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Peter Hanley

Learn basic communicative Spanish with the easy to follow, carefully graded method for complete beginners.

The method allows you to:

► Talk non-stop from the very start.

► Produce thousands of practical frases for daily use.

► Painlessly absorb grammar and vocabulary at A1 level.

► Progress without effort, without the need to memorise or "study" in the traditional sense.

"Tell me and I will forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn ." (Benjamin Franklin)

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Learn basic communicative Spanish with the easy to follow, carefully graded method for complete beginners.

The method allows you to:

► Talk non-stop from the very start.

► Produce thousands of practical frases for daily use.

► Painlessly absorb grammar and vocabulary at A1 level.

► Progress without effort, without the need to memorise or "study" in the traditional sense.

"Tell me and I will forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn ." (Benjamin Franklin)

EL MÉTODO will allow you to use and understand basic Spanish in a matter of hours, without the need for memorisation or lengthy explanations. This is achieved through a carefully designed method that builds up the language in your mind, step by step, until you are able to form relatively complex sentences with ease.

From the very start, you will be forming your own sentences, effortlessly absorbing structures without even realizing it. The method guides you through basic Spanish in a motivating and stimulating way.

EL MÉTODO does not teach you theory, it teaches you to speak Spanish and helps you achieve this in much less time than traditional methods.

Each new word or structure is preceded by a clear and precise introduction. The process continues as the students use the new word in a variety of different contexts. Repeated exposure to new words and structures over time, in a wide variety of situations and associations, means that these are acquired for life.

EL MÉTODO, level 1, consists of 20 video lessons of spoken Spanish. After every lesson there is a series of written exercises as well an optional musical task.

We will engage you in a spoken dialogue that requires no pen and paper. Just talk, talk and talk. You won't stop speaking Spanish from start to finish. This is the ideal system for beginners to learn Spanish.

My goal with EL MÉTODO is for you to become "hooked" on the method thereby mastering basic Spanish as quickly as humanly possible.

Best of luck.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Hold simple conversations using common phrases from daily life.
  • Handle the basic structures of spanish with ease and confidence.
  • Introduce yourself and others and ask and answer a wide range of questions about personal details.
  • Speak with good pronunciation due to constant repetition and imitation of native speaker.
  • Communicate about routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

Syllabus

Lesson 1.
Lesson 3. Exercises and transcript.
Lesson 1. Exercises and Transcript.
Lesson 2.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Employs a method that allows learners to speak from the start, producing practical phrases for daily use, which can be highly motivating
Focuses on speaking and understanding basic Spanish quickly, rather than teaching theory, which may appeal to learners who prefer a practical approach
Includes video lessons, written exercises, and optional musical tasks, providing a multi-modal learning experience that caters to different learning styles
Features constant repetition and imitation of a native speaker, which can help learners develop good pronunciation and improve their speaking skills
Requires learners to engage in spoken dialogue from the start, which may be intimidating for some beginners who prefer a more gradual approach
Consists of 20 lessons, each followed by exercises and transcripts, which may be part of a larger series, and learners may need to seek additional resources

