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Books : Easy Learning Spanish (Collins Easy Learning Audio Course)
Rating: 
- Very basic Spanish
This is a pack consisting of 3 cd's and a booklet which has the same content as cd's in written form. It is very beginner's Spanish. I did Spanish GCSE at school and found it covered a lot of things I already knew, and in less depth as it is focused on speaking and understanding not reading/writing or grammar. These CD's are aimed at giving you simple basics if you're planning a holiday to Spain. I found the teaching style a little patronising since I already know some Spanish but if you're a beginner then this could be very helpful for you.
These CD cover:
Hello
Excuse me
Where's the bar?
Over there
What would you like?
Have you got any?
Can you help me?
I want to go to...
Have you got a room?
It hurts
I want to make an appointment
What's it like?
Each track starts by giving you the keywords (it doesn't give you a chance to practise them straight away which I didn't like.) It then goes on to play some dialogue using the key words and explain what they're saying. Next it lets you take one of the parts in the conversation, it tells you in English what to say, then gives you a chance to say it in Spanish before repeating what you should have said. Finally each unit recaps the words and asks you to pause the CD and try and remember them all.
I did like the way it was set out on the CD but the booklet wasn't really helpful since it was basically a repeat of the CD so as I said in title only buy this if you have no experience of Spanish.
A good place to start! The titles in this series are the same (I have the French one too so if you're looking to start any language I'd recommend these sets as a starter.)
Rating:
- For the price, its excellent!
This is very much bog standard level Spanish Learner. Aimed for the complete beginner, its going to give you what you need to get by in several holiday situations. Using the books and the CD's together, you listen, you repeat, you learn, you repeat. Also I found it helpful to write down the words too as then it links the words to you even more.
Collins have got a variety of different starting off kits and this is the one for someone who's on the go. Its quick as it gives you a couple of words a day. If your looking to go in depth and more slowly but a bit more thoroughly I recommend the other one in the series where you build mind maps and stick post it notes everywhere. However if you're looking for something brief and passable - this is one of the best!
Rating: - Easy-peasy
I've never used an audio teaching course before, so I've no way of making a comparison.
I just wished it had arrived before I spent a month in Majorca recently! It would have been invaluable. As it is, now that I've returned, I find it may well be even easier to understand than before. I haven't finished the course by any means but, so far, I'm picking up the useage and pronunciation very well and my increase in vocabulary suitable for everyday use is now significantly better! And, of course, one can return time and again should one need to go over certain parts of the course - usually due to a failing memory!
It's just a pity these cds don't include a large container of Med sunshine to accompany the conversation.
Rating: - For total beginners
As someone with absolutely no knowledge of Spanish, I found this a useful, if a little slow and possibly even patronising at times, introduction to the language.
It's total aural, so there's no plodding through grammar books for those who are averse to such practises. The course heavily leans towards providing you with useful vocab and constructions for use on holiday - if you're after a more solid, general start to learning Spanish, I'd probably head towards Oxford's 'Take Off' course. But, if all you want is an easy short course before going to Spain, this is about as good as you're going to get.
There's a lot of repetition in the course, which is always helpful, no matter what level your language skills, and it builds up gradually and in a logical way. The course is across 3 cds, and comes with a booklet which features all the tape scripts and few extra little notes on the language which are not featured on the cd. It's also very reasonably priced, considering the cost of a Berlitz phrasebook, and it will give you a lot more confidence/independence than a Berlitz phrasebook.
Rating: - Spanish with ease!
I found this system easy and fun to use. Wanting to move my basic spanish from " 2 cocoa cola's please", it certainly helped me do just that. Will continue to use and in time be able to order maybe even my meal!
- Very basic SpanishThis is a pack consisting of 3 cd's and a booklet which has the same content as cd's in written form. It is very beginner's Spanish. I did Spanish GCSE at school and found it covered a lot of things I already knew, and in less depth as it is focused on speaking and understanding not reading/writing or grammar. These CD's are aimed at giving you simple basics if you're planning a holiday to Spain. I found the teaching style a little patronising since I already know some Spanish but if you're a beginner then this could be very helpful for you.
These CD cover:
Hello
Excuse me
Where's the bar?
Over there
What would you like?
Have you got any?
Can you help me?
I want to go to...
Have you got a room?
It hurts
I want to make an appointment
What's it like?
Each track starts by giving you the keywords (it doesn't give you a chance to practise them straight away which I didn't like.) It then goes on to play some dialogue using the key words and explain what they're saying. Next it lets you take one of the parts in the conversation, it tells you in English what to say, then gives you a chance to say it in Spanish before repeating what you should have said. Finally each unit recaps the words and asks you to pause the CD and try and remember them all.
I did like the way it was set out on the CD but the booklet wasn't really helpful since it was basically a repeat of the CD so as I said in title only buy this if you have no experience of Spanish.
A good place to start! The titles in this series are the same (I have the French one too so if you're looking to start any language I'd recommend these sets as a starter.)
Rating:
- For the price, its excellent!This is very much bog standard level Spanish Learner. Aimed for the complete beginner, its going to give you what you need to get by in several holiday situations. Using the books and the CD's together, you listen, you repeat, you learn, you repeat. Also I found it helpful to write down the words too as then it links the words to you even more.
Collins have got a variety of different starting off kits and this is the one for someone who's on the go. Its quick as it gives you a couple of words a day. If your looking to go in depth and more slowly but a bit more thoroughly I recommend the other one in the series where you build mind maps and stick post it notes everywhere. However if you're looking for something brief and passable - this is one of the best!
Rating:
- Easy-peasyI've never used an audio teaching course before, so I've no way of making a comparison.
I just wished it had arrived before I spent a month in Majorca recently! It would have been invaluable. As it is, now that I've returned, I find it may well be even easier to understand than before. I haven't finished the course by any means but, so far, I'm picking up the useage and pronunciation very well and my increase in vocabulary suitable for everyday use is now significantly better! And, of course, one can return time and again should one need to go over certain parts of the course - usually due to a failing memory!
It's just a pity these cds don't include a large container of Med sunshine to accompany the conversation.
Rating:
- For total beginnersAs someone with absolutely no knowledge of Spanish, I found this a useful, if a little slow and possibly even patronising at times, introduction to the language.
It's total aural, so there's no plodding through grammar books for those who are averse to such practises. The course heavily leans towards providing you with useful vocab and constructions for use on holiday - if you're after a more solid, general start to learning Spanish, I'd probably head towards Oxford's 'Take Off' course. But, if all you want is an easy short course before going to Spain, this is about as good as you're going to get.
There's a lot of repetition in the course, which is always helpful, no matter what level your language skills, and it builds up gradually and in a logical way. The course is across 3 cds, and comes with a booklet which features all the tape scripts and few extra little notes on the language which are not featured on the cd. It's also very reasonably priced, considering the cost of a Berlitz phrasebook, and it will give you a lot more confidence/independence than a Berlitz phrasebook.
Rating:
- Spanish with ease!I found this system easy and fun to use. Wanting to move my basic spanish from " 2 cocoa cola's please", it certainly helped me do just that. Will continue to use and in time be able to order maybe even my meal!