5 stars (Excellent for beginner or refresher course) - This course is excellent, either as an introduction to Spanish or as a way to refresh or sharpen your skills if you are already somewhat familiar with it. There are three levels, and each level consists of three 60-minute CDs. (You can buy each level separately, but getting the whole set is cheaper than buying each level separately.) Each CD is sub-divided into 10 or 11 small lessons presenting a single topic. The first lessons start with very simple vocabulary, then later lessons progress to simple phrases using that vocabulary, then simple sentences in the present tense, then more advanced vocabulary and phrases, and then the most common verb tenses and moods (present, past, future, compound tenses (I HAVE GONE), conditional (I WOULD GO IF . . . ), imperative (GO AWAY!), and subjunctive (I DOUBT THAT HE'LL GO.). The range of subject matter also expands gradually. The first level covers what might be called "survival skills," the really basic topics you need to know right away, like transportation, money, directions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, telling time, and numbers. Later lessons, especially in the second and third levels, include more advanced vocabulary, more complex sentences, and more complex situations. All lessons use the same methodology - the target word, phrase, or sentence is given in English, followed by a pause for your response, then the Spanish translation is given, followed by another pause, followed by a repetition of the Spanish translation and another pause. So for each target word, phrase, or sentence, you'll have three chances to say it in Spanish; and I can tell you from personal experience that this constant repetition works very well. Playing the CDs in your car or while jogging (my personal favorite), is a painless but effective way to learn a new language or review a previously learned language. Each of the three levels includes a 50-page booklet that contains a ver... Penton Overseas :: Translating & Interpreting :: Spanish :: Foreign Language Study :: Audio Adult- Language :: Audio - Language :: Henry N Raymond :: :: Spanish Complete- The Complete Language Course - 3 Level Set (Learn in Your Car)
