Getting Started with Spanish: Beginning Spanish for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age

by William E. Linney, António L. Orta

Getting Started with Beginning Spanish for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age is a book that teaches beginning Spanish gradually yet systematically. This unique method was designed specifically to help homeschooled and self-taught students overcome the obstacles they face when studying Spanish at home. In each lesson, after learning something new, you can immediately apply what you've learned by translating the fun practice sentences. Download the free MP3 files that accompany the book and listen to a native speaker (co-author Antonio Orta) pronounce all the exercises. As you practice speaking and understanding spoken Spanish, refer to the answer key in the back if you get stuck. For additional help and instruction, the authors have provided extensive audio commentary recordings that teach through every lesson and exercise in the book. Everything you need is here in one book, so what's stopping you from Getting Started with Spanish?

Genres: Spanish Literature, Language, Nonfiction

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Niloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب خیلی برای من مفید بود. من از قبل دانش مختصری درباره اسپانیایی داشتم و این کتاب، هم یه سر و سامونی به اون دانسته‌های قبلیم داد و هم یه سری چیزهای جدید بهم یاد داد. اینجوریه که میاد توی ۱۷۰ تا درس یه سری نکات دستوری رو عنوان میکنه و در کنارشون چندتا لغت هم یاد میده. آخر هر درس هم ۱۰تا جمله اسپانیایی بعنوان تمرین هست که باید ترجمه‌شون کنید.
در کل خیلی دوسش داشتم. واسه کسایی که تازه دارن شروع میکنن عالیه.

[MarkH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Spanish. It was much shorter and less in depth than I thought it would be for how many pages it has. Since took two years of Spanish a while ago, this was entirely review of material I already knew. The book did talk more about Spanish in Spain whereas my classes were entirely in central/south American Spanish so that was nice to learn a little about.

Cons
* Less than a semester's worth of Spanish material
* Very little vocab
* No exercises other than the practice sentences

Pros
* Short lessons made it fast paced
* Practice sentences provided good examples
* Clear, concise explanations of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural information

Also pet peeve of mine when they use clearly English names like Williams and Ashley in the practice sentence.

Overall I liked this textbook even though it wasn't challenging. There are still a lot of material that wasn't covered so I'm excited to move on to the next book.

[Maxim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a nice introduction to Spanish. I was able to finish it in 13 days, taking the notes and doing all the exercises along the way.

IMO, it makes sense to only consider the book as a short introduction that should be finished very quickly, so you can move along to more complex and comprehensive learning sources. It doesn't make sense to fall for "a one lesson at a day" approach or to try to memorize the book by heart.

[Bronte Bennion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really good for beginners. I myself had a good time learning things, and although I never learned more advanced things, this book gave me a good basis to start on. Other Spanish books might have been more in-depth, but this one drilled each word into my memory, which made it much easier for me to remember the word as well as how to apply it.

[Tarek Shehata · Rating 5 out of 5]

من افضل ما قرأت في تعليم الإسبانية. التدرج إحترافي جدا جدا جدا.

[Asiuol K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already knew a few Spanish words, but that doesn't mean this book was useless. It introduces the fundamental words and phrases in a slow precise manner. Not only are the rules and tips useful, but they included pronunciation guides as well as a link to a free audio site, which is not something a lot of books do. Simple exercises were included, but they only require you to translate from Spanish to English; it would have been better if we had to translate the other way around. This would make sure I actually understand the rules. There is a touch of humor throughout it and it didn't feel forced, which is always refreshing. 9.2/10.

[R M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect primer for Spanish students.

I liked that there was just one new thing each day but the lessons reviewed the vocabulary. There is also a small glossary which makes looking up words quick.
Ease into Spanish with this book. Any reader could use it. My 9th grader completed this before Spanish 1 and it was very helpful.

[Jeridel Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a total beginner or need a brush-up self-study course, this book is a great! Each chapter has a lesson point and many exercises that tests the new lesson point as well as the old lesson points.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for anyone trying to teach themselves Spanish. Very slow paced and easy to understand.