Topic Five (1.5): Mis intereses personales

Topics Icon.png Objectives for this topic

  • Creating an online profile
  • Using ser and estar
  • Giving a presentation confidently

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

In this topic, you will learn how to create an online profile! You will also learn how to use ser and estar (very important verbs in Spanish) and how to give a presentation in front of other people.

Interact Icon.png Working through your coursebook

Please work through the following sections in your coursebook, completing all listed exercises:

  • Page 60 Exercise 1: Listen to Audio Disc 1 Track 43 and complete the exercise. Remember to look up any words that you don’t know.

LISTEN - Audio Track 43

  • Page 60 Exercise 2: Read the status updates and decide whether each one is positive (P), negative (N) or both (P+N).
  • Page 60 Exercise 3: Can you write your own short status update with an opinion in Spanish? Look back at Exercise 2 for ideas about what to write.
  • Page 61 Exercise 4: Read the different reasons to go to Cuba then answer the questions in Spanish.
  • Page 61 Exercise 5: Now read the text carefully and answer the questions that follow. Focus on key words that will help you find your answer.
  • Page 61 Exercise 6: Listen to Audio Disc 1 Track 44 then carefully answer the questions in English. Make sure that you play the audio at least twice and stop when necessary.

LISTEN - Audio Track 44

  • Read the Estrategia box on page 61. Speaking in front of a class is not possible at Wolsey Hall, but you will have to speak to your tutor in Spanish occasionally. This can sometimes be a nerve-wracking experience, but it needn’t be. If you are well-prepared and know what you are going to say, you should feel less nervous. It’s always good to have notes at hand and not read out what you want to say word by word. This would make you sound unnatural. A good idea is to write key words or phrases on cue cards. This will avoid the temptation to read and you’ll sound far more authentic as you’ll naturally include pauses when you speak, as you would do in your own language.

Review Icon.png Review

  • Page 61 Exercise 7: Write a short paragraph about a social network that you use regularly (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). Try to mention the following points:
    • how you use it
    • what’s good and bad about it
    • whether you’ll continue using it and why
  • Use ideas from Exercise 5 to help you formulate your answers. Look at the example answers below to help you, too:
    • Uso Facebook para estar en contacto con mis amigos / I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends
    • Lo bueno de Facebook es que es divertido dar ‘me gusta’ a las fotos de mis amigos  / The good thing about Facebook is that it’s fun to ‘like’ my friends’ photos
    • Lo malo de Facebook es que a veces es una pérdida de tiempo total  / The bad thing about Facebook is that it is sometimes a complete waste of time

NewLearning.png  Interactive Kerboodle Activities

Log onto Kerboodle and complete the interactive activities for this module:

COMPLETE - Mis intereses personales Links to an external site.

Bridge Icon.png  Support activity for this topic

Complete the following activities to practise when to use ser or estar:

PRACTISE - Ser or estar? (LanguagesOnline) Links to an external site.

Stretch Icon.png Extension activity for this topic

Log onto Language Nut and choose the Grammar and Verbs page.

Complete activities in the following section:

  • Verbs/Ser/Ser-presente
  • Verbs/Ser/Estar-presente

Download Icon.png Check your answers

If you would like to check your answers to this topic, you can do so by consulting the Claro 2 module answers for Topics 3.5 and 3.8. 

CHECK - Topic 3.5 Download CHECK - Topic 3.5

CHECK - Topic 3.8 Download CHECK - Topic 3.8

Grammar Icon.png  Grammar Alert

Read the Gramática box on page 60 about the use of the verbs ser and estar in Spanish. Both mean to be in Spanish.

You will learn more about the differences between ser and estar as you move onto IGCSE Spanish. The main thing to remember for now is that ser is used for general descriptions (e.g. you are very nice), permanent conditions (e.g. the city is small) and the time (e.g. it is 3 o’clock). These are permanent states and they can’t change. On the other hand, estar is used for position (e.g. it is on the table), temporary conditions (e.g. I am tired today) and emotions (my friend is sad).

It’s important to choose the correct verb because it can change the meaning of your sentence. For example:

  • estar listo/a - to be ready
  • ser listo/a - to be clever
  • estar aburrido/a - to be bored
  • ser aburrido/a - to be a boring person

For more information on this, turn to page 67. When you are ready, watch Señor Jordan’s very helpful video:

WATCH – Ser or Estar (YouTube) Links to an external site.

Then, complete Exercise 3 on page 67.

Glossary Icon.png  Vocabulary

Review the vocabulary section Mis intereses personales (My personal interests) on page 73.