William T. Tardy

I read this to refresh my Spanish before going to Peru. It started really easy: how many siblings, house description. But just as the story got interesting, it moved onto the next section. The history of Mexico section was also easy to read, and more interesting than the high school story. It was a bit simplistic in its telling of the Spanish v. Aztecs, but I didn’t read it for its historiography. The 3rd section was a Spanish folktale that was interesting in how strange it was. Overall, I felt my Spanish did improve by reading this, but I’m sure there is better Spanish literature to be had.… (mais)

I would recommend this Spanish reader, "Asi Leemos", for the first 2 years of high school Spanish class or for someone learning Spanish on their own. There are no grammar explanations or grammar exercises in the book, but the readings start out short and fairly simple with many cognates and with each reading the vocabulary and grammar become more complex. It contains a fairly complete glossary, plus questions following each reading. There is a review chapter after every 5 readings that reiterates the proceeding chapters, but uses a different voice or different tense. What is especially nice about this reader is that the selections are not condescending to the language learner and are surprisingly engaging. The first third of the book tells about a group of students (and their families) who are taking Spanish in high school. The second section tells the history of Mexico, emphasizing the culture and conquest of the Aztecs, and the third section is a simplified adaptation of 'Lazarillo de Tormes'. I found the history of Mexico fascinating, and it was nice to read an entire story (even if very simplified) instead of just an excerpt. This reader may be too easy for use in a college classroom (other than outside reading in the first semester), but as an encouragement to reading in a foreign language for an independent learner, it is highly recommended.… (mais)