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The most popular, most-read comic strip in North America is now the most fun way to learn Spanish! Learning a language should be fun! So sit back, laugh, and learn Spanish by following the antics of the Patterson family in Lynn Johnston's hugely popular comic strip "For Better or For Worse." Now, featured weekly in several Latin American Spanish-language newspapers, these cartoons will have you laughing your way through your lessons as you expand your vocabulary, comprehension, and conversational skills.To help you focus on the learning level with which you are most comfortable, "Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish" is divided into three sections: beginning, moderate, and challenging. Through the comic strips and their universal themes of family values in a modern world, you'll learn how to talk in Spanish about everyday things: making demands and requests, expressing hope and plans for the future, discussing household chores, going shopping, asking for types of food, exploring relationships, and so on. The engaging storylines offer a strong incentive to keep reading and learning.Using laughter to break through the language barrier, "Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish" features: vocabulary notes that translate difficult or new Spanish vocabulary; language notes that provide guidance on correct usage; entertaining, picture-based review questions that test your grasp of vocabulary and commonly used structures; plus the original English text for the cartoon strips, should you need to check your understanding.

Don't sound like una momia--add a little sizzle to your Spanish!

If someone called you tragaldabas would you be insulted or flattered? If you shouted ¡Mota! in the street, would you expected to get a cab or get arrested? Thanks to The Red-Hot Book of Spanish Slang and Idioms, you'll always know your tejemaneje (scheme) from your merequetengue (mess) no matter where you find yourself in the Spanish-speaking world. Five thousand words and phrases--plus helpful hints as to what's cordial and what's vulgar--keep you in sync with Spanish slang.

Spanish to English

niños popis (upper-class kids) Spoiled bratsContigo ni a China me voy. (I'm not even going to China with you) You're impossibleLa cruda (rawness) Hangover

English to Spanish

Ugly as sin ser un espantapájaro (to be a scarecrow)To be lucky tener leche (to have milk)Why are you staring at me? ¿Tengo monos en la cara? (Do I have monkeys on my face?)

The first editions of these books sold more than 40,000 copiesThe MP3 discs include recordings of 60 Top Ten lists, organized for easy access and reference on an iPod or mp3 player, and a 60-minute review courseAlso includes full transcripts of each review course in the books

Don''t sound like una momia--add a little sizzle to your Spanish!

If someone called you tragaldabas would you be insulted or flattered? If you shouted ¡Mota! in the street, would you expected to get a cab or get arrested? Thanks to The Red-Hot Book of Spanish Slang and Idioms, you''ll always know your tejemaneje (scheme) from your merequetengue (mess) no matter where you find yourself in the Spanish-speaking world. Five thousand words and phrases--plus helpful hints as to what''s cordial and what''s vulgar--keep you in sync with Spanish slang.

Spanish to English

niños popis (upper-class kids) Spoiled bratsContigo ni a China me voy. (I''m not even going to China with you) You''re impossibleLa cruda (rawness) Hangover

English to Spanish

Ugly as sin ser un espantapájaro (to be a scarecrow)To be lucky tener leche (to have milk)Why are you staring at me? ¿Tengo monos en la cara? (Do I have monkeys on my face?)

Pictures and humor help readers build their Spanish language skills

To its millions of fans, the Pattersons are just like their own families, facing universal issues among daily concerns. Containing a selection of 100 syndicated Spanish-language versions of the strip that is widely read in Latin America, Laugh ''n'' Learn Spanish provides an entertaining and effective way to expand and polish conversational skills in Spanish.

Readers learn by understanding and learning natural, everyday verbal interactions at home and about town, following John and Ell Patterson as they attempt to come to terms with middle age; daughter Elizabeth as she spreads her wings and goes off to college; son Michael dating and then marrying his childhood sweetheart, Deanna; daughter April as she rebels against discipline, anther grandpa who finds a second love in the autumn of his life. Each strip is graded by difficulty--Beginning, Moderate, or Challenging--and is accompanied by:

Glosses that translate difficult vocabularyUsage notes to build proficiencyA summarizing activity that tests comprehensionAdditional exercises for key idioms and word patterns appear at the end of each section

Ever wanted to call someone a 'big shot' or 'hick' in Spanish, or wondered how to say 'Let's pig out' or 'Don't give me a hard time'? And what's going on if a Spaniard 'hallucinates in colour' (alucina en colores) or if a Mexican 'throws an eye-taco' (echa un taco de ojo)? This book has all the answers and more, contained within 5,000 current idiomatic terms and slang expressions - all conveniently grouped in an A-Z thematic arrangement. "Streetwise Spanish Dictionary/Thesaurus" is a uniquely user-friendly guide, designed for reference, for browsing, and as a learning tool.Thesaurus contains almost 150 general categories or themes. Regional markers indicate countries or regions of use for every entry. Numerous example sentences with their translations provide context. Cartoons add a touch of humour. Short articles highlight specific linguistic or cultural usages. Self-test sections allow you to work on your active colloquial vocabulary. Spanish-English dictionary cross-references all 5,000 terms and expressions included in the thesaurus.Whether you're a student, teacher, businessperson, or tourist, you'll enjoy enriching your Spanish with the vibrant language usually understood by native speakers alone. But be warned - the Spanish language is one of the world's richest, and some expressions are particularly colourful!