Reddit mentions of Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

I would start with a beginner Spanish book that explains basic grammar and pronunciation. Maybe something like this

Learn what sounds certain letters make. e.g.

• 'll' sounds like a 'y' so llama sounds like yama
  
  
• ñ sounds like a "ny" so Español sounds like Espanyol
  
  
• etc.
  
  Then keep slowly adding new vocab/translating through Duolingo, while discovering new stuff like ser vs. estar and how to conjugate verbs
  
  Other resources I've been using include
  
  
• Pimsleur (expensive but your library might have or sail the seven seas) It's all audio so I listen to it in the car, doing dishes or at the gym
  
  
• Coffee Break Spanish - Audio only podcasts
  
  
• Memrise - attaining new vocab
  
  
• Some work books from Amazon like Spanish Conversation & Spanish Verb Tenses.
  
  After this you enter the intermediate category
  
  
• read some easy Spanish books
  
  
• start writing 100 words a day like random thoughts, what you're going to do today, etc. don't be afraid to make mistakes
  
  
• start watching shows or movies in spanish, first with subtitles and then without. I've been really liking Extr@ Spanish. It's like a 2002 Friends style sitcom aimed at high school students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pggZV0ETjI&list=PL-wlhjBlJMB9Hlva6V5Fd_1NWUeJ3IkCX
  
  
  
  
  
  

Right now I'm using Easy Spanish Step by Step and Pimsleur mostly. I will sometimes listen to Language transfer or watch youtube teachers and lastly I will use duolingo during my train ride in the morning or when I just want a short break from work.

So far Pimsleur helps a ton with actually listening to and speaking the language, while the book gives me a more robust understanding of the actual grammar and empowers me to form my own thoughts. All the sources help expose me to common grammar.

The last thing I do is when I think things I'll often try to see if I can figure out how to say it in spanish just in my head.

One tip for using duolingo though that's helped my learning, for the statements in spanish, try not to look at the phone and listen first and try to understand in your head before you look at the phone at all. If you can't make out the words with just listening (or when a new word is introduced) look only at the statement, not the answer portion and try understanding again. Generally try to avoid looking at the answer portion because usually I've found the answer to be obvious which is unhelpful. Translate in your head first, then select an answer. But always remember that it's not a primary resource. I try to get at least a half hour of spanish every day and I don't include duolingo time in that.

For a grammar book, I would suggest either the Practice Makes Perfect Spanish series, since they have a lot of different workbooks on different subjects. They have one called Basic Spanish which targets beginners: link

Also, there's the Easy Spanish Step by Step series: link

Both have exercises, vocabulary and answer keys to everything so for written practice, they can be pretty helpful!

I actually want to learn Spanish. It would be so helpful in the healthcare field.

This would help! or This

Spanish song

Funny

I really like Easy Spanish: Step by Step. There's a lot of great vocabulary and exercises (if you're into that), and short stories to read that if you're following along you should be able to comprehend entirely. Oh! and it's cheap!

https://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Step--Step-Barbara-Bregstein/dp/0071463380/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8


you can get this used on amazon

I recommend the step by step series.

https://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Step-Step-Barbara-Bregstein/dp/0071463380

There's an easy and advanced one. Both really cheap. I finished the easy one right before I went to a language school and it gave me a really good base.

They might generalize some things, but still give a good run down of grammar topics and any need-to-know exceptions. The book also introduces the subjunctive relatively early, which I think helped with my understanding of it.

• Teach Yourself Spanish (Latin or España)
  
• Colloquial Spanish (Latin or España)
  
• Easy Spanish Step by Step (I think it's Latin American only)
  
• Assimil Spanish with Ease (España only)

Im currently going through Easy Spanish Step-by Step by Barbara Bregstein. It has pretty decent explanations with exercises that follow. They are decently priced on amazon.

I would also suggest the library. Mine has a lot of audio books including pimsleur, subscription to Mango languages free for members and tons of other resources.

This is the first one:
https://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Step-Step-Barbara-Bregstein/dp/0071463380/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524764568&sr=8-3&keywords=easy+spanish

I also bought the second book but have not started it:
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Spanish-Step-Step-Accelerated/dp/0071768734/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0071768734&pd_rd_r=QHCHPW7S4D9WRY7E7J42&pd_rd_w=lSsan&pd_rd_wg=HDnwj&psc=1&refRID=QHCHPW7S4D9WRY7E7J42

I also bought this book to help with verbs because verbs are a huge part of spanish
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Spanish-Review-Practice-Second/dp/0071797831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524764647&sr=1-1&keywords=The+ultimate+spanish+verb

If you're not very advanced https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071463380/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_image_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use this, it's ok, has helped me so far.