7 Spanish for Communication Textbooks to Help You Speak Your Mind
Hey, we need to talk.
No really: Humans have an innate need to connect with others.
And one of the best ways to do this is through communication.
Whatever your motivation is behind learning Spanish, communicating with others on some level—whether it is in person or online—is almost unavoidable.
That is why improving your speaking, writing and listening skills should all be important parts of your study routine.
While regular textbooks do not always do a good job of showing how a language is actually used in everyday situations, there are textbooks that specialize in teaching communication skills.
Let’s take a look at seven essential Spanish communication textbooks to start you down the road to confident conversational skills, both in your everyday life and in your workplace.
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What Kind of Spanish Communication Textbook Do You Need?
What textbook you get depends on who it is you want to communicate with.
In some cases, you may want to improve your communication skills in a specific industry. Many professionals in the legal and medical fields work to boost their communication skills by learning Spanish speaking skills for certain situations they are likely to encounter in their jobs.
Outside of a professional setting, you might just want to get better at speaking with others on a casual level. The more you practice your skills, the more confident you will be in your communication abilities and the easier it will become to have a natural conversation.
Another reason to improve your communication skills is to prepare for traveling. It is always a good idea to brush up on regional dialects before you head to a new area. You may feel more comfortable knowing that you will not have any problems communicating with the locals.
There are many different types of communication in Spanish, so it is important to improve your skills in an area that really matters to you.
No matter what situation you want to learn Spanish speaking skills for, you will need to practice your grammar and build your vocabulary, as well. Knowing what areas you wish to improve will make it easier to find a good textbook for you.
As you are looking at textbooks, you should know what would make an effective learning tool for you. Buying a textbook that you cannot learn with is a waste of your time and money.
Some people need to practice exercises to really learn something. Others need visual aids to learn. What learning style works best for you? If you are not sure, then check out our article devoted to learning styles.
Not all textbooks are created equally, so it is important to pick a textbook that will work well for your learning style.
7 Spanish for Communication Textbooks to Help You Speak Your Mind
As you look for the best textbook for you, remember that textbooks are generally expensive. If the price seems too steep for your budget, try searching in a used-books store or your local college’s school bookstore. You can also shop around and try websites like Barnes and Noble or Amazon’s marketplace for better deals.
Spanish Communication Textbook for Everyday Conversations
If you are learning Spanish for casual or personal reasons (whether you want to move to a Spanish-speaking country, travel or simply learn for your own enjoyment), these textbooks will help you get conversational.
1. “Spanish for Communication”
Authors: Ana Jarvis and Raquel Lebredo
This book is intended for new learners who already have a basic knowledge of Spanish. The lessons focus on a wide variety of grammar and vocabulary topics, so check this one out if you are looking for a well-rounded option.
Lessons begin with realistic dialogues, which are used to naturally introduce the chapter’s topic and grammar points. A series of questions and activities work together to strengthen your understanding.
By giving you new information in context, this textbook creates a good foundation for your future Spanish studies but also arms you with the skills you need to handle everyday situations.
2. “The Ultimate Spanish Review and Practice: Mastering Spanish for Confident Communication”
Authors: Ronni Gordon and David Stillman
This textbook focuses mainly on Spanish grammar as a way to build your communication skills. The content is meant for intermediate and advanced learners as a way to take any concepts they have already learned and convert them into actually usable skills.
Like in the previous option, every concept and grammar point is introduced through the use of realistic sentence examples that show everything in action. There are also many exercises to reinforce your learning. With the amount of practice you can gain from this book, you will be communicating more comfortably in no time!
The version linked above is the first edition of the textbook, but there is a more recent edition available at a slightly higher price. Although the textbook itself is not that different, the digital edition has been updated to be more modern and even more helpful, so it may be worth a few extra bucks if you plan on purchasing the digital version.
3. “Spanish for Beginners: The Best Handbook for Learning to Speak Spanish!”
Authors: Getaway Guides
This textbook is meant for beginners to beef up their Spanish communication skills. It teaches simple topics for holding basic conversations like greetings, asking questions, grammar basics and pronunciation.
If you generally stay away from textbooks for their dry writing, you may enjoy this one. Written in a very conversational manner, this resource feels more like a personal tutor than a textbook. It will help you become conversational by introducing the language in a logical progression, instead of drowning you in grammar information or giving you phrases to memorize mindlessly.
You will not become fluent from this book but it provides a great starter pack for beginners or anyone who has studied Spanish in the past and needs a refresher.
4. “Hoy día: Spanish for Real Life”
Authors: John T. McMinn and Nuria Alonso García
This book is exactly what it says on the tin: a guide for absolute beginners to learn and actually use Spanish in everyday life.
The textbook takes you through locations and situations you are likely to encounter in your life. Although the entire first section is specifically geared toward students, the rest of the book offers content for anyone and covers topics like family, hobbies, daily routines and activities and so much more.
This version of the book contains volumes one and two and both books are three-hole punched and detachable, which means you can take out any part you want to study, stick it into a binder and take it with you instead of lugging the entire book with you.
You can also easily slip in your own pages with notes into the binder, making this an extremely personalized and very organized way to study.
Spanish Communication Textbooks for Professionals
Using Spanish for communication often goes beyond simply wanting to chat about the weather.
Spanish is a valuable asset to have in your workplace, especially when your customers, clients or patients speak Spanish as a first language. Learning Spanish specific to the industry you work in will make you more valuable to your employers but it will also go far to make the Spanish-speaking clientele feel more at ease.
The books below handle Spanish specifically for communicating in industries like medicine, customer service and more.
5. “Survival Spanish for Customer Service”
Author: Myelita Melton
Customer service representatives have to communicate effectively in order to do their jobs well. If you frequently come into contact with Spanish-speaking customers with whom clear communication is a struggle, you can benefit from this book.
Presented by SpeakEasy, this textbook covers most aspects of customer service including financial industries, government agencies and retail employees. It includes phrases and vocabulary that are vital to customer service, presented alongside a pronunciation guide to ensure that you are saying everything correctly.
6. “Spanish for the Physical Therapist: Bridging the Communication Barrier”
Author: Asiya Nieves
The author of this textbook is a physical therapist, so you know you will get useful and relevant information for the field.
The textbook is constructed like a phrasebook, containing English words with their Spanish translations. You will also learn how to speak formally to patients, how to give (polite) commands, how to discuss conditions with patients and more.
Additionally, the book has a pediatric section that will help to further inform anyone who is working with kids in this field.
7. “Complete Medical Spanish: Practical Medical Spanish for Quick and Confident Communication”
Authors: Joanna Ríos, José Fernández Torres and Tamara Ríos
All medical professional practicing in Spanish can benefit from studying this book. It is an exhaustive collection of the many different medical terms that doctors and nurses encounter over the course of their duties.
The book will help you to build your vocabulary in the medical area. The more vocabulary you know, the better you will become at communicating effectively with your patients. Throughout the book, you will have the opportunity to practice what you are learning through extensive exercises.
A complete beginner can learn a lot from this book, but even the most advanced learner will learn something!
The book is available as a physical textbook or an e-book for convenient studying.
You are now ready to go and connect with other human beings on a personal or professional level. These textbooks will leave you better prepared to actually use your Spanish skills to communicate sooner than most. Enjoy!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
