a ISBN 978-02-9274322-9

a Original cataloging agency NEU GrandLibrary

a Language code of text/sound track or separate title eng

a Language code of text/sound track or separate title spa

a Classification number PC4121

b Item number .K38 2011

a Personal name Keenan, Joseph J.

h Medium BOOK

a Title Breaking out of beginner's Spanish /

c Statement of responsibility, etc Joseph J. Keenan.

a Place of publication, distribution, etc Austin, Texas :

b Name of publisher, distributor, etc University of Texas Press,

c Date of publication, distribution, etc 2011.

a Extent xviii, 215 pages ;

c Dimensions 23 cm.

a Summary, etc Many language books are boring—this one is not. Written by a native English speaker who learned Spanish the hard way—by trying to talk to Spanish-speaking people—it offers English speakers with a basic knowledge of Spanish hundreds of tips for using the language more fluently and colloquially, with fewer obvious "gringo" errors. Writing with humor, common sense, and a minimum of jargon, Joseph Keenan covers everything from pronunciation, verb usage, and common grammatical mistakes to the subtleties of addressing other people, "trickster" words that look alike in both languages, inadvertent obscenities, and intentional swearing. He guides readers through the set phrases and idiomatic expressions that pepper the native speaker's conversation and provides a valuable introduction to the most widely used Spanish slang. With this book, both students in school and adult learners who never want to see another classroom can rapidly improve their speaking ability. Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish will be an essential aid in passing the supreme language test-communicating fluently with native speakers.

a Topical term or geographic name as entry element Spanish language