Complete Spanish Step-by-Step

I studied Spanish for five years in middle and high school, but then I lived in Europe for ten years and concentrated on speaking German, French, and Italian, mostly. I sadly let my Spanish slide despite numerous vacations to Spain. Lately, I've been wanting to brush up on the Spanish I once spoke because, at one time, I could read anything written in Spanish (I remember reading EL CID with no problems), and I was almost a fluent speaker of the language. This book is wonderful! Marvelous! I am so lucky to have found it! I think it's going to be the only Spanish book I'll need to become fluent once again. The lessons are so orderly and take the learner from one lesson to another with no problems whatsoever. Spanish doesn't have a complicated grammar, but this book makes even the rather easy Spanish grammar even easier. And learning new vocabulary words is so easy with this book. I love the fact that reading lessons are included almost from the very first page. And self-check lessons. In short, I can't say enough good things about this book. Every student of Spanish, every traveler to a Spanish-speaking country, everyone simply interested in Spain or Latin America should own this book. I have had to learn several languages in my life so far, and this book is head and shoulders above any I have ever encountered, in any language. It is far, far superior to any recorded language learning program. If you're learning Spanish, on any level, beginner, intermediate, or advanced, you need this book! I plan on wearing mine out!

I have greatly enjoyed using this textbook as my main resource for independently learning Spanish (self-study). I only have about 20 minutes a day to spare, but with this book I've been able to make steady progress in small increments. And since the book covers plenty of vocab, idioms, and advanced grammar topics, I expect it will be the only textbook I'll ever need. What I appreciate most, besides its comprehensiveness, is that 'Complete Spanish Step-by-Step' is well-organized and straight to the point. A lot of language textbooks (In what I can only assume is an attempt to capture the attention of unruly classrooms) break up each chapter with so many boxes, disconnected stories and tidbits, and cryptic chapter titles that it is impossible to tell at a glance what any given page (much less a whole chapter) is even about. It's often hard to tell what is there for you to learn, and what is just there to entertain you. Not so here: the focus of 'Complete Spanish Step-by-Step' is on (surprisingly enough) learning Spanish step-by-step, and as such it doesn't patronize you by trying to dazzle you with extras. The result is that this book is a pleasure to work through methodically (as one must in order to learn a language). In my personal study procedure, I copy all the vocab and most of the exercises into spaced repetition software (namely Anki) as I read each lesson. Reviewing these cards daily makes it painless to master each lesson completely before moving on, at whatever pace I have time for. Most (but not all) of the exercises are single-word fill-in-the-blanks, which means there is usually exactly one right answer, found in the answer key in the back. This makes it possible to (re)use the exercises in the text as a comprehensive set of conjugation drills.

Let me start off by saying this book is almost perfect, and a huge improvement on trying to learn from apps like Duolingo. My wife's family is Colombian, and I've been trying to learn Spanish for years. I started with Duolingo, but the way it presented the learning just never caught on and I found myself distracted with the access to the internet. This book is a great way to distance myself from distractions, has notes about the differences of grammar between the cultures, and has a wide range of lessons with perfect pacing. The only minor issue I have is that there are a few words it presents in the reading comprehension lessons that they forget to mention the definition of prior. However, these are few and far between, and so I don't believe it merits a point loss - just a mention. If you are learning alone, you may have to go to google or something to fill in the VERY few blanks, but if you're learning with a friend / family / loved one, they'll be a great help to judge your progress. If you're like me and learning with a loved one, order a red pen along with this book and you'll be able to hold a basic conversation relatively quickly! I imagine I'll be able to hold my own with her family within half a year despite my age!

Well organized basic text for my teen child to study Spanish. As a fluent speaker, I find this book presents things well for me to teach her. Vocabulary and grammar are laid out in logical order. We haven’t tried the app yet, but one is provided to practice speaking and listening. A no frills text. No graphics, photos or cultural context. Does a nice job explaining grammar rules.

