Motivos de conversación has been revised and updated in large part based on the valuable suggestions received from instructors and students across the country who have used the Fourth Edition. The changes we have made to the textbook are minimal in accordance with the reviewers’ suggestions. However, we have made significant changes to the supplementary materials that accompany Motivos, including adding three new multimedia components (see Multimedia for descriptions). Following is a brief description of the major changes to the student text.

 

* The chapter-opening page has been redesigned to include a video still from the accompanying episode of the new video. The introductory text underneath the photo provides a preview of the video segment and an introduction to the chapter themes.

* A web address, also on the chapter opening page, directs students to the new Motivos de conversación website.

* Para ver de veras, in Para resumir y repasar, uses a series of directed questions to encourage students to look at the chapter-opening photo in more detail and speculate about the people and places in it. They are also encouraged to discuss some of their own related experiences and compare the aspects of Hispanic culture portrayed in the photo with aspects of their culture.

* Videotemas, in the Comunicación section of the chapter, begins with a set of comprehension questions that enable students to assess their understanding of the video episode. These are followed by a personalized pair activity in which students discuss with a partner the themes raised in the segment.

* The Viaje por el mundo hispánico sections after every regular chapter now contain a brief poetry selection by a poet native to the region under discussion. These selections, which are also provided in audio format (cassette or CD) on the accompanying Listening Comprehension Program, are preceded by a brief introduction to the poet and his or her works, and are glossed to facilitate reading. This feature gives students an excellent opportunity to read authentic materials almost from the beginning of their study of Spanish, and may stimulate their interest in reading additional poetic or narrative works by the featured author or other authors.