This book is intended for Spanish learners. It is an easy reading Spanish that includes the audio book version so that it can achieve its purpose: reading with simultaneous listening. The book provides readers an enjoyable option to practice the language while learning about the adventures of a student that wins a trip to Spain. It is the first book of the series "Buen Camino". The character in the story is a student who after winning a trip to Spain; chooses to walk "El Camino de Santiago", all the way from Roncesvalles (by the Pyrenees in the border with France) to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The option of listening/reading helps learners who need to improve pronunciation. It also helps to increase vocabulary (recognizing cognates). It can help readers of all ages to advance in their Spanish-learning journey It is intended for Elementary Spanish level. Most of the vocabulary has been carefully selected to match vocabulary selections and grammar tenses appropriate of introductory Spanish textbooks. The cognitive process of assimilating and comprehending the language is enhanced when the audio is played while the student reads. Very effective for new Spanish learners as well as for heritage learners that are familiar with words but don't know how to write Spanish. The book has QR codes that can be scanned using a device to play the audio so that you can read the story simultaneously. This first level book starts when the character is getting ready to go to Spain, plus the first experiences. In these pages, the vocabulary which is commonly known as the objects in the classroom, will have a more practical and engaging application when reading about what the character needs to pack for the trip and to keep a journal. Being the main character a student from the United States experiencing Spain for the first time, the reader will easily get identified with the difficulties and situations the character experiences. The verbs ser, estar and other uses of tener will all be combined in a subtle way which provides an excellent opportunity to review the differences in a different context. The use of present tense regular verbs, stem-change verbs, reflexive verbs and vocabulary related to common learning objectives, are incorporated in the first little book. These are the different sections: 1) A prepararse How much do you know about this context? 2) A leer Reading while simultaneous listening to the audiobook. 3) Personal Glossary: Readers look up unfamiliar words and write the meaning in their personal glossary. 4) A analizar Students practice the vocabulary as well as discuss ideas in the book. Check for understanding. Discuss cultural points. 5) A escribir Students write a short composition explaining why they should be selected to win a trip to Spain. The total audio book length is 54 minutes. It is advised to do a first listening/reading for the first time. Next, when repeating the content you can go chapter by chapter. Each chapter has individual audio options. Good practice for reviewing content at the end of the semester or school year, as well as for the start of a new semester or school year of an intermediate Spanish level.
About the Author Mercedes Meier has taught Spanish as a Foreign Language and for Native speakers for the past 12 years. She holds a Doctorate in Linguistics applied to the Teaching of Spanish Language from the University of Salamanca in Spain. She is a National Board Certified Spanish Teacher (K-12) and was nominated Teacher of the Year in Lee County Public Schools (FL) in 2004. She taught for the Miami Dade County Public Schools. Later, she became an instructor for Coastal Carolina Community College in North Carolina where she received the Educator of the Year award (Humanities Department) in 2013. She currently teaches Spanish at Miami Dade College in Florida. She enjoys presenting at language conferences. She has presented at major national conferences having received several distinctions. When not teaching, she loves to travel, enjoys the outdoors, film, video production and writing.
