

The page design is not overcrowded, and the font is clear. The hyperlinks to the multimedia required users to disable pop-ups. I enjoyed the photos and the general layout. The only glaring question I have relates to the lack of double object pronouns. The text is well organized into chapters and sections.

The organization and presentation of content are consistent throughout. The explanations are easy to understand for non-native speakers without being overwhelming. However, its inclusion as is does not distract from the learning goals. There is a calendar from 2011, which should be changed. There is not much attention given to Spanish spoken in the United States (i.e., heritage speakers), but the book does not seem to be overly biased. I would like to see more opportunities for interactive practice through the integration of online activities (perhaps using tools such as H5P for an online workbook), but the book itself is a good resource for instructors teaching in a traditional classroom and a starting point for instructors, who may wish to create more tailored online materials for their own students.ĭespite minor spelling errors, such as ‘objectivo’, the cultural content and grammatical explanations appear to be accurate. There are links to video and audio files throughout as well as a variety of activities to practice them. Not all cultural topics were included in the Table of Contents. I especially like the inclusion of prompts through which students establish and evaluate learning goals. The presentation of vocabulary, grammar, and culture is appropriate for the first two beginning-level courses. Reviewed by Elizabeth Deifell, Senior Lecturer, University of Texas at Arlington on 4/12/21 None of my minor criticisms would not also be applicable to any of the printed texts I've used over the years from major publishers who constantly find new ways to charge students more without adding value to the basic text. The author obviously put in a lot of work to make a good, useable introductory Spanish text without gouging students, and I am very grateful. I have used it, and I intend to continue to use it. I would like to see more emphasis on culture in general for s Spanish text. This book has a pretty representative presentation of cultural differences. There are a few corrections that should be made, but as I've said in other sections, no more than in other textbooks.

The book does contain a few grammatical and spelling issues, but probably nothing that is too distracting for most users. The main issues are with the associated quiz activities, some of which lack instructions or information, mark reasonable answers wrong, etc., but most of them are fine.

Even though I see this chapter as a preview of things to come, it's intimidating for students. The only things that are a little difficult are the disparity between chapters in terms of the amount and scope of vocabulary and the last chapter, which crams in a LOT of grammar. Libro Libre sections are reasonably easy to shuffle-at least as much as other texts. There are a few other areas that seem a little cluttered, but, again, no more so than in a $200 textbook. The aforementioned inclusion of gustar as a two-verb construction and the discussion of masculine and feminine gender patterns (specifically the section that generalizes patterns that are limited to adjectives of nationality) are unclear. This is a generally clear book, with a few things that are less-clear. The things that will probably need to be changed over time those things that change with social changes to language use, and the book has addressed gender-neutral language. The presentation of gustar as part of another two-verb construction is confusing for students because it is not a two-verb construction-the infinitive is acting as a noun in this structure. The book is quite accurate there are a few spelling/typo/grammar errors, but no more than are found in other texts. The book covers the main content of an introductory Spanish course: present and past tenses, basic vocabulary about school/family/food/work/travel, noun and pronoun use, and a quick (last chapter) overview of commands, subjunctive, future, and conditional. Reviewed by Linda Miller, Associate Professor, Tidewater Community College on 8/1/22 Journalism, Media Studies & Communications +.
