanish-English dictionary, I think that every student should have a plain old Spanish dictionary, with Spanish definitions of words. This will help you really learn new words, rather than just remembering the approximate translation. Of these, I haven't found one I would say is "the best," but la Real Academia Española publishes a few different ones. Their website (http://www.rae.es/) has an online dictionary that is very helpful.

For self-learners, the "Teach Yourself..." series has good and inexpensive language books and CD's. I used this series to teach myself a little French for a trip to Montreal a couple of years ago, and I enjoyed it--though if I were serious about learning French, I would have opted to take a class with a trained teacher.

[Flexichick]

I have the Harper/Collins big dictionary too, and it by far more comprehensive than the other ones I have

[guapo]

Owning almost 50 books on learning Spanish (maybe I should read more of them instead of just buying them;D )

Good to hear that others also have groaning bookshelves. What is it about learning another language that make it impossible to resist buying one more book on the subject :D

[Flexichick]

Good to hear that others also have groaning bookshelves. What is it about learning another language that make it impossible to resist buying one more book on the subject :D


I don't know, but if you figure it out, let me know. Unfortunately, I've now just added anything I don't own above to my list!

Some of the books I've bought have been El Crappo, though ;D . If I get motivated I might list the least useful stuff I've ever bought.

Guapo - which ones do you like?

[guapo]

Some of the books I've bought have been El Crappo, though ;D . If I get motivated I might list the least useful stuff I've ever bought.
now that is an interesting idea ;D

Guapo - which ones do you like? a couple that I have found myself going back to regularly are:
Barron's 1001 pitfalls in Spanish
Spanish among Amigos Phrasebook (which I think was mentioned earlier in the thread)I like them both as they are small books that I can dip into without getting bogged down.

[que]

Good to hear that others also have groaning bookshelves. What is it about learning another language that make it impossible to resist buying one more book on the subject :D

LOL. Ive given up buying more spanish exercise books. I think its just time i went through the ones i had, along with the ample online resources. I think my main thing now is to watch TV, along with listening to audio.

I think there is the 'maybe this will be the book' attitude. When we all know its just down to hard work. Often i find though that some books put a point across so clearly, that i wonder how the other book i bought didnt manage to explain it in such a manner. then i buy another book, and the loop continues.

Time to just go through the one we already have i feel! :rolleyes:

[cubix]

One thing, atleast in the United States Text Book would be one used in a class like in a univeristy. Might be called a reference book in the US.

I've had about 6 different workbooks(for each level of spanish) and none of them were helpful

My favorite reference book is 501 verbs and my Vox dictionary. I also had a awesome Spanish Verb Workbook that I bought last year, to help me improve on my use of different tenses.

I have the street spanish, if I am thinking of the same one(it's like a phrase book right) I didn't find it that helpful, memorizing phrases or slang never helped me.

[Flexichick]

Ok, I just bought Spanish Among Amigos off of Amazon.

Somebody stop me before I buy again! I am currently unemployed so this book buying 'nonsense' must stop. No. More. Books! (for now)

p.s. I'll post some feedback after it arrives :)

[Cynthia]

As far as pure, in-the-classroom textbooks go, the Spanish department in my undergraduate college used Puntos de Partida, 7th Ed. (http://www.amazon.com/Puntos-partida-Invitation-Student-Learning/dp/0072956445/sr=8-1/qid=1159488297/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3903344-3559843?ie=UTF8&s=books), which I thought was organized very well. Theoretically, working your way through the book is supposed to get you to an intermediate level (though by the end of the book, there was a lot of variation in levels among the students by the time I took Spanish III--that could be unrelated to the textbook, though).

