Atando Cabos : Curso Intermedio De Espanol

by María González-Aguilar

Focusing on the significance of culture and interpersonal communication in learning a foreign language, this book is comprised of high-interest, relevant themes that motivate critical thinking and discussion. Concentrating on the development of basic skills—listening, speaking, reading and writing, with an equal emphasis on fluency and accuracy—this book demonstrates to readers how to express, interpret, and negotiate meaning in context while learning to analyze, compare, contrast, and understand Hispanic cultures. For professionals with a career or interest in linguistics, foreign language education, and/or international communication.

Genres: Spanish Literature, Textbooks, Reference

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Dustin Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used Atando cabos and its associated workbook in my college Spanish 3 and 4 classes back in the '00s. It's a good intermediate textbook. It doesn't cover too much of the same ground of beginning courses, integrates beginner Spanish into its lessons, and finds the right difficulty balance--challenging without being so hard the student gives up. The reason I deducted one star is the because of how much of the authors' politics were smuggled into the lessons. Several chapters have a Social Justice agenda, and one "Ventana al mundo" section praises the Cuban healthcare system. The student has to parrot the authors' political views to complete some of the assignments.

(That Cuba's healthcare system is one of the best in the world is probably the country's most successful piece of propaganda; even people who lean right of center begrudgingly repeat that "fact" as if it's some interesting bit of trivia. An acquaintance of mine, however, was an MD in Havana, havin' a degree from the best university in Cuba. He said to be a doctor in Cuba, you have to lie to your patients about their prognosis and then prescribe medications you know won't work. The country did especially poorly during COVID because the hospitals didn't even have a source of clean water. He eventually quit his job as a doctor because he couldn't take lying to his patients any longer, and became an English teacher instead for a fraction of the pay.)

If you can get past the tiring politics in a few chapters and stick with the book, however, your Spanish will improve markedly.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this out of the library for self-study. It was fine. Ultimately I enrolled in a class so I could practice conversation more.