A1 Spanish

Stories completed

12. ¿Cuál es tu apellido?

(What Is Your Last Name?)

It's Roberto's first day at work. He loves his desk, his colleagues... he couldn't be happier. Everything feels right. But is it?

Illustration of an older man with a mustache sitting at a desk with a younger man writing on paper

Spanish version

Roberto Hernández vive en Cuenca.

Es su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="first" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">primer día de trabajo.

Llega a la oficina.

—Buenos días. ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="What" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Cuál es su nombre? —pregunta la recepcionista.

—Roberto Hernández.

—Ah, sí. Roberto. Bienvenido. Esta es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your ID" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">su identificación.

Una mujer se acerca.

—Hola, Roberto. Soy Clara. Ven <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="with me" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">conmigo.

Clara camina por la oficina.

—Este es tu escritorio. Esta es tu silla. Aquí puedes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to put" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">poner tu chaqueta y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your backpack" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tu mochila.

Roberto mira todo.

—Este es tu ordenador. Aquí están <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your documents" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tus documentos.

—Gracias. ¿Cuál es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my password" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mi contraseña?

—Aquí está, en este papel. Y aquí está tu teléfono.

—¿Y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my keys" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mis llaves?

—Están aquí.

Clara muestra más cosas.

—Esta es nuestra cocina. Este es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="our refrigerator" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">nuestro refrigerador. Siempre hay <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="red wine with lemon soda" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tinto de verano para después del trabajo.

Entran en otra sala.

—Esta es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="our printer" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">nuestra impresora.

Clara <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="points to" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">señala un <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="area" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">área con <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="several" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">varios escritorios.

—Trabajas con ese <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="team" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">equipo. Esta es la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="zone" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">zona de trabajo de vuestro equipo.

Después señala una oficina <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="closed" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cerrada.

—Y esa es la oficina del jefe.

Roberto trabaja toda la mañana. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="He organizes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Organiza su escritorio. Lee emails. Conoce a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="his colleagues" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sus compañeros en el almuerzo.

Roberto piensa: "Me gusta <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my new job" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mi nuevo trabajo. Mi escritorio es muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="comfortable" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cómodo. Mis compañeros son amables."

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="At 3 in the afternoon" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">A las 3 de la tarde, un hombre alto entra. Es Javier Navarro, el jefe.

—Roberto, bienvenido. Soy Javier Navarro. ¿Todo bien?

—Sí, señor. Mi escritorio es perfecto.

—Excelente. Ahora necesitas <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to sign" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">firmar <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your contract" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tu contrato. Aquí está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your copy" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tu copia.

Roberto lee el contrato. Todo está bien.

Firma su nombre: "Roberto Hernández"

Señor Navarro toma el papel. Mira <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the signature" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">la firma.

Mira su ordenador.

Mira el contrato otra vez.

—Disculpa... ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your last name" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tu apellido es Hernández?

—Sí, señor.

Señor Navarro revisa el contrato y el ordenador.

—Hay un problema. Nuestro nuevo empleado se llama Roberto Fernández. No Roberto Hernández.

—¿Perdón?

—Sí. Mira el contrato aquí. Dice Roberto Fernández. Tu apellido es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="different" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">diferente.

—Pero... estoy aquí <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="since" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">desde la mañana.

—Sí, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I know" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">lo sé. Pero tú no eres nuestro Roberto.

Clara <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="appears" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">aparece en la puerta.

—¿Qué pasa?

—Él es Roberto Hernández. Nuestro empleado es Roberto Fernández.

Roberto se levanta <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="slowly" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">despacio.

—Entonces... ¿no trabajo aquí?

—No. Lo siento mucho. Es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="our mistake" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">nuestro error.

Roberto mira el escritorio.

—Pero este es mi escritorio.

—No —dice el señor Navarro—. Es el escritorio de Roberto Fernández.

Roberto <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="touches" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">toca el ordenador.

—Mi ordenador...

—No. De Roberto Fernández.

Spanish story with English translation

Roberto Hernández vive en Cuenca.

Roberto Hernández lives in Cuenca.

Es su primer día de trabajo.

It is his first day of work.

Llega a la oficina.

He arrives at the office.

—Buenos días. ¿Cuál es su nombre? —pregunta la recepcionista.

