This powerful resource helps anyone learning Spanish gain the confidence and skills they need to communicate with Spanish speakers. It focuses on functional communication that gives them early success in the language and encourages them to use Spanish in their lives and communities. The book includes situational activities about the ever-increasing presence of Latino culture in the United States and the strong connection between the U.S. and Hispanic countries. Emphasis is also placed on communicative activities and writing to reinforce the reader's comprehension of the language.