Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340867132 ISBN 13: 9780340867136

Publisher: Teach Yourself, 2003

Teach Yourself Spanish is the course for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Spanish with confidence. Although aimed at those with no previous knowledge, it is equally suitable for anyone wishing to brush up existing knowledge or refresh rusty language skills for a holiday or business trip. Key structures and vocabulary are introduced in 25 thematic units progressing from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations to making travel arrangements and renting a flat. The course covers all structures required for GCSE level and beyond. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and tips throughout to help with pronunciation and grammar. Cultural information boxes give useful advice and information for anyone planning a trip to Spain or Latin America. There are five tests at the back of the book for learners to check their progress and review any areas of difficulty.
The language taught in Teach Yourself Spanish is standard Spanish, which will allow you to communicate with speakers anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world. Differences between peninsular and Latin American Spanish are explained in the units where necessary.
The new edition retains the tried-and-tested structure of the lessons but has been updated to reflect changes such as the introduction of the euro. New features include an English-Spanish vocabulary to go alongside the existing Spanish-English vocabulary and a 'taking it further' section directing the reader to further sources of real Spanish - websites, books, etc.
The page design has been improved and section headings given in English to make the course easier to use for the self-access learner. The accompanying recording has been increased to two accompanying cassettes or CDs amounting to approximately 150 minutes of listening material. The recordings have been made mostly by native speakers from Spain, but a few sections have been recorded by Latin American people to familiarize learners with different accents. The CDs and cassettes are available separately or in a pack with the book.

About the Author:

Juan Kattan-Ibarra was born in Chile and lived in Spain for a number of years. He has degrees in foreign language teaching from the University of Chile, Michigan State University, Manchester University and the Institute of Education, London University. He taught Spanish at Ealing College and Shell International, and was an examiner in Spanish for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the University of London School Examinations Board. He is now a full-time author.