Getting the Conversation Going with REVISTA Bienvenido a REVISTA, Seventh Edition, the most innovative and exciting college Spanish conversation program available. With REVISTA, you will find a broad range of topics corresponding to each lesson’s engaging theme that, we hope, will encourage you to participate in lively conversations in class. REVISTA is designed to focus on interpersonal communication and to support you as you become more comfortable with speaking Spanish. REVISTA offers abundant discussion starters for you and your classmates. Your Spanish will improve as you put it to use expressing ideas and opinions that are important to you. The themes, readings, films, and activities in REVISTA were specifically chosen to generate discussion and spark your imagination. After all, people express themselves most genuinely when they feel strongly about something. When you speak to your friends and family outside the Spanish classroom, you probably don’t think about whether your sentences are grammatically correct. Instead, you speak fluidly in order to get your message across. Why should expressing yourself in Spanish be any different? We urge you to participate as much as possible, without worrying about whether your Spanish is “perfect.” Keep in mind that we all have opinions, so don’t let the fear of making grammar mistakes stand in the way of voicing your ideas. While you will be reviewing grammar in the Estructuras section of every lesson, grammar should not be your primary concern when you speak. Enhance your conversations by applying the same strategies to Spanish that you use in English. In other words, don’t be afraid to ask follow-up or clarifying questions or ask someone to repeat what he or she has said. To improve your Spanish, you must also be exposed to the other language skills. These include listening, writing, reading, and socio-cultural awareness. With REVISTA, you will practice these skills often as you improve your conversational Spanish. Every lesson opens with a Cortometraje, an enthralling short film by an influential or up-and-coming filmmaker from a Spanish-speaking country. REVISTA also provides a wealth of readings in different genres by renowned literary figures, and every lesson ends with a written Composición and a Tertulia debate that put a finishing touch on what you have learned and discussed throughout the lesson. REVISTA reinforces each film and reading with comprehension checks and communicative activities in a wide range of formats, all intended to encourage you to bring your personal experiences and unique voice to the conversation. Furthermore, you will be exposed to the cultural diversity of Spanish-speaking countries. Communicating in a foreign language takes courage, and sometimes even the most outspoken students feel vulnerable. Try to overcome any fears of speaking Spanish, and remember that only through active participation will your communication improve. Most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy the experience of communicating in Spanish. We hope that REVISTA will help you get the conversation going! IAE-4 TO THE STUDENT S4
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