Setting a speaking practice goal | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a language learning setting, two adults set a small speaking practice goal and choose a way to track progress..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Setting a speaking practice goal to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Quiero establecer un objetivo para practicar el idioma.

KYEH-roh es-tah-bleh-SAIR oon ob-heh-TEE-boh PAH-rah prahk-tee-KAHR el ee-DYOH-mah. I want to set a goal for my language practice.
B

¿Qué habilidad te parece más difícil ahora?

kay ah-bee-lee-DAHD teh pah-REH-seh mahs dee-FEE-seel ah-OH-rah? Which skill feels hardest right now?
A

Hablar con soltura en conversaciones cortas.

ah-BLAHR kohn sohl-TOO-rah en kon-ber-sah-SYOH-nes KOR-tahs. Speaking smoothly in short conversations.
B

Entonces, elige una tarea pequeña para hablar cada día.

en-TOHN-ses eh-LEE-heh OO-nah tah-REH-ah peh-KEH-nyah PAH-rah ah-BLAHR KAH-dah DEE-ah. Then choose one small speaking task each day.
A

¿Cómo puedo seguir mi progreso?

KOH-moh PWEH-doh seh-GEER mee proh-GREH-soh? How can I track my progress?
B

Graba una respuesta y escúchala de nuevo más tarde.

GRAH-bah OO-nah rehs-PWEHS-tah ee es-KOO-chah-lah deh NWEH-boh mahs TAR-deh. Record one answer and listen to it again later.
A

Esa rutina parece fácil de seguir.

EH-sah roo-TEE-nah pah-REH-seh FAH-seel deh seh-GEER. That routine sounds easy to follow.
B

Mantén la tarea corta y repítela a menudo.

mahn-TEHN lah tah-REH-ah KOR-tah ee reh-PEE-teh-lah ah meh-NOO-doh. Keep the task short and repeat it often.

