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: Almost Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
I own many spanish books, but this is the only one I pick up and read again and again. From the section on tricky words that look like English words but mean something TOTALLY different in Spanish to healthy advice on grammar, to lists of useful verbs (including new twists on old verbs ... who knew you could "puedo con" something or that "penso ir" was planning to go). To round out the full experience the author even included a comprehensive section on swearing (and how to avoid it). Well worth the money. I especially enjoyed the section on how NOT to sound like a gringo.My only beef with the book was the grammar section. After explaining what a subjunctive was, when it was needed, why you needed it and thoroughly sold you on your dire need to master this portion of the language he left out HOW to make a verb subjunctive. Fortunately a bit of looking on the internet popped up that information for me.
I've had the book for about 6 months and still read it again and again getting new phrases and insights from every read. Worth every penny.
Book Review: Great!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you've been studying Spanish courses and feel confident that you could ask where a hotel or restuarant is but do not feel that you could get into a real conversation with a native speaker, this book will help. It gives you a good way of looking at the subjunctive verb that other books would only confuse you with. Lots of everyday ways of saying things where conventional teaching aids give you ridged ways saying the same thing. If you want to sound like you know what you are saying then this book will help. It will help you stop saying "um" & "uh", and show you spanish stuble-words cause let's face we are all going to stammer reaching for the right word so why not sound a little more fluent doing so. The obscenity section is helpful, even if you don't want to curse(I don't) it is good to know if someone says something to you and there are words that are harmless in some Spanish speaking countries that are dangerous in other and you'd be wise to know the difference as to not offend anyone or embarrass yourself.Book Review: Excellent book! Most helpful I own!
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife grew up in Mexico. When I met her I didn't really speak much Spanish. I learned quite a bit by hanging out with her and taking classes. But no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I paid attention and asked for help, I still made the mistakes that all gringos make: the dreaded "gringaso." This book isn't a cure all. It won't make you speak Spanish perfectly. But it has pointed out some of my mistakes and has made it simple for me to correct them. I'm in Mexico right now as I write this review and have even used many of the lessons that I learned in this book in order to avoid getting laughed at by all her friends. DO NOT get this book if you are not conversant in Spanish.
DO get this book if you are able to hold a conversation in Spanish and need to get rid of those incessant small mistakes that you make that make it obvious that you are a gringo.
This is the most helpful book that I have in helping me learn Spanish.
Book Review: an excellent book for intermediate students
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was required for a university class in Spanish conversation. There is so much information in this book that is invaluable to the Spanish student. It is written to show the intermediate student how to "break out" of the textbook Spanish into real, conversational Spanish. It tells you what aspects of the language are really used in common language and speaking, and it tells you what you should and should not say in order to sound more like a native speaker. This is a book that can be read over and over again, and it is a very good reference tool. You should not expect to be able to remember everything, because there is so much information. It will tell you everything from how to vary your speech, to how to better learn and improve your Spanish, to how to recognize profanity. It gives you information that you cannot get anywhere else - information that they do not teach you in the classroom. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: Educational reading made pleasant and entertaining.
Summary: 5 Stars
Joseph Keenan has brought a bit of humor in the trudgery of learning the Spanish language. While reading this book I was constantly saying, "Oh, that explains why I get such-and-such response when I say (ask) such-and-such" His candor with common errors and the implications of such errors promoted a forgiving environment to develope the courage needed after realizing what you have been saying really means!In a very friendly manner, Joseph Keenan highlights motivating reasons to learn the finer details of the Spanish language. Additionally, I appreciated his graphic explanations of things that otherwise have been unexplainable by native speakers. He often used the phrase, 'a native speaker will not be able to explain the difference between...but this example will help....'
This book, in whole or in part, is beneficial for all levels Spanish language students.