"Good morning. What is your name?" asks the receptionist.

—Roberto Hernández.

"Roberto Hernández."

—Ah, sí. Roberto. Bienvenido. Esta es su identificación.

"Ah, yes. Roberto. Welcome. This is your identification."

Una mujer se acerca.

A woman approaches.

—Hola, Roberto. Soy Clara. Ven conmigo.

"Hello, Roberto. I'm Clara. Come with me."

Clara camina por la oficina.

Clara walks through the office.

—Este es tu escritorio. Esta es tu silla. Aquí puedes poner tu chaqueta y tu mochila.

"This is your desk. This is your chair. Here you can put your jacket and your backpack."

Roberto mira todo.

Roberto looks at everything.

—Este es tu ordenador. Aquí están tus documentos.

"This is your computer. Here are your documents."

—Gracias. ¿Cuál es mi contraseña?

"Thank you. What is my password?"

—Aquí está, en este papel. Y aquí está tu teléfono.

"Here it is, on this paper. And here is your phone."

—¿Y mis llaves?

"And my keys?"

—Están aquí.

"They are here."

Clara muestra más cosas.

Clara shows more things.

—Esta es nuestra cocina. Este es nuestro refrigerador. Siempre hay tinto de verano para después del trabajo.

"This is our kitchen. This is our refrigerator. There is always tinto de verano for after work."

Entran en otra sala.

They enter another room.

—Esta es nuestra impresora.

"This is our printer."

Clara señala un área con varios escritorios.

Clara points to an area with several desks.

—Trabajas con ese equipo. Esta es la zona de trabajo de vuestro equipo.

"You work with that team. This is your team's work area."

Después señala una oficina cerrada.

Then she points to a closed office.

—Y esa es la oficina del jefe.

"And that is the boss's office."

Roberto trabaja toda la mañana. Organiza su escritorio. Lee emails. Conoce a sus compañeros en el almuerzo.

Roberto works all morning. He organizes his desk. He reads emails. He meets his coworkers at lunch.

Roberto piensa: "Me gusta mi nuevo trabajo. Mi escritorio es muy cómodo. Mis compañeros son amables."

Roberto thinks: "I like my new job. My desk is very comfortable. My coworkers are kind."

A las 3 de la tarde, un hombre alto entra. Es Javier Navarro, el jefe.

At 3 in the afternoon, a tall man enters. It is Javier Navarro, the boss.

—Roberto, bienvenido. Soy Javier Navarro. ¿Todo bien?

"Roberto, welcome. I'm Javier Navarro. Is everything okay?"

—Sí, señor. Mi escritorio es perfecto.

"Yes, sir. My desk is perfect."

—Excelente. Ahora necesitas firmar tu contrato. Aquí está tu copia.

"Excellent. Now you need to sign your contract. Here is your copy."

Roberto lee el contrato. Todo está bien.

Roberto reads the contract. Everything is fine.

Firma su nombre: "Roberto Hernández"

He signs his name: "Roberto Hernández"

Señor Navarro toma el papel. Mira la firma.

Mr. Navarro takes the paper. He looks at the signature.

Mira su ordenador.

He looks at his computer.

Mira el contrato otra vez.

He looks at the contract again.

—Disculpa... ¿tu apellido es Hernández?

"Excuse me... your last name is Hernández?"

—Sí, señor.

"Yes, sir."

Señor Navarro revisa el contrato y el ordenador.

Mr. Navarro checks the contract and the computer.

—Hay un problema. Nuestro nuevo empleado se llama Roberto Fernández. No Roberto Hernández.

"There is a problem. Our new employee is named Roberto Fernández. Not Roberto Hernández."

—¿Perdón?

"Pardon?"

—Sí. Mira el contrato aquí. Dice Roberto Fernández. Tu apellido es diferente.

"Yes. Look at the contract here. It says Roberto Fernández. Your last name is different."

—Pero... estoy aquí desde la mañana.

"But... I've been here since this morning."

—Sí, lo sé. Pero tú no eres nuestro Roberto.

"Yes, I know. But you are not our Roberto."

Clara aparece en la puerta.

Clara appears in the doorway.

—¿Qué pasa?

"What's happening?"

