Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish by Joseph J. Keenan
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Book Reviews of Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish
Book Review: They should call it "Breaking into Beginning Fluency"
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is worth its weight in gold. When I saw it on Amazon[.com], I thought, "For this price, what the heck?" and when I got it, I could not put it down (still haven't)I have hundreds of old and new Spanish textbooks (French, Hebrew, English and many others, for that matter) but I have never seen anything like this book. It tells you the real deal. Sure, there's no substitute for immersion, but this is the next best thing and the perfect companion to associating with native speakers, listening to music and watching Spanish TV. It doesn't drill you to death on verbs -- it guides you through a living lanuguage, the one we are all trying so hard to learn.
I read it like a person of religion would read the Bible -- when I get to the end, I start all over again. It reads more like a how-to book than a textbook; it keeps me turning the pages. It just gets better each time. You need the basics first, but this is the one and only book to get you off that beginner to intermediate plateau and really explain the language. It has a Mexican slant (most books seem to come from a certain region) and it is important to be aware of that, but all the information has turned out correct according to my friends from varying countries, and the author tells you when something is Mexico-specific -- he won't steer you wrong. If you only have a few bucks to spend on your Spanish library, spend it here.
Book Review: EVERY re-read is great!
Summary: 5 Stars
After entering a rather discouraging stage in my attempt to learn Spanish, I picked up my copy of BREAKING OUT OF BEGINNER'S SPANISH, once again. It is still, as it was when I first read it years ago, amazing! The author has a knack for talking to us, almost individually, and I get the sense that he actually understands my personal struggles with learning Spanish. As such, the book has taken me out of my phase, and I am reinvigorated. I have bought lots of books on learning Spanish, but this is most certainly my most valued. I won't even lend it to anyone, for fear that it will be lost.
One favorite part, on this re-read, is from the introduction, pages 5-6: Joseph Keenan writes:
"It took me 10 years to reach a level that I am still reluctant to call 'fluency'--though friends, family...are easily wowed by my prowess. Even kind-hearted native-speakers will tell me that I have 'no accent'.... But deep down I know better. I still make little mistakes, even frequently when tired or in a hurry....I'm fluent enough for most purposes, but I know there's a next level, and I'm striving to get there."
I, too, live in Mexico, and am surprised that so many of my fellow ex-pats do not understand this "next level" idea.
Thanks so much, Mr. Keenan.
Alinde OMalley
Book Review: A Great Book to Take You Beyond Beginner Status!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a must-have for motivated students of Spanish. True, the lack of an index is a serious flaw, but does not diminish the fact that what is between its covers is a gold mine.
As a professor of Spanish with 30 years of experience, I can say with confidence that the toughest period for students is that time when they are trying to get beyond the beginner level. It is at the intermediate level where all the morphological errors (patterned or fossilized errors) need to be rooted out. The uses of tenses and other grammatical details have to be consolidated at that time. Each student has his or her own particular area of difficulty. Keenan is very correct to warn his readers that "...there's no magic formula or secret recipe to speed you on your way to fluency," so expect to work at it. His section on the subjunctive is short, but useful, although it does perpetuate a few misunderstandings that result from traditional approaches.
Typically, the problem areas for English-speaking students of Spanish who are seeking to move from intermediate to advanced speakers fall into categories that require separate and more in-depth treatment than any general grammar overview can offer, simply because they cover so much.
Enjoy learning Spanish!
Eric W. Vogt, Ph.D.
Book Review: Buy this book! Compre este libro!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a 52 year old spanish student. I began my spanish education in the summer of 2002 with a two week stint at a language school in Oaxaca,Oaxaca,MX. I have followed that up with the Pimsleur Speak and Read CD set and a private tutor once a week. I have purchased Dorothy Devney Richmond's excellent books on spanish verbs and suffixes. BUT the book that is providing me with the most fun and an indepth insight into the spanish mind as expressed in the spanish language is Joseph J.Keenan's " Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish". My biggest coup to date was when I used an spanish expression that I had learned from the book and immediately was "corrected" by a more "knowledgeable and fluent" student of spanish. Happily, when the more "accomplished" student of spanish had finished telling me how wrong I was... a native spanish speaker quietly and graciously stated that my expression was absolutely correct. As I read through this book and practice my ever growing spanish language skills, I am deeply grateful to Mr.Keenan for having paved the way and assisting us all in avoiding some of the potholes and gaining important new insights into the age old question.."But why is it like that?" Muchas Gracias a Senor Keenan.Book Review: Wow! A great tool.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read a lot of the reviews and agree that this is one of the best tools to add to your learning process. I have completed a full year of Spanish on the college level and know a lot of verbs and vocabulary. I would not recommend this book for the novice since so much of the text has spanish sentence examples which I understood but a novice would get lost and discouraged. The college course books are totally bad since the explanations are so brief and all the examples are strictly in Spanish. The learner needs to have a whole library of different books to aid in moving along. I use the "Practice Makes Perfect" series, the 501 Verbs, 1st readers and of course the spanish/english dictionary as my library tools and the internet as my forum questioning and listening devices. I have 3 sites I use exclusively. This book, which I just finished from cover to cover, is one where you must find time to sit down and make lists from or you will not get the true benefit since you cannot easily go back and find that key verb or expression you need to remember to start off a conversation. I am not conversant in Spanish but with this book and my notes and lists, I am starting to feel a comfort level to jump in there and begin.