Susan Roemer is currently teaching conversational Spanish to adult students. In her experiences of teaching English, Spanish, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in elementary school, high school, and college, she has developed a unique and profound approach to language learning. Over the years she has worked in California, Mexico, and the DODDS (Department of Defense Dependents' Schools) in Germany. She has taught Spanish to native English Speakers; English to native Spanish
Susan Roemer is currently teaching conversational Spanish to adult students. In her experiences of teaching English, Spanish, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in elementary school, high school, and college, she has developed a unique and profound approach to language learning. Over the years she has worked in California, Mexico, and the DODDS (Department of Defense Dependents' Schools) in Germany. She has taught Spanish to native English Speakers; English to native Spanish speakers; proper Spanish to struggling native Spanish speakers; and written Spanish to illiterate native Spanish speakers as a precursor to teaching them English. She has taught students from preschool to senior citizens. While working for the Mexican federal government in Mexico City, "Licenciada Roemer", as she was known at the office, taught auditors how to write correct reports in Spanish. Very few individuals have taught a language in so many different contexts. This gives her an unusual perspective, combining the knowledge of how people learn generally with how to learn a language specifically. Susan came to understand the importance of providing the students with a way to see the language when they were not in a language laboratory or being instructed by a teacher. Susan Roemer received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota and her M.A. in Intercultural Education from the University of the Americas (Universidad de las Americas) in Mexico City. She lived in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico for 16 years, where she raised her family, and currently resides in Peoria, Arizona.
The most important distinguishing point between Conversational Spanish for Adults: Seeing What You're Hearing! and every other basic Spanish textbook is the phonetic transcription feature. Every word
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The most important distinguishing point between Conversational Spanish for Adults: Seeing What You're Hearing! and every other basic Spanish textbook is the phonetic transcription feature. Every word in the book has "sound mapping" to tell the reader what the word sounds like. Chapter 1 introduces the student to the similarities and differences between the English and Spanish alphabets. Chapter 2 guides the reader through the social niceties of meeting and greeting friends and acquaintances on an everyday basis. The student uses complete sentences to ask about and respond to how his or her partner is feeling. Chapter 3 teaches the reader to tell time in Spanish. The student will chat with his or her partner about today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and how special holidays are celebrated in other cultures. Chapter 4 enables the reader to talk about his or her family, the human body, and winter and summer clothing. The student will tell his or her partner about the rooms in the house and the plants in the yard. The dialogues in Chapter 5 prepare the reader to understand the menu in a Latin American restaurant. One student is the waiter and his or her partner is the guest in the restaurant. They plan a dialogue and present it to their classmates. Chapter 6 takes the reader on a vicarious shopping trip to a Spanish-speaking country. The student has the opportunity to "buy" items such as leather and pottery and discuss clothing sizes and colors with his or her partner. In C
People learn their languages by hearing words and then understanding what they mean. A child learns words, strings them together in phrases, and is later corrected by his or her parents.
How is Level III unique?
As in Conversational Spanish for Adults Levels I and II, Level III incorporates the four modalities of language learning. Whereas the previous books were implemented in the three steps of (1) structure, (2) example and (3) a task for the student and partner, Level III is based on the reading and discussion of short stori
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How is Level III unique? As in Conversational Spanish for Adults Levels I and II, Level III incorporates the four modalities of language learning. Whereas the previous books were implemented in the three steps of (1) structure, (2) example and (3) a task for the student and partner, Level III is based on the reading and discussion of short stories. The four modalities of learning Spanish are addressed by reading the stories, writing answers to the conversation questions, speaking to discuss the stories and listening to classmates express their thoughts. They are all part of the progression of learning the target language. Level III also includes the phonetic transcriptions and definitions for more difficult words and idioms. Students will find that the readings in each chapter range from easier to more challenging. It is recommended that the stories be read aloud in class and subsequently discussed as the students share their thoughts and ideas. All of the stories in this book are real stories by real people. They are designed to be entertaining and to engage the reader. The authors and the uniqueness of their stories combine experiences from different periods of their lives from early childhood through adulthood. Some are embarrassing, some are frightening and some are uplifting. Challenge yourself as you read about these people.
