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World War II in Simple Spanish
***FOR LOW- TO HIGH-INTERMEDIATE LEARNERS***
****COLOUR EDITION****
Improve your Spanish and expand your vocabulary with topics that matter.
When it comes to mastering a foreign language, reading around your interests makes all the difference. But finding books designed for language learners can be hard! This book fixes that. For the first time, you'll learn to improve your Spanish while reading about the history of World War II.
"I love Olly's work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Told through short, manageable chapters in intermediate Spanish, you'll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to speak about the topics you care about.
World War II in Simple Spanish gives you all that you can wish for from a real history book without the tough academic terminology which may be difficult for intermediate learners. The story does not focus only on the main events of the conflict, but rather it includes the less-known aspects of WWII from the famous battlefields to the social aspects of life between 1939 to 1946 to the international Spanish-speaking stage.
Over 40 engaging and informative chapters, you'll immerse yourself in the history of WWII and master Spanish in the process.
Here's what you'll The chapters are written in Castilian Spanish. However, since the text uses mostly "neutral" Spanish, you'll have plenty to learn, whether you're learning the Spanish of Mexico, Colombia, or Costa Rica. Created by Olly Richards, language teacher and author, World War II in Simple Spanish gives you an experience in real Spanish that you won't find anywhere else. You'll be better prepared for using Spanish in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in Spanish!
SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!
"[Olly's] techniques have made a world of difference. I was able to learn more in 9 months with his techniques than I did in the 6+ years in school" - Courtney Baird, successful language learner
****COLOUR EDITION****
Improve your Spanish and expand your vocabulary with topics that matter.
When it comes to mastering a foreign language, reading around your interests makes all the difference. But finding books designed for language learners can be hard! This book fixes that. For the first time, you'll learn to improve your Spanish while reading about the history of World War II.
"I love Olly's work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers
Told through short, manageable chapters in intermediate Spanish, you'll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to speak about the topics you care about.
World War II in Simple Spanish gives you all that you can wish for from a real history book without the tough academic terminology which may be difficult for intermediate learners. The story does not focus only on the main events of the conflict, but rather it includes the less-known aspects of WWII from the famous battlefields to the social aspects of life between 1939 to 1946 to the international Spanish-speaking stage.
Over 40 engaging and informative chapters, you'll immerse yourself in the history of WWII and master Spanish in the process.
Here's what you'll The chapters are written in Castilian Spanish. However, since the text uses mostly "neutral" Spanish, you'll have plenty to learn, whether you're learning the Spanish of Mexico, Colombia, or Costa Rica. Created by Olly Richards, language teacher and author, World War II in Simple Spanish gives you an experience in real Spanish that you won't find anywhere else. You'll be better prepared for using Spanish in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in Spanish!
SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!
"[Olly's] techniques have made a world of difference. I was able to learn more in 9 months with his techniques than I did in the 6+ years in school" - Courtney Baird, successful language learner
298 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2021
123 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 2, 2023
Un libro muy simple (sus principales referencias son Wikipedia y Encyclopedia Britannica) pero no pretende ser un gran recurso histórico, sino más bien una forma de practicar el español. Me fue fácil de leer, sin embargo aprendí unas cuantas palabras y frases nuevas. Me hubiera gustado que haya un poco más de repaso espaciado de las nuevas palabras, porque al completar el libro no me acuerdo ni qué palabras eran. Sin embargo por lo general aunque no es una gran obra literaria, hace lo que pretende hacer y estoy satisfecho.
July 17, 2022
If you’re reading this to learn Spanish I think it is quite helpful. As an historical review it is a bit superficial although I did learn some new things. Richard’s approach is to read without looking up vocabulary constantly although if you are using a Kindle it is easy to take a few peaks without interrupting the flow of the story. I’ve been using some graded readers and even though this one isn’t graded it is written in what he calls simple Spanish. I would put it at around the A2 ti B1 level.
March 23, 2023
This is my second book by Ollie Richards, and my first by him in Spanish (the other’s in German.) His books don’t give you fluency (no book can), but what they do is give one the impression of fluency while they’re working through the book. It’s one thing to do homework exercises, or work on practicing dialogues regarding basic situations like ordering an airline ticket or food off a menu.
It’s quite another to read paragraphs and chapters of text that seamlessly incorporate new words in such a way as to let one achieve a real rhythm practicing another language. That’s probably the best way to describe his books: a rhythmic approach to language acquisition. It allows one to work on their skills—both learning new ones and practicing already acquired knowledge—in a way that flows and unconsciously nudges you to absorb the music of the language.
Indeed, while I was practicing someone eavesdropping said, “You sound really good.” I did, but that’s only because of Ollie’s method employed of giving one some skill and a lot of confidence as they move along in their efforts. It helps encourage one in their study of language, which is important, as anyone who’s ever tried to learn a new language knows it can be a very, very frustrating experience. You study sometimes for months or even years and then the first time you practice on a native speaker they just squint and tell you to say it in English.
