Product Description

Pasos is the course for anyone wishing to learn Spanish from scratch. Whether learning for work or pleasure, Pasos gives a thorough grounding in the language enabling learners to speak, read, write and understand contemporary Spanish. Pasos 1, the first part of the course, introduces the key structures of the language over 14 thematic lessons with the emphasis placed firmly on communication. Authentic reading and listening materials are used extensively for a wide range of lively activities based on everyday situations in Spain.From the outset, a realistic range of registers and vocabulary encourage development of the essential skill of comprehension. Clear examples and explanations make the grammar easy to absorb, and emphasis is placed on the acquisition of a wide range of essential vocabulary from an early stage.Balance and variety are prominent features of the Pasos course: a balance of freer activities and graded, accuracy-based tasks; a balance of presentation and practice of new language items; a balance between the study and use of grammar and vocabulary, the cornerstones of language-learning.There are regular opportunities for revision and consolidation, and vocabulary and grammar support are given both at the end of each lesson and in full at the end of the book. Pasos 1 is ideal for group and individual study and covers the skills and structures required at GCSE level.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113499 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 262 pages

Review
Up-to-date, colourful, good quality tapes to listen to. -- C Abrahams, Belper Centre Life Learning 20011101 Practical and user friendly. -- Mr Ramon Alvarez-Kensington & Chelsea College 20021111 Very useful to cover the entire programme... Practical and user friendly -- Mr Ramon Alvarez, Kensington and Chelsea College 20021101

Mr Ramon Alvarez, Kensington and Chelsea College
Very useful to cover the entire programme...Practical and user friendly

About the Author
Rosa Maria Martin is Director of the Language Learning Unit at Queen Mary and Westfield College and an experienced language teacher and adviser. Martyn Ellis is Principal of Target Language Services and is a renowned specialist in language teaching and learning. Both are best-selling authors of several language-teaching series, including the 4-part schools Spanish course Aventura.

Customer Reviews

Easy and friendly to use introdution to Espanol
Spanish is a beautiful language and one of the easier languages to master. Pasos is a nicely presented, attractive and well constructed book that will guide novice speakers into the delights of Spanish.
Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the first encounters you are likely to get when visiting Spain, so you can introduce yourself, find a little about your new Spanish friend and then invite them for a drink and some Tapas by chapter two.
Each chapter is covers just about enought to not be daunting and shoud ensure that even busy students can realistically learn the various lessons without getting bogged down.
If the book is purchased with the tape then progress is of course quicker and it should be noted that some exercises in the book cannot be completed without the tape - in this respect the publishers should perhaps only supply the two together. However if you do opt only for the book, there is still enough to get you speaking fairly quickly.

A good accompaniment
I've been using this book as a text for my evening class and it is well thought-out, clear and comprehensive. Each chapter uses a variety of examples to reinforce learning including drawings, text, photographs, exercises and the cassette. The variety ensures that your interest is held throughout.

Of course, going to the country is almost always going to be the most efficient way to learn a language but many of us don't have the opportunity to do so. This book offers an excellent alternative.

wonderful
Learning a new language is never an easy task. getting into a new way of saying things, a new morphology, new syntaxis..Pasos does really help though. Tons of exercise, easy to memorise vocabulary lists, interresting texts..Try to buy the complete pack (with the recordings and the activity book). get yourself a English - Spanish - English dictionnary.. that s all you will ever need . I m using it at home , for self studies..and it works perfectly. Also, it really does help to either watch spanish TV or listen to spanish radio (Cadena Dial on Astra 1.)
It s amazing how helpful it is, even if you don t understand it all.