Word by Word

Quiero Quiero expresses the speaker’s desire to do something: here, “I want to.” Its citation form is querer; Quiero is the dialogue form used with the speaker as subject. A reusable pattern is “Quiero establecer un objetivo” when stating a personal aim.
establecer Establecer means to set or establish here, as in setting a goal. It is the citation form and follows Quiero in “Quiero establecer un objetivo.” Use Quiero + an infinitive to say what you want to do.
un Un introduces one unspecified objective in “un objetivo,” meaning “a goal” or “one goal.” It is the form used before the masculine noun objetivo. A reusable pattern is un + noun when introducing one non-specific item.
objetivo Objetivo means goal in this lesson, specifically a goal for language practice. In “un objetivo,” it is the thing being established. Use “establecer un objetivo” when describing the creation of a goal.
para Para introduces the purpose of the goal in “para practicar el idioma,” meaning for practicing or in order to practice the language. It links an aim with the activity that serves that aim. A reusable pattern is para + infinitive for stating purpose.
practicar Practicar means to practice in “para practicar el idioma.” It is the citation form and remains an infinitive after para. Use para practicar + an activity or object when explaining what the practice is for.
el El means “the” in “el idioma,” referring to a specific language in this context. It is the article used with the masculine noun idioma. A reusable pattern is el + noun when referring to a specific item.
idioma Idioma means language in “practicar el idioma,” the language being practiced. It is the object of practicar in this dialogue. Use “practicar el idioma” when talking about practicing a particular language.
Qué Qué asks which or what in the question “¿Qué habilidad te parece más difícil ahora?” Here it introduces the skill being identified. A reusable pattern is “Qué + noun” when asking which item or thing.
habilidad Habilidad means skill in the question about the learner’s most difficult ability. It is the noun identified by Qué and described by “más difícil.” Use “una habilidad” or “qué habilidad” when discussing a particular skill.
te Te marks the person to whom something seems difficult in “te parece,” meaning “to you.” The phrase “te parece” means “seems to you,” while te identifies the person experiencing that impression. Use “te parece + adjective” to ask how something seems to someone.
parece Parece expresses that something seems a certain way to someone in “te parece más difícil,” meaning “seems harder to you.” Its citation form is parecer; parece is the dialogue form used with the skill as the subject. Use “te parece” when asking for someone’s impression.
más Más marks a higher degree in “más difícil,” meaning more difficult or harder. Together, “más difícil” compares the difficulty of the skill with another level or option. Use más + adjective when describing a greater degree.
difícil Difícil means difficult or hard in “más difícil,” describing the skill that feels hardest. It is the adjective completing the comparison introduced by más. Use “parece difícil” or “más difícil” when evaluating the difficulty of an activity.
ahora Ahora means now and places the question in the present situation: “¿Qué habilidad te parece más difícil ahora?” It asks about the learner’s current experience rather than a general past experience. Use ahora to specify that something applies at the present time.
Hablar Hablar means to speak or speaking in “Hablar con soltura en conversaciones cortas,” which names the skill being discussed. It is the citation form and is used here as an infinitive at the start of the phrase. Use an infinitive such as hablar to name an activity or skill.
con Con contributes the meaning “with” in “con soltura,” describing the manner of speaking. The whole expression “con soltura” means fluently or with ease. Use con + a noun in expressions that describe how an activity is carried out.
soltura Soltura means fluency or ease in “hablar con soltura,” describing smooth speaking. Together with con, it expresses the manner in which the person speaks. Use “hablar con soltura” when describing fluent or relaxed speaking.
en En means “in” here and introduces the setting “en conversaciones cortas,” meaning in short conversations. It connects the speaking skill with the type of interaction. Use en + a setting or activity when saying where something happens.
conversaciones Conversaciones means conversations in “en conversaciones cortas,” referring to spoken interactions. It is the activity in which the learner wants to speak smoothly. Use “en conversaciones” when describing practice or communication within conversations.
cortas Cortas means short and describes “conversaciones cortas.” Its form agrees with the plural feminine noun conversaciones. Use an adjective after a noun to describe the length or character of an activity such as conversations.
Entonces Entonces means then or so and connects the identified difficulty with the advice that follows. In “Entonces, elige una tarea pequeña,” it introduces a practical next step. Use Entonces before advice or a conclusion that follows from what was just said.
elige Elige is a direct instruction meaning choose in “elige una tarea pequeña.” Its citation form is elegir; elige is the dialogue form used to give this instruction to one person. Use “elige + noun” when telling someone to select one option.
una Una introduces one unspecified small task in “una tarea pequeña,” meaning a task or one task. It is the form used before the feminine noun tarea. A reusable pattern is una + noun when introducing one non-specific feminine item.
tarea Tarea means task in “una tarea pequeña,” referring to the daily speaking activity. It is the object selected after elige. Use “elegir una tarea” when choosing a specific activity to complete.
pequeña Pequeña means small and describes “una tarea pequeña,” emphasizing that the task should be manageable. Its form agrees with the feminine noun tarea. Use a noun plus adjective such as “tarea pequeña” to describe the size or scope of an activity.
cada Cada means each in “cada día,” indicating that the task happens every day. The expression “cada día” means each day or daily. Use cada + a singular time word to describe a repeated interval.
día Día means day in “cada día,” the time period for repeating the speaking task. Together, “cada día” establishes a daily routine. Use “cada día” when saying that something is done every day.
Cómo Cómo asks how in “¿Cómo puedo seguir mi progreso?” and introduces a question about the method. It asks what way the learner can use to track progress. Use “Cómo puedo + infinitive” to ask how you can do something.
puedo Puedo means can or am able to in “¿Cómo puedo seguir mi progreso?” Its citation form is poder; puedo is the dialogue form used with the speaker as subject. Use “puedo + infinitive” to ask or state whether you can carry out an action.
seguir Seguir means to track here, in “seguir mi progreso,” rather than simply to follow a person or route. It is the citation form and follows puedo as an infinitive. Use “seguir + noun” when monitoring something such as progress.
mi Mi means my in “mi progreso,” showing that the progress belongs to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun progreso. Use mi + noun to identify something connected with or belonging to the speaker.
progreso Progreso means progress in “seguir mi progreso,” referring to improvement in the learner’s speaking practice. It is the thing being tracked. Use “seguir el progreso” or “seguir mi progreso” when monitoring improvement.
Graba Graba is a direct instruction meaning record in “Graba una respuesta.” Its citation form is grabar; graba is the dialogue form used to tell one person what to do. Use “graba + object” when instructing someone to make an audio or video recording.
respuesta Respuesta means answer in “Graba una respuesta,” referring to one spoken answer that can be recorded. It is the object of graba. Use “grabar una respuesta” when recording a response to a question or prompt.
y Y means and and joins the two instructions in “Graba una respuesta y escúchala de nuevo más tarde.” It connects recording the answer with listening to it later. Use y to link two related actions or instructions.
escúchala Escúchala means listen to it in “escúchala de nuevo,” referring back to the recorded answer. Its citation form is escuchar, and la is attached to the dialogue form to represent the thing being heard. Use “escúchala” when telling someone to listen to a previously mentioned feminine object.
de De appears in the expressions “de nuevo” and “fácil de seguir.” In “de nuevo,” it helps form the whole expression meaning again; in “fácil de seguir,” it links fácil with the action to follow. Learn each complete expression rather than assigning one meaning to de alone.
nuevo Nuevo contributes to the expression “de nuevo,” which means again in “escúchala de nuevo.” The meaning again comes from the complete expression, not from nuevo alone here. Use “de nuevo” when asking someone to repeat an action.
tarde Tarde contributes to “más tarde,” meaning later in “escúchala de nuevo más tarde.” The phrase places the listening at a later time. Use “más tarde” when referring to an action that will happen later.
Esa Esa means that and points to the routine just described in “Esa rutina parece fácil de seguir.” Its form agrees with the feminine noun rutina. Use esa + noun to identify a specific feminine item that is not being introduced for the first time.
rutina Rutina means routine in “Esa rutina,” referring to the repeated practice method of recording and listening. It is the subject of “parece fácil de seguir.” Use “una rutina” or “esa rutina” when discussing a regular sequence of activities.
fácil Fácil means easy in “parece fácil de seguir,” describing the routine as manageable to follow. The expression “fácil de seguir” means easy to follow. Use parece + adjective to give an impression about an activity or routine.
Mantén Mantén is a direct instruction meaning keep in “Mantén la tarea corta.” Its citation form is mantener; mantén is the dialogue form used to tell one person to maintain a quality. Use “mantén + object + adjective” when telling someone to keep something in a particular state.
la La means “the” in “la tarea,” referring to the specific task already selected. It is the article used with the feminine noun tarea. The same feminine form also appears attached as the object in “repítela,” referring back to la tarea.
corta Corta means short in “Mantén la tarea corta,” describing the desired length of the task. Its form agrees with the feminine singular noun tarea. Use “mantén + noun + adjective” to say that something should remain a certain way.
repítela Repítela means repeat it in “repítela a menudo,” referring to la tarea. Its citation form is repetir, and la is attached to the dialogue form as the object pronoun. Use “repítela” when telling someone to repeat a previously mentioned feminine activity or item.
a A contributes to the expression “a menudo,” which means often. Here, its meaning comes from the complete expression rather than from a separate meaning of a alone. Use “a menudo” to describe an action that happens frequently.
menudo Menudo contributes to “a menudo,” meaning often in “repítela a menudo.” The complete expression describes frequent repetition. Use “a menudo” when giving advice about how frequently to do something.

