"I have been enjoying real success using Comic Mnemonics. I started using them with a special education student that I tutor (high school level). He loved them because he always had a difficult time memorizing large numbers of verbs in the past. He finished his sophomore year with a B- which was a major accomplishment, as he always used to struggle in Spanish.
Another student in particular comes to mind. He unfortunately was hit by a car last year and suffered some brain damage. He finds the mnemonics incredibly useful and he's holding his own with an 89, up from a low B earlier this year.
Using the product has been great for me, too, as the fill-in-the-blank exercises are all ready to go and they practice subject-verb agreement with all of the subject pronouns. I have your CD of the verb database installed on my desktop, so it's very easy to just click on the verb I want to print out."
ĦBravo!
Ann Benagas
Spanish teacher
Montclair, NJ
"We're enjoying the book very much. And my son that has so much trouble memorizing is GETTING IT!"
Tanya Terry
Parent
Roby, TX
"A lot of fun for everyone. It appeals to all learning styles, offers a variety of ways to interact and learn with the comics and helps kids to learn a lot in a short period of time."
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, March 2006
Kyle has always struggled in Spanish but now all that has changed. He actually passed his first Spanish test this year and it was only a week after we started using Comic Mnemonics. The visuals are exactly what he needs. And the conjugations on the same page. What a great book!
Susan Miller
Resource room, Horace Greeley High School
Chappaqua, NY
Your program is an absolute "blessing to me!" My Spanish II class went into another teacher's Spanish I class and taught them for two days. Most of the students in that class told my Spanish II students that they learned more in two days than they did the whole semester. My classes told our Principal the same thing after one day with me. (it was your Spanish program). We had so much fun using Comic Mnemonics. We used it to play Jeopardy, and charaids too. We played name that verb. Our class periods are two hours long four days a week. It's been absolutely great! Thanks again!
Rebekah Bacoka
Spanish teacher, Kingman Academy of Learning
Kingman, AZ
"I can't tell you how much my students love working with Comic Mnemonics. They struggle with language, especially the memorizing part, and this has helped them so much. They actually like when we go over Spanish now."
Terri McKenna
Resource Room, Horace Greeley High School
Chappaqua, NY
"I also have used it for students who come after for extra help! It is great with one on one work!
Erica Morse
Spanish teacher
Keene, NH
“Profusely illustrated by Patricia Nacher with one hundred instances of cartoon style artwork, Comic Mnemonics: A Fun, Easy Way To Remember Spanish Verbs by Jim Sarris is a vocabulary building guide that uses simple, humorous line drawings and whimsical catch phrases to help students of Spanish memorize verbs, such as "viajar" to travel: "on Mars, they travel via jars".
“Conjugation and grammar reviews for each verb help reinforce memorization and understanding of these verbs, all of which are common-use words vital for anyone striving to gain a working command of the Spanish language.”
“Highly recommended for self-study, student use, review, or just plain fun."
Midwest Book Review
Oregon, WI
“Comic Mnemonics makes learning Spanish verbs fun! It’s easy to remember Spanish verbs using the fun, cartoon comics and the clever mnemonics. This clever little book will make a difference in your mastery of the Spanish language.”
Beverly Hernandez • Homeschooling Editor
Homeschooling.about.com
"The appeal of the comics format is aligned with kids' interests and will engage them completely--and the whole approach matches well with new research about learning and brain function. The brain learns more efficiently with scaffolding like mnemonics.
“ We know from neuroscience and brain-based learning that brains retain more when the information is novel...and this sure is! Helping kids make connections across languages builds new connections across neurons--in effect, growing their brains."
Kathy Mason • Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
Somers School District, Somers, NY
“I received the book, Comic Mnemonics, this morning and could not put it down. Many Spanish language workbooks and games focus on nouns. This book teaches verbs and does so in a way that is fun and effective.”
“In fact, in the few hours that I spent with the book I was able to recall almost all of the verbs from my High School Spanish class - of over 20 years ago! An added bonus to the book is the Grammar Section. The nine-page review section is worth the price of the book. The conjugation section, the Answer Key, and the Quick Reference pages encourage efficient and successful independent study.”
“Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book. The author has taken a simple idea and turned it into a valuable resource for students and teachers."
Dr. Laura Brown • Manchester Elementary School
Columbia, SC
“Just scanning through this book, I was immediately drawn to the interactive and funny cartoons. Sometimes learning another language can be incredibly difficult; at least it was for me when I was a student. I remember feeling as though everyone else in the class could memorize the vocabulary and grammar so quickly, while I was still struggling.
“With a textbook (or even supplemental learning material) such as this one, learning Spanish Verbs would have been much easier. By tying learning into a student's context, learning a language becomes much more fun and more easily retained”
“By giving students a strong visual element, as well as a mnemonic device, learning a language is less overwhelming. I would highly recommend this as a textbook or even as a book to use in the classroom to supplement other learning materials!"
“An invaluable guide for all students of Spanish, Mr. Sarris hits the mark with Comic Mnemonics! This is definitely a book you will want to comprar (hint: My tutor buys a Computer.)"
Meg Grooms • BellaOnline's Homeschooling Editor
“I believe this book to be an excellent resource tool to use in teaching and learning Spanish verbs. I can see endless possibilities in using this book to augment and support the curriculum in a foreign language class. The layout of the book is exceptional!”
“Very clear, concise and appropriate information given on each page. The author found a formula and repeats it for each verb. The illustrations are worthy of poster size enlargements! I can't wait to use this book in my class in September."
Lucy Valentini • Secondary School Teacher
Ontario, Canada
"I love mnemonics as a learning tool and find Comic Mnemonics very easy to apply to my beginner classes. Having so much valuable information on one page has made the lives of my struggling students so much easier. They are learning more than ever before.”
Amy Lanterman • Vermont Academy
Saxton’s River, VT
“Fortunately, today’s foreign language students (specifically those learning Spanish) no longer need to suffer through endless worksheets and rote memorization as their only method of learning verbs. Jim Sarris, a veteran Spanish teacher, has come to the rescue... “
“Backed with the knowledge that the majority of the population learn through visual or auditory methods, Mr. Sarris has combined the two approaches into Comic Mnemonics, a worthy supplement for any Spanish program...”
Arlene Dodge • Notre Dame High School
San Jose, CA
"Students do respond better to illustrations and mnemonics...your illustrations are adorable and obvious-but no so cutesy that they are misunderstood"
Harriet Barnett • Foreign Language Consultant,
Methods Instructor • Manhattanville College
Purchase, NY
"So much better than flash cards! Give me illustrations and crazy phrases anytime. 'Al More eats lunch with Al Less' will always be my favorite."
Johnny "Nacho" Widder • Spanish Student
Chappaqua, NY
"I wish I'd had this book when I was learning Spanish -really makes learning fun. What a great way to master your verbs!"
Kate Lombardi
Parent of a student studying Spanish