Idiomatic expressions are the 'salt and pepper' of any language. They give Spanish its colour and imagery, its richness and variety. From set phrases and idioms to metaphorical expressions and proverbs, these essential components allow users to add humour and spice to their language, vividly embodying Hispanic culture while naturalizing their communication style to more closely resemble that of native speakers. Key features: Includes a selection of the most widely used idioms from Spain and Latin America; Idioms are classified into specific and easy-to-reference categories; Creative activities, exercises, mnemonic devices and learning strategies facilitate the acquisition and mastery of idiomatic language; Connections between the Spanish language and Hispanic culture are explained and illustrated; Reference tables at the end of each section highlight similarities between English and Spanish usage of idiomatic language; Original samples, as well as fragments from various Spanish-speaking countries and well-known literary works, are included to help expose students to the use of idioms in journalistic and literary writing. Practical, informative and highly entertaining, this is the ideal text for all intermediate and advanced learners of Spanish.

Excellent book. The chapters put together and systematise a lot of material that is often taught in an anecdotal or haphazard sort of way, if at all. Students will learn a great deal from the book and have their confidence in using Spanish considerably boosted as a result. Jonathan Thacker, Merton College, University of Oxford, UK

An invaluable, highly original and methodically sound approach to correcting and eliminating common, yet difficult-to-eliminate errors. Manuel Delgado, Bucknell University, USA

The user-friendly format and page layout makes Speed Up Your Spanish a highly practical reference source for students and teachers. Ma Victoria Garcia Serrano, University of Pennsylvania, USA

False friends, idiomatic expressions, gender and capitalization are just some of the areas that cause confusion for students of Spanish. Learning how to avoid the common errors that arise repeatedly in these areas is an essential step for successful language learning.

Speed Up Your Spanish is a unique and innovative resource that identifies and explains such errors, thereby enabling students of Spanish to learn from their mistakes while enhancing their understanding of the Spanish language.

Each of the nine chapters focuses on a grammatical category where English speakers typically make mistakes in Spanish. Each chapter is divided into sections that classify the concepts and errors into subcategories. Full explanations are provided throughout with clear, comprehensive examples and exercises to help the learner gain an in-depth understanding of Spanish grammar and usage.

Key features:

• carefully selected grammar topics and examples based on the most commonly made errors
• exercises throughout to reinforce learning
• shortcuts and mnemonic devices providing vital learning strategies
• a Companion Website available at www.speedupyourspanish.com providing supplementary exercises as well as audio files.

Suitable both for classroom use or self-study, Speed Up Your Spanish is the ideal resource for all intermediate learners of Spanish wishing to refine their language skills.

Javier Munoz-Basols is an Instructor in Spanish at the University of Oxford.

Marianne David teaches Spanish at the Trinity School in New York.

Olga Nunez Pineiro is Senior Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Westminster.

Manual pratico de escrita em portugues/Developing Writing Skills in Portuguese provides intermediate- and advanced-level students with the necessary skills to become competent and confident writers in the Portuguese language. With a focus on writing as a craft, Manual pratico de escrita em portugues offers a rich selection of original materials including narrative texts, expository essays, opinion pieces and newspaper articles. Each chapter covers a specific kind of writing and is designed to help tackle the material in small units. The book aids students in crafting clear, coherent and cohesive texts by means of guided practice and step-by-step activities. Suitable for use as a classroom text or as a self-study course, this book is ideal for students at level B2 - C2 of the Common European Framework for Languages or at Intermediate High - Advanced High on the ACTFL proficiency scales.

Excellent book. The chapters put together and systematise a lot of material that is often taught in an anecdotal or haphazard sort of way, if at all. Students will learn a great deal from the book and have their confidence in using Spanish considerably boosted as a result. Jonathan Thacker, Merton College, University of Oxford, UK

An invaluable, highly original and methodically sound approach to correcting and eliminating common, yet difficult-to-eliminate errors. Manuel Delgado, Bucknell University, USA

The user-friendly format and page layout makes Speed Up Your Spanish a highly practical reference source for students and teachers. Ma Victoria Garcia Serrano, University of Pennsylvania, USA

False friends, idiomatic expressions, gender and capitalization are just some of the areas that cause confusion for students of Spanish. Learning how to avoid the common errors that arise repeatedly in these areas is an essential step for successful language learning.

Speed Up Your Spanish is a unique and innovative resource that identifies and explains such errors, thereby enabling students of Spanish to learn from their mistakes while enhancing their understanding of the Spanish language.

Each of the nine chapters focuses on a grammatical category where English speakers typically make mistakes in Spanish. Each chapter is divided into sections that classify the concepts and errors into subcategories. Full explanations are provided throughout with clear, comprehensive examples and exercises to help the learner gain an in-depth understanding of Spanish grammar and usage.

Key features:

• carefully selected grammar topics and examples based on the most commonly made errors
• exercises throughout to reinforce learning
• shortcuts and mnemonic devices providing vital learning strategies
• a Companion Website available at www.speedupyourspanish.com providing supplementary exercises as well as audio files.

Suitable both for classroom use or self-study, Speed Up Your Spanish is the ideal resource for all intermediate learners of Spanish wishing to refine their language skills.

Javier Munoz-Basols is an Instructor in Spanish at the University of Oxford.

Marianne David teaches Spanish at the Trinity School in New York.

Olga Nunez Pineiro is Senior Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Westminster.

Idiomatic expressions are the 'salt and pepper' of any language. They give Spanish its colour and imagery, its richness and variety. From set phrases and idioms to metaphorical expressions and proverbs, these essential components allow users to add humour and spice to their language, vividly embodying Hispanic culture while naturalizing their communication style to more closely resemble that of native speakers. Key features: Includes a selection of the most widely used idioms from Spain and Latin America; Idioms are classified into specific and easy-to-reference categories; Creative activities, exercises, mnemonic devices and learning strategies facilitate the acquisition and mastery of idiomatic language; Connections between the Spanish language and Hispanic culture are explained and illustrated; Reference tables at the end of each section highlight similarities between English and Spanish usage of idiomatic language; Original samples, as well as fragments from various Spanish-speaking countries and well-known literary works, are included to help expose students to the use of idioms in journalistic and literary writing. Practical, informative and highly entertaining, this is the ideal text for all intermediate and advanced learners of Spanish.

Manual pratico de escrita em portugues/Developing Writing Skills in Portuguese provides intermediate- and advanced-level students with the necessary skills to become competent and confident writers in the Portuguese language. With a focus on writing as a craft, Manual pratico de escrita em portugues offers a rich selection of original materials including narrative texts, expository essays, opinion pieces and newspaper articles. Each chapter covers a specific kind of writing and is designed to help tackle the material in small units. The book aids students in crafting clear, coherent and cohesive texts by means of guided practice and step-by-step activities. Suitable for use as a classroom text or as a self-study course, this book is ideal for students at level B2 - C2 of the Common European Framework for Languages or at Intermediate High - Advanced High on the ACTFL proficiency scales.