Based on the proven philosophy and approach of ¡Claro que sí!—a communicative program with a strong emphasis on developing oral proficiency and cultural competency—Imágenes offers a reduced scope and sequence with ample practice that is well suited for courses with fewer contact hours. It may also be used for accelerated or false beginner courses.Taking an integrated-skills approach that cultivates active learning, the authors base this text on six solid principles of learning: people learn by doing; skill integration promotes language development; language is culture and culture is reflected in language; self-expression in language contributes to attaining proficiency; recycling of material is essential to help students move from learning to acquisition; and learning is enhanced when it is enjoyable.Focus on real language builds students" confidence: Early in the text, practical, thematic vocabulary empowers learners to converse about things that are relevant to their lives, such as their name, age, and interests, and contextualized practice provides realistic situations and opportunities to use the language creatively.A range of cultural coverage and supporting features, emphasizing practices, products, and cross-cultural comparisons, promotes discussion and expands students" knowledge of the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.Accessible, contextualized language provides focus for learning: New and recycled vocabulary and grammar are presented in the context of realistic conversations that follow a series of characters through a variety of events in their daily lives. Each conversation is recorded on the student audio program and is accompanied by listening comprehension and speaking practice.Functionally sequenced grammar presentations in English exemplify real-world usage and are accompanied by a variety of practice activities that encourage self-expression, including pair and group exercises and illustration-based tasks.