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Reviews summary

Effective speaking method for beginners

According to learners, this course offers a unique and highly effective method for absolute beginners to start speaking Spanish from day one. Students praise its focus on practical communication and how concepts build naturally through repetition and practice, helping them gain confidence quickly. While many find this non-traditional approach ideal, some reviewers note a lack of detailed grammar explanation, which might require supplementary study for those seeking a deeper theoretical understanding. The course seems particularly well-suited for those who have found traditional methods challenging or prefer a more immersive, less theoretical learning experience.
Some learners dislike the non-traditional method.
"I didn't really connect with this method. It felt too repetitive, and I prefer understanding the grammar rules clearly..."
"It might work for some, but it wasn't for me."
"Waste of time for me. Just repeating phrases over and over."
Lessons build well with helpful repetition.
"I loved the repetition and how concepts build naturally."
"The structure builds nicely, and you are constantly practicing."
"Repeated exposure to new words and structures over time... means that these are acquired for life."
Highly effective for absolute beginners.
"This course is fantastic for absolute beginners!"
"An ideal system for beginners to learn Spanish"
"It's exactly what I needed to get over my fear of speaking Spanish."
"Fantastic beginner Spanish course."
Focuses on practical speaking from day one.
"This course is fantastic for absolute beginners! The focus on speaking from day one is brilliant."
"Absolutely loved this course! It's exactly what I needed to get over my fear of speaking Spanish."
"The method is unique, pushing you to speak."
"I felt I was speaking Spanish much faster than I expected."
Some found the pace slow or exercises repetitive.
"Sometimes the pace felt a bit slow..."
"I wish there was more variety or explanation."
"Some more challenging exercises would be beneficial as you progress..."
Less focus on explicit grammar rules.
"I sometimes felt like I was just repeating phrases without fully understanding the 'why' behind the grammar."
"Didn't learn proper grammar structure."
"It's not a deep dive into grammar theory."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Spanish for Beginners. The Complete Method. Level 4. with these activities:
Review Basic Spanish Grammar
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental Spanish grammar concepts before starting the course. This will make it easier to grasp new vocabulary and sentence structures.
Show steps
  • Review verb conjugations for regular verbs.
  • Study basic sentence structure.
  • Practice using articles and pronouns.
Read 'Easy Spanish Step-by-Step'
Supplement the course material with a structured textbook. This will provide additional explanations and practice opportunities.
Show steps
  • Read the first few chapters of the book.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Compare the book's explanations with the course content.
Practice Spanish Pronunciation
Improve your pronunciation by practicing common Spanish sounds and words. This will help you speak more confidently and be better understood.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with audio examples of Spanish pronunciation.
  • Repeat the sounds and words, paying attention to your mouth movements.
  • Record yourself speaking and compare it to the audio examples.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create Flashcards for New Vocabulary
Reinforce your vocabulary learning by creating flashcards. This active recall method will help you memorize new words more effectively.
Show steps
  • Write the Spanish word on one side of the flashcard.
  • Write the English translation on the other side.
  • Review the flashcards regularly.
Practice Conversational Spanish with a Language Partner
Improve your speaking skills by practicing with a language partner. This will give you the opportunity to use what you've learned in a real-world context.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Agree on a topic to discuss.
  • Take turns speaking Spanish and providing feedback to each other.
Explore 'Spanish Short Stories for Beginners'
Enhance your reading comprehension and vocabulary by reading short stories in Spanish. This will expose you to different writing styles and contexts.
Show steps
  • Read one short story per week.
  • Look up any unfamiliar words in a dictionary.
  • Answer the comprehension questions at the end of the story.
Write a Short Diary Entry in Spanish
Practice your writing skills by writing a short diary entry in Spanish. This will help you solidify your understanding of grammar and vocabulary.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic to write about, such as your day or your hobbies.
  • Write a few sentences in Spanish, using the vocabulary and grammar you've learned.
  • Review your writing for errors.

