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5-Minute Spanish Short Stories: Advanced Beginner to Upper Intermediate
Ever wondered what Christmas is like in Venezuela? What about the famous Holy Week in Spain? Or a typical asado evening in Argentina?
Cultural knowledge is an essential part of any language learning. It is the backbone of a language’s personality and the main ingredient to a language’s unique flavor. It is no different in the case of the oh-so-diverse Spanish. What means baby in one part of the Hispanic world might mean bus in another (we’re looking at you, guagua), and what is considered socially acceptable in one might be a cultural offense in another.
Written by native speakers from different parts of the Hispanic world, this book
✓ over 20 short stories to give readers a glimpse of the Hispanic culture
✓ an extensive list of colloquial Spanish terms and expressions
✓ cultural explanation or clarification where needed
✓ a series of simple questions after each story to test readers’ comprehension (output is just as important as input!)
and more!
Add this book to your collection of Spanish learning tools and join us in discovering the colorful culture of the Hispanic world! ¡Leamos en español!
Cultural knowledge is an essential part of any language learning. It is the backbone of a language’s personality and the main ingredient to a language’s unique flavor. It is no different in the case of the oh-so-diverse Spanish. What means baby in one part of the Hispanic world might mean bus in another (we’re looking at you, guagua), and what is considered socially acceptable in one might be a cultural offense in another.
Written by native speakers from different parts of the Hispanic world, this book
✓ over 20 short stories to give readers a glimpse of the Hispanic culture
✓ an extensive list of colloquial Spanish terms and expressions
✓ cultural explanation or clarification where needed
✓ a series of simple questions after each story to test readers’ comprehension (output is just as important as input!)
and more!
Add this book to your collection of Spanish learning tools and join us in discovering the colorful culture of the Hispanic world! ¡Leamos en español!
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2021
43 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 25, 2021
Language Flavors of the Spanish-Speaking World
I have read and reviewed a fair number of books that help teach foreign languages. This book has one unusual aspect that will make it a real treat for those learning Spanish and who are interested in the greater Latinx world. The publisher has put together a book of short stories in Spanish written by native speakers from all over the Spanish-speaking world. Of course, Spain and Mexico are highlighted, but you'll also read stories by inhabitants of smaller Central and South American countries like Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Each chapter is set up the same: the story in Spanish, vocabulary of the story’s bolded words, a summary of the story in English, and questions in Spanish. I particularly liked the vocabulary section as it included explanations of the cultural aspects of words, if they had such—like for regional foods, slang, or terms of endearment—for the particular countries. In fact, I wish the vocabulary sections were more extensive to not only aid comprehension of the stories, but to also give us more fascinating cultural information. I feel like the publisher, unfortunately, missed a few opportunities I’ve seen in other language-learning books, like having a full translation of the story into English (not just a summary) and a translation of the questions into English. Even if translations aren't word for word, seeing the comparisons can certainly add to knowledge. In the introduction, the publisher doesn't explicitly state this could be used for immersive language-learning—though it could—and in fact, actually encourages the learner to use outside dictionaries, grammar books, and Spanish language learning websites. This book is certainly for the advanced beginner or intermediate Spanish language student. If you want to get a taste of the cultures and language variants of Spanish-speaking countries, this book will certainly help you do so.
3.5 rounded up to 4 for the multicultural aspect.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I have read and reviewed a fair number of books that help teach foreign languages. This book has one unusual aspect that will make it a real treat for those learning Spanish and who are interested in the greater Latinx world. The publisher has put together a book of short stories in Spanish written by native speakers from all over the Spanish-speaking world. Of course, Spain and Mexico are highlighted, but you'll also read stories by inhabitants of smaller Central and South American countries like Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Each chapter is set up the same: the story in Spanish, vocabulary of the story’s bolded words, a summary of the story in English, and questions in Spanish. I particularly liked the vocabulary section as it included explanations of the cultural aspects of words, if they had such—like for regional foods, slang, or terms of endearment—for the particular countries. In fact, I wish the vocabulary sections were more extensive to not only aid comprehension of the stories, but to also give us more fascinating cultural information. I feel like the publisher, unfortunately, missed a few opportunities I’ve seen in other language-learning books, like having a full translation of the story into English (not just a summary) and a translation of the questions into English. Even if translations aren't word for word, seeing the comparisons can certainly add to knowledge. In the introduction, the publisher doesn't explicitly state this could be used for immersive language-learning—though it could—and in fact, actually encourages the learner to use outside dictionaries, grammar books, and Spanish language learning websites. This book is certainly for the advanced beginner or intermediate Spanish language student. If you want to get a taste of the cultures and language variants of Spanish-speaking countries, this book will certainly help you do so.
3.5 rounded up to 4 for the multicultural aspect.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
March 19, 2022
Great Medium Level Book
This is a great compilation of short stories in Spanish. There is an emphasis on learning slang of the various Spanish speaking cultures. Summary in English is helpful if the story gets a bit complicated. Going back and rereading several times helps reinforce vocabulary. Questions at the end also add another learning opportunity.
This is a great compilation of short stories in Spanish. There is an emphasis on learning slang of the various Spanish speaking cultures. Summary in English is helpful if the story gets a bit complicated. Going back and rereading several times helps reinforce vocabulary. Questions at the end also add another learning opportunity.
September 29, 2021
Interesting and clever, has something for both adults and children. Its a good learning resource, but also just simply a fun book to have. It manages everything just right I think, just enough culture, just enough vocabulary diversity. Really well done and good!
October 6, 2021
Trying to learn Spanish
Learning Spanish for some of us is an uphill task, I am trying to translate some Spanish manuscripts to Swahili for my students , so anything to help me improve is highly appreciated.
Learning Spanish for some of us is an uphill task, I am trying to translate some Spanish manuscripts to Swahili for my students , so anything to help me improve is highly appreciated.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews