Joseph J. Keenan

This is a very helpful book for those struggling with conversational Spanish. It covers a lot of common stuff that does not make it into ordinary textbooks, or at least not to the degree that it is covered here. For instance, the word 'pues'. You hear it all the time, but I don't even think I knew it from my (limited) formal study. He discusses the word in its various nuances and makes it possible to understand it when you hear it, and even insert it into your own conversations in a way that show more sounds natural. He also does this for many other words and phrases, of course. The basic strategies and approaches to the language that are offered here are above all practical aids to conversational Spanish. Once you have your basic vocabulary and grammar, I do not know of a more useful book to help one along the path. Plus which, he is an entertaining writer, so you can have fun while you learn. show less

Delightful read and, surprisingly, a real page-turner. I ordered it on the Net, received it Saturday and finished it this morning (Tuesday 18.11.2008). It is a book I will reread and delve into to absorb its good lessons. At the moment I savour it for its stories and style, and for the author's urbanity and humour, somewhat in the way that I enjoy in other books reading about "el gran ¡pum!" (the author's term, p.187) without really understanding it well enough to reproduce what I've read.

This is a very helpful book though it has an annoying habbit of assuming you are in some foreign country--hello i need spanish just to work in my library here in the USA. Other than that i found it very helpful in boasting my rusty college spanish, and finding the Right terms.

"Beginner's Spanish" is not Spanish 1 or 2, according to the author, but really any level you can reach at school. The author, who has lived in Latin America and is constantly trying to reach the level of a native speaker, is an excellent Spanish teacher because he not only knows Spanish but he also understand how English-speakers think. This book is an excellent reference guide for all the aspects of Spanish that might challenge an English-speaker.