Career center

Learners who complete Spanish for Beginners. The Complete Method. Level 4. will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Bilingual Receptionist
A bilingual receptionist handles calls and greets visitors in more than one language, and this course provides an entryway to basic Spanish conversation skills. The course's focus on spoken dialogue and common phrases ensures that learners can immediately begin to use the language. The course helps build a foundation for handling introductions, providing basic information, and asking simple questions in Spanish. The exercises in the course will help the learner gain a sense of confidence when speaking. The emphasis on practical communication rather than memorization is helpful for a bilingual receptionist who wants to converse in Spanish.
Tour Guide
A tour guide often interacts with visitors from various backgrounds, and this course helps build a foundation for basic communication in Spanish. This role involves providing information and guidance to tourists, and the ability to converse in Spanish allows tour guides to engage more fully with Spanish-speaking visitors. The course's emphasis on practical phrases and pronunciation helps you deliver a better experience. You will learn to introduce yourself and others and ask questions about personal details, and these are essential skills for a successful tour guide. This course provides the specific vocabulary and communicative skills essential to offering a welcoming experience and answering simple questions.
Hotel Receptionist
A hotel receptionist greets and assists guests, and this course may be useful for communicating with Spanish-speaking guests. The ability to understand basic spoken Spanish and use common phrases is beneficial to providing excellent customer service. The course's focus on spoken Spanish will help you handle routine interactions. The many exercises will help you gain confidence using the language. This course specifically provides the practical foundations necessary for a hotel receptionist who wants to help Spanish speaking clientele.
Sales Associate
A sales associate interacts with customers to help them find and purchase goods, and this course may be useful for assisting Spanish speaking customers. The ability to introduce yourself, ask questions, and handle basic conversations is essential in this role. The course's emphasis on practical phrases for daily use and spoken dialogue helps sales associates communicate effectively with a diverse clientele. The training provided helps build confidence and fluency in everyday settings, which is valuable for sales interaction. This course provides the foundations for basic communication in a retail setting.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative interacts with customers to address their questions or concerns, and this course may be useful for roles that involve basic Spanish. The ability to communicate about routine tasks and understand basic structures is valuable when assisting Spanish-speaking clients. The course's emphasis on spoken dialogue and practical phrases helps a customer service representative provide clear and effective communication. Learning to introduce yourself, ask questions, and handle basic conversational elements found in this course are all helpful for customer service. This course provides the tools to handle interactions with Spanish speaking clientele.
Community Outreach Worker
A community outreach worker connects with individuals and communities to provide information and support, and this course may be useful when working with Spanish-speaking communities. This course focuses on speaking and building common phrases, a key skill in community outreach. The ability to handle basic structures of Spanish and communicate about routine tasks is beneficial to outreach work. The focus on practical phrases and pronunciation found in this course allows you to communicate effectively. The course provides a foundation for understanding and interacting with Spanish speakers at a foundational level.
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant ensures the safety and comfort of passengers, and this course may be useful for interacting with Spanish speaking travelers. The ability to handle basic Spanish communication and routine tasks allows flight attendants to accommodate the needs of a broader range of passengers. The course's focus on practical phrases and spoken dialogue allows you to provide excellent service. The techniques taught in this course will provide the confidence needed to communicate basic information to Spanish speaking passengers on a flight. Learning to introduce yourself and handle basic conversations is valuable for the role of flight attendant.
Park Ranger
A park ranger protects natural resources and assists visitors, and this course may be useful if you work in an area with Spanish speaking tourists. The ability to introduce yourself, ask questions, and handle simple communication is essential for a park ranger. This course's emphasis on spoken dialogue and practical phrases aids in this type of communication. You will learn to speak with correct pronunciation which is essential for clear communication. The course can provide the foundations of basic Spanish that could assist in a park ranger role.
Medical Assistant
A medical assistant helps with clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare settings, and this course may be useful if your work includes interacting with Spanish speaking patients. The ability to introduce yourself, ask questions about personal details, and offer basic help is helpful in this role. The course's approach of moving from simple phrases to more complex sentences, combined with its emphasis on pronunciation, makes for a confident communicator. The course provides skills for routine interactions in a medical environment. The emphasis on speaking in practical contexts may be very helpful.
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken material from one language to another, and this course may be useful if the work involves basic Spanish. The focus on producing practical phrases, understanding structures, and communicating about routine tasks enhances a translator's ability to handle introductory material. The course's emphasis on absorption of grammar and vocabulary without traditional study helps build a foundation for more advanced language work. While this course is designed for beginners, it provides a strong base for anyone who might eventually work as a translator dealing with Spanish at the A1 level. The skills learned in this course may be useful for working with simple texts and conversations.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer processes individuals entering or exiting a country, and this course may be useful if you work in an area with many Spanish speakers. The ability to communicate about routine tasks and ask and answer basic questions is critical in these types of interactions. The course's emphasis on practical conversation and pronunciation can help an immigration officer to communicate efficiently. The techniques taught in the course provide the skills to ask and answer personal questions and introduce yourself, a core aspect of the role. The course provides a foundation for basic conversational Spanish.
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant provides support to an office environment, and this course may be useful for roles that require basic Spanish communication. The course emphasizes practical phrases for daily use, and this can be valuable for communicating with Spanish speakers. The course focuses on building confidence in handling simple structures of Spanish. The ability to communicate about routine tasks is beneficial for office administration. This course can be useful in providing the basic skills to handle a variety of office interactions when Spanish is required.
Social Worker
A social worker assists people in need, and this course may be useful for roles that require basic Spanish language skills. The ability to communicate about routine tasks and ask and answer questions is important when working with diverse populations. The course’s focus on spoken Spanish and practical phrases could help an aspiring social worker to build rapport and trust while communicating with Spanish speaking populations. The course helps develop strong communication skills that are essential in a social work setting. The emphasis on learning through practical interaction makes this course relevant for direct client engagement.
Volunteer Coordinator
A volunteer coordinator recruits, trains, and manages volunteers, and this course may be useful for roles involving Spanish speaking volunteers. The ability to introduce yourself and handle basic conversations is essential for interacting with a wide range of people. The course's techniques for absorbing grammar and vocabulary through practice rather than study aids in developing conversational skills. This course will help you introduce yourself and others and answer basic questions, which is a key element of a volunteer coordinator's job. The course's method is particularly well suited to someone who wants to learn the language quickly.
Language Teacher
A language teacher educates students in the grammar, vocabulary, and culture of a particular language, and this course may be useful if you want to teach basic Spanish to non-native speakers. The course's method of breaking the language down into easy-to-follow steps, combined with practical exercises, could be helpful to someone who wants to teach this level of Spanish. The focus on spoken dialogue and practical phrases can help a language teacher demonstrate pronunciation and intonation. While this course is a learner's resource, it also provides insights into a structure that you could use to teach Spanish to others. The experience in this course of learning in a step-by-step method may help to inform your own practice.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Spanish for Beginners. The Complete Method. Level 4..
Offers engaging short stories designed for beginner Spanish learners. Each story is written with simple vocabulary and grammar, making it easy to understand. The book includes vocabulary lists and comprehension questions to help you reinforce your learning. Reading these stories will improve your reading comprehension and expand your vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. This is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.
Provides a structured approach to learning Spanish grammar and vocabulary. It's particularly useful for beginners as it breaks down complex concepts into manageable steps. The book offers numerous exercises and examples, making it a valuable resource for reinforcing the concepts taught in the course. It can be used as a reference text throughout the course.

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