Open Door to Spanish A Conversation Course for Beginners, Level 1

by Madrigal, Margarita

• ISBN13: 9780131116115
• ISBN10: 0131116118
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-08
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Margarita Madrigal's books have been used by thousands around the world. Former successful users applaud the Madrigal Method: its simplicity, its copious use of cognates, and its humor. The conversations, explanations, exercises, activities, and tapes inOpen Door to Spanish teach readers to recognize the large number of words and expressions that are alike in English and in Spanish (cognates), strategies and rules for converting English words to Spanish, hints for identifying large numbers of new words in Spanish, formulas to help readers use Spanish verbs to describe events in the past, present, and future. Conversational topics include donde estaban? que queria ud? que tenian? haciamos muchas cosas, haciendo una variedad de actividades, hablando de mas actividades, una excursion a la playa, las profesiones, las fiestas, el cumpleanos, una excursion al campo, los quehaceres domesticos, el fin de semana, en el restaurante, en la joyeria, los deseos y las esperanzas, preparaciones para una fiesta, de visita, las casas and si fuera possible! For individuals interested in a simple, yet comprehensive guide to conversational Spanish.

Table of Contents

En el restaurante
Similar words in English and Spanish (cognates)	2	(1)
Sentence formation	3	(1)
-or words in Spanish	4	(4)
Ordering food in a restaurant	8	(6)
Lugares de interes
Negatives	14	(3)
Definite and indefinite articles (masculine)	17	(1)
-al words in Spanish	18	(1)
Del	19	(1)
Ordering food in a restaurant	20	(6)
Con los amigos
Feminine words	26	(1)
-ent and -ant words in Spanish	27	(1)
Definite and indefinite articles (feminine)	28	(2)
The familiar form tu	30	(1)
Greeting a friend	31	(4)
La vida en la ciudad
Gender of nouns	35	(1)
Colors	36	(2)
-ic words in Spanish	38	(1)
Noun and adjective agreement (number and gender)	39	(2)
Nationalities	41	(1)
Asking for country of origin	42	(7)
En el centro
The present tense of -ar verbs, singular forms	49	(2)
Forming questions	51	(2)
Changing -ous words into Spanish	53	(6)
El trabajo
Negating sentences	59	(2)
-ble words in Spanish	61	(2)
How to use the singular present tense of -ar verbs	63	(1)
Questions with donde	64	(1)
Talking about where people work	65	(4)
Hablamos por telefono
The present tense of regular -ar verbs (singular and plural forms)	69	(3)
Uses of nada	72	(1)
Meanings of the usted form in the present tense	73	(3)
Using the telephone	76	(1)
More -ar verbs in Spanish	77	(4)
En casa
The verb estar (to be)	81	(6)
Asking and telling where people or things are located	87	(4)
¡Vamos todos!
The verb ir (to go)	91	(1)
Al	92	(3)
¿Donde? and ¿adonde?	95	(1)
Days of the week	95	(1)
Asking and telling destinations	95	(6)
¡Vamos a comprar ropa!
Expressing the future with ir + a + infinitive	101	(1)
Clothing	102	(2)
Planning and talking about purchases	104	(7)
¡Vamos a leer!
-er and -ir infinitives	111	(3)
Expressing the future with ir + a + infinitive (continued)	114	(1)
Using estar to express conditions	115	(1)
Telling time	116	(7)
¿Lees el periodico?
The present tense of -er and -ir verbs, singular forms	123	(4)
Estar to express conditions (continued)	127	(10)
¿Que venden?
The present tense of all regular -er and -ir verbs	137	(5)
Talking about stores and the merchandise they sell	142	(5)
¿Que tiene usted?
The verbs tener, venir, and querer	147	(6)
Expressing likes with gustar	153	(2)
Making introductions	155	(6)
¿Te gusta la musica?
The present tense of tocar, cantar, and tomar	161	(4)
Forming adverbs with -mente	165	(3)
Numbers 13--1,000, 1,000--1,000,000	168	(2)
More on telling time	170	(5)
De visita en Mexico
Talking about Mexico	175	(6)
En el aeropuerto
The months of the year	181	(2)
The past tense of the verb ir	183	(2)
Traveling by airplane	185	(6)
Los pasatiempos
The past tense (preterite) of -ar verbs, singular forms	191	(4)
The personal a	195	(2)
Llevar and tomar	197	(2)
Talking about weekend activities	199	(4)
Las vacaciones
The past tense (preterite) of all regular -ar verbs	203	(5)
Jugar, estar, tener, and andar in the past	208	(2)
The seasons of the year	210	(1)
Talking about vacations	211	(5)
La vida diaria
The past tense (preterite) of leer	216	(3)
The past tense (preterite) of all regular -er and -ir verbs	219	(2)
Using direct object pronouns	221	(3)
Describing symptoms and illnesses	224

Excerpts

INTRODUCTION TheThird EditionofOpen Door to Spanishand the accompanying cassettes have been thoroughly updated and revised, and are appropriate for classroom use or for self-instruction. After completing both levels of the program, users can look forward to conducting simple conversations successfully in Spanish as well as understanding many advertisements and articles written in Spanish. Even a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish can be important when applying for a job. Applicants with an ability to understand more than one language are often given preference for jobs in medicine, social work, tourism, government, and other businesses. APPROACH Margarita Madrigal's books have been used by thousands of students around the world. Former successful students applaud theMadrigal Method:its simplicity, its copious use of cognates, and its humor. The conversations, explanations, exercises, activities, and tapes inOpen Door to Spanishteach students to recognize the large number of words and expressions that are alike in English and in Spanish (cognates), strategies and rules for converting English words to Spanish, hints for identifying large numbers of new words in Spanish, and formulas to help students use Spanish verbs to describe events in the past, present, and future. Students report extraordinary retention rates and the human quality of instructors adopting Margarita's approach. The many conversations inOpen Door to Spanishreflect what people say every day on the streets, in restaurants and cafes, on the phone, or at home with friends and family. Spanish is fun!