Talk Spanish 1 (Book + CD): The ideal Spanish course for absolute beginners

This and the related grammar book are excellent, and in my experience of learning and using study aids for Spanish and Italian, offer BY FAR the best material around. All the BBC Talk series language books seem to follow the same format, which after a gentle introduction, covers most areas of general conversation (including professional/business) split into discrete easy to follow sessions with audio exercises. My only criticism would be that the grammar book has to be bought separately. I learn through hearing and applying but also learning the basic language structure so I can improvise and not just repeat. The book with this CD does not cover a huge amount of grammar (although it's enough to get by, and I know some people don't want the grammar) and as a grammar reference it's poor. Combining this book with the grammar book or at least key areas as a reference appendix would make this fantastic. However, I still give this 5 stars as it's clearly laid out and a lot easier to work through better than others I have seen.

My initial Spanish learning was via the excellent BBC Mi Vida Loca, but I am aware that another source of learning would aid my progress. Spanish Steps looked promising, but I could not bear the thought of using it with a clunky cd player. It just becomes painful! But this Kindle version is ideal - all the audio parts are embedded in the text next to the exercise they refer to - excellent! And for the answers, if needed, an instant link is provided to the answer pages, with an equally quick link back again. Really, level 1 is all most people will need. It covers all the basics needed for a more independent visit to Spain, and the Spanish people really do appreciate you trying to converse instead of speaking SLOW and LOUD! Only 4 stars? Unfortunately, Adobe have decided that no one shall be exposed to the dangers of Flash Player, no matter what (thanks for that.....) so all the embedded video clips will not play on my iPad. Apart from that, this is an excellent and usable learning resource - recommended.

Bought this set to use in my spanish nightschool and although havn't used the CD's yet (they are used in nightschool, so I could always use at home if I wanted), the book and CD's do work very well together and make learning easy. A very good price as well as have seen same thing for sale in Waterstones for £15.00 only 2 days ago! If I decide to learn any other languages then I will purchase the same type of product as is very user friendly.

I would highly recommend this BBC course. It's a shame that it's now quite hard to get hold of this CD version, but it's worth getting. The course isn't just 'holiday 'spanish' as a series of phrases, it actually starts you out with verbs etc and allows you to move on to the Intermediate course if you want. The CD's provide some excellent listening practice as well.

This is a good book and discs, but I feel that you wouldn't be able to manage unless you are having lessons with a teacher knowing Spanish. I am taking a beginners course, and still find some of it hard to follow!!!

Purchased this as a learning aid for my Spanish course at Stoke Park CC. It's easy to follow and understand, the only thing I fond hard at first was the speed they talk at but once you have learnt a few words you begin to pick out what they are tling about. Its a good purchase well worth the money spent.

Bought this to use on a U3A course. It is very good for absolute beginners. It won't bog you down in grammar but you will have to work hard learning the vocabulary. The cd tracks are excellent for listening to Spanish spoken by spaniards but they do talk very quickly in the little scenarios created to test your understanding of the "key phrases" which are spoken more slowly. In a group going quite slowly I have found the course very good but without the support of the group meeting once a week and the teacher giving additional help I may have lost motivation. Recently went to Spain (which I love) and used a few words and phrases which were understood!

Like many Brits I go to Spain regularly for holidays and winter breaks but last time I moved away from the popular resorts where most Spanish people did not speak English. This soon brought home to me the need to learn the basics, ordering food, shopping etc. so I decided to try and learn useful everyday Spanish and this product does the job. Never mind the background music, if you want to learn the basics this will most certainly do it for you.

Pense que en vez de una guia habia temas completos con actividades de gramatica. No estoy muy contenta con el producto.

I am able to use some of the simple dialogs for teaching beginning adult seniors. It works well for me.

Ideal course if you need a little Spanish just to get by on a short holiday or some such. Despite fast audio, which is a GOOD thing so you get used to real Spanish, you'll really like this