What is Pasos?
A best-selling Spanish course for adult learners
Pasos 1 is the first part of the best-selling two-stage Spanish course for adult learners who are either starting from scratch or who have a basic knowledge of the language. Whether learning for work or pleasure, Pasos gives a thorough grounding in the language, enabling learners to speak, read, write and understand a language spoken by over 400 million people.
What will I learn?
Key language structures and communication
Pasos 1 introduces the key structures of the language over 14 thematic lessons with the emphasis placed firmly on communication. Authentic reading and listening materials are used extensively for a wide range of lively activities based on everyday situations in Spain and Latin America.
Vocabulary and grammar
From the outset, a realistic range of registers and vocabulary encourage development of the essential skill of comprehension. Clear examples and explanations make the grammar easy to absorb, and emphasis is placed on the acquisition of a wide range of essential vocabulary from an early stage.
Culture and skills for daily life
This edition takes account of developments in modern life, such as new technology and practical communication. Units begin with a Prepárate page of activities and include plenty of grammar tasks. The Rincón Cultural feature presents short texts of cultural interest and each unit ends with an Autoevaluación self-assessment checklist enabling students to review what they have learned. Audio track references on a page-by-page basis ensure that listening activities are easily identified and new online resources are a useful addition to this highly successful course.
GCSE level material
Pasos 1 covers the skills and structures required at GCSE level and equivalent.
How will I learn?
Balance and variety
Balance and variety are prominent features of the Pasos course: freer activities accompany graded, accuracy-based tasks, and there is a balance between presentation and practice of new language items and between the study and use of grammar and vocabulary, the cornerstones of language-learning. There are regular opportunities for revision and consolidation, and vocabulary and grammar support are given both at the end of each lesson and in full at the end of the book.
Group or independent study
Pasos 1 is ideal for group study and is also useful for independent study and revision.
What is new in the third edition?
Improvements and additions
The new edition has improvements and additions based on ideas and feedback from tutors across the country. There is also now simple navigation between the book and CDs, with clearly marked references in the Coursebook.
Interactive quizzes and exercises
Brush up and reinforce your learning at home, with fun, interactive online quizzes and exercises. Or use them in class with the group.
New Speaking and Grammar guides
With speaking becoming ever more important in today's accreditations, the Pasos 1 range now offers a new 2-CD Speaking and Listening pack. There is also a new dedicated Practical Grammar reference and practice book. It contains clear, accessible grammar explanations with examples and extension in both Spanish and English.
Where does the Activity Book fit within the Pasos 1 Range?
Pasos 1 Coursebook: The primary text for the Pasos 1 coursePasos 1 Audio and Support book pack: Supplementary to the Coursebook. The Audio and Support book pack provides the listening element of the course, along with transcripts and answers. It contains:
- 3 audio CDs (3 hours of recordings)
- 2 Support Books containing a key to the exercises and recording transcripts.
Pasos 1 Course Pack: Pasos 1 Coursebook + Pasos 1 Audio and Support Book Pack. The Course Pack contains:
- 1 copy of the third edition of the Coursebook
- 3 audio CDs (3 hours of recordings)
- 2 Support Books containing a key to the exercises and recording transcripts.
Pasos 1 Activity Book: Supplementary to the Coursebook or Course Pack. The activity book is a workbook providing stimulating practice material which complements the tasks presented in the Pasos 1 Coursebook. Activities include word searches, crosswords, cultural quizzes, extra reading and comprehension tasks, and gap-fill conjugation exercises.
(NEW) Pasos 1 Speaking and Listening: Supplementary to the Coursebook or Course Pack. Designed to help learners concentrate on and really improve their speaking and listening skills. This CD and booklet pack includes:
- 2 audio CDs containing a wide variety of activities
- 2 booklets packed with short exercises and printed transcripts
(NEW) Pasos Spanish Practical Grammar Book: Supplementary to the Coursebook or Course Pack. A new reference and grammar practice book containing clear, accessible grammar explanations with examples and extension in both Spanish and English. Covers Levels A1 and A2 of the Common European Framework and is suitable for basic users.
Rosa María Martín is Director of the Language Learning Unit at Queen Mary and Westfield College (University of London) and an experienced language teacher and adviser.
Martyn Ellis is Principal of Target Language Services and is a renowned specialist in language teaching and learning. Both are best-selling authors of several language-teaching series, including the 4-part schools Spanish course Aventura.
