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Spanish / Unit 1: Hola / lesson 5

Conversation: at the language school

Max, an American student, arrives at Lupe's language school in Austin. He meets his teacher, Lupe: politely at first, with usted, until she says they can use tú. Listen, read, and then take Max's part.

Before you listen

At the language school

Max meets his teacher, Lupe. Pedro plays Max.

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The conversation, line by line

Max meets Lupe

Lupe

Buenas tardes. Bienvenido a la clase.

Good afternoon. Welcome to the class.

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Read it

	Spanish	English
Lupe	Buenas tardes. Bienvenido a la clase.	Good afternoon. Welcome to the class.
Max	Buenas tardes. ¿Cómo se llama usted?	Good afternoon. What is your name?
Lupe	Me llamo Lupe. Soy la profesora. ¿Y usted?	My name is Lupe. I am the teacher. And you?
Max	Me llamo Max. Mucho gusto.	My name is Max. Nice to meet you.
Lupe	Encantada. ¿De dónde es usted?	Delighted. Where are you from?
Max	Soy de Chicago. ¿Y usted?	I am from Chicago. And you?
Lupe	Soy de San Antonio. Max, aquí nos hablamos de tú. ¿Cómo estás?	I am from San Antonio. Max, here we say tú to each other. How are you?
Max	Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?	Very well, thanks. And you?
Lupe	Bien, gracias.	Fine, thanks.
	after the class
Max	Hasta mañana, Lupe.	See you tomorrow, Lupe.
Lupe	Hasta mañana, Max. Nos vemos.	See you tomorrow, Max. See you.

Note.

Max, aquí nos hablamos de tú: aquí is here; hablarse de tú is to say tú to each other. Learn it as a phrase. From then on Max asks ¿Cómo estás? and ¿Y tú?, not ¿Cómo está usted? and ¿Y usted? Let the other person, older or in charge, offer tú first.

Your turn: you are Max

Now Lupe speaks to you. After each of her lines, press pause and say Max's answer out loud. Then listen to Pedro say it, and compare.

Role-play: you are Max

You are Max

Answer Lupe out loud.

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Practice

Listen: question 1

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What did Lupe say?

A. I am the teacher.B. I am from Texas.C. Welcome to the class.

Hint

Profesora is close to the English word.

Solution

Lupe said Soy la profesora: I am the teacher.

Question

At first, Max asks Lupe ¿Cómo se llama usted? Why usted?

A. She is his friend.B. She is his teacher, and they have just met.C. She is a child.

Hint

Usted is the polite one.

Solution

Lupe is his teacher and they have just met, so Max is polite: usted.

Listen: question 3

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What does Lupe mean?

A. Max, you are in the wrong class.B. Max, here we say tú to each other.C. Max, see you in class.

Hint

Aquí means here.

Solution

She means that here they say tú to each other.

Question

After that, Lupe asks ¿Cómo estás? How does Max send the question back?

A. Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted?B. Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?C. Mucho gusto.

Hint

Now they use the friendly you.

Solution

Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?

Question

Max is a man. Which word fits him for delighted?

A. EncantadoB. Encantada

Hint

It depends on who is speaking.

Solution

A man says encantado; Lupe, a woman, says encantada.

Listen: question 6

Press Play and listen.

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Question

Pedro is playing Max. Where is Max from?

A. From San AntonioB. From AustinC. From Chicago

Hint

Soy de: I am from.

Solution

Max said Soy de Chicago: I am from Chicago.

Put the conversation in order

Click the items in the correct order. Click an item in your answer to move it back.

Available items

Your order

Note.

Next: a story. Pedro arrives at Lupe's class for his first evening.