Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish

by Joseph J. Keenan

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 who have 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 J. 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.

Genres: Spanish Literature, Nonfiction, Language, Reference, Cultural, Linguistics, Education

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1993

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Spanish book I've been looking for! The author teaches how to sound like a native speaker rather than a "schoolmarm" and helps select the words and phrases that are actually used in Latin America and Spain, rather than some of the archaic constructions taught in textbooks. He's funny and engaging, and he learned Spanish as an English speaker, so he sympathizes with some of the hurdles the rest of us must leap to become fluent.

For example, one phrase generally recommended in textbooks comes off as sounding like "Behold!" to a native speaker, rather than "Here you go" as we often say in English when paying for something, handing a plate, etc. Americans conversing in Latin America must be an endless source of amusement for native speakers.

If you are looking to get past textbook Spanish and start speaking, this book is invaluable and not the least bit dry. I will be re-reading and taking notes as I continue my study of Spanish!

[Kyarra Keele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished. Wow! This book is perfect for anyone who truly wants to learn Spanish and have a better understanding of the language and culture. They don't teach you enough in school about how to actually have fluent every day conversations instead of stiff workbook phrases. I loved this book and the way the author combined humour with real tips and examples. Nothing like the bland textbooks!

[Jenna Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book highly enough for native English speakers blumbering their way into the Spanish language. I've revisited this book almost annually for the last few years, and I always learn something new.

Written by another native English speaker who blumbered his way into Spanish, it is a highly readable, interesting, and even entertaining presentation of the most common gringo mistakes. He does an excellent job of describing regional differences in language use (super helpful for those of us who travel/visit/work in multiple Spanish speaking countries), and making sense out of the subtle nuances of the language that may go over your head if they weren't pointed out to you.

This book may not be super useful to the beginner who doesn't have a basic grasp of sentence structure/vocabulary, but I would imagine this book has something to offer you at almost any level of Spanish language learning beyond that. I've used it many ways - reading it cover to cover, jumping between chapters to work on certain specific aspects of language I've been struggling with, or as a reference to go back to when needed.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beginner's Spanish" is not Spanish 1 or 2, according to the author, but really any level you can reach at school. The author, who has lived in Latin America and is constantly trying to reach the level of a native speaker, is an excellent Spanish teacher because he not only knows Spanish but he also understand how English-speakers think. This book is an excellent reference guide for all the aspects of Spanish that might challenge an English-speaker.

[Rachel B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very dense book and better used as a reference than a read-through-in-one-sitting book. There's so much information here, and most of it is helpful. In many cases, it's more accessible than sifting through loads of internet articles.

Because Spanish is so widely used, the regional slang and "normal" speech can vary widely as well, which means sometimes this book will offer helpful alternatives and sometimes it won't.

In the appendices, sometimes nouns are given without the article, and I was left wondering if they were feminine or masculine, which was annoying.

There was some mild profanity used in the book, including God's name used flippantly, which was unprofessional. (There was a chapter all about what's considered profanity in Spanish, and while I disagreed with a couple things there, the chapter was mostly helpful and the "mild profanity" I reference above was not what's in this section, but the unnecessary use of it throughout the book.)

[Keely Schuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like at the point I’m at with Spanish that this was a great book to help me take some of my oral language skills to the next level. It contained a lot of helpful colloquial information and recommendations for becoming a more natural, comfortable, and fluent speaker. Some of the information was a bit more dense and for that reason I feel like I will likely come back to reference this book again and again as I continue to hone my skills. I would recommend this book to those who have a solid understanding of oral and written Spanish language looking to become even more proficient, however, and not true beginners.

4/5 ⭐️

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy útil y será un buen libro para leer cada año.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes important information on how to avoid acting like a gringo and how to curse without inviting physical injury to oneself. Loved it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out trying to treat this as a text book, and kept putting it down and then starting it over after a while. Two years later I just decided to read straight through it, and found that easier and more helpful. I agree with reviewers who say you really need to be beyond beginner to get the most out of this. To me it's really more about fine tuning and making yourself more smooth in your delivery. I was pleased to find a lot of it I already knew, but I definitely picked up a lot, and will go back to it periodically to reinforce it. One of the good things for me was that he gave information on Spanish in both Latin America and Spain. On a personal note, having learned Spanish in Mexico, and now trying to improve in Spain, I periodically come out with things that Spaniards have never heard. I was delighted to see many of those phrases listed as known usages in Mexico and/or Latin America.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the time you wake up until 11:59 a.m. you say buenos dias, from 12:00 noon until dark, you say buenas tardes, and from dark until bedtime, you say buenas noches.

When you leave a place, remember to say gracias if it's a commercial establishment, adios or hasta luego if its not.

Ser is the verb to be for things that are That Way, period. They're not in that way in relation to something else, or at certain times of day. They are that way because they were born that way and they will presumably remain that way until the day they die. Ser is a solid upstanding verb that you can rely on to give you the same answer time and time again.

