Any Spanish teachers on here please? Advice on gift for DP

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

DH has been learning Spanish for a couple of years, and he's doing really well. All learned via a CD course and practised on a couple of Spanish holidays this year and I am really impressed. I would like to buy him a Spanish book to read, so am looking for some advice.I am fluent in a couple of other languages and know the satisfaction that came from reading a simple book in another language. I'd say he is about old O'level standard, not quite ready for the classics we read at A level. Probably quite short and simple constructs/vocabulary. Any suggestions please?

Would you consider poetry? Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada by Pablo Neruda is absolutely beautiful.

Thank you Esteban. Possibly although I'm feeling like I want a story book of some sort as he doesn't really enjoy poetry. I've seen a collection of short stories for beginners which might be an option but would appreciate some advice before buying anything.

I don't know anything about Spanish, but I give my French students who are about that stage children's classical literature, as these are shorter and usually have a more straightforward plot as well as slightly easier vocabulary. Books in translation can also work well - e.g. I read Harry Potter in French when I was studying at A Level as I know the original well enough to help me over the tricky bits.

How about a parallel text then? Penguin do a range and I think there are a few Spanish options.

www.amazon.co.uk/Spanish-Short-Stories-Cuentos-Parallel/dp/0140265414?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. (La Sombre Del Viento in Spanish)

It’s a novel set in post civil war Barcelona and is a fantastic book. Came out about 15/16 years ago I think. There are several more in the series too so if he enjoyed it (and I defy anyone not to love that book) then he could get more.

I have GCSE Spanish although it is very rusty, but took evening classes a few years ago and managed at least some of the book. If I was regularly learning/studying I reckon it would be doable. DS is currently studying GCSE Spanish and his aim is to read the book in Spanish by the end of 5th form. (He’s read it several times in English already)

I am not a teacher but a Spaniard myself, i remember taking a lot of pleasure in reading Platero y Yo ("Platero and I"), a classical book by Spanish author Juan Ramón Jiménez, and I seem to remember the language was easy and the stories uplifting. There is a dual-language version available in The Book Depository: www.bookdepository.com/Platero-I-Juan-Ramon-Jimenez/9780486435657?pdg=aud-530325474868:dsa-498466563044:cmp-1533404050:adg-54010825570:crv-291083301798:pos-1t1:dev-c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9fntBRCGARIsAGjFq5E10M_thD34FkE1HT9lBPq60jC3UHBRInWDEht2hUeJoBQjMjRNOlQaAoQWEALw_wcB

What about some Spanish films on dvd - original language ones. When I studied Spanish these were great. Loads with Antonio bandaras or maybe audio cds for the car. I would stay away from poetry as can be difficult to understand. Puzzle books etc can be fun too.

Thank you all for the ideas

After I did A-level Spanish eleventy billion years ago, the only book I read in the language was an Agatha Christie - that was fairly easy.

I find it best to read something one knows well, preferably an uncomplicated text or children's book even- Harry Potter is the go to example as most have read it and it's cheaply and readily available in multiple translations.

Otherwise one of the parallel translation books- short stories are handy, poetry if he likes it ordinarily.

Films are a good suggestion also but in all honesty the only thing that really improves it is interaction with native speakers, preferably in the country itself. Book more holidays or direct him towards meetup so he can join a spanish speakers social, there are loads!