Need a quick way to learn basic Spanish? Mukwonago High School Spanish teacher M.H. Graham has the answer.

Her new book, "¡Ahora Hablo! Travel Edition. Seven Simple Steps to Authentic Spanish," avoids needless grammar and strips the language down to its basics so anybody can start speaking Spanish quickly.

It also has easy-to-use phonetic guides designed for the English speaker.

Need to tell someone that you need a taxi? Here's how:

Necesitamos un taxi ... neh-seh-see-tah-mows oohn tock-see.

Need to tell someone that you're hungry? Here's how:

Tengo hambre ... ten-go ahm-bray.

It's that simple!

The compact book - 5x7 and 117 pages - is designed to be easily carried, and chapters are organized around your travel needs, with common phrases grouped into such categories as Emergency, At the Restaurant, Let's Go Shopping, and Transportation.

Each section includes cultural tips such as:

"In Spanish, the word for 'pain' is dolor (doe-lohr) and the word for 'dollar' is dólar (doe-lahr). Take care with pronunciation."

The wire-bound book also has pages for notes.

Graham has more than 20 years of experience teaching high school students and is one of about 400 Wisconsin teachers who have earned national certification (world languages) through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She earned a master’s degree in Spanish/education from Marquette University in 1985. Prior to teaching, she studied in Spain and Mexico, worked in Milwaukee’s Hispanic community and in the private sector.

More information about Graham and her book is available at www.ahorahablo.com.

WEAC members can order the book at a discount ($9.95 and $3 shipping) directly from the author at m.h.graham@ahorahablo.com.

Posted February 7, 2007