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Beginner Spanish Grammar Textbook | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| LearnMore780 Newbie United States Joined 5472 days ago 7 posts - 7 votes Speaks: English* | Message 1 of 17 30 November 2009 at 6:10pm | IP Logged | ||
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To those who have excelled at Spanish (perhaps near fluency) through self study:
I am currently studying Spanish and looking for a beginner grammar text to use (as suggested by Barry Farber). I purchased two grammar books by John Butts (New Reference Grammar and Oxford Spanish - both reference books), but wonder if a more primary textbook (non-reference book) is best for this inital period. I am really a newbie: to Spanish and foreign language acquisition. What is your favorite text, and which one would you recommend to someone without much experience in learning a foreign language. I wish to work hard and gain fluency. What grammar text (non-reference)will help build a solid foundation? Has anyone had success with "Spanish Grammar for Independent Learners"? Is it preferable to use a textbook or reference and workbook combination? In advance, thank you for your help! Edited by LearnMore780 on 30 November 2009 at 7:34pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Rmss Triglot Senior Member Spain spanish-only.coRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6563 days ago 234 posts - 248 votes  3 sounds Speaks: Dutch*, English, Spanish Studies: Portuguese | Message 2 of 17 30 November 2009 at 10:10pm | IP Logged | ||
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As a person that has excelled at Spanish, I recommend to leave grammar study for what it is at the moment and get some input first. From my own experience I know that Spanish grammar can be a bit overwhelming (just like the grammar of any other language), especially when you're new to the language.
As soon as you understand a lot and have a 'feeling' for the structures in Spanish, studying grammar will actually help you and it'll be a whole lot easier as well. Before not so much. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| rapp Senior Member United States Joined 5730 days ago 129 posts - 204 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, Spanish | Message 3 of 17 01 December 2009 at 1:10am | IP Logged | ||
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Well, I'm certainly not advanced, in fact I've been studying Spanish for about a month now. But I want to give a plug for the book I'm using, which I haven't seen discussed on this forum. It is "Spanish for Reading" by Karl Sandberg.
Sandberg wrote a trio of books - "German for Reading", "French for Reading", and "Spanish for Reading" - geared toward people pursuing graduate degrees that have a foreign language reading comprehension requirement. He claims that in 80-120 hours of study, the books will teach you about 2000 words (it varies depending on which of the three books you're using - if I remember right, the Spanish one claims about 2500) and all the grammar you need to read newspapers, journal articles, etc. From the progress I've made so far, I totally believe that's possible. Basically, each chapter ends with a reading selection, and the chapter teaches the grammar and vocabulary necessary to read the selection. The selections start off with fairly simple essays about some facet of Hispanic culture - the geography of Spain, the legend of the Virgin of Guadalupe, etc - and they progress in difficulty until by the end you are reading native materials - poems, essays and the like - by well known Spanish-language authors. His teaching style seems to involve a minimal amount of explanation and large numbers of examples. So, for example, he might say "This is how you form the past participle of verbs ending in -ar", with 4 or 5 examples of verbs in their infinitive form and their past participle form. Then, there will follow 15 or 20 sentences that use that form of verbs that you have previously learned. New vocabulary is sprinkled throughout these sentences. The Spanish sentences will be in a column on the right side of the page, with English translations on the left. You are supposed to cover the English sentences with an index card, only revealing his translations after you have attempted your own. The introduction urges you to review frequently, so I've been entering each sentence pair into Anki and spending a few minutes each day doing reps there. I think that has helped a lot. I'm about halfway through the book now (chapter 7 of 15), and I can already read much more complicated material much more easily than I could after having taken two years of Spanish in highschool {mumble} years ago. And the Spanish version at least is dirt cheap - $12 on Amazon. My plan is to follow this book up with Assimil and/or SpanishPod101 to build my listening/speaking ability, but hopefully this will enable me to jump into reading native materials while working through those other courses. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| delta910 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5874 days ago 267 posts - 313 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Dutch, German | Message 4 of 17 01 December 2009 at 2:35am | IP Logged | ||
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I very much agree with Rmss. I have been studying Spanish for many years by means of heavy grammar by the school system. It wasn't really until I focused on reading and listening a lot that I really built up my vocabulary, which was lacking in so many ways, and actually learned grammar through my reading was I able to get better at Spanish.
I would suggest getting a small grammar book and only look at it when you have come to a point in your studies that you feel you need to look at for reference, and I mean only reference. Too much grammar at the beginning of your studies will, ultimately, end your studies. It isn't until you have built up a large amount of vocabulary will you be able to find that the study of grammar is easier. This is all in my experience and it is working for me. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| ruskivyetr Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5480 days ago 769 posts - 962 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Spanish, Russian, Polish, Modern Hebrew | Message 5 of 17 01 December 2009 at 2:50am | IP Logged | ||
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Schaum's is great.
Schaum's Spanish Grammar (look it up on Amazon) You could also use Living Language Ultimate Spanish, but it can be REALLY boring. There is also a book called Spanish Verb Tenses. It's green (the only feature I remember about it). It helps you with the biggest part of Spanish grammar: Verbs. There are a LOT of good Spanish learning materials out there and they're not too hard to find. Just make sure you get one with lots of exercises and good reviews. Edited by ruskivyetr on 01 December 2009 at 2:51am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| LearnMore780 Newbie United States Joined 5472 days ago 7 posts - 7 votes Speaks: English* | Message 6 of 17 01 December 2009 at 2:54am | IP Logged | ||
Thank you for your extensive response. I have purchased this book already and will consider following a similar approach. It seems as the grammar aspect might need to wait. Now, I might use the "Spanish for Reading" then start Pimsleur, and then Platiquemos. Thanks Again 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| LearnMore780 Newbie United States Joined 5472 days ago 7 posts - 7 votes Speaks: English* | Message 7 of 17 01 December 2009 at 2:55am | IP Logged | ||
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| LearnMore780 Newbie United States Joined 5472 days ago 7 posts - 7 votes Speaks: English* | Message 8 of 17 01 December 2009 at 2:57am | IP Logged | ||
Thank you! You make an excellent point. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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