| There are so many audio book titles available out | | | | high, my enthusiasm for Spanish audio books in |
| there in the market today, produced by many | | | | general have been met with some objections from |
| different companies in many different forms (mp3, | | | | different quarters on several occasions. I have been |
| wma etc). In fact, audio books have generally been | | | | asked if these audio books can be considered as |
| used in schools by teachers of second-language | | | | books and if listening to these Spanish books are to |
| schools, struggling students with reading difficulties or | | | | be considered as reading? Some even claimed it as |
| visually-impaired students. How do these Spanish | | | | cheating and do not consider them as reading! |
| audio books help students? | | | | Before I can answer that question, just what exactly |
| Audio books, and Spanish audio books specifically, can | | | | is the definition of reading? If it is to gain knowledge |
| benefit children and young people. Parents who find | | | | amicably, and if reading is to understand the content |
| themselves too busy to be able to assist their | | | | story or theme then I would have to say that audio |
| children personally can get one of these audio books | | | | books succeed 100%. |
| for them. | | | | Let's just assume that Spanish is the mother-tongue |
| These books can come in the form of great gifts as | | | | of the students we are going to discuss. They might |
| they generally are products of exceptional quality | | | | know the basic language and can read to a certain |
| these days. | | | | degree. These Spanish books can assist students to |
| Children and young people can listen to these books | | | | learn beyond their reading ability. Not only that, it can |
| and learn anywhere in a fun manner. No more will | | | | actually help students to pronounce the words |
| children need to learn Spanish through conventional | | | | properly and it can help one to improve on their |
| classes. Children and young people today often find | | | | vocabulary. Most of these Spanish audio books are |
| themselves losing interest as there are just so many | | | | recorded by native-speakers with soothing, |
| distraction out there. With these Spanish audio books | | | | professional voices and sounds. This motivate |
| however, learning can be done while relaxing. They | | | | students to a better learning experience overall. |
| can listen to it while commuting from the bus to | | | | There are many other ways students benefit from |
| home, while relaxing on their favorite chair or even | | | | audio books in general and Spanish audio books |
| play it on the laptop while surfing the net. | | | | specifically. I have not even warmed up but I will |
| While generally the interest and acceptance levels are | | | | save it for some other time. |