[Flexichick]

As far as pure, in-the-classroom textbooks go, the Spanish department in my undergraduate college used Puntos de Partida, 7th Ed. (http://www.amazon.com/Puntos-partida-Invitation-Student-Learning/dp/0072956445/sr=8-1/qid=1159488297/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-3903344-3559843?ie=UTF8&s=books), which I thought was organized very well. Theoretically, working your way through the book is supposed to get you to an intermediate level (though by the end of the book, there was a lot of variation in levels among the students by the time I took Spanish III--that could be unrelated to the textbook, though).


I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book.

I will not buy the book. I will not buy the book. I will NOT buy the book!;D ;D ;D

[timg]

I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book.

I will not buy the book. I will not buy the book. I will NOT buy the book!;D ;D ;D

"Hi, my name's <insert your name here> and I'm a book addict."

Hi, <your name>! ;D

[Netsirksmada]

We use Conexiones (http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/conexiones2/) in my Spanish V class. 501 Verb book is more than helpful, I love my Cambridge Klett dictionary (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780521753005&itm=1)....though I need to get a new one because it's completely falling apart of it traveling all over the place with me!

[Willyum]

I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book. I will not look at the pretty $93 book.

I will not buy the book. I will not buy the book. I will NOT buy the book!;D ;D ;D



At least try e-bay first, or a good second hand bookstore. :)

[Flexichick]

At least try e-bay first, or a good second hand bookstore. :)


I have a "thing" about books. I like them new, and I like to keep them (usually) when done with them. Hence my ever-expanding and ever-overflowing multiple shelves.

The good news is that my new book is on its way ;D

[Jimmy]

Ok, I just bought Spanish Among Amigos off of Amazon.

Somebody stop me before I buy again! I am currently unemployed so this book buying 'nonsense' must stop. No. More. Books! (for now)

p.s. I'll post some feedback after it arrives :)


Now look what you've done - I just put in an Amazon order, went through my list and took out all spanish text books because I know I'll not dedicate the time to read through them properly. Then, I saw your link, just out of inquisitiveness had a look, and ended up adding to cart and proceeding to the check-out !!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! and that's on top of the original order I placed only yesterday :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Heather]

I'm so glad it's not just me. However my addiction isn't just limited to books. A few weeks ago i bought two boxed sets of almodovar films ( and more) and mar adentro, it got so bad that i bought two copies of 'todo sobre mi madre' without noticing til they arrived - for some reason i seem to think that the more i spend the better my spanish will be!

[Flexichick]

Now look what you've done - I just put in an Amazon order, went through my list and took out all spanish text books because I know I'll not dedicate the time to read through them properly. Then, I saw your link, just out of inquisitiveness had a look, and ended up adding to cart and proceeding to the check-out !!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! and that's on top of the orinigal order I placed only yesterday :eek: :eek: :eek:


Hey now, I didn't start this thread! We're a bunch of addicts....and lemmings ;D

[Flexichick]

Mi libro esta aqui! Ahora hablare perfecamente ;D

[greytop]

I've been using IM translator free look-up program for a few weeks with Firefox. It is also available for IE.
Download site (http://imtranslator.net/plugin-tr.asp)

To use : highlight word, phrase or longer passage, right click and select IMtranslator from menu
Couldn't be easier and so far has found most I've thrown at it. It copes with different tenses of verbs and plurals.

Pity I'd just bought Collins complete 8th edition really! (It's great - really)
For Flexichick & Heather there's a web site http://www.smartlinkcorp.com/ where you can spend hundreds of dollars >:D

[cchughes]

I use "The Big Red Book Of 555 Fully Conjugated Verbs"
http://tinyurl.com/yz2qhk

And "English Grammar For Students of Spanish" http://tinyurl.com/yzlybx

[Mike_2]

What other things do you all use to learn spanish? When I started studying spanish I bought two school text books which are sitting on the shelf unused. Then, I bought a software called Spanish Now (Transparent Language) which seems helpful, but I still have not used it much. I also bought a software that does what greytop's recommended IM translator does (dang, which I'd seen that before!) More recently, I rented Pimsleur's spanish complete course audio lessons, which I like quite a bit. My wife says I should stop buying stuff and just use what I have. She just dosen't understand... :)

