This is a lesson plan designed to help Spanish speaking students sound more natural in lots of common, everyday interactions. Download the handout and PowerPoint below:
Students do some contrastive analysis of some high frequency expressions in English and Spanish in order to identify some common errors and put the more natural English expressions into practice.
Everyday English: Contrastive Analysis
Contrastive Analysis
Work with a partner.
Complete the second column with direct translations or common mistakes that Spanish speakers make with these expressions.
| Spanish | Direct Translation/Common Mistake | English Equivalent |
| ¡Hasta ahora! ¡Igualmente! ¿Cuánto tiempo? ¿Qué tal? ¡Que vaya bien! ¡Que te lo pases bien! ¡Aquí lo tienes! No te escucho. ¿Qué pasa? No pasa nada ¿Puedes repetir? ¿Cuánto falta para…? Estoy de acuerdo Una cosa/una pregunta | Until now! …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… | …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… …………………………… |
Now complete the third column with the more natural English equivalent.
Buzzer Game
Cut out the situation cards below. Put the cards face down in a pile. Turn over one card, the first person to say the appropriate expression for that card takes the card and scores one point. Keep playing until all the cards have been used.
| Your housemate is going to the shop, they will be back in 5 minutes. What do you say to them? | Your co-worker says “have a good weekend!” as they leave the office. What do you say to them? |
| Your partner is leaving to go to an important job interview. What do you say to them? | You work in a coffee shop. You hand a customer their cup of coffee. What do you say to them? |
| You put your hand up in English class, you want to ask the teacher a question. What do you say to them? | You see an old friend from school you haven’t seen for a long time. What do you say to them? |
| You’re speaking on the phone but there is loud music playing. You don’t understand what they’re saying because of the noise. What do you say to them? | You get home and see that one of your children is crying. What do you say to them? |
| Your friend tells you that they’re going to Disneyland this weekend. What do you say to them? | Your friend says sorry for arriving late to meet you for lunch. You don’t mind that they’re late. What do you say to them? |
| Your teacher says something very quickly and you don’t understand. What do you say to them? | You’re having a debate at work and you have the same opinion as your co-worker. What do you say to them? |
| You see your friend in the morning and you want to know how they are. What do you say to them? | You’re bored at school and you want to know when you will be allowed to go to the playground. What do you say to the teacher? |
Key
| Spanish | Direct Translation/Common Mistake | English Equivalent |
| ¡Hasta ahora! ¡Igualmente! ¿Cuánto tiempo? ¿Qué tal? ¡Que vaya bien! ¡Que te lo pases bien! ¡Aquí lo tienes! No te escucho. ¿Qué pasa? No pasa nada ¿Puedes repetir? ¿Cuánto falta para…? Estoy de acuerdo Una cosa/una pregunta | Until now!/See you now! Equally! How much time? What such? That it go well. That you pass it well. Here you have. I don’t listen you. What happens? Happens nothing Can you repeat? How much is left for…? I am agree One thing/one question | See you in a bit/sec Same to you! Long time, no see! How’s it going? Hope it goes well. Have fun! Here you go/Here’s…. I can’t hear you. What’s up? What’s wrong? No worries/problem. Sorry, I didn’t catch that. How much longer until…? I agree. I have a question/doubt |
Buzzer Game
| Your housemate is going to the shop, they will be back in 5 minutes. What do you say to them? See you in a bit/sec | Your co-worker says “have a good weekend!” as they leave the office. What do you say to them? You too! |
| Your partner is leaving to go to an important job interview. What do you say to them? Hope it goes well | You work in a coffee shop. You hand a customer their cup of coffee. What do you say to them? Here you go/Here’s your coffee |
| You put your hand up in English class, you want to ask the teacher a question. What do you say to them? I have a question/doubt | You see an old friend from school you haven’t seen for a long time. What do you say to them? Long time, no see! |
| You’re speaking on the phone but there is loud music playing. You don’t understand what they’re saying because of the noise. What do you say to them? I can’t hear you | You get home and see that one of your children is crying. What do you say to them? What’s wrong? |
| Your friend tells you that they’re going to Disneyland this weekend. What do you say to them? Have fun! | Your friend says sorry for arriving late to meet you for lunch. You don’t mind that they’re late. What do you say to them? No worries/problem |
| Your teacher says something very quickly and you don’t understand. What do you say to them? Sorry, I didn’t catch that | You’re having a debate at work and you have the same opinion as your co-worker. What do you say to them? I agree |
| You see your friend in the morning and you want to know how they are. What do you say to them? How’s it going? | You’re bored at school and you want to know when you will be allowed to go to the playground. What do you say to the teacher? How long / How much longer until play time? |
