Rating: 
Summary: An excellent Spanish classroom program
Review: I used this textbook as part of an intensive Spanish language program at my local junior college. Part of the reason I was excited by the program is that I have used the natural language method before, in the French in Action series, and found it excellent. The Dos Mundos program is intended to be used in a classroom setting and I would not recommend it for home study. Unlike the French in Action series, it does not include extensive home video material that can take the place of an instructor. An instructor comfortable with the book and the natural language method is critical to success with this program. I find that the natural language method, presenting all of the material in the new language and explaining in the language, prevents early language errors caused by translation and gives immediate satisfaction of being able to speak more than rote phrases. Dos Mundos is the only complete natural language program currently available for Spanish.
Rating: 
Summary: Unhappy
Review: I was looking for a student workbook for practice in spanish. I ordered this book because it was listed as "like new",it took me almost three weeks to get it and when I did I found the worksheets for the first five chapters were cut out. I am now approaching my first term exam for those same chapters and have no book to review.
Rating: 
Summary: A confusing book
Review: This book is horribly organized; the text presents a labryinth of information in an format that is likely to instigate errors and common mistakes in Spanish. The publishers out to recall this book immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Spanish Professors: Don't Use this Book!
Review: This book is horribly organized; the text presents a labryinth of information in an format that is likely to instigate errors and common mistakes in Spanish. The publishers out to recall this book immediately.
Rating:
Summary: Prepare to beat your head against the wall
Review: This book is terrible. Not only is the layout very confusing but the resources within it are definitely substandard. For a beginning Spanish text it's extremely hard to get into whatsoever. To understand half of the books "instructions" you'll need a seperate Spanish<-->English dictionary just to figure out whats going on. This book seems to be based on the assumption that you can guess everything from the confusing little pictures sprinled throughout the pages. The dictionary in the back is *not* up to the task and the sections on grammar are short, confusing, and nonintuitive. And whatever this "natural approach, which this text requires in the classroom is, it's terrible. Grammar is almost totally ignored to the detriment of the student. In addition, a CD-ROM is NOT provided with the book as standard, you must buy it seperately which pushes the price up considerably. The accompanying workbook and audio tapes are also non-intuitive and confusing. If you must use this book for a class then you'll need plenty of supplemental materials NOT connected to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Prepare to beat your head against the wall
Review: This book is terrible. Not only is the layout very confusing but the resources within it are definitely substandard. For a beginning Spanish text it's extremely hard to get into whatsoever. To understand half of the books "instructions" you'll need a seperate Spanish<-->English dictionary just to figure out whats going on. This book seems to be based on the assumption that you can guess everything from the confusing little pictures sprinled throughout the pages. The dictionary in the back is *not* up to the task and the sections on grammar are short, confusing, and nonintuitive. And whatever this "natural approach, which this text requires in the classroom is, it's terrible. Grammar is almost totally ignored to the detriment of the student. In addition, a CD-ROM is NOT provided with the book as standard, you must buy it seperately which pushes the price up considerably. The accompanying workbook and audio tapes are also non-intuitive and confusing. If you must use this book for a class then you'll need plenty of supplemental materials NOT connected to this book.
Rating: 
Summary: World Language
Review: to the reviewer who says that every Spanish textbook should emphasize Mexican Spanish, there are many other countries other than Mexico that speak Spanish. It is pure linguistic chauvinism to state that vosotros shouldn't be taught. I also think 'vos' as used in Central American and the River Plate region should also be introduced in beginning Spanish classes. Limiting the accents that are offered and by refining the text as though Mexico were the only country potential Spanish speaker will visit is short-sighted and small-minded at best. The text is not meant to be used on an autodidactic basis.
| 
