Choosing a seat in class | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults talk about sitting near the front, hearing the teacher clearly, and focusing during class..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a seat in class to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Siempre te sientas aquí?

see-EM-preh teh SYEN-tahs ah-KEE Do you always sit here?
B

Me gusta sentarme delante.

meh GOOS-tah sehn-TAR-meh deh-LAHN-teh I like sitting at the front.
A

Puedo oír bien al profesor.

PWEH-doh oh-EER byen ahl proh-feh-SOHR I can hear the teacher well.
B

Aquí es fácil hacer preguntas.

ah-KEE ehs FAH-seel ah-SEHR preh-GOON-tahs It is easy to ask questions here.
A

Sentémonos juntos la próxima vez.

sehn-TEH-moh-nohs HOON-tohs lah PROK-see-mah behs Let's sit together next time.
B

Me gustaría.

meh goos-tah-REE-ah I would like that.
B

Sentarme delante me ayuda a concentrarme.

sehn-TAR-meh deh-LAHN-teh meh ah-YOO-dah ah kohn-sehn-TRAR-meh Sitting at the front helps me focus.

Word by Word

Siempre “Siempre” means “always” in “¿Siempre te sientas aquí?”. It states that the action happens on every occasion. A common reuse pattern is “Siempre” followed by a verb when describing a regular habit.
te “Te” refers to the person being addressed in “te sientas” and shows that the person sits themselves. It is used with a reflexive verb when speaking to one person. In this classroom question, it points to the other person’s own action.
sientas “Sientas” means “sit” in the question “¿Siempre te sientas aquí?”. With “te”, it describes where the person usually sits. The citation form is “sentarse”; “sientas” is the form used in this question.
aquí “Aquí” means “here”, referring to the place where the speakers are sitting. It commonly appears after a verb of being or sitting to identify the current location. In the dialogue, it points to the seat or area where the question is asked.
Me “Me” means “to me” in “Me gusta sentarme delante”. It identifies the person who has the preference. A common pattern is “Me gusta” followed by an activity or thing that the speaker likes.
gusta “Gusta” contributes the idea of being pleasing in “Me gusta sentarme delante”, which means that the speaker likes sitting at the front. Its meaning here depends on the accompanying “Me”. The reusable pattern is “Me gusta” plus an activity or thing.
sentarme “Sentarme” means “to sit” in “Me gusta sentarme delante”. The “me” is attached to the infinitive and refers to the speaker doing the action. The citation form is “sentarse”; “sentarme” is used when the speaker is the person sitting.
delante “Delante” means “in front” or “at the front” in “sentarme delante”. It identifies the position the speaker prefers in the classroom. It can be reused to describe sitting or standing toward the front.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Puedo oír bien al profesor”. It expresses the speaker’s ability to hear the teacher. A common pattern is “Puedo” followed by an infinitive to say what the speaker can do.
oír “Oír” means “to hear” after “Puedo” in “Puedo oír bien al profesor”. It names the ability being described. A useful pattern is “Puedo oír” followed by the person or sound that can be heard.
bien “Bien” means “well” in “Puedo oír bien al profesor”. It explains that the hearing is clear or effective. It commonly follows a verb to describe how an action is performed.
al “Al” means “to the” in “al profesor”. It is the combination of “a” and “el” before the noun “profesor”. This combined form is used when “a” comes directly before “el”.
profesor “Profesor” means “teacher” in “al profesor”. It is the person whom the speaker can hear. In this classroom context, it can be used after a verb such as “oír” to identify the teacher being heard.
es “Es” means “is” in “Aquí es fácil hacer preguntas”. It links the situation here with the description “fácil”. A common pattern is “es” followed by an adjective when describing something.
fácil “Fácil” means “easy” in “es fácil hacer preguntas”. It describes asking questions as requiring little difficulty. The reusable pattern is “es fácil” followed by an infinitive to describe an easy action.
hacer “Hacer” means “to ask” in the expression “hacer preguntas”. With “preguntas”, it means to ask questions rather than to make something. “Hacer preguntas” is a reusable expression for asking questions in class or another conversation.
preguntas “Preguntas” means “questions” in “hacer preguntas”. It is what the speakers can ask easily in the classroom. It commonly appears in the expression “hacer preguntas” when someone asks for information or clarification.
Sentémonos “Sentémonos” means “let’s sit” in “Sentémonos juntos”. It invites the speaker and listener to sit. In this dialogue, it is used to suggest sitting together the next time they attend class.
juntos “Juntos” means “together” in “Sentémonos juntos”. It shows that the speakers will do the sitting as a group. It can be reused with an action to describe people doing that action together.
la “La” means “the” in “la próxima vez”. It introduces “vez” in this expression about a future occasion. A common reuse pattern is “la” followed by a noun when referring to a specific feminine noun.
próxima “Próxima” means “next” in “la próxima vez”. It identifies the occasion that follows the current one. The complete expression “la próxima vez” is used when referring to a future occasion.
vez “Vez” means “time” in the sense of an occasion in “la próxima vez”. Together, “la próxima vez” refers to the next occasion. This expression is useful when making a plan for a later meeting or activity.
gustaría “Gustaría” expresses “would like” in “Me gustaría”. With “Me”, it gives a polite response showing that the speaker wants the suggested plan. It commonly appears after “Me” to express a wish or preference.
ayuda “Ayuda” means “helps” in “me ayuda a concentrarme”. The subject “Sentarme delante” is what helps the speaker focus. A useful pattern is “X me ayuda a” followed by an infinitive to describe what helps the speaker do.
a “A” means “to” in “a concentrarme”. Here it links “ayuda” with the action that is helped. The reusable pattern is “ayuda a” followed by an infinitive.
concentrarme “Concentrarme” means “to focus” in “a concentrarme”. The attached “me” shows that the speaker is the person who focuses. The citation form is “concentrarse”; “concentrarme” is used when the speaker is the one focusing.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

Puedo oír bien.

PWEH-doh oh-EER byen

I can hear well.

In Spanish, poder is followed by an infinitive to express ability or possibility.

Me gustaría + infinitivo

Me gustaría hacer preguntas.

meh goos-tah-REE-ah ah-SEHR preh-GOON-tahs

I would like to ask questions.

Me gustaría is a polite way to express a wish or request; the following verb stays in the infinitive.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

¿Siempre te sientas aquí?

bien adv
byen well

Puedo oír bien al profesor.

delante adv
deh-LAHN-teh in front

Me gusta sentarme delante.

fácil adj
FAH-seel easy

Aquí es fácil hacer preguntas.

gustar verb
goos-TAR to like gusta

Me gusta sentarme delante.

hacer preguntas phrase
ah-SEHR preh-GOON-tahs to ask questions

Aquí es fácil hacer preguntas.

juntos adv
HOON-tohs together

Sentémonos juntos la próxima vez.

oír verb
oh-EER to hear

Puedo oír bien al profesor.

poder verb
poh-DEHR can; to be able to puedo

Puedo oír bien al profesor.

profesor noun
proh-feh-SOHR teacher

Puedo oír bien al profesor.

sentarse verb
sehn-TAR-seh to sit down te sientas

¿Siempre te sientas aquí?

siempre adv
see-EM-preh always

¿Siempre te sientas aquí?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Do you always sit here?

Show Answer¿Siempre te sientas aquí?

I like sitting at the front.

Show AnswerMe gusta sentarme delante.

I can hear the teacher well.

Show AnswerPuedo oír bien al profesor.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

teacher

Show Answerprofesor

always

Show Answersiempre

to like

Show Answergusta

in front

Show Answerdelante