There comes a time in every language learner’s life when they must start looking for books. So, naturally, you want to make sure you choose the right Spanish learning books to get started no matter what level of learning you’re in.
There are several types of books that will be a key influence to start and advance your Spanish learning journey.
You are reading: Middle school spanish text books
reference books.
workbooks.
dictionaries.
We have highlighted some of the best titles in each of these categories that have proven to be very valuable for students of Spanish.
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- reference books
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- 1. “master the vocabulary in Spanish”
- 2. “barron’s 501 verbs in spanish”
- 3. “barron’s spanish grammar”
- 4. “first reader in spanish: a bilingual book for beginners”
- 5. “easy spanish step by step”
- 6. “the magic key from madrigal to Spanish”
- 7. “complete Spanish grammar”
- 8. “The book of everything to learn Spanish: speak, write and understand basic Spanish in a short time”
- 9. “definitive Spanish: beginner-intermediate”
- 10.“conversation and revision: intermediate Spanish”
- 11. “intermediate Spanish for dummies”
- 12. let’s talk! intermediate conversation”
- 13. “how to speak spanish fluently”
- 14. “the latest revision and practice in Spanish”
- 15. “Advanced Spanish Step by Step: Master Accelerated Grammar to take your Spanish to the next level”
- 16. “Advanced Spanish grammar: a self-study guide”
- 17. “word by word: spanish vocabulary for edexcel a-level”
- 18. “Spanish idioms guide”
- 19. “Barron’s Pocket Spanish-English Dictionary”
- 20. “the new spanish/english world, english/spanish dictionary”
download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that you can take anywhere. click here for a copy. (download)
See Also: Fiona Davis | Penguin Random House
reference books
barron’s foreign language guides are standard in anyone’s language library and there’s a good reason for it. In this series, there is one book that focuses on vocabulary, another on verbs, and a third on grammar. If you have these books at your disposal, you will find answers to all your questions in Spanish. most of these books even come with mp3 or cd so you can listen and read the text.
These reference books will help you improve your Spanish, whether you’re just starting your language journey or looking to refresh yourself.
1. “master the vocabulary in Spanish”
first things first, vocabulary. it will be difficult to communicate with someone if you don’t have a basic vocabulary.
vocabulary is tangible: you can see and feel the words you are learning around you in your daily life.
This book is organized by topic, which is incredibly helpful if you’re looking for something specific.
This book also comes with an mp3 audio. how does this help your spanish? you will read the words and hear them. this is immensely helpful when learning a new language.
The mp3 will help you learn the actual pronunciation of each word, greatly improving your conversation skills.
2. “barron’s 501 verbs in spanish”
Now that you have mastered your basic vocabulary, you will need to work on your Spanish verbs. This book will introduce you to all the most common verbs in the Spanish language.
these are all the verbs you will need to maintain 99.9% of conversations in Spanish, conjugated in all Spanish languages 15 modes and tenses.
The introduction is devoted to explaining the different tenses and when it is appropriate to use them. then the book seamlessly transitions to teaching you different verbs in each of these tenses.
There are many examples of English sentences with their Spanish counterparts. this book will help you learn exactly when it is appropriate to use a certain verb tense.
3. “barron’s spanish grammar”
Last but not least, the daunting monster: grammar.
No two languages have exactly the same grammar. Of course, there are parallels in similar languages like French and Spanish, but there are still differences. grammar doesn’t have to be so intimidating and this book proves it.
in barron’s grammar of spanish book, you don’t have long lists of grammar rules. Bold tip boxes, highlighted key points, and memorization techniques are included along the way to make the content more engaging. the lists in the book are easy to scan and study.
Spanish textbooks for beginners
practice makes perfect, right? That’s why your elementary school teachers made you spell new words fifty times. It’s the same reason your high school teachers assigned over 100 algebra problems for homework. the same applies when learning a language.
You can read and study for hours, but in the end you will need a pencil and paper and start writing the conjugations yourself.
There are many different workbooks to help you gain confidence in your Spanish writing skills.
4. “first reader in spanish: a bilingual book for beginners”
This book not only teaches Spanish, but also has 41 story selections. The source text is written by renowned Spanish and Latin American writers and captures the richness of their respective cultures.
And because this is a dual language book, the English translations are on facing pages, helping students understand the meaning of the piece.
This charming selection begins with the most manageable verb forms (present indicative) and ends with a rich sample of future and conditional verbs.
exercises and drills follow the selection and infuse more lessons to the students. there’s also an excellent glossary at the end, which avoids the need for external reference materials.
The book is not only for beginners, but also for intermediate students who need an engaging Spanish review.
5. “easy spanish step by step”
“Easy Spanish Step by Step” is an excellent starter book for anyone who is an absolute beginner in Spanish.
See Also: Johanna Lindsey – Book Series In Order
With over 300 verb terms, exercises, and enjoyable reading, you’ll find your Spanish comprehension level and conversational skills improve with every step.
6. “the magic key from madrigal to Spanish”
This book says “no” to memorization and instead gives the magic keys and shortcuts to unlock the Spanish language. the methods are different from those traditionally used in schools, by teaching grammar in an innovative way: starting in the past tense.
It’s well paced, clearly structured, and sensibly presented. eliminates unnecessary complications and speeds up language acquisition.
One of the most important features of the book is the exercises that painlessly incorporate vocabulary and improve conversation skills.
7. “complete Spanish grammar”
We already have a title for beginners in the form of “easy Spanish step by step”. but this one has “whole grammar book” written all over it.
And please note that when it comes to clarifying grammar, this book focuses on Spanish as a spoken language, rather than a written language, so you can be sure that the pages of this title are eminently practical.
Also, of the 8 books in the set, this will be your “practice” book. this one is unique because of the plethora of opportunities it gives the reader to practice. There are 350 notebook exercises to test your Spanish.
Each lesson comes with a comprehensive assessment, as well as exercises and activities that allow you to discover where the gaps in your understanding lie. And not only that, there are also support materials online.
8. “the book of everything to learn Spanish: speak, write and understand basic Spanish in a short time”
“The book of everything to learn Spanish” will guide you through basic concepts such as pronunciation, basic grammar rules, and common vocabulary and phrases.
The textbook offers 20 chapters. each chapter presents simple lessons along with examples to help you see what you’ve learned in action.
There’s also a helpful glossary (English to Spanish and Spanish to English) of vocabulary to refer to when you’re unfamiliar with a word.
9. “definitive Spanish: beginner-intermediate”
“ultimate spanish beginner-intermediate” is designed to teach you Spanish from scratch, without the need for previous experience. but if you have some previous experience, this book takes you right to the intermediate level.
With 40 lessons including dialogue, grammar rules, usage rules, pronunciation information, cultural lessons and more, you’ll have everything you need to reach an intermediate level of proficiency. “ultimate spanish beginner-intermediate” uses not only standard words and phrases, but also idiomatic expressions to give you a more complete view of the language.
Interspersed quizzes help you check your progress, while the glossary gives you a great reference to refer to when you’re unsure.
intermediate Spanish textbooks
10.“conversation and revision: intermediate Spanish”
“conversation and review: intermediate Spanish”, is an official textbook often used in traditional university classrooms.
combines cultural lessons on topics such as religion, economics, and 20th-century revolutionary movements, as well as grammar rules and vocabulary, to help you simultaneously improve your Spanish skills and understanding of the culture.
The exercises will help you practice what you have learned, giving you an excellent all-round education. the textbook even comes with a cd to help you improve your listening skills.
11. “intermediate Spanish for dummies”
don’t worry, “intermediate spanish for dummies” doesn’t actually assume you’re dumb.
what it does is put intermediate level rules in easy to understand terms. Each chapter is organized thematically with useful topics such as “10 most common spelling errors in Spanish” and “expressing yourself with subjunctive feeling.”
While this book focuses on helping you learn intermediate-level content, it’s also great for anyone who has studied Spanish in the past—a brief review of basic Spanish is included to get you back on track.
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“Intermediate Spanish for Dummies” aims to expand your vocabulary, learn new conjugations, and hone your writing skills. Plus, the activities in the book help you practice as you learn.
12. let’s talk! intermediate conversation”
“Let’s talk! intermediate conversation” (let’s talk! intermediate conversation), is another official university textbook.
The main goal of this textbook is to help you improve your conversation skills, which is a standard approach of many conventional intermediate level courses. You’ll learn valuable conversation tools like giving commands, sharing preferences, and persuading others.
A variety of activities will help you practice these skills as you go. Plus, if you don’t have anyone to practice your Spanish conversation skills with, fear not! the attached cd will help you with the spoken language.
13. “how to speak spanish fluently”
Not for beginners, this book demonstrates that, with the right system, fluency is within the reach of anyone with sufficient self-motivation.
The book focuses on word lists, memorizing passages, reading aloud, and conversational practice, all to be done daily – no exceptions, no excuses!
The book is short, only 32 pages, proving that there is no hidden secret to speaking Spanish fluently. what is the approach then? practice! practice! practice!
advanced spanish textbooks
14. “the best review and practice of Spanish”
If you are an advanced language learner, this book is the ideal companion to maintain and improve your Spanish grammar skills and communicate more fluently.
