subject: Learn Spanish Books - Which Ones Do You Need? [print this page] Even with today's state of the art software programs and comprehensive tutorials, there are still some learn Spanish books that are indispensable to the serious Spanish student. For the most part, these will be references for you as you continue down the path of learning Spanish.
To start with, every person who is learning Spanish needs a good Spanish-English dictionary, such as Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English Dictionary. Yes, you can always use online translators or computer devices, but sometimes you find yourself in a situation without cell phone reception and no other means of communication. In those cases, a plain old book is best. Usually these are fairly compact, so it will not be that cumbersome to keep with you.
Another one of the important learn Spanish books is a verb conjugation book. This really is a necessity. If each verb must be conjugated and then put in the proper tense, that leaves thousands of verb possibilities that simply cannot all be memorized.
In fact, many native Spanish speakers still refer to verb conjugation books when they need to use a certain verb in a way which they are not familiar with. Verb conjugation is one of the most confusing and challenging parts of learning Spanish, and a verb conjugation book is something you will want to have.
There are many verb conjugation books to choose from. We highly recommend Barron's Spanish Verbs as a good all-around verb conjugation book.
If you are planning on taking a business trip or vacation in Mexico, Spain, or any part of Latin America, it is a good idea to purchase a dictionary that has up-to-date phrases and slang. That way you will not stick out like a sore thumb and you will better understand what people are saying to you.
Many people who travel to Mexico often wish that they had brought an alternative dictionary with them. Check out Dictionary of Spanish Slang by Michael Mahler.
If that does not suit you, you can easily search online for other slang and alternative Spanish resources.
Of course, if you are just beginning to learn Spanish and are looking for a good program to teach you, you will need more than just learn Spanish books. Books cannot teach you perfect pronunciation, but a program with CD's or audio files can. Consider looking for a good learn Spanish software. Most software packages today have many useful tools and are easy to take with you where you need to go.
Hopefully you have a better idea now of which learn Spanish books are must-haves for your learning journey. No matter how modern our learning technology, a good learn Spanish book never goes out of style.