Estar is a flake. It is the variable, flighty, here today gone tomorrow verb to be. Estar covers personality traits. It describes things that change from one minute to the next. It's all over the place, out of control kind of verb. You would never buy a car from a verb like estar.

[Margaret Nahmias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with most of the reviews here. However, I was ver disapponted with the coverage of the subjunctive. It is topic that stumps a lot of English speakers and it dersevred a little bit more detail. This meant to be read repeatedly as there is too much stuff to take in at once. Also it show its age as many of the anglicisms he mentions as questionable are now in full use if not approved by The Royal Spanish Academy.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it was interesting, and I really enjoyed much of the linguistics information, it just wasn't what I was looking for. Most importantly I really thought it was more of breaking out of Intermediate Spanish. This was really about not sounding like Spanish was your second language. But I'm not there yet. So I found the book title to be deceiving. I'm not beginner's spanish, but not quite intermediate. I was hoping the book could help. It could not.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book; however, it received a three star rating because the title is misleading. The book is not aimed at beginners or at least not aimed at my definition of a beginner. All in all it is a useful tool to improve a person’s Spanish.

[Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is best book for learning spanish and not sounding like a total gringo tool. Ever.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only I could retain it all. An entertaining, educational, and very practical book, I'm sure I'll pick it up again and again.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable book to help you improve your Spanish and sound less like a Gringo! I plan to re-read this every six months while I'm in Mexico...

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very useful book. I wasn't ready for everything it presents, but it is a valuable reference I will be going back to as I progress.

[Dawna]

Not really giving up, just putting off awhile. More of an advanced beginner book.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful book. Will probably buy it once I'm a little more advanced in Spanish.

[Joseph Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I moved to Mexico in 2011 to serve as a volunteer. I had 1 year of Spanish from college under my belt and I was thankfully living with some English speakers. However, I was eager to learn the language and speak to people myself. If for no other reason than it is fun. It was hard! This book helped me get the nuances and new words they put in there to trip you up. I was definitely looking smarter and more Mexican for knowing the slang. I also think the lessons in here really helped my grammar. It says there are a lot of different conjugations and it's true. It takes memorization. So do yourself a favor and get this book.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took way too freaking long to read, but life is busy.

This was a great read! This year I spent a lot of time reading and listening to Spanish, but I had yet to sit down and read a proper book like this. Lots of studying, highlighting, and re-reading pages, but so approachable! Even though this was written, in like, the year I was born (lol), it stands the rest of time and breaks things down in a way that is so easy to digest.

My plan is to now make flashcards from my highlighted notes and just brute force memorize some of the more difficult words/phrases.

Debería haber escrito esto en español, pero bueno...

[Griff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful book that's both enjoyable to read on its own and is valuable content to revisit as a reference material. For me it tied in nicely with other intermediate Spanish language learning I've been doing online with Busuu and Duolingo especially. I think the daily usefulness can be much higher for this book than other Spanish language text books based on how the reader applies what they learn in speaking with others. Would really recommend to other beginner to intermediate Spanish learners!

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Reading for Spanish Learners

Of all the Spanish grammar courses, speaking, listening and talking with a native speaker, few books present words, phrases and ideas so useful in everyday conversations. This is a book I refer back to as I slowly grasp more concepts to flow off my tongue. Besides the author has a great sense of humor making this not only a standard reference but an extremely enjoyable read.

[Kristi RN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite Spanish learning book.
I pick it up all the time. There is so much information presented in such a cute way.
The found it at Powell’s Books in Portland and thought it was the Holy Grail, I drank it up. I just bought 3 from a used book store on eBay for some inspired learners in my Spanish Conversation class.
This is a book you can read many times. I cannot reccomend it enough.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supremely helpful for anyone who wants to sound more natural in Spanish and avoid the trickiest English-speaker pitfalls. Clarified a ton of very subtle confusions that I could sense I was tripped up by, but couldn't understand why. I'm sure I'll return to this for refreshers from time to time. The linguistic history at the end was interesting too.

[Christopher Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into the Spanish language

Great read and a must for any learner of Spanish trying to take their speaking to the next level. Some extremely useful explanations of the more commonly used words and expressions and when they both should and shouldn't be used.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the least-dry language book you'll ever read. I try to read this book every year because it's that helpful, full of useful tips to tweak your grammar and pump up your vocab. I always come away with something I brushed over before.

[C.E. G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic, oftentimes funny, and very different from other Spanish-learning resources I've seen. I'm maybe about a B1 level of Spanish and much of it felt like the right level for me, and I think I'll buy a copy because I imagine it'll continue to be useful as I learn more.

[K.A. Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like breaking into fluency! A fruitful read for beginners and advanced expats alike, this book will explain what you've heard, correct those weird anglicisms you (and I) have, and ramp up your Spanish to a scholarly extent in a readable way.