The Ultimate Spanish 101: Complete First-Year Course

For those who would like to get the audio portion, there are QR codes on the inside of the back cover. Take a photo of the QR code that applies to you and you get to download it.

I just got the book. It starts, on page one, with NO INSTRUCTIONS on how to get the audio part of the book. Turns out you have to download McGraw Hill's language app, then select Spanish, then play around with it for a while to get to pronunciations. A little guidance would be a BIG HELP!!! It looks like McGraw Hill has become so inwardly focused that they can't conceive anyone new reading their books i.e., those who do not already know how it all works. Most books have a section that tells readers how to get to all the resources mentioned in the book. I may go back and change my rating but I'm just astounded at how clueless McGraw Hill has been on this problem. Dr. Gordon, as a writer, I hope you read this and give MH a gentle thrashing. Otherwise, at first glance, looks like an excellent book.

This book explains grammar in an easy to understand way, and the organization is nice. However, I have a huuuge problem with the way the vocabulary is laid out, in the fact that it is not listed at all. It kind of randomly gives some words here and there and from then on the book assumes you know them. Whereas in most language books, each chapter or section will list all of the vocab you should study for the chapter so you could learn them and have an easier time studying the grammar, this one has them all over without any proper introduction. I thought maybe the app would at least list all of the chapter vocab, but it really doesn’t. The flash cards section for the vocab of the app has no shuffle or voice function also, so it’s pretty useless. If every chapter just had a simple list of all of the new vocab introduced in the chapter that you will from then on be expected to know, it would be infinitely better.

I was considering using this book for a homeschool Spanish I class that I teach. I like the layout but it is pretty fast paced in order to cram all the information into one book. I would actually try something more basic for a complete beginner. I might use this for a Spanish 2 class. The first part of the book would be a great review and the second half could be used for the class. Either way, I recommend supplementing with additional vocabulary. All in all, I think it is a valuable resource and could be effective if a student is self-disciplined and motivated to learn. Be sure to access the online resources - flashcards, quizzes, and other practice activities really round out this "course."

This book seems to be very nicely laid out with information. Lots of grammar, vocabulary, and dialogue. Very happy with it!

Just got the book here on Amazon, looks great. But there seems to be no mention of where I can get the audio's! (I checked Audible, but no). And, there was no mention of the audio's not being included in the purchase, even though they are mentioned in the description! So now I'm stuck with a book and no audio's. Feels like I wasted my money on this one.

Love the order progresión of each lessons. Lots of opportunities to review. Order this book for my intermediate Spanish students which I tutor.On the alphabet there is one letter missing after C is Ch “che” then you have L, LL, N,Ñ , R, RR.

I am really happy with the layout of this book and the building that it does to help you understand the fundamentals of Spanish. The app that goes along will let you hear the words in the analysis and dialog sections to help you annunciate properly. Everything you need is In the book and the app to help you learn Spanish.