Mike

[greytop]

.... My wife says I should stop buying stuff and just use what I have. She just dosen't understand... :)

Mike Number her pairs of shoes!;D

[rod]

I recommend Uso de la gramática española (http://www.casadellibro.com/fichas/fichabiblio/0,1094,2900000546199,00.html?codigo=2900000546199&titulo=USO+DE+LA+GRAMATICA+ESPA%C3%91OLA%3A+ELEMEN TAL) by Francisca Castro (3 volumes, elemental, intermedio and avanzado, and for each level a separate clave booklet which are necessary if you want the answers to the exercises). I found these very useful workbooks combining exercises with sections on important points of grammar (which I still use for reference). These books are very commonly used in class in Spanish language schools, but they can be used perfectly successfully for independent study (just look out for the very occasional mistake in the claves). Easily available in Spain from language schools and city bookstores like Casa del Libro.

I don’t know what others think, but I think it’s a good idea to avoid English language Spanish grammar books. After all, if you’re being taught grammar in a Spanish language school it will be in Spanish anyway, so you might as well get used to the Spanish vocabulary of the principles of Spanish grammar from the start. There’s also the issue that many Spanish language books in English are written by US authors and often the vocabulary is Latin American Spanish: for example, one workbook I was trying to use referred to ‘el carro’ rather than ‘el coche’, fine in that instance because its an obvious one, but could be misleading if I came across other words which I didn’t recognise as Latin American Spanish and assumed could be castellano.

So I'd welcome anybody else’s recommendation of workbooks and grammars in Spanish.

[omeyas]

So I'd welcome anybody else’s recommendation of workbooks and grammars in Spanish.

Butt & Benjamin (http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Title/0340810335/A_New_Reference_Grammar_of_Modern_Spanish_4th_edit ion.htm)

[tad]

I hope it's not a case of stating the bleeding obvious but don't forget your local library.
I guess I'm lucky in North London, I have easy access to several libraries and my local library in Palmers Green is excellent. Apart fom a good shelf of the usual books e.g there are I think 3 different verb books (the big red one, 555, 501 or whatever-you can try them all out and then buy the one you like best for reference) there is a massive stash of books in an underground store-many of these are available with audio material as well as the stand alone audio courses.
As an example I checked out Michel thomas's 8 cd course,his 4 cd advanced course as well as the language builder. To buy these would have been £80 ish(?) together. I got them for £2 each and you get them for an extended loan period of 9 weeks. Come to think of it I guess I should delete them from my ipod now.

The thing is, to access these books you need to fill out a special request form- this may be the non obvious part as you may visit a library and guage it's resources simply by what is actually on the shelf. Find the library website of your local authority and you may be amazed at what is available.

This is the online catalogue of enfield libraries:

http://libraries.enfield.gov.uk/cgi-bin/viewpoint_server.sh

enter 468.3 in the class number just to see material with audio.

[eldeano]

Butt & Benjamin (http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Title/0340810335/A_New_Reference_Grammar_of_Modern_Spanish_4th_edit ion.htm)

I got Butt & Benjamin years ago. It's OK as a reference but I'd recommend reading books as the best way (it's the way I learnt English) and making the odd note of words/phrases/expressions that you spot to look up later.

By the way, I also got one of the Street Spanish series and, being a US publication, seemed to only cover Latin American expressions.

Fancy Sevilla losing at home to Mallorca!

[pjasso]

I really like "Situaciones" Spanish for Mastery 3. It has a lot of good resources for learning grammar, beyond the typical verbs and vocabulary found in more typical books. It also has a lot of different text/short literature to read. We use it in my weekly Spanish class, which is an Intermediate/Advanced level class, but I also took it to Mexico when I studied there as a good resource. You can also purchase the workbook, which I've done, but not yet used.