Materials Description and Content: Community Spanish: A Survival Guide for English Speakers (Community Spanish, for short) is published by Command Spanish®, Inc. and consists of 95 pages bound in a 3-ring binder with 2 accompanying CDs and is a non-academic, non-grammar based manual designed for persons who want an easy and quick way to learn limited amounts of everyday Spanish. This manual is divided into three components: Speaking in Spanish; Listening in Spanish; and Cross-Cultural Issues.

Speaking in Spanish: This component will teach the participant how to “say” practical, common phrases and questions in Spanish. In addition to an introductory section that deals with how to pronounce Spanish, there are 16 different language menus covering a wide variety of Spanish phrases, expressions and questions for use in everyday interactions. Each language menu is divided into three columns: English, Spanish, and phonetic encoding.

Listening in Spanish: This component will teach the participant how to comprehend many basic and common expressions and phrases used in everyday Spanish. These language menus correspond in content and sequence with the language menus in the “Speaking in Spanish” component.

Cross-Cultural Issues: This component deals with some of the most fundamental and generic, non-nationality-specific aspects of Latino culture that may be misunderstood by non-Latinos. Included are such topics as the Latino family structure, Latino demographics, and the Latino surname system.

Goal: The overall goal is to prepare English-speaking people to speak and understand small amounts of general and basic Spanish found in most routine interchanges in daily life. In addition, Community Spanish provides basic cultural information about Spanish-speaking groups in the hope of informing and educating English-speakers about unique aspects of Latino culture.

Objectives: Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to say a few words or phrases of kindness or respect to Latinos they meet in shopping malls, supermarkets, school meetings, parks, churches, and other public places. Participants will also have a better understanding of the most common cultural differences?between Latinos and non-Latinos.

Methods of Instruction: Modeling, intensive drill, choral response, alpha-beta line, learning pairs and triads, Total Physical Response, role-playing, simulations, situation cards, and lecture.

Intended Audience: Any English-speaker who wishes to learn limited amounts of everyday Spanish.

Length of Instruction: 8-24 hours.

Special Considerations: Each of the above mentioned components can either be studied independently; however, we encourage you to study all three, either sequentially or in tandem.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.........................................................................ii
Acknowledgements & Language Consultants.....................vii
Introduction...................................................................................v
How to Use This Manual.............................................................vi
Introduction...................................................................................vii

Section:

Spanish Pronunciation ........................................................................................................................................2
Titles .......................................................................................................................................................................6 Greetings...................................................................................................................
Goodbyes.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Status Inquires.............................................................................................................................. 7
:Etiquette and Social Niceties................................................................................................................................................... 8
:Introducing yourself....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Introducing Others......................................................................................................................................... 9
:Personaldata.............................................................................................................................................10
Numbers........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Compliments, Likes, and dislikes..........................................................................................................16
Holiday Greetings...................................................................................................................................17
Communication Strategies....................................................................................................................................................... 18
Emergency Spanish..................................................................................................................................................................19
Calming and Reassuring an individual........................................................................................................................21
Giving Directions..........................................................................................................................................22
Small Talk...................................................................................................................................................... 24
Ordering Food and Drink in a Mexican Restaurant.............................................................................................25

"Listening in Spanish"COMPONENT [CD #2]................................................................................................................ 26

:Titles 27

:Greetings27

:Goodbyes 28

:Status Inquiries 29

:Etiquette and Social Niceties30

:Introducing Yourself 31

:Introducing Others 32

: Personal Data 33

: Numbers 37

:Compliments, Likes, and Dislikes 38

:Holiday Greetings39

:Communication Strategies 39

:Emergency Spanish40

:Calming and Reassuring an Individual44

:Giving Directions 45

:Small Talk 46

:Ordering Food & Drink in a Mexican Restaurant 47

:Possible Responses to Basic Questions 48

“Cross-Cultural Issues� COMPONENT49

:Introduction to Latinos 49

:Latino Demographics51

:Latino Names [bonus track #21 on CD #2]54

:Notes on the Spanish Language57

:Levels of Language Ability 58

:Family Matters59

:Religion 59

:Body Language60

:Traditions and Celebrations 62

:Latino Food and Drink 64

:Latino Rhythms and Dancing68

Appendices 70

:Telling Time79

:Dates81

:Signs 83

:Spanish Alphabet84

:Mexican Food Glossary 85

:Colors78