M?s all? de las palabras, Lab Audio Cassette: Mastering Intermediate Spanish

* Graduated approach to content-based learning. The program is designed in two volumes to transition students from the beginning to the intermediate. Book I includes a graduated approach that introduces students to content-based instruction. By the time they reach semester two, students are working with fully content-based materials.* Effective integration of culture appreciation and language skills. Each chapter focuses on a broad cultural theme and a set of related ideas, effectively integrated with language skills.* Constant recycling of communicative functions and grammar.* Mini-lectures offer creative listening comprehension techniques. These features teach students how to listen to the lecturing discourse, which predominates in upper-division courses.* Emphasis on reading comprehension. Students are encouraged to reflect before reading, while reading, and after reading. The text also features a variety of reading genres while emphasizing expository texts. The emphasis on reading is greater in Book 2 than in Book 1. However book 1 presents a gradual reading difficulty that matches the gradual complexity of the topics presented in successive units.* Strong connection between reading and writing and an emphasis on expository writing. For example, see Ponlo por escrito sections.* Integration of grammar and content. Whenever possible, the examples used in grammar explanations and the grammar exercises are linked to the content of the unit.* Opportunities to discuss current issues pertaining to different Hispanic cultures. These opportunities include pre- and post-reading activities and pre-and post-mini-lecture activities.* Opportunities to discuss art in an interactive format. For example, see Color y forma sections.* Attention to vocabulary building. Mas alla includes glosses and vocabulary activities before and after each reading or mini-lecture. In activities designed to focus on a specific speaking function, students are assisted with limited lists of expressions. Book 1 dedicates a specific section (?Como lo dices) to the practice of functions.* Motivational approach to reading literature. Understanding literature is essential to understanding different cultures, and Mas alla integrates the sustained reading of Laura Freixas's"Final absurdo" throughout the 5 chapters in Book I, and the literary sections in Book II are also thematically integrated within the chapters. Readings are followed by accompanying activities.* Light material and humor. While most intermediate texts can be overwhelmingly serious, Mas alla includes humor through cartoons and activities. See Curiosidades.* Easy-to-follow organization. Each book consists of 5 units, with each unit being broken down further into 4 Temas in Book II.* Grammar appendices. These are connected to the grammar presented within the chapters either to review first-year grammatical topics or to add more detailed information about some topics.