I have spent hundreds of dollars on other ways to learn Spanish and to my surprise this is the one that keeps me motivated. The stories that begin each chapter, though designed for younger people, can appeal to a wry sense of humor at any age. The authors use many cognates (Spanish words that are similar to English) so meanings are reasonably easy to grasp and vocabulary is quickly acquired. Each chapter clearly and thoroughly explains an element of grammar. The many fill-in-the-blank exercises start out with simple models to follow and gradually build skill. When I do all the exercises I can feel confident that I have mastered the concept. Unlike other programs, I am not left with an uneasy, slightly dazed sensation when the chapter is complete. Therefore,so far, I feel able to proceed without a teacher. If the Spanish Now 1 cassettes are as helpful as the book, I will only regret that I didn't buy them earlier. So it is with a bit of chagrin that I let those expensive programs sit on the shelf as I use a much less expensive program written initially for younger students. Yet, progressing quickly while building a firm foundation just might make all the money I spent on the other programs worth this one.