—Él es Roberto Hernández. Nuestro empleado es Roberto Fernández.

"He is Roberto Hernández. Our employee is Roberto Fernández."

Roberto se levanta despacio.

Roberto stands up slowly.

—Entonces... ¿no trabajo aquí?

"So... I don't work here?"

—No. Lo siento mucho. Es nuestro error.

"No. I'm very sorry. It's our mistake."

Roberto mira el escritorio.

Roberto looks at the desk.

—Pero este es mi escritorio.

"But this is my desk."

—No —dice el señor Navarro—. Es el escritorio de Roberto Fernández.

"No," says Mr. Navarro. "It is Roberto Fernández's desk."

Roberto toca el ordenador.

Roberto touches the computer.

—Mi ordenador...

"My computer..."

—No. De Roberto Fernández.

"No. Roberto Fernández's."

Part 2

Vocabulary Flashcards

Part 3

Story Challenge

Part 4

Patterns Challenge

Part 5

Listening Challenge

Part 6

Writing Challenge

This is some text inside of a div block.

Elena entered the chat.

Message text

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Send

á ‍é ‍í ‍ó ‍ú ñ ü ¡¿

Question 1

Your colleague asks you about Roberto's new job. Reply in Spanish: His boss is Javier Navarro. His desk is comfortable. His coworkers are friendly.

Example: Su jefe es Javier Navarro. Su escritorio es cómodo. Sus compañeros son amables.

Notes:

"Su" is Spanish's multitasker: it covers his, her, its, your (formal), and their. Only context tells you which. Here it's clearly "his" because we're talking about Roberto.
"Su jefe es Javier Navarro" → no need for article before the name. You don't say "es el Javier Navarro." Names go directly after SER.

Question 2

It's your first day at the office. Ask Clara in Spanish: Where is my desk? Where is my computer? Where are my keys?

Example: ¿Dónde está mi escritorio? ¿Dónde está mi ordenador? ¿Dónde están mis llaves?

Notes:

"Mi" for one thing (mi escritorio, mi ordenador), "mis" for more than one (mis llaves). The possessive matches the number of things, not the owner.
"Están mis llaves" → plural keys need plural ESTAR. One desk está, multiple keys están. The possessive doesn't change this.

Question 3

Clara asks about your things at work. Answer in Spanish: My name is [your name]. My phone is on my desk. My backpack is on my chair.

Example: Me llamo [your name]. Mi teléfono está en mi escritorio. Mi mochila está en mi silla.

Notes:

"En mi escritorio" and "en mi silla" → ESTAR + location, same as always. The possessive just replaces the article: "en el escritorio" becomes "en mi escritorio."

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: My backpack is on my chair. Your keys are on the desk. Her coworkers are friendly. Our office is big.

Example: Mi mochila está en mi silla. Tus llaves están en el escritorio. Sus compañeros son amables. Nuestra oficina es grande.

Notes:

"Tu" (your, one thing) vs "tus" (your, more than one). Same rule as mi/mis: tu llave, tus llaves. The -s matches the noun, not the person.
"Nuestra oficina" → nuestro is the only possessive that changes for gender. Nuestro escritorio (masculine), nuestra oficina (feminine), nuestros documentos (masc plural), nuestras llaves (fem plural).

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: His identification is here. His password is on a paper. His keys are on the desk. Our printer is in the kitchen.

Example: Su identificación está aquí. Su contraseña está en un papel. Sus llaves están en el escritorio. Nuestra impresora está en la cocina.

Notes:

"Su" for one thing, "sus" for more than one → su identificación, sus llaves. Identical pattern to mi/mis and tu/tus.
"En la cocina" → notice this one uses the article "la" instead of a possessive. The kitchen belongs to the whole office, not to one person.

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Roberto looks at the desk. It is not his desk. The computer is not his computer. The boss says: "It is our error."

Example: Roberto mira el escritorio. No es su escritorio. El ordenador no es su ordenador. El jefe dice: "Es nuestro error."

Notes:

"No es su escritorio" → "su" works for negation the same way. Just put "no es" before the possessive. Nothing changes about "su."
The punchline of the whole story in four sentences: everything Roberto thought was "su" actually belongs to someone else.

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Roberto's last name causes a big problem at his new office. But his coworkers are very friendly! What about you?

