USO De La Gramatica Espanola: Nivel Elemental

There is truth in all the reviews below. On the negative side, this is a Spanish publication totally in Spanish and will be of little use to someone who speaks no Spanish and doesn't have a teacher to guide them.

However, I would probably put any book on its own in this category if it is to be used on its own. Learning a language requires listening and speaking as well as reading and writing.

Where this book succeeds is in supporting students who are learning Spanish through some other method. It is particularly good for those who are using modern communicative methods of learning but wish to have a bit more grammar support.

The formula is simple.
For each item of grammar:
1. a few examples are given in a cartoon or dialogue,
2. then the rules are laid out along with more examples,
3. and finally there are excercises to see if you have grasped the context.

This formula is virtually the same as the bestselling tried and tested "Murphy" grammars used for teaching English.

If you are learning the Spanish "classroom language" with your teacher, then having a grammar completely in Spanish is also an advantage as it stops you from switching backwards and forwards between English and Spanish in your head. (The same applies for foreign learners of English, using "Murphy").

To the student who had trouble using this book, I can only suggest that they were either not getting enough support from their teacher in introducing the topics, or they were hoping to be able to use this book without the teacher.

So, if you are looking for supplementary material to help you practice the grammar you are currently learning, or revising grammar you have formerly learnt, I cannot recommend this book more highly. If you are looking for a comprehensive Spanish course to use on your own, look elsewhere (Spanish (Hugo Complete CD Language Course)).

And finally, if you are buying the book to use on your own don't forget to buy the USO De La Gramatica Espanola: "Clave" answer book for the same level as well. But if your teacher is providing support, you may be better off without the key as it will only tempt you to cheat.

I live in Spain and have attended Spanish classes in the local library here. The local government actually give this book away free to students as they believe it is the best book for foreigners to learn Spanish with.

I have to agree with the previous review. I have been been frustrated with other textbooks which do not offer enough examples to practice with. Although, I don't think it should be used as a very first Spanish text book(if you need everything explained in English)but I would highly recommend it and am now going to buy the intermediate level book.

I completely disagree with the previous reviewer of this book - it is one of the best Spanish textbooks I have ever owned, and it is only as I've progressed with my Spanish that I've been able to fully appreciate how cleverly it is put together. You probably do need a bit of prior knowledge before using it, but this series is actually designed to help students through the DELE courses (Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language) which are aimed at students of all nationalities. It would make no sense for it to be written in English! You actually improve your understanding of Spanish as you try to read it, so even though it is a chore this really helps to accelerate your learning. Also, each section starts with a little cartoon to help you make sense of it. Finally, all three books in the series come with a corresponding answer book, or "Clave". The books themselves are a little on the dear side, but the "Claves" are really cheap. I would say this book is perfect for someone who is really serious about learning Spanish, and not for someone who needs it all explained for them - in English...

I don't know WHY this book landed up being the selected homework book for my Spanish course. A more difficult, unhelpful language book I have never come across! The instructions are in Spanish (is that IDEAL, when it's meant to be for beginners?) and require translation before you can actually start to answer the questions. There is NO answer book, so you can't even check your answers - and appreciating that providing the answers allows some students to cheat, it's kinda handy to be able to check them when you're submitting a portfolio of your work for assessment. This book forces the student, I think, to work absolutely blind. Doing my homework has been one long, frustrating nightmare which required assistance from numerous other Spanish grammar books and dictionaries, to try and unravel what it was I was expected to do. This book has earned itself a secure place on my 'most hated books' list, and I can only hope that no others from this series crop up again in the future.