Book Description
As the best-selling introductory Spanish textbook in the United States,
Puntos de partida has long been a favorite of instructors across the country. For this new edition, the authors and editors of
Puntos have turned to those very instructors to help formulate a plan that would respond to the needs of a changing discipline. We reached out to more than 160 students and instructors across the country, and the result is a thoroughly revised edition both in appearance and content.
Puntos continues to provide the solid foundation in communicative language development that has become its hallmark. At the same time, instructor and student feedback have guided the development of the seventh edition in ways that enrich this foundation even more, and also bring to the materials a number of other important and exciting changes.
Customer Reviews:
okay book.......2007-10-05
The internet portion of this book lacks detail of how to follow for self
testing.
puntos de partida.......2007-09-21
the book is alright. I mean its not amazing. its plus side is that it comes with a website that will read you certain things and the answers to all the sections are in the back so you can check your work, but the truly big help comes from haveing a good profesor/a BUT the quia lab and workbook that are an extra 30(+) dollars EACH are the real key to learning this material....as if the book isnt expensive enough already.
Great!.......2007-09-16
I received the product quickly and it was just as described, in perfect condition. Thank you!
Required Textbook.......2007-04-11
I would like to see a spanish book with more explanation between english and spanish. Most books rely on pictures for translation and this book follows the same model. I guess it will serve the purpose, however.
Online Learning Center for Everyone--It's About Time!.......2007-02-19
I've owned this book and the 6th edition; the only difference there was modernizing photos and translations.
I found the book very useful, but I would like to see more transitions as one subject in a chapter changes to the next subject. If you have an instructor who transitions well, you won't have any problems. Going it alone, however, leaves you spending unnecessary time figuring out how to get from A to B. Still, especially if you have the workbook--you NEED the workbook no matter what--you'll learn well.
I'm thrilled to finally be able to get full access to a website with a used book--it's my favorite part of the whole thing!
Customer Reviews:
Puntos de Partida Lab Manual.......2007-09-22
This book was delivered to me very quickly and in very good condition. I am glad I purchased this book. It was a very good experience.
lab manual puntos de partida.......2006-03-15
on time delivery. book was in perfect shape!! I would order again from this seller.
Book Description
When
Puntos de partida first published in 1981 it introduced a new era in language materials and language instruction in this country through its hallmark focus on communicative language proficiency and the development of the four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
Puntos has established itself as one of the market leaders among introductory Spanish textbooks. In this 20th Anniversary Edition,
Puntos will continue to offer the most teacher- and student-friendly textbook on the market as well as a host of exciting new features, most notably a state-of-the-art Instructor's Edition.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive.......2003-12-09
This is the most comprehensive foreign language book I've seen. It's simple, a 6th grader could teach themselves Spanish with this book. Open it, read it, and memorize it. I had a terrible time with French and was not looking foward to learning Spanish, but I picked it up immediately as I went along with this book. When the semester was over, I spent the summer reading the rest of it at my leisure. As far as the other reviews go, I'm not sure what the problem was. It couldn't be explained any more clearly, perhaps they are moving too fast? Take a day for each page or something, whatever works. If you're not picking it up, it may be your study techniques and not the book. If you want extra practice, get the workbook. Both the workbook and the textbook have the answers to every practice exercise (of which there are an adequate amount) in the back of the book. Maybe the previous reviewers were unaware?
Excellent Text.......2003-07-05
Contrary to other reviews I find this textbook excellent. The chapters lead the student to learn Spanish with a minimal effort at a natural, comfortable pace. Recommended for beginners!
If you are trying to teach yourself ...........2003-02-26
then this book is NOT for you. I tried to teach myself Spanish (I didn't know any) and this book just did not work out because of its poor construction. The concepts are not clearly described and all too often I found myself asking why is this grammar like this or what is the difference between the different tenses. The examples are not very helpful either.
However, I took a private introductory class and then returned to this book. Here, the book has provided some value with its vocabulary which is grouped by themes (festivals, family, etc). So the book has some value for a beginner if you are also receiving extensive instruction from another source.
A poor excuse for a learning tool........2002-12-30
This book is touted as a beginners volume yet it fails to perform as specified. The contents are poorly written and few examples are given to help in the learning process. To further complicate the learning of a new language, Puntos de partida provides very little explanations and direction to ensure sufficient comprehension and understanding of the Spanish language. Unfortunantly, this review can speak for most Spanish text books on the market as my Universities Spanish program has realized. Puntos de partida will not help the beginner to learn Spanish. It will deter the beginner to seek further understanding and learning of the Spanish language. This is unfortunate.
boring.......1999-12-02
Could use some deals of interest in writing this book. Very boring and put's you to sleep
Customer Reviews:
Puntos de Partida Workbook.......2007-09-22
This book was delivered to me very quickly and in extremely good shape. I would buy books again!!! I had a very good experience.
Workbook to Accompany Puntos De Parida.......2000-05-27
This is a good workbook for reinforcing the materials in the textbook. There are different drills and interesting exercises to help learning Spanish.