Again, to really learn another language you have to be around people who actually speak it. Books will help you in your efforts to approach competence and even fluency (maybe, as some people never achieve that in foreign languages, even after living abroad.)
As to the contents themselves, most of the information regarding the various battles, treaties, and major events of the Second World War were already known to me before reading. That’s alright, as I came for the language and stayed for the history. That said, the little sidebars and bits of trivia peppering each chapter did actually tell me things I didn’t know about World War II. And everyone except for well-versed history professors can always use refreshers on exact dates and estimated figures for things like casualties and economic costs of various projects and catastrophes.
Ultimately this gets my highest recommendation for those wanting to learn Spanish—really learn it—as opposed to getting enough rudiments to ask where the bathroom is.
It’s quite another to read paragraphs and chapters of text that seamlessly incorporate new words in such a way as to let one achieve a real rhythm practicing another language. That’s probably the best way to describe his books: a rhythmic approach to language acquisition. It allows one to work on their skills—both learning new ones and practicing already acquired knowledge—in a way that flows and unconsciously nudges you to absorb the music of the language.
Indeed, while I was practicing someone eavesdropping said, “You sound really good.” I did, but that’s only because of Ollie’s method employed of giving one some skill and a lot of confidence as they move along in their efforts. It helps encourage one in their study of language, which is important, as anyone who’s ever tried to learn a new language knows it can be a very, very frustrating experience. You study sometimes for months or even years and then the first time you practice on a native speaker they just squint and tell you to say it in English.
Again, to really learn another language you have to be around people who actually speak it. Books will help you in your efforts to approach competence and even fluency (maybe, as some people never achieve that in foreign languages, even after living abroad.)
As to the contents themselves, most of the information regarding the various battles, treaties, and major events of the Second World War were already known to me before reading. That’s alright, as I came for the language and stayed for the history. That said, the little sidebars and bits of trivia peppering each chapter did actually tell me things I didn’t know about World War II. And everyone except for well-versed history professors can always use refreshers on exact dates and estimated figures for things like casualties and economic costs of various projects and catastrophes.
Ultimately this gets my highest recommendation for those wanting to learn Spanish—really learn it—as opposed to getting enough rudiments to ask where the bathroom is.
February 9, 2025
After reading only 5 pages I got impression like this book was written in Moscow. Why? Becaus the russian role in the war is glorified.
To start with, Soviet union was not equal to russia. Multiple nationes were enslaved inside soviet union and were forced to participate in the war.
Most of the war actions and damages happened on the territories of modern days Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. One more fact ignored by the book.
And in addition, soviets were allies with nazi Germany until 1941. Soviets brutally attacked Finland, Poland, Baltic states, Moldova and committed multiple atrocities during the first two years if the war. This part is shanefully underrepresented in the book.
It is horrible, how in the book, all the citizens of Soviet union are called russians. In his words, femin in 30th in Ukraine killed million of russians, while in reality it was an act of genocide against ukrainians. This book is a shame....
To start with, Soviet union was not equal to russia. Multiple nationes were enslaved inside soviet union and were forced to participate in the war.
Most of the war actions and damages happened on the territories of modern days Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. One more fact ignored by the book.
And in addition, soviets were allies with nazi Germany until 1941. Soviets brutally attacked Finland, Poland, Baltic states, Moldova and committed multiple atrocities during the first two years if the war. This part is shanefully underrepresented in the book.
It is horrible, how in the book, all the citizens of Soviet union are called russians. In his words, femin in 30th in Ukraine killed million of russians, while in reality it was an act of genocide against ukrainians. This book is a shame....
August 15, 2023
I really like that there are books for Spanish learners that talk about some interesting non-fiction topics such as World War II.
World War II in Simple Spanish was a very interesting read and gave a good overview of World War II the effect it had on different areas of society. I also found the role South America played in the war because it is typically not a topic that is talked much about.
I also appreciate that at the end of every chapter, there is a vocabulary list of key words which really helps with my Spanish learning.
I thoroughly recommend this book for any Spanish advanced beginner/lower intermediate learner who wants to read something other than kids books.
World War II in Simple Spanish was a very interesting read and gave a good overview of World War II the effect it had on different areas of society. I also found the role South America played in the war because it is typically not a topic that is talked much about.
I also appreciate that at the end of every chapter, there is a vocabulary list of key words which really helps with my Spanish learning.
I thoroughly recommend this book for any Spanish advanced beginner/lower intermediate learner who wants to read something other than kids books.
August 18, 2025
Aprecio este libro mucho por dos razones. Primero, este libro fue el nivel perfecto para desafiarme pero aún podía entenderlo. También, me gustaron los datos nuevos sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Por ejemplo, aprendí que Brasil envió una división de fuerzas expedicionarias a Italia para luchar con los estadounidenses contra los italianos y alemanes.
January 14, 2026
Este audiolibro fue útil para mejorar mis habilidades de escucha y también mi vocabulario en español, pero el contenido era muy básico y de conocimiento común.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews