When I first arrived in Spain, my Spanish was basically at the abysmal Hola, Gracias level. I took a few classes, but the pace felt a bit slow and the schedule wasn’t very flexible. So, I decided to teach myself! This began a long journey of trial and error, where I went through almost all the mainstream Spanish textbooks on the market. Today, I’m here to share a list of the books I’ve used and genuinely recommend, hoping to offer some guidance to fellow self-learners.
Absolute Beginner Stage
The goal at this stage is to build a solid foundation, especially in pronunciation and basic grammar. Don’t skip the pronunciation part just because it seems easy. It determines whether people will understand you when you speak and whether your accent is pleasant to listen to, which is where Spanish alphabet apps can be very helpful.
Recommended Textbook: Modern Spanish
This series is considered the ‘bible’ for Spanish learners in China. Although it was published quite a while ago and some of the content is dated, its grammar system is incredibly complete and clear. The explanations are thorough, and each point is accompanied by numerous exercises, making it perfect for systematically building a strong foundation. The only downside is that it can be a bit dry, so you’ll need some patience to get through it.
Intermediate to Advanced Stage
Once you reach the B1 level, you can’t rely solely on Modern Spanish. You need to start engaging with more authentic, modern expressions, expand your vocabulary, and specifically strengthen your grammar.
Recommended Textbooks: Preparación al Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera & Aprende Gramática y Vocabulario
- Preparación al DELE series: This series is the official preparation material for the DELE exam, making it highly targeted. Even if you’re not taking the exam, it’s fantastic for improving your overall listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Its advantage is that the content is very current, with topics that are relevant to contemporary life in Spain.
- Aprende Gramática y Vocabulario series: This series of grammar and vocabulary workbooks is my absolute favorite! The format is crystal clear: explanations on the left page, exercises on the right. It helps you connect all the scattered grammar points you’ve learned into a cohesive network of knowledge.
Textbook Comparison Summary
To help you choose more easily, I’ve made a simple comparison table:
| Textbook | Suitable Level | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Modern Spanish | A1-B1 | Comprehensive grammar system, thorough explanations | Dated content, a bit dry |
| Preparación al DELE | B1-C2 | Highly practical, exam-focused | A bit difficult for self-study, requires some foundation |
| Aprende Gramática | A2-C1 | Targeted practice, clear structure | Purely exercises, content can be monotonous |
There’s no single best textbook, only the one that’s best for you. I suggest combining them based on your learning stage and goals. For example, use Modern Spanish to build your foundation, then Aprende for targeted reinforcement, and finally the DELE series for comprehensive improvement. I hope my sharing has been helpful! Feel free to leave a comment below to discuss other great books you’re using!
