Rush-Hour Spanish: Teach Yourself

Summary:

Specially written to be used on the move and to be stopped and started with ease, this series is ideal for use on the train, in the car, or around the house - in fact anywhere, any time.

By the end of this 4-hour, all audio course, the student will have a working vocabulary of some 400 essential words and phrases and will feel confident about speaking (and understanding!) Spanish.  Two bilingual coaches individually and jointly take students through this carefully structured, all-audio course with easy-to-understand texts, explanations, examples and speaking practice. No books are used. No 'homework' is required. Everything is learned by listening and speaking.

Following the highly successful method of her previous books, the material is presented in the same light-hearted and entertaining style which has made Elisabeth Smith a market leader in language learning for the last 12 years.

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  Specially written to be used while on the move - all-audio, no need to fiddle with controls, lots of built-in repetition

• Designed for effortless absorption - slow pace of learning, lots of examples and repeats to carry the student forward

• Concentration on core language and essential vocabulary - the 400 words and 50 everyday phrases equip the learner to deal with most situations

• Good, general introduction to the language - follow up with more traditional course, if required

• Author's proven track record - Elisabeth Smith has written many bestselling beginners' courses  and knows what to t

  
  

Table of Contents:
summary of contents
Disk 1
This disk takes the student from beginner to an impressive first level of communication on a vocabulary of 140 words. Modules include core verbs, auxiliary verbs, verb endings, words for greeting and meeting, going out for coffee and drinks, asking questions, numbers and telling the time. On the final track of disk 1 the student will be competent to deal with typical communication needs when abroad like having a basic conversation, booking accommodation, catching a bus, or calling a plumber.
Tracks
Introduction by author
Introduction of presenters/coaches
Building a word base
Hello – goodbye and the bit in the middle
What’s the problem- where’s the problem?
I want...
A handful of verbs
Let’s go for coffee and a ‘copa’
I’ll have... a tango
I can do it... I must do it
A couple of questions, a few numbers, what time?
You can say all this - and be impressed!
Disk 2
Bearing in mind language learners’ different levels of previous knowledge and language aptitude, disks 2 & 3 have several tracks for speaking practice. These will help the average learner to retain vocabulary and practise more speaking. Disk 2 covers 120 new words including more core verbs and the verb endings of he, she, it, we and they, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, numbers, more time and dates, words for eating out and shopping and more examples of final track communication competence.
Tracks
Let’s go for tapas...pizza, pasta or paella
Speaking drill for the keen
He has – what we want
Speaking practice for ‘senior moments’
How to say “they“, it” and “them”
Speaking drill for extra confidence
Shopping without tears
Watching the clock
Speaking practice for fluency
The preposition game
Road distances in Spain, the big numbers
You can now say all this – and be amazed!
Disk 3
The word base grows by another 90 words and includes such word groups as days of the week, months and colours. Other modules include the past and future tense, pronouns, communication needs when using public transport and dealing with illness. Two more tracks are assigned to speaking practice and one to understanding rapid Spanish when spoken to you.
Tracks
Getting about - not lost
Calendar words and colours
Speaking drill for achievers
I like it – I don’t
A voice from the past and the future
Rapidly spoken Spanish – get the keywords
Speaking practice for speed
Wrapping up the verbs
More pronouns and other small necessities
First aid from the pharmacy
Self assessment – listen how far you’ve come!
Disk 4
A final 70 words bring the total word base to 420. This is a good size vocabulary which copes with all basic language needs without memory overload. This disk consolidates what has been learned so far and includes some special features on Spanish life, customs and culture.
Tracks
Rapid Spanish - overheard and understood
The Spanish weather
In case of accident
The ‘deadly sins’ of the Spanish
The top 12 Spanish tourist attractions
The 50 most useful sentences of this course
Non-stop speaking practice for high achievers
Your final self assessment and certificate
The booklet to accompany this course
How to get the best from this course; Pronunciation guide; Track titles; List of all 420 words and short sentences; 50-question quiz; Certificate

About the Author(s):

Elisabeth Smith has published over 30 books, CDs and DVDs in 11 different languages. She has taught enthusiastic audiences all over the world. Her unique, entertaining courses are international bestsellers with over one million copies sold.

Readership:
Beginner and false beginner adults