Packed with exercises (over 400), illustrations, example sentences, flashcards, interactive quizzes, and pre/post tests to see how well you’ve retained your information – this book takes you to a whole new level of advanced knowledge. . learning.
In addition, there are extensive audio exercises to help you improve your pronunciation and conversation skills.
15. “advanced spanish step by step: master accelerated grammar to take your spanish to the next level”
See Also: CD Reiss – Audio Books, Best Sellers, Author Bio | Audible.com
“Advanced Spanish Step by Step” focuses on helping you develop more vocabulary, master complex grammar rules, and understand advanced conjugations. Overall, this book aims to make you more confident in speaking and understanding the Spanish language.
with 15 progressive steps and 150 exercises, “advanced spanish step by step” provides you with a clearly structured learning plan. exercises, grammar lessons, and reading excerpts are interspersed to keep you on your toes.
16. “advanced spanish grammar: a self-study guide”
“Advanced Spanish Grammar” is designed for any advanced student who wants to improve their grammar, whether they are learning completely on their own or want to supplement additional courses.
This textbook offers advanced grammar rules, difficult conjugations and more than 1000 vocabulary words. the attention! (Warning!) The sections are particularly useful as they highlight some of the most troublesome issues of the Spanish language.
Also, “Advanced Spanish Grammar” is interactive, so you’ll have the chance to practice your new skills with helpful activities.
17. “word by word: spanish vocabulary for edexcel a-level”
“word by word”, focuses on improving your authentic Spanish by teaching you useful idioms and common phrases.
The focus is on vocabulary acquisition. The book is organized thematically so you can easily select topics of interest. for example, some sections include descriptions of people, work, media, health, etc.
If you’re already familiar with all of Spanish grammar, this is a good way to learn the vocabulary you need to get closer to full fluency.
18. “Spanish idioms guide”
This is a great book for advanced learners who already know grammar, verbs, conjugations, and word definitions, but are ready to speak like a native.
It’s also a great guide for anyone planning to travel to a Spanish-speaking country.
With over 2,500 Spanish idioms varying in a variety of uses, each translated into English, it will be hard to put this book down.
dictionaries
Dictionaries are just that: dictionaries. books full of text, words, definitions and no pictures.
A dictionary is an important tool for looking up words you don’t understand. While most vocabulary books will help you with this, a dictionary is a necessary resource.
There are two types of dictionaries: pocket dictionaries and traditional dictionaries. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. the biggest difference is that you can carry a pocket dictionary with you, while a traditional dictionary will sit on your desk or nightstand.
If you like the idea of carrying a dictionary in your pocket, you may also want to expand to app-based dictionaries. For example, the Fluentu program gives you the opportunity to practice your Spanish skills and use a contextual video dictionary.
On fluentu, you can watch hundreds of authentic videos in Spanish, including movie clips, music videos, news segments, and more. these allow him to see the concepts he learned with his favorite textbook live and in use naturally by native Spanish speakers.
You can also use fluentu as a context-based pocket dictionary. Each word in each video’s subtitles is clickable, allowing you to view a full definition card that includes grammatical information, example sentences (with audio readings), and clips from other videos where the word is used with the same meaning.
These words can be saved as flashcards and studied using custom quizzes. And, of course, Fluentu can fit in your pocket thanks to the iOS and Android versions of the app.
if you prefer a physical dictionary, read on for my recommendations:
19. “barron’s pocket english-spanish dictionary”
This pocket dictionary is perfect for looking up words you hear but whose meaning you don’t know.
Having a mobile dictionary is very important to learn a new language. And while having a standard-size dictionary is just as important, pocket dictionaries are made for convenience and quick access when you need to look something up quickly.
You can easily pull out this pocket dictionary in the middle of a conversation if you need to find a specific word or communicate with someone who may speak a different dialect of Spanish than you.
20. “the new Spanish/English world, English/Spanish dictionary”
This dictionary is what is known as “mass market size”, which means it is the size of a small paperback book. not as small as a pocket dictionary and not as large as a standard size dictionary.
Comprehensive: This dictionary has over 3,000 new words, phrases, meanings, and over 70,000 entries.
The print is pretty small, so you know those 1,000 pages are well put to good use. plus, it’s perfect for students, traveling and having that necessary resource nearby when you need to look up a Spanish word or practice your language learning.
So, which book to learn Spanish should you pull off the shelf at one of your favorite bookstores or buy from an online store? How can you successfully build a strong Spanish library?
Start with one or two books from each of the above categories. once you do that, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an advanced Spanish speaker.
download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that you can take anywhere. click here for a copy. (download)
See Also: Fiona Davis | Penguin Random House
