¡Hola, clase! Here's the study guide, as promised.
  I.   Rest a lot, and do NOT stay up (even to study) the night before any exam. You know as well as I do that it's very hard to concentrate, let alone be brilliant, on only a few hours' sleep.

II. Start by going through the books. For each lesson, skim over the textbook first, and then the workbook, and then proceed to the next lesson.

III.  Going through the textbook:

 
a) This is where you can best review the content of the episodes, any special vocabulary clusters that have been introduced, and the culture readings. As far as the content of the videos is concerned, I know that it is very hard to follow a lot of the action. You should know the basic plot, why Raquel goes to each place, and who the characters are. Look in the back of your book for pictures of each character and their role in the plotline. Can you describe for me in Spanish who that person is and how he/she relates to the other characters?

b) Make flashcards of any vocabulary you have trouble remembering.

c)  Skim over the cultural notes. You have already read them, so this should just be a quick review. What was the major theme of each reading? What are the major points? Imagine what you'd say if you had to summarize each one.
 

 IV.  Going through the workbook:
  a)  As you know, this is where you’ll find the grammar explanations and practice. Go through your workbook and highlight the important points of the grammar explanations. ***OJO*** three is vocabulary you are responsible within these lessons, particularly that written beneath the irregular verb paradigm boxes. Don’t forget to add these words to your study lists.

b)  You should have already done these exercises, of course, but you can still use the exercises for practice—rewrite anything that was on the worksheet, and see how you make out with it. Check your work against the version that I corrected.

c)  If you’re still having a tough time with any grammar, and you'd like a lot of rote practice, you might want to consider picking up a grammar practice book in the bookstore. For some of you, rote, repetitive exercises will be the road to success ( and for some of you it may be dreadfully boring—we all learn in different ways!). One book that some of my students have told me helps a lot is "English Grammar for Students of Spanish."  It’s a paperback with a black and red cover.  Another is the Schaum's Outline Series Spanish grammar.  Look them all over, and see which book looks like it will give you the kind of explanations and practice you ned. If there aren’t any on the shelf at the bookstore, you should be able to find them in any other bookstore. There’s a Coles’ Booksellers in the University Mall, I think, and there’s a bus that goes there.

d)  One thing I have always found helpful for myself is flash cards. I make a stack of "Subjects" (Yo, tú, ella, los ninos, etc…), then a stack of verbs. On one side of the verbs I write the infinitive form in Spanish (cenar, ir, dormirse…) and on the other side I write out all the forms correctly and the English translation. I go through the piles randomly picking verbs and subject pronouns, conjugating the verb on a piece of paper, then flipping over the verb card to check my work.
 

   VI.  Stay calm, cool and collected!  If you’ve done all the work I’ve recommended to you since Day One, and not cut any corners, you should be well prepared for the exam. Your studying should consist of tying up loose ends, and working out any difficulties you’re still having. If you need to talk, need an explanation, need to be reassured, etc., you can call me. Buena suerte,

Amy