Spanish Conversational Skills Syllabus

Conversational Skills syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Conversational Skills in Spanish, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Basic Conversation

   3 topics

   • Introducing Yourself
   • Asking for Directions
   • Shopping and Dining
2. 2

   Intermediate Conversation

   3 topics

   • Talking About Daily Routines
   • Discussing Weather and Travel
   • Expressing Opinions and Preferences
3. 3

   Advanced Conversation

   3 topics

   • Debating and Persuasion
   • Narrating Stories and Events
   • Discussing Abstract Topics

Conversational Skills flashcards for Spanish

18 of 51 cards from the Conversational Skills deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In Spanish, what is the standard phrase to say "My name is..." when introducing yourself?

   "Me llamo..." (literally "I call myself..."). Alternatively "Mi nombre es..." You then give your name, e.g. "Me llamo Ana."

2. What is the difference between "¿Cómo estás?" and "¿Cómo está usted?" when meeting someone?

   "¿Cómo estás?" is the informal (tú) form used with friends, peers, and children; "¿Cómo está usted?" is the formal (usted) form used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings.

3. How do you say "Nice to meet you" in Spanish, and what is the typical reply?

   "Mucho gusto" or "Encantado/a." A common reply is "Igualmente" (Likewise) or "El gusto es mío" (The pleasure is mine). Use "encantado" if male, "encantada" if female.

4. When introducing yourself, which verb do you use to state your nationality or profession, and why?

   You use "ser" (not "estar") because nationality and profession are permanent/inherent traits, e.g. "Soy mexicano," "Soy médico." Note: professions omit the indefinite article (not "soy un médico").

5. How do you ask someone's name formally versus informally in Spanish?

   Informal: "¿Cómo te llamas?" Formal: "¿Cómo se llama (usted)?" The reflexive pronoun changes from "te" (informal) to "se" (formal).

6. What is the key phrase for asking "Where is...?" when seeking directions in Spanish?

   "¿Dónde está...?" for a specific/fixed location (e.g. "¿Dónde está el baño?"), or "¿Dónde hay...?" (Where is there...?) when asking if any such place exists nearby (e.g. "¿Dónde hay un banco?").

7. Give the Spanish directional commands for "turn right," "turn left," and "go straight."

   "Gire/Doble a la derecha" (turn right), "Gire/Doble a la izquierda" (turn left), and "Siga (todo) recto/derecho" (go straight ahead).

8. What does "Está a dos cuadras de aquí" mean, and what does "cuadra" refer to?

   "It is two blocks from here." "Cuadra" (or "manzana" in Spain) means a city block, the standard unit for describing walking distance in directions.

9. How do you politely open a request for directions from a stranger in Spanish?

   "Disculpe, ¿me podría decir cómo llegar a...?" (Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to...?) or "Perdone, ¿por dónde se va a...?" Using "usted" forms and "podría" (conditional) makes it polite.

10. What are the Spanish prepositions of location for "next to," "in front of," and "behind"?

    "al lado de" (next to), "enfrente de / frente a" (in front of / across from), and "detrás de" (behind). "Cerca de" means near and "lejos de" means far from.

11. In a shop, how do you ask "How much does it cost?" for one item versus several items?

    Singular: "¿Cuánto cuesta?" or "¿Cuánto vale?" Plural: "¿Cuánto cuestan?" The verb "costar" agrees with the item(s) being priced.

12. What is the polite phrase a shopper uses to say "I would like..." and why is it preferred over "quiero"?

    "Quisiera..." or "Me gustaría..." (I would like...). These conditional/imperfect-subjunctive forms are softer and more courteous than the blunt "Quiero..." (I want).

13. In a restaurant, what is the difference between "la carta" and "la cuenta"?

    "La carta" is the menu ("el menú" often refers specifically to a fixed-price meal). "La cuenta" is the bill/check. To ask for the bill: "La cuenta, por favor."

14. How does a waiter typically ask what you would like to order, and how do you respond?

    Waiter: "¿Qué va a pedir?" or "¿Qué desea?" Response: "Para mí, ..." (For me, ...) or "Voy a pedir..." (I'm going to order...), followed by the dish.

15. What is the standard way to say "I am allergic to..." when dining in Spanish?

    "Soy alérgico/a a..." e.g. "Soy alérgica a los frutos secos" (I'm allergic to nuts). Use "ser" and match gender; the item follows "a."

16. Which verb structure is used to talk about daily routine actions like "I wake up" and "I brush my teeth," and why?

    Reflexive verbs, because the action is done to oneself: "me despierto" (I wake up), "me levanto" (I get up), "me lavo los dientes" (I brush my teeth). The reflexive pronoun (me/te/se...) precedes the conjugated verb.

17. How do you say "in the morning," "in the afternoon," and "at night" in Spanish when describing a routine?

    "por la mañana" (in the morning), "por la tarde" (in the afternoon/evening), and "por la noche" (at night). "de la mañana/tarde/noche" is used when giving a specific clock time.

18. What are three common Spanish adverbs of frequency, ordered from most to least often?

    "siempre" (always) > "normalmente / generalmente" (usually) > "a veces" (sometimes) > "casi nunca" (almost never) > "nunca" (never). They describe how often a routine action happens.

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