Listening is one of the most basic language skills and an essential component of communication. In Amistades, listening is used as a means to acquiring active vocabualry, reading, and writing skills, as well as a skill in its own right. Listening is a key component of the Expresiones, Comunicación, and Comprensión auditiva sections Amistades textbook and the Dictado, Comunicación, and Comprensión auditiva sections of the Diario de actividades. These materials are reinforced by an audio CD, in which the actors’ voices reflect the dialect spoken in the featured region. In the Expresiones and Comunicación sections, listening comprehension is reinforced by a coordinated visual aid (PowerPoint). Listening strategies are introduced and practiced in each chapter.