Is your last name common in your country?
Do you work in an office, at home or in a different place?
Are your coworkers (or classmates) friendly?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Welcome to the office! There's just one problem: you might be the wrong person. From asking Clara where your stuff is to breaking the news to the real Roberto Fernández, grab a coffee and start talking.

Where Are My Things?

You're Roberto. Clara has shown you your desk but you can't find half your stuff.

Your task - ask Clara where your things are:

Ask Clara where your office keys are
Ask where your password is
Ask where your company phone is
Ask where your documents are
Ask where your new bag is
Ask where your colleague's coffee is
Ask where our kitchen is
Ask where the boss's office is
Ask where your contract is

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Clara, ¿dónde están mis llaves de la oficina?
1. Clara, where are my office keys?
¿Dónde está mi contraseña?
1. Where is my password?
¿Dónde está mi teléfono de empresa?
1. Where is my company phone?
¿Dónde están mis documentos?
1. Where are my documents?
¿Dónde está mi mochila nueva?
1. Where is my new bag?
¿Dónde está el café de mi compañero?
1. Where is my colleague's coffee?
¿Dónde está nuestra cocina?
1. Where is our kitchen?
¿Dónde está la oficina del jefe?
1. Where is the boss's office?
¿Dónde está mi contrato?
1. Where is my contract?

Clara's Tour for the Real Roberto

The REAL Roberto Fernández has finally arrived and he looks nervous. You're Clara and you're going to show him everything.

Your task - show the real Roberto around the office:

Welcome Roberto and show him his desk, chair and computer
Tell him his documents and phone are on his desk and that his password is on a paper
Tell him where his jacket and bag are (next to his desk)
Show him the team's kitchen and describe what's inside (fridge, cups, coffee)
Tell him about the tinto de verano after work
Show him the printer and the bathroom (next to the kitchen)
Show him his team's work zone and the boss's office
Tell him about the boss (name; nice but serious)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

¡Bienvenido, Roberto! Este es tu escritorio. Esta es tu silla. Y este es tu ordenador.
1. Welcome, Roberto! This is your desk. This is your chair. And this is your computer.
Tus documentos y tu teléfono están en tu escritorio. Tu contraseña está en este papel.
1. Your documents and your phone are on your desk. Your password is on this paper.
Tu chaqueta y tu mochila están aquí, al lado de tu escritorio.
1. Your jacket and your bag are here, next to your desk.
Esta es la cocina del equipo. Hay un frigorífico, tazas y café.
1. This is the team's kitchen. There is a fridge, cups and coffee.
Siempre hay tinto de verano en el frigorífico para después del trabajo.
1. There is always tinto de verano in the fridge for after work.
Esta es nuestra impresora. Y el baño está al lado de la cocina.
1. This is our printer. And the bathroom is next to the kitchen.
Esta es la zona de trabajo de tu equipo. Y esa es la oficina del jefe.
1. This is your team's work zone. And that is the boss's office.
El jefe se llama Javier Navarro. Es simpático pero serio.
1. The boss is called Javier Navarro. He is nice but serious.

Mamá Visits the Office

It's lunchtime and your mother (you're Clara by the way..) has decided to visit your office. She's already through the door, touching everything, opening drawers, picking things up... Answer her questions before she breaks something.

Your task - answer your mother's questions:

