Spanish for Business is the second book in the series Spanish at Work, published by Prentice Hall. This one-volume text integrates thematically related vocabulary, grammar, and culture, and focuses students on pragmatic, real-world language. With an emphasis on learning to communicate appropriately in real-life situations, students master need-to-know phrases and vocabulary quickly and efficiently.

• Spanish for Business contains an introductory chapter, 10 core chapters, and 2 review chapters.
• The modular format of the chapter is evenly paced. Each of the two modules contains two vocabulary and two grammar sections.
• Summary vocabulary lists are included at the end of each chapter.
• End-of-chapter synthesis activities provide ample opportunities for four-skills practice.
• Careful and consistent progression of activities enables students to internalize the material by providing enough practice for them to feel comfortable communicating in real-life situations.
• The readings in Algo más, which relate to the theme of each chapter, represent a wide variety of Spanish-speaking cultures. Real-world activities follow each reading, connecting students to the world beyond the classroom.
• An audio CD-ROM program accompanies the student text.
• A workbook and Web site www.prenhall.com/rush provide abundant opportunities for more practice in formats that appeal to a variety of students.

One of the fastest-growing markets for Spanish-language instruction throughout the country is the field of occupational or vocational courses either for contract training within organizations or for general student access as a regularly scheduled class. This series of materials, Spanish at Work, is designed to allow colleges to create and deliver pragmatic, "real-world" language and culture training programs so that students can master "need-to-know" language. It is designed for students without previous Spanish study, at the beginning (not intermediate) level, but it also works well to reinforce background knowledge already in place. Spanish for Business is the second of this series, following Spanish for Health Care. Students, whether professionals already working in the field or career/goal-oriented students in an occupational training program, are presented key vocabulary in a comprehensible-input format, focusing on easily mastered core expressions. Art, realia, photographs, and brief dialogues reinforce needed terms, supported by brief grammar explanations. In class, students will practice communicative survival using key vocabulary essential to each context to enable them to utilize their Spanish in the real world at work. Highlights of the Program

Spanish for Business has ten chapters plus a brief preliminary lesson and two review chapters. Each lesson has two modules, each with a vocabulary segment and a grammar segment using the context-appropriate vocabulary. The lessons end with the vocabulary list and synthesis activities combining listening, speaking, reading, and writing. All exercises move from mechanical to production-oriented, following the logical progression of language acquisition. The final section, Algo más, features a culturally informative reading and sends the student out to the real world to look for material tied to the theme of the chapter. Organization of the Text

* Vocabulary presentation: Each of the two modules presents key vocabulary by means of art, realia, photographs, and brief dialogues. The inclusion of two separate spreads in each module allows for manageable amounts of easily mastered core expressions pertinent to each occupational area.
* Grammar approach: Grammar practice is embedded automatically in context, not called out as mastery exercises. In class, students will focus on communicative survival using basic vocabulary essential to the topic to enable them to utilize their Spanish in the real world of their job environment. Brief grammar explanations, two per module, are presented in "chunks."
* Vocabulary summary: Each module's vocabulary is listed by function—nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other expressions. The glossary at the end of the book lists the lesson in which the item was introduced, intended as a convenient reference, especially for preview/review.
* Síntesis: Skills and topics are interwoven at the end of each chapter into a series of skill-building and skill-chaining activities that bring together the chapter vocabulary, structures, and cultural content. In recognition of the increased interest in Applied Spanish courses across the country, each of the ten regular lessons concludes with a task-based module in which students use Spanish in a realistic, applied way. Modules focus on a variety of fields where students may be likely to seek their future or current careers. Art, articles, and other documents emphasize the usefulness and vitality of Spanish in today's world.

* A escuchar develops students' ability to understand spoken Spanish in a variety of authentic contexts.
* A conversav includes open-ended speaking activities based on naturally occurring discourse situations. Students learn to express and discuss their own needs and interests.
* A leer introduces basic readings for students to become independent readers, able to understand the general meaning of a text as well as to extricate specific information from it.
* A escribir provides activities in which students learn to compose messages and memos, paragraphs and publicity announcements.

* Algo más: This section focuses on contemporary cultural issues related to the chapter theme. The Ventana cultural reading exposes the student to key information. A broad variety of contemporary topics is featured, appropriate to the lesson's context. A buscar, immediately following, then guides students to gather information to enhance their own connection to this topic. A conocer introduces students to prominent Hispanics succeeding in the occupational field.
Components

* Text
* Workbook
* Audio CD with available tapescript, including listening segments, dialogues, and vocabulary lists
* Instructor's Resource Manual, including tests
* Interactive, text-specific Web site, including tests and links
For the student

Welcome! Spanish at Work has been designed for you to use in your daily work situation, improving your ability to interact with your clients. You'll find a user-friendly text, combining appropriate vocabulary and concise grammar explanations with realia from today's world to lead you into the real world of Spanish for Business. We want you to be able to react to your daily job environment, meeting your needs with hands-on language and giving you enough to survive in the business area without loading you down with translation exercises. Our real-life context is intended to transfer directly to your daily "need-to-know" activities. We encourage you to jump right in and join us.

Patricia Rush
Patricia Houston