Dr Rix Spanish Trix: An informative and humorous guide to some of the gramatical concepts which often bedevil the Spanish language beginner
Comp-jugador performs on-line conjugations of about 10,000 Spanish verbs.
Software
There are many commercial and shareware software programs
to help you learn and improve your spanish fluency. Some are good, and
some are not. While Mexico Connect does not endorse any particular programs,
our viewers have found the following to be particularly useful.
From Ultimate Software, the Spanish
Language version of The Ultimate
Language Tutor for Windows
This is a good Windows based drill program. It comes
with a basic data file of nouns, verbs, phrases and verb conjugations.
The program is designed to let you build your own data bases -an excellent
feature for teachers. You can test yourself on any of the data bases provided
or self-built, and establish records for individuals. The cost is reasonable.
From Syracuse Language Systems,
Inc., the CD edition of TriplePlayPlus
Spanish
This interactive CD is an excellent way of building
your vocabulary and language symbol base in spanish. Using visuals of objects
and concepts, and using the games and challenges provided, the user will
quickly find they have acquired an enriched ability to function in spanish.
In addition, the program (depending upon your hardware) provides pronunciation
practice through a unique speech recognition application. A good acquisition
for spanish learners of all ages.
Self-Study Books
1001 Pitfalls in Spanish 1997 by Marion P. Holt & Julianne Dueber, Barrons Educational Series.
Available through Amazon Books
Among the most difficult things to learn about any foreign language are the exceptions to its rules of grammer and vocabulary. This book is designed to help students of Spanish get past such trouble spots as irregular verbs, homonyms and homophones, confusions caused by words and phrases that resemble one another, and specialized vocabularies and technical terms.
Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish,1994
by Joseph J. Keenan, University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, Austin,
TX 78713-7819. Available through Amazon Books
In a style that is both instructive and a delight to read, the author shares hundreds of hard-earned tips on correcting grammatical errors, improving fluency and understanding the subtleties of spoken Spanish.
Cassell's Colloquial Spanish, revised 1980 by A. Bryson Gerrard, Collier Books, 866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Available through: Amazon Books
Subtitled "A Handbook Of Idiomatic Usage", this is one of those rare gems: a language instruction book enjoyable to read. The author explains the pitfalls and difficulties inherent in colloquial, colourful, or idiomatic usage.... a valuable source of reference but also an entertaining and absorbing portrait of the current state of the language.
Madrigal's Magic Key to SPANISH, by Margarita Madrigal,
Published by Doubleday, Available through: Amazon Books
A Quality self-study book that helps you to learn the language in the way
most approximate to how you will use it in day to day life. It uses a "building
block approach that is very easy and comfortable to work with.
Spanish the Easy Way, 2nd. Edition from Barron's
Educational Series. Available through: Amazon Books
A good introductory self-study book with useful exercises. It provides
a structured approach, with a gentle emphasis on grammatical development.
Spanish for Business and Finance, by Ana C. Jarvis
and Luis Lebredo. Published by D.C. Heath and Company,. Available through: Amazon Books
Best used as a supplement to other Spanish texts or courses. It will provide
a good grounding in the language of business and finance in spanish. If
you have to learn some business spanish quickly, this will be a good place
to start.
Spanish for Gringos, by William C. Harvey,M.S.,
Published by Baron's Educational Series.
Available through: Amazon Books With 2 Cassette Tapes:
Simple effective and topical self-study book - especially if purchased
with the 2 audio cassettes. Very informal, though quite complete, and, most importantly: it's not cluttered up with
Iberian Spanish words, expressions, pronunciation, culture or irrelevant
things like "vosotros", etc. which one rarely hears in Mexico.
He has a clever way of teaching you just the grammar you need without you
even realizing that you're learning grammar. The vocabulary is extensive
and strictly Mexican with a little Chicano Spanglish thrown in for fun,
e.g. "parquear" for estacionar and "puchar" for empujar.
Spanish for Gringos, Level 2 by William C. Harvey,M.S., 1997
Published by Baron's Educational Series.
Available through: Amazon Books
Anyone interested in sending a review to Contributions? It will be appreciated by all.