She's standing at your desk: describe what's yours (desk, computer, chair, documents)
She picks up a jacket from the chair next to yours: tell her whose it is (your colleague Roberto's) and describe him (nice? tall?)
She walks into the kitchen and opens the fridge: tell her it's everyone's kitchen and what's inside (fridge, cups, coffee, tinto de verano)
She reaches for a closed door handle: stop her and tell her whose office that is (the boss's name and what he's like)
She asks about your colleagues: describe two of them (names, nice? funny? good at their work?)
She sees a phone ringing on the desk next to yours: tell her whose phone it is and who the person is (Pedro, 28 years old, from Seville)
She spots several bags and jackets by the door: tell her whose they are (your bag, Roberto's jacket and the boss's bag)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Este es mi escritorio, este es mi ordenador, esta es mi silla y estos son mis documentos.
1. This is my desk, this is my computer, this is my chair and these are my documents.
Esa es la chaqueta de mi compañero Roberto. Es alto y muy simpático.
1. That is my colleague Roberto's jacket. He is tall and very nice.
Esta es nuestra cocina. Es de todos. Hay un frigorífico, tazas, café y tinto de verano.
1. This is our kitchen. It is everyone's. There is a fridge, cups, coffee and tinto de verano.
¡No, mamá! Esa es la oficina del jefe. Se llama Javier Navarro. Es serio pero simpático.
1. No, mum! That is the boss's office. His name is Javier Navarro. He is serious but nice.
Ana y Miguel son mis compañeros. Ana es muy divertida. Miguel es inteligente y trabaja mucho.
1. Ana and Miguel are my colleagues. Ana is very funny. Miguel is smart and works a lot.
Ese es el teléfono de mi compañero Pedro. Pedro tiene veintiocho años y es de Sevilla.
1. That is my colleague Pedro's phone. Pedro is twenty-eight years old and is from Seville.
Esta es mi mochila. Esa es la chaqueta de Roberto. Y esa es la mochila del jefe.
1. This is my bag. That is Roberto's jacket. And that is the boss's bag.

Calling Roberto Fernández

You're Señor Navarro, the boss. You're on the phone with the REAL Roberto Fernández, who never showed up this morning.

Your task - explain the situation to the real Roberto Fernández:

Introduce yourself (name, boss of the company)
Explain that there is a problem: another man is here with the same name (Roberto Hernández, not Roberto Fernández)
Tell him everything is fine: his desk, computer, and documents are at the office
Tell him he needs to sign his contract
Ask him what time he arrives at the office
Say ok and goodbye to Roberto Fernández on the phone
Now turn to Roberto Hernández, who is still sitting at the desk: thank him for his work today, say it's our error, apologise and say goodbye

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Buenos días. Soy Javier Navarro, el jefe de la empresa.
1. Good morning. I am Javier Navarro, the boss of the company.
Hay un problema. Está aquí otro hombre con el mismo nombre. Se llama Roberto Hernández, no Roberto Fernández.
1. There is a problem. There is a man here with the same name, his name is Roberto Hernández, not Roberto Fernández.
Pero todo está bien. Tu escritorio, tu ordenador y tus documentos están en la oficina.
1. But everything is fine. Your desk, your computer and your documents are at the office.
Necesitas firmar tu contrato.
1. You need to sign your contract.
¿A qué hora llegas a la oficina?
1. What time do you arrive at the office?
Muy bien. Hasta luego, Roberto.
1. Very good. See you later, Roberto.
Roberto Hernández... gracias por tu trabajo. Es nuestro error. Lo siento mucho. Adiós y buena suerte.
1. Roberto Hernández... thank you for your work. It is our error. I am very sorry. Goodbye and good luck.

Worst First Day

You work in Human Resources. Your colleague comes in on Monday morning and says: "What's the worst first day at work you've ever heard of?" You put down your coffee. "Oh. Oh, I have one. Sit down."

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

Who is Roberto and where does he live?
Where does he go on his first day?
Describe what happens at reception (who asks his name, what does she say to him)
Who is Clara? What does she show Roberto? (desk, computer, documents, phone, keys)
Describe the shared spaces Clara shows him (kitchen, fridge, printer, team zone, boss's office)
How does Roberto feel about his new workspace and colleagues?
Who arrives in the afternoon and what does he ask Roberto to do?
What is the problem?
Describe what happens at the end: whose desk is it? Whose computer?
What do you think about this story? Why? (Esta historia es... porque...)
You are Roberto Hernández right now: How do you feel? (sad? nervous? happy it's over?)
Is Señor Navarro a good boss? Why or why not?

