Complete Spanish Beginner to Intermediate Course: Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language (Teach Yourself)

Still working through this book...this is the second system I have purchased from Juan Kattan-Ibarra, and his books are truly in a teach yourself format that you can use to teach your entire family!

Good.

I have been studying Spanish on and off for a few years. I have another workbook and used Berlitz Basic Spanish, which I got bored of. I really was never interested in the language, it was always a curiosity. However, this somehow sparked a certain interest in me.I have heard of the Teach Yourself series, and I wanted to see what it was all about. I chose a language that I was familiar with to focus my opinion on the series. I really do enjoy the series. I have been using it close to a month. It comes in a very pretty box I think protects the book and CD. I noticed how nice the book looks and how colorful it is. I saw the older versions and it is an upgrade. Color catches my attention. I felt a little excited to use it because of the way it looked. I had literally forgotten what language it was until the first lesson. I am still using it, and I feel safe and easy. Little by little new information is presented. It does tap into what one learned before and builds on that, which is the best way I learn. Even the way grammar is given. I love grammar when it comes to language and tend to overdue it. That makes me forget the majority of what I would learn. Here the book gives just enough to see how the sentences are made within the script and learn what is what. (what a noun, verb, etc. is) I enjoy the cultural tips. I usually would have to google them and that only happens when I want to, which is rare. I like the speed of the voices on the audio; slow enough to grab every word but not to the point where I feel like they're treating me like a idiot. I like the Castilian accent that is used because that is my favorite one. I don't like the amount of English the audio uses. It is only reading the directions on the page back to me and telling me to do the instructions. That is annoying. I find the exercises a bit tedious but I also see they help with remembering.In conclusion, I really enjoy the Teach Yourself series. I do recommend this to anyone who is either dying to learn Spanish or, like me, satifying a curiosity from time to time. It is worth the money. That is coming from someone who is REALLY cheap!

I love it thanks Amazon

This book says it is for beginner to intermediate, This book is not for beginners. The chapters starting at 3-4 are beyond beginner level. The book does not give enough info on vocabulary, and puts in vocabulary not covered in the sections when you translate sections and expects you to know what to fill in. It does not give practice or examples on how to write a sample sentence with all verb tenses and additions of "al", "una", la, etc. The tests expect to have you fill in the blanks in sentences or match English to Spanish or Spanish to English without going over lessons to teach you to do so. I am an advanced beginner to low intermediate, and I found it difficult starting with chapters 3-4. There is not enough practice to answer questions, fill in the blanks, or to do the matching. This book is good, but wait to buy it when you are comfortable in an intermediate level. The $30 price tag is high for a book that beginners are not able to use. I am saving it for when I reach a higher level. Spend your money on a true beginner/intermediate book

Great step by step guide.

Main reason I got this was because the cd was supposed to be downloadable. Could not do it.

Excellent self-learning resource. Worth taking your time and really absorb and build on the exercises. Deceptively good book