Speaking Practice - Role Play: Everyday Transactional Scenarios

The role-play task 🎤

In the Speaking exam you act out a short **role play**: an everyday situation such as ordering in a café, buying something in a shop, or asking at a station. You will need polite phrases, the right level of formality, and the correct **question words**. This module gives you all three.

Tú and usted 🗣️

Spanish has two words for "you", and choosing the right one matters: - **tú** is informal, for a friend, a family member or someone your own age. - **usted** is formal or polite, for an adult you do not know, such as a shopkeeper or waiter. In a role play with a stranger, use **usted**.

Tú or usted?

You are in a shop, speaking to a shopkeeper you do not know. Should you use tú or usted?

• usted (formal, for someone you do not know)
• tú (informal, for friends and family)
• It never matters which you use
• nosotros (we)

Polite phrases 🙏

A few chunks make you sound polite and score marks: - **quería** = I would like - **por favor** = please - **gracias** = thank you - **la cuenta** = the bill

Match each Spanish phrase to its meaning

Question words ❔

To ask for what you need, learn the key question words: - **cuánto** = how much / how many - **dónde** = where - **cuándo** = when - **a qué hora** = at what time

Match each question word to its meaning

Ask the price

Which word do you use to ask how much something costs?

• cuánto
• dónde (where)
• cuándo
• gracias

Order in a café

An interactive activity.

Useful role-play phrases

Select the THREE phrases that would be useful in a transactional role play.

• Quería... (I would like)
• ¿Tiene...? (Do you have?)
• ¿Dónde está...? (Where is?)
• El perro es azul (The dog is blue)
• Usted es una mesa (You are a table)
• Buenos días cuánto pizza gato

At the station 🚉

Travel scenarios come up often. A few essentials: - **un billete** = a ticket - **la estación** = the station - **el tren** = the train - **¿Dónde está...?** = Where is...?

Buy a ticket

Which phrase asks for a train ticket?

• Un billete, por favor
• Un café, por favor
• La cuenta, por favor
• Muchas gracias

Complete the role play

To order politely: _____ un café, por favor. To ask the price: ¿_____ cuesta? To ask for the bill: La _____, por favor. To say thanks: _____.

Role-play summary

In the role play, use _____ (not tú) with someone you do not know. Say _____ to order politely, and por _____ for please. Ask _____ to find out the price.