Book Description
When
Puntos de partida first published in 1981 it introduced a new era in language materials and language instruction in this country through its hallmark focus on communicative language proficiency and the development of the four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
Puntos has established itself as one of the market leaders among introductory Spanish textbooks. In this 20th Anniversary Edition,
Puntos will continue to offer the most teacher- and student-friendly textbook on the market as well as a host of exciting new features, most notably a state-of-the-art Instructor's Edition.
Customer Reviews:
A great book- Puntos de Partida.......2004-01-04
I have used this book for three years with my students. It is the best Spanish text I have used. I only had the Teacher's edition and the cassettes and it worked marvelously. How much more if I had the other materials: Video,instructor's manual slide,etc.My students love this book. At the moment, I am looking at the Instructor's manual it's very supportive. At the High School level, this book can offer great reward for students doing the National Examination in my country. To conclude, my students left the course with more confidence after using the book. The book is authentic with up-to-date vocabulary and structures easy to use and understand. I hope to use it more in the future.
Excellent teaching tool.......2002-01-27
The book by itself would be lacking as another reviewer suggested. But it doesn't stand alone -- if you buy the package you get a lab manual, a workbook, audio CD's for vocabulary prep and for the lab work, and a software CD with more exercises. The lab manual works with audio CD's for listening & speaking related exercises, and the workbook has reading & writing exercises, plus if you do the software exercises and the additional exercises and quizzes on the website, you find you have learned the grammar and vocabulary of the chapter without having to resort to making your own flash cards or writing out sentences on your own. The volume of exercises is perfect. And the exercises in the workbook & lab manual have explanations of the purpose of the exercise, with lots of repetition. (e.g. "the purpose of this exercise is to listen for specific information. Don't get distracted by unfamiliar vocabulary").
I have not worked with other Spanish materials, but I have with German and Arabic and I think Puntos is excellent. Make sure you buy the whole package and not just the book.
Not the greatest teaching tool........2000-03-30
I found this book to be very difficult to follow. As a student the book jumps from one subject to the next with not much emphasis on vocabulary as I feel should be. The excercises given are obscure, and some are down-right useless. However, this book does give some extensive explinations on gramatics and usage of words.
This book is best for reviewing or referencing. Using this book as the only way to begin learning the spanish language not what it was made for.
Product Description
Instructor's edition. Introductory Spanish program.
Book Description
Supplementary Materials to Accompany Puntos de Partida
From the first edition to the present edition, one of the most important features of the Supplementary Materials is the built-in recycling of linguistic functions. In this edition besides the “Guided Writing” re-entry activities, and the “Communicative Goals” speaking practices, we have added a section called “Recycling of Major Linguistic Functions” which was previously in the Teacher’s Guide and as is now in the student Supplement. We have also added suggestions about how to incorporate student-initiated questions into picture-based activities. All activities have been updated to reflect the changes to the new edition of Puntos and current Hispanic popular culture.
What will you find in the new Supplementary Materials and the accompanying Teacher’s Guide?
• Communicative Goals and Grammatical Structures Checklists
• Pronunciation
• Listening Comprehension
• Grammar
• Chapter Reviews
• Integrative and Information Gap Activities
• Guided Writing
• Communicative Goals Practices
• Round Robin Grammar Monitor Activities
• Recycling of Major Linguistic Functions
• Games
The Supplementary Materials and Teacher’s Guide are meant, first and foremost, to be a time-saver when doing lesson plans. Here, in one manual, you will find a wide range of imaginative, classroom-tested materials and activities, designed by experienced teachers who have taught extensively with Puntos de partida. It is our earnest hope that this supplement and teacher’s guide will make teachers’ lives easier when planning classes, and that students find the materials interesting, enjoyable and beneficial.
Books:
- Reporting for the Media
- Spanish I - 2nd Rev. Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish with Pimsleur Language Programs (Comprehensive)
- Speak English Like an American (Book & Audio CD set)
- Speak in a Week!: See, Hear, Say & Learn Spanish: 4 week Set (Speak in a Week)
- Studies in Tape Reading (Fraser Contrary Opinion Library Book)
- Teach Yourself Russian Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (Teach Yourself . . . Complete Courses)
- Teaching Reading Sourcebook: Sourcebook for Kindergarten Through Eight Grade (Core Literacy Training Series)
- The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia: Third Edition
- The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
- The Golden Notebook: Perennial Classics edition (Perennial Classics)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Bringing Out the Best in People
- Wellington's Army: Uniforms of the British Soldier,1812-1815
- Schaum's Quick Guide to Business Formulas: 201 Decision-Making Tools for Business, Finance, and Acco
- The Films of Jack Nicholson
- Valuation and Pricing of Technology-Based Intellectual Property
- Wolf in Shadow
- Thomas Paine : Collected Writings : Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason /
- Financial Planning Models: Construction and Use
- The Kondratiev Cycle: A Generational Interpretation
- The World of Premchand: Selected Short Stories
Spanish
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Workbook to accompany Puntos de partida: An Invitation to Spanish
Laboratory Manual to accompany Puntos de partida: An Invitation to Spanish
Supplementary Material t/a Puntos de Partida
Vox Compact Spanish and English Dictionary
Workbook to accompany Puntos de partida