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Roberto Hernández vive en Cuenca.
1. Roberto Hernández lives in Cuenca.
Va a una empresa. Es su primer día de trabajo.
1. He goes to a company. It is his first day of work.
La recepcionista pregunta su nombre. Roberto dice su nombre. La recepcionista dice: "Esta es su identificación."
1. The receptionist asks his name. Roberto says his name. The receptionist says: "This is your identification."
Clara trabaja en la empresa. Muestra a Roberto dónde está su escritorio, su ordenador, sus documentos, su teléfono y sus llaves.
1. Clara works at the company. She shows Roberto where his desk, his computer, his documents, his phone and his keys are.
Clara muestra la cocina. Hay un frigorífico. También muestra la impresora, la zona de trabajo del equipo y la oficina del jefe.
1. Clara shows the kitchen. There is a fridge. She also shows the printer, the team's work zone and the boss's office.
Roberto está contento. Su escritorio es muy cómodo. Sus compañeros son amables.
1. Roberto is happy. His desk is very comfortable. His colleagues are nice.
A las tres de la tarde llega Javier Navarro, el jefe. El jefe dice que Roberto necesita firmar su contrato.
1. At three in the afternoon Javier Navarro, the boss, arrives. The boss says that Roberto needs to sign his contract.
Hay un problema. El contrato dice "Roberto Fernández." El apellido de Roberto es Hernández, no Fernández. Roberto no es el empleado correcto.
1. There is a problem. The contract says "Roberto Fernández." Roberto's surname is Hernández, not Fernández. Roberto is not the correct employee.
El escritorio no es de Roberto. El ordenador no es de Roberto. Todo es de Roberto Fernández.
1. The desk is not Roberto's. The computer is not Roberto's. Everything is Roberto Fernández's.
Esta historia es muy divertida porque Roberto trabaja toda la mañana en una oficina y no es el empleado correcto. / Esta historia es triste porque Roberto está contento con su trabajo y sus compañeros, pero no es su trabajo.
1. This story is very funny because Roberto works all morning in an office and he is not the correct employee. / This story is sad because Roberto is happy with his job and his colleagues, but it is not his job.
Estoy triste y nervioso porque no es mi trabajo. No tengo trabajo. / Estoy un poco contento porque mis compañeros son amables.
1. I am sad and nervous because it is not my job. I don't have a job. / I am a little happy because my colleagues are nice.
Sí, el señor Navarro es un buen jefe. Es un error de la empresa, no es un error de Roberto. Dice "lo siento" a Roberto. / No, no es un buen jefe porque Roberto trabaja toda la mañana y el señor Navarro no dice gracias.
1. Yes, Señor Navarro is a good boss. It is an error of the company, it is not Roberto's error. He says "I'm sorry" to Roberto. / No, he is not a good boss because Roberto works all morning and Señor Navarro does not say thank you.

Part 8

Culture

1. What Clara Really Meant by "After Work"

Clara shows the office kitchen and mentions there's always tinto de verano in the fridge for after work.

If you don't know what that is yet… you're about to want one.

The drink Roberto never got to try

Tinto de verano literally means "summer red wine." And it's one of the simplest drinks in Spain:

Red wine - cheap, young, nothing fancy
Lemon soda - usually Fanta Limón or a Spanish brand called La Casera
Ice - lots of it
That's it

Equal parts wine and soda. Pour, stir, drink.

Words only get you so far with this one. Here's Gianfranco from Crème de la Food showing you how it's done. And yes… it's in Spanish. Good practice.

Now… you might be thinking "isn't that just sangría?" Spaniards will correct you on this.

Sangría takes time. You soak fruit in wine, add liquor, let it sit. It's also more expensive to make.

Tinto de verano is faster, lighter and cheaper… which is why locals drink it far more often, especially in summer.

You'll find sangría at home gatherings and restaurants, sure.

But the everyday summer drink at a bar or a terrace? That's tinto de verano. Pretty much always.

What "después del trabajo" actually looks like in Spain

That tinto de verano in the office fridge tells you something about how Spain works.

In Spain the workday doesn't really end at the office. It ends at a bar. Not to get drunk. Just to be somewhere together for a while before heading home.

The tradition is called ir de cañas ("going for cañas").

You meet friends, family or colleagues at a bar and order a caña (a small glass of draft beer, about 200ml), a tinto de verano or a glass of wine.

Small plates of food show up. You talk. Sometimes you move to another bar and do it again.

It happens after work. It happens before lunch on weekends. It happens on a random Wednesday because someone sent a message to the group chat.

It's not planned like a dinner out. It's more like… breathing. You just do it.

And on Fridays? Fridays are sacred. That's when the after-work round turns into two or three stops and the evening just builds from there.

Nobody's in a rush. Nobody's checking the time. You stay as long as the conversation is good.