Grammar Points

Imperativo afirmativo de tú: verbo + pronombre

Graba una respuesta y escúchala de nuevo.

GRAH-bah OO-nah rehs-PWEHS-tah ee es-KOO-chah-lah deh NWEH-boh.

Record an answer and listen to it again.

Spanish affirmative commands use a special verb form; object pronouns attach to the end: escucha + la → escúchala.

Concordancia de género y número del adjetivo

Elige conversaciones cortas y una tarea pequeña.

eh-LEE-heh kon-ber-sah-SYOH-nes KOR-tahs ee OO-nah tah-REH-ah peh-KEH-nyah.

Choose short conversations and a small task.

Adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number: conversaciones cortas, tarea pequeña.

Spanish Vocabulary

conversación noun
kon-ber-sah-SYOHN conversation conversaciones
corto adj
KOR-toh short cortas
difícil adj
dee-FEE-seel difficult
elegir verb
eh-leh-HEER to choose elige
establecer verb
es-tah-bleh-SAIR to set; to establish
habilidad noun
ah-bee-lee-DAHD skill
hablar con soltura phrase
ah-BLAHR kohn sohl-TOO-rah to speak fluently
idioma noun
ee-DYOH-mah language
objetivo noun
ob-heh-TEE-boh goal; objective
parecer verb
pah-reh-SAIR to seem; to appear parece
practicar verb
prahk-tee-KAHR to practice
querer verb
keh-RAIR to want Quiero

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Speaking smoothly in short conversations.

Show AnswerHablar con soltura en conversaciones cortas.

How can I track my progress?

Show Answer¿Cómo puedo seguir mi progreso?

That routine sounds easy to follow.

Show AnswerEsa rutina parece fácil de seguir.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

language

Show Answeridioma

difficult

Show Answerdifícil

to set; to establish

Show Answerestablecer

to seem; to appear

Show Answerparece