subject: Learn Spanish Resources - Books and Tools to Help You Learn Spanish [print this page] So you have begun or are beginning the quest to learn Spanish and are looking for a few resources to help you out? Great! There are plenty of options, in several media formats, available. You can find CD's, audio books, the plain ol' paperback, etc.
One of these "plain ol' paperbacks" is Seymour Resnicks 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words (Beginners' Guide). This book is somewhat styled as a small dictionary. You will find each word listed categorically (months, colors, days of the week, etc.) and alphabetically. Then, for each word you have the definition, a sentence showing context (with the English translation), and some popular phrases that use the word. It is a great little resource for anyone beginning to learn Spanish.
But what about (cue your best Dorothy voice) forms and tenses and....prepositions?? - Oh My! Never fear, 2000+ Essential Spanish Verbs is here! They'll have you conjugating with the best of them. This little book takes over 2000 verbs and shows you the conjugations, all major tenses, and the regular and irregular verb forms. It also covers some of the more difficult verb questions and comes with flashcards to help you practice.
If you are a bit busy for books, maybe you can utilize your travel time in the car. The Learn in Your Car Spanish Complete Language Course has great reviews. You just stick in the CD's, listen, and mimic the speaker. The lessons start easy and work their way up with just a little bit of information at a time so you don't get overwhelmed. With this course you can learn enough of the Spanish basics to actually converse with other Spanish-speaking people.
If you are the type that likes to know everything there is to know about a subject, you will probably find Spanish Grammar for Independent Learners to be your best friend on this little quest to learn Spanish. It covers just about everything you need to know about Spanish grammar. As an added bonus, the book is all neatly arranged and laid out for fast retrieval. As you go about this learning Spanish business, you are bound to come across sentences and such that you just know you don't have right, but this little book actually comes with a troubleshooting system that can help you figure out how to say what it is you meant to say.
Another great way to begin learning Spanish is to actually read "first readers" written in Spanish. A great book to begin with is First Spanish Reader: A Beginner's Dual Language Book. It is filled with 41 charming short stories and proverbs with the English translation given on the opposite page. The reading selections are broken down into "verb tense" sections with the easier to read and understand stories at the beginning. The stories make for a delightful and entertaining approach to learning Spanish.
If you just need enough to "get by" and do it quickly, check out The Language Heretic's Super Crash Course in Spanish Conversation and Culture: GET BY in Spanish in One to Three Weeks. They only give ONE rule of grammar and take a unique approach to get you up and speaking within three weeks.
Learn Spanish Resources - Books and Tools to Help You Learn Spanish
