Not long after arriving in Spain, I realized the language barrier was a huge problem. I thought about enrolling in a class, but the schedule wasn’t flexible, so I decided to tackle some textbooks on my own. I did a ton of research online, made a few mistakes, but eventually found a path that worked for me. Today, I want to share the textbooks I’ve used from absolute beginner to now preparing for the DELE B2, hoping it can help fellow self-learners!
Choosing Between Classic and Modern Textbooks
When I first started, many people recommended the classic Chinese textbook, Modern Spanish. This series has a very comprehensive and detailed grammar system, which is great for learners accustomed to systematic grammar study. The downside is that the content is a bit outdated, and the dialogue scenarios might feel disconnected from modern life. Moreover, the exercises in these Spanish textbooks are relatively dull, reminiscent of old-school English textbooks from my school days.
Later, I discovered mainstream textbooks from Spain, like AULA Internacional and Prisma. These books were a complete game-changer! They are full-color, rich in images and text, and the content is very relevant to daily life in Spain—for example, going to the market, meeting friends for tapas, or visiting a doctor, all very practical. Their teaching philosophy prioritizes listening and speaking, integrating grammar points into real-life scenarios for practice, which makes learning less tedious. I personally prefer AULA; I find its layout more dynamic and the topics more interesting.
A Comparison of Different Textbooks’ Focuses
To give you a clearer idea, I’ve made a simple table comparing the features of these textbooks:
| Textbook | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|
| Modern Spanish | Strongest grammar system, in-depth explanations in these Spanish textbooks | Outdated content, monotonous exercises | Learners who want a systematic grammar foundation and have strong self-discipline |
| AULA Internacional | Lively and practical content, rapid improvement in listening and speaking skills | Grammar points are scattered, requiring self-summarization | Students who enjoy immersive learning and want to start speaking quickly |
| Prisma | Comprehensive topics, well-balanced exercises | Style is slightly more conservative than AULA | Learners who want a balanced approach and steady progress |
My advice is to use Modern Spanish as a grammar reference book while primarily following the progression of AULA or Prisma. Whenever you encounter a grammar point you don’t understand, you can refer back to Modern Spanish. This combined approach works best. I’ve now finished AULA 4, and I feel comfortable with basic daily conversations, and my vocabulary has expanded significantly.
Books Specifically for DELE Exam Preparation
If your goal is to take the DELE exam, then in addition to regular textbooks for self-studying Spanish, prep books are essential. I use Preparación al DELE, which is one of the officially recommended prep series. It offers targeted exercises and mock exams for the four sections of the test: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Its advantage is that it helps you quickly get familiar with the exam format and difficulty level. Additionally, another DELE prep series published by Edelsa is also very good, especially since the difficulty of its mock exams is very close to the real thing. During the intensive practice phase, alternating between these two books gave me a lot of confidence. Of course, just grinding through practice tests without reviewing is useless—make sure to organize your mistakes and new words! I hope my experience can be a useful reference, and I welcome everyone to share their booklists too!