Roberto's colleagues almost certainly went for cañas that Friday evening.

And almost certainly spent it talking about the guy who showed up, worked all day and turned out to be the wrong Roberto.

2. Roberto Lives in a City Built on the Edge of a Cliff

It's one of the most visually dramatic places in all of Spain.

Aerial view of Cuenca's old town showing rooftops and buildings on a narrow ridge surrounded by green hills

A city where a city has no business being… and yet here it is.

About 54,000 people live in Cuenca. It's the capital of its province in Castilla-La Mancha, about 170 km southeast of Madrid.

The old town sits on a narrow ridge of rock between two river gorges… the Júcar and the Huécar.

On both sides, the cliffs drop away. Buildings sit right on the edge. Streets are steep and narrow.

The whole thing looks like someone built a city where a city has no business being.

It's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. And the old walled town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Spain.

The houses that hang off a cliff

The Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses) are Cuenca's most famous landmark.

Medieval houses built right on the cliff edge, with wooden balconies that stick out over the Huécar gorge.

The Casas Colgadas of Cuenca with wooden balconies projecting over a steep cliff face

The Casas Colgadas of Cuenca, perched over the Huécar gorge. Yeah… people live there.

There's nothing below them but air.

Built in the 15th century out of necessity (the city was so packed that people built toward the edge because there was nowhere else to go)
Only three remain from what was once a whole row of them
One houses an art museum - the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español, opened in 1966 by the artist Fernando Zóbel. It was the first museum of contemporary abstract art in all of Spain… built inside a medieval house hanging off a cliff
Free entry - the collection is now run by the Fundación Juan March

The best view of the Hanging Houses is from the Puente de San Pablo, an iron pedestrian bridge that crosses the gorge. The railings are low. The drop is… deep.

I stood in the middle of it the first time and made the mistake of looking down. Don't do that.

The San Pablo iron pedestrian bridge illuminated at night spanning the Huécar gorge with Cuenca's old town lit up above

The Puente de San Pablo at night, crossing the Huécar gorge in Cuenca.

One hour from Madrid

Cuenca is one of those places that feels remote and hidden… but it's actually very easy to get to.

But most tourists don't even know it exists.

They go to Toledo, they go to Segovia, they drive right past Cuenca on the way to Valencia.

Well… now you know something they don't. No need to thank me.

(Just send me a fridge magnet when you go. I forgot to buy one for my collection when I was there.)

The high-speed train from Madrid takes under an hour. Tickets start around €9 if you book early. There are dozens of departures per day.

If you go for a day:

Walk the old town up to Plaza Mayor and look at the cathedral (the first Gothic cathedral built in Spain, started after the city was conquered in 1177)
Cross the San Pablo bridge and stare at the Hanging Houses from across the gorge
Visit the abstract art museum inside the Hanging Houses themselves
Eat in the old town. Sit in a square. Let the afternoon happen

If you have two days:

Drive 30 minutes into the countryside to the Ciudad Encantada ("Enchanted City")… a park full of massive limestone rocks eroded into shapes that look like bridges, animals and faces. It sounds strange. It is strange. Worth the visit.

There's this thing Cuenca does that I haven't found anywhere else.

You're walking through the old town, the street narrows and then it just… ends.

And where the street ends there's a cliff, and below the cliff there's a river, and across the gorge there's a row of medieval houses that look like they're about to fall.

You stop. You stare. And you wonder why nobody told you about this place sooner.

Well… I just did.

Did You Know?

🍷 Tinto de verano was originally called "un Vargas" after Federico Vargas, the bar owner in Córdoba who first mixed red wine with soda for his customers sometime in the 1920s
🍋 If you order a "clara" at a Spanish bar, you'll get beer mixed with lemon soda. It's basically a shandy and it's one of the most popular summer orders alongside tinto de verano
🚉 Cuenca's high-speed train station is named Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel, after the artist who founded the abstract art museum in the Hanging Houses. It's one of the few train stations in Spain named after an artist
🥁 Every Good Friday, Cuenca holds the "Las Turbas" procession… also known as the "drunkards' procession." Participants play drums and trumpets in deliberate chaos to recreate the mockery of Christ. It's been going on for centuries and it's as intense as it sounds

Back to the top