SPEAKING LANGUAGE: SPANISH
 
 
In this activity you will talk about “helping at home” in SPANISH.
You will use the picture as a starting point for the conversation. Try to avoid very short answers and do not be afraid of trying new verbs and constructions.
 
If you cannot understand something, just ask your partner to speak slower (¿Por favor, podrías hablar más despacio?) or to repeat the question (¿Por favor, podrías repetir la pregunta?).
You can start now; enjoy your conversation!
 
TASK 1
Listen to your partner’s question about the picture And then say what the girl and her mum are doing. they are sitting – están sentadas
they are having a rest – están descansando
Click for an example
TASK 2
Listen to the question And say how the mum is dressed.
HINT checked shirt – camisa de cuadros
jeans – vaqueros, tejanos
TASK 3
Listen to the third question. Then describe the picture’s background. bookshelves – estanterías
flower pots – macetas (con flores, con plantas…)
desk – escritorio
mirror – espejo
TASK 4
Listen to the fourth question And say what the mum and girl did before taking the picture. Justify your answer. Remember to use the preterit tense in your answer. HINT
TASK 5
Listen to your partner’s question Then mention the advantages of children helping with chores. Some ideas are: it is fair to share the tasks HINT, chores help children learn responsibility HINT, chores help teach teamwork and give families a chance to bond HINT, chores help improve time management HINT
TASK 6
Listen to your partner’s question. Then say what chores you do at home. Expand your answer by saying what your favourite and least favourite tasks are and how often you do them.
HINT
TASK 7
Listen to the seventh question And say whether you helped at home when younger. Remember to use imperfect in your answer.
HINT
TASK 8
Ask your partner whether he/she does any chores.
HINT
TASK 9
Listen to your partner’s question And say whether chores are equally divided in your family. Expand your answer by comparing the chores that each member of your family does. Try to build long sentences using connectives such a “pero, sin embargo”. HINT
TASK 10
Listen to the question And say whether it is important to dedicate time to cooking. Justify your answer.
TASK 11
Listen to your partner’s question Then say if you know how to cook. If so, explain what you can cook. HINT Otherwise say what you’d like to cook. HINT
TASK 12
Listen to your partner’s question. And say whether you prefer to eat at home or in a restaurant. Expand your answer by saying which is your favourite restaurant, why you like it, how often you go, who you go with…
TASK 13
Ask your partner whether she/he can cook, and what her/his favourite dishes and cuisine are. HINT
 
 
 
SPEAKING LANGUAGE: ENGLISH Now it is your turn to ask some questions in English to your partner. You need to use the text and picture as a starting point for your conversation and then ask some general questions related with the topics “stuff, decluttering, flea markets”.
 
 
 
“Tidying can transform your life.” This is the beguiling promise from Japanese decluttering evangelist Marie Kondo. Around 11 million people have bought her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and millions more have tuned in to watch her in action on Netflix in the hope of learning how to emulate Kondo’s brand of minimalistic bliss. Her “KonMari” method of decluttering is straightforward – tidy your home by category instead of by room, pull everything out before sorting it out, take in the full horror of your materialism, and keep only things that are useful or “spark joy”. Nothing is safe from her mission to reduce the amount of stuff in our lives – clothes, kitchen utensils, paperwork and most controversially, books, are sifted through, assessed and discarded.
 
 
TASK 1 – YOU START
Ask your partner to describe the picture. Some questions that you can ask to extend the conversation are: What does the bedroom look like? Can you describe the expression on people’s faces? Why do they look happy? What do you think they are going to do? Why?
TASK 2
Ask your partner: Is Marie Kondo popular in Spain?
TASK 3
Ask your partner: Why do you think she has become so popular?
TASK 4
Ask your partner: What are the advantages and disadvantages of following Kondo’s advice?
TASK 5
Listen to your partner’s question: Then say whether Kondo is popular in the UK. Give your opinion about her, her method and her popularity.
TASK 6
Ask your partner: Do you think we have too much stuff in our lives?
TASK 7
Ask your partner: Are you tidy or messy? Who is the tidiest member of your family? What does she/he do to keep things tidy?
TASK 8
Ask the following questions: Do you ever get rid of books, clothes…? When? What do you find particularly difficult to get rid of?
TASK 9
Listen to your partner’s question. And say whether you are tidy or messy. Give some examples to justify your answer.
TASK 10
Listen to your partner’s question. And say whether you tend to keep or get rid of the stuff that you don’t use. Expand your answer by giving some examples.
TASK 11
Ask your partner: Is it common, in your city, to take old clothes, books or furniture to charity shops?
TASK 12
Ask your partner: Is there a flea market in your town? Have you ever been there? Do you like it? What days is it open? Is it popular?
TASK 13
Listen to your partner’s question And say whether there is a flea market in your city. For instance, you can talk about Camden town. Expand your answer by describing whether it is popular among tourists or locals and giving your opinion about it. You can also say if you used to go or would like to go in the future.