Improve your Spanish fluency with this step-by-step drill – Episode 89

Improve your Spanish fluency with this step-by-step drill

Podcast episode 89 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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Today we’re going to do two role playing exercises.

See also: Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses.

In our previous lesson, we listened to a two-line conversation at a restaurant. Today you’re going to practice saying those lines. You’re going to do two role playing exercises.

Exercises like these are the closest you get to having a real conversation with a Spanish speaker, without having to pay for a private teacher. The aim of these exercises is to help you develop the confidence to speak Spanish.

To make the most of today’s exercises, listen to the previous lesson, if you haven’t listened to it yet.

Let’s start our first role playing exercise. I’m going to be Antonio, the first speaker, and you’re going to be the waiter. I’ll say my first line, and then I’ll prompt you in English. Can you tell me your line in Spanish?

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• I’m sorry, we’re full. Can you come back in an hour?

Let’s do this same exercise once again.

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• I’m sorry, we’re full. Can you come back in an hour?

Let’s hear the original conversation. Did you get your line right?

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Let me give you a pronunciation tip to make sure you’re saying your line right.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Imitate the Spanish speakers’ intonation as much as you can. The closest you can get to what I call ‘singing like a native speaker’, the better they’ll understand you.

In particular, make sure you raise your voice at the end of the question: ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Let’s do this role playing exercise again. I’ll prompt you in English:

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• I’m sorry, we’re full. Can you come back in an hour?

Let’s now do this exercise without the prompts. Can you come up with your line in Spanish? Say it after the beep:

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• Beep

Let’s hear the full conversation. Did you get it right?

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

You can read the conversation by simply tapping on the large blue image on your mobile device. But if you want to develop your conversation skills fast, avoid looking at the transcript before completing the role-playing exercises in this lesson. It’s more difficult, but it really pays off.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Let’s now do the second role playing exercise. You’re going to be Antonio, the first speaker, and I’m going to be the waiter. I’ll prompt you in English. Can you tell me your line in Spanish?

• Good morning, do you have a table for five?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Let’s do this same exercise once again.

• Good morning, do you have a table for five?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Let’s hear the original conversation. Did you get your lines right?

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Remember the pronunciation tip I gave you before. When you say your question, make sure you raise your voice at the end: ¿Tiene una mesa para cinco?

Let’s say this conversation again. I’ll prompt you in English:

• Good morning, do you have a table for five?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Let’s now do this exercise without the prompts. Can you come up with your lines in Spanish? Say them after the beep:

• Beep
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora?

Let’s hear the full conversation. Did you get it right?

• Buenos días, ¿tiene una mesa para cinco?
• Lo siento, está completo. ¿Pueden volver dentro de una hora

Find out more about my Spanish courses.