Spanish Now!: Level 2

Rating:
Summary: Where have all the good grammar books gone?
Review: As a teacher of adult Spanish, I am always looking for good instructional books, and I am frustrated at the lack of quality, comprehensive, adult learning books. Spanish Now 1 was pretty darn good, with reading sections, easy, comprehensive grammar, and nice excercizes. But, suddenly in Spanish Now 2, they run through all the tenses, with very few excercizes, no stories to read in class. My students need to learn each tense in time, so they can practice and master it,not be confused by the rush. While I'm sure this is a good book for those wanting to review grammar, who already know it, as a learning book, it's just too fast, and not helpful as a teaching tool. Thanks, but no thanks. lisa

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Motivator
Review: I have been trying to learn Spanish for a few years now. I have tried it all. Including dating my Spanish instructor.

I believe that my biggest problem has always been trying to find the time to stay consistent with my studies. And when you cannot find the time to study, you don't make any progress. And when you're not making progress, you quickly lose interest.

I bought both level one and level two of Spanish Now to help me with my Spanish. I am also trying the Learning Spanish Like Crazy recorded lessons and I have been listening in to the Learning Spanish Like Crazy live tele-classses for several weeks now.

Unlike some of the other resources for learning Spanish, Spanish Now offers exercises that really help you learn. By doing the exercises in Spanish Now and doing the Learning Spanish Like Crazy lessons, I am able to stay motivated even when I cannot find the time to study.


Rating:
Summary: Not for use without a teacher
Review: I have Kendris' book of verbs and it's a good straight forward resource. The Spanish Now! Series is very common at the large bookstores and I picked it up because unlike most bookstore titles it had a level two book for intermediate students. What I find difficult is that as a bookstore title it really is designed as a textbook for a class room situation; not really surprising given Barrons' business segment. Be that as it may, this makes the book nearly impossible to use for self-study. In every chapter there are examples and exercises where you're supposed to converse with a classmate or listen to what the instructor reads to you. Beyond that, the exercises are repetitive and uninteresting. For self-guided study look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Not for use without a teacher
Review: I have Kendris' book of verbs and it's a good straight forward resource. The Spanish Now! Series is very common at the large bookstores and I picked it up because unlike most bookstore titles it had a level two book for intermediate students. What I find difficult is that as a bookstore title it really is designed as a textbook for a class room situation; not really surprising given Barrons' business segment. Be that as it may, this makes the book nearly impossible to use for self-study. In every chapter there are examples and exercises where you're supposed to converse with a classmate or listen to what the instructor reads to you. Beyond that, the exercises are repetitive and uninteresting. For self-guided study look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Life-long Spanish student
Review: I have used Barron's Educational Series' materials ever since junior high and up through graduate school teaching undergraduate Spanish. Spanish Now!: Level 2 is a good supplementary text. I have written a review to Barron's of 11-pages' length wherein I have detailed some grammar mistakes and other points to be improved. Let it be said that almost every textbook or dictionary is necessarily a work in progress. With that said, Barron's/Kendris commit horrible errors when it comes to the constituency of the Spanish alphabet post-1994 reforms. The alphabet consisted of 29 letters before the reform, and 29 letters after the reform. There are other minor accent mark and spelling errors in the work and I hope Barron's will improve the next edition/printing when it comes out. This is still a worthwhile book for intermediate students of Spanish.

Rating:
Summary: Life-long Spanish student
Review: I have used Barron's Educational Series' materials ever since junior high and up through graduate school teaching undergraduate Spanish. Spanish Now!: Level 2 is a good supplementary text. I have written a review to Barron's of 11-pages' length wherein I have detailed some grammar mistakes and other points to be improved. Let it be said that almost every textbook or dictionary is necessarily a work in progress. With that said, Barron's/Kendris commit horrible errors when it comes to the constituency of the Spanish alphabet post-1994 reforms. The alphabet consisted of 29 letters before the reform, and 29 letters after the reform. There are other minor accent mark and spelling errors in the work and I hope Barron's will improve the next edition/printing when it comes out. This is still a worthwhile book for intermediate students of Spanish.

Rating:
Summary: Spanish Now! level 2
Review: I know several students that are using this book for private lessons ,and they found it extremely useful.They can use at home or in class, there is no tricks, the chart table for irregular verbs is great!Also the brief explanation of each issue in alphabetical order at the end of the book ,is an excellent source.The exercises in each Unit enhance the learning process. I strongly recommend this book( level 2) for intermediate students.Congratulations to the author!.Please, publish, Spanish Now! level 3!.

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs down
Review: I like Barron's Spanish products, and LOVED Spanish Now I. In fact, I've recommended it to a number of friends and am buying two more today. So I was very excited to see there was a level II. I bought it, looked through it, but never got beyond the first chapter for working it. BORRRRRING!! The first one was so humorous and made you want to go to the next chapter. This level was the same dry old stuff I've seen in too many other books. Sorry, but I vote it down.

Rating:
Summary: Straightforward
Review: Spanish Now! presents its information in straight no-nonsense way that I like. The lessons are clear and easy to understand.

Each lesson begins with a reading passage showing the use of the vocabulary words presented. The grammatical lessons that follow are clear. The author doesn't "hide" the information in the text somewhere; it is presented up-front.

Some people may find the format boring. It is a little dry, but it makes Spanish easy to learn because the author doesn't try to "sneak" any information in with clever games. I like the format, myself.

This book is a great way to learn Spanish.