I've gone through the complete Rosetta Stone software and found that this book is quite a bit better for my particular style of learning...I think the book explains things very well so that a beginner can get started confidently. The explanations are in English, which greatly helped me. Spanish is broken down into steps that are manageable, and since you can take as long as you want to learn each new concept, there's no pressure. The exercises can be a little confusing sometimes, since there are different ways to say the same thing sometimes, but overall are good. I have retained more knowledge from this book than any other learning method, and I find it's easy to read and learn, even if I only have a few minutes at a time. Also, I can write notes to jog my memory and help me learn right in the margins and pages of the book. I have found it very helpful!

I took 4 years of Spanish in high school and never felt like I truly understood the basics of the languages 7 years later I decided to give Spanish a shot again and this book is making everything click into place! It is so easy to understand with the way the information is presented and explained to you. I got through the first few chapters with ease because of my background but I think a total beginner would have great success with this as well. I’ve tried the Spanish 101 by Gordon and Stillman and this is much more efficiently done. I am excited to continue through this book and buy the advanced one next!

I'm taking (and enjoying) Spanish on Duolingo. I love this app, but it leaves a lot of holes regarding grammar teaching. So I researched and found this book to fill the gaps. It does just what I need, and right from the first few pages, I'm learning just what I need to know to compliment my online learning. I might suggest you also get a cheap dictionary to help with your studies, and take the time to do all of the workbook exercises, even if they seem easy at first. You may as well go all-in! This book is a combo of the Easy Spanish and Advanced Spanish versions, so more bang for your buck. Nice, large, quality work-book.

This book is great if you want Spanish grammar spelled out in black and white. The lessons are short and have exercises that test your knowledge of each chapter. There is a cheat sheet in the back of the book if you want to correct your answers. Definitely worth it. A few ideas to help you supplement your book study... use vocabulary flashcards, listen to Spanish podcasts, watch Spanish TV, and reading Spanish newspapers.

Fantastic for IB Spanish Ab Inito

A fabulous book with lots of exercises. Really clear explanations.

I have been using this text for several months. The organization of the textbook is logical; explanations are succinct and clear; the online (free) support materials are very useful. Instead of writing the answers in the textbook, I like to record my answers using my iphone and then compare my answer with audio recordings from the publisher's website. I like this series of McGraw Hill books and find that there is consistency among their many resource books for learning about Spanish grammar, vocabulary & conversation skills.

Liked the book. Plenty of practical exercises. Am copying them from kindle to word and practising. My son also found the book useful for his school. Has to warn that it is Mexican Spanish. However grammar explained well and a lot of it. Plenty of examples and vocabulary

I recently started using Complete Spanish Step-by-Step as part of my journey to learn Spanish, and it has been an incredibly valuable resource. This book is well-organized and covers everything you need to build a solid foundation in the language, making it perfect for beginners and those looking to improve their skills. One of the things I love most about this book is how it breaks down complex grammar concepts into manageable, easy-to-understand steps. The progression from basic to more advanced topics is logical and well-paced, ensuring that I’m building my knowledge gradually without feeling overwhelmed. Each chapter builds on the previous one, reinforcing what I’ve learned while introducing new concepts in a clear and concise manner. The exercises throughout the book are practical and varied, offering plenty of opportunities to practice what I’ve learned. I appreciate that the exercises are designed to reinforce both grammar and vocabulary, giving me a well-rounded understanding of the language. The answer key is also very helpful, allowing me to check my work and learn from any mistakes. Another great feature is the inclusion of cultural notes and real-life examples. These additions provide context and help me understand how the language is used in everyday situations. It makes learning Spanish feel more relevant and engaging, rather than just memorizing rules and vocabulary. The book also includes a lot of useful tips and tricks for mastering tricky aspects of the language, which has been a huge help in boosting my confidence. I’ve found that my ability to understand and construct sentences has improved significantly since I started using this guide. Overall, Complete Spanish Step-by-Step is an excellent resource for anyone serious about mastering Spanish. It’s comprehensive, easy to follow, and provides a strong foundation in the language. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your skills, this book is a must-have for your language-learning journey. I highly recommend it!