LanguagesEl mundo hispanohablante20 min★★ difficulty

Spanish around the world

Spanish is an official language in twenty-one countries. Knowing how it varies makes you a better listener, not a confused one.

Part of your national curriculum

Grammar and vocabulary: Apply linguistic knowledge of the language to derive meaning of unfamiliar words, including through use of a dictionary

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Apply linguistic knowledge of the language to derive meaning of unfamiliar words, including through use of a dictionary

Key learning points

• Where it is spoken
• Variation
• Using a dictionary well

This lesson at a glance

20 minutes
16 parts to scroll through
4 quick checks
Marked quiz at the end
Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

linguisticknowledgelanguagederivemeaning

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Part 1 of 16 · Discover6%

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Part 1 of 16

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Spanish around the world

An English teaching video on this topic from aprenderUCDM. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.

In a nutshell

Apply linguistic knowledge of the language to derive meaning of unfamiliar words, including through use of a dictionary

Learning cycle

Part 2 of 16

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · Where it is spoken

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 16

Learn

Where it is spoken

Spain, Mexico, most of Central and South America, and Equatorial Guinea. Mexico has the largest number of Spanish speakers. The United States has one of the largest Spanish-speaking populations in the world.

Explore the idea

Part 4 of 16

Learn

Variation

Vocabulary differs: el coche (Spain) and el carro (much of Latin America); el móvil and el celular; el zumo and el jugo. Vosotros is used in Spain; most of Latin America uses ustedes for all plural 'you'. In Argentina and Uruguay, vos replaces tú.

Quick check

Part 5 of 16

Quick check

Which country has the most Spanish speakers?

Quick check

Part 6 of 16

Quick check

What is 'el jugo' in Spain?

Reset break

Part 7 of 16

Pause

That's sitting 1 of 2 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now

Learning cycle

Part 8 of 16

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Using a dictionary well

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

Explore the idea

Part 9 of 16

Learn

Using a dictionary well

Check the part of speech before choosing a meaning. Look at the example sentence, not just the first translation. For verbs, look up the infinitive — 'fueron' will not appear, but 'ir' will. Regional labels (Esp., Am.) tell you where a word is used.

Quick check

Part 10 of 16

Quick check

Which pronoun is mainly used in Spain?

Quick check

Part 11 of 16

Quick check

How should you look up a conjugated verb?

Explore the idea

Part 12 of 16

Worked example

Worked example: choosing the right entry

You meet 'la cuenta' in a restaurant text. The dictionary offers 'bill', 'account' and 'count'. Context — a café, after a meal — selects 'bill'. This is the habit that matters: pick the meaning that fits the situation, not the one printed first.

Challenge round

Part 13 of 16

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

Challenge round

Part 14 of 16

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

Check the part of speech before choosing a ____.

Mastery quiz

Part 15 of 16

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Spanish around the world

4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

1. Which country has the most Spanish speakers?
2. What is 'el jugo' in Spain?
3. Which pronoun is mainly used in Spain?
4. How should you look up a conjugated verb?

Lesson round-up

Part 16 of 16

Lesson round-up

Ready when you are

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Do the work

Your written work for this lesson

This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.

Extract

Une journée à Lyon

Samedi matin, je me lève à sept heures et demie. Je prends le petit déjeuner avec ma sœur — du pain, du beurre et un chocolat chaud. Ensuite, nous prenons le bus jusqu'au centre-ville.

J'aime beaucoup Lyon parce qu'il y a un grand marché près du fleuve. Ma sœur préfère les magasins, mais moi, je préfère le marché : c'est moins cher et c'est plus intéressant. À midi, nous mangeons un sandwich au parc.

L'après-midi, il commence à pleuvoir, alors nous rentrons à la maison en tram. Le soir, je fais mes devoirs et je regarde un film avec mes parents.

Original text written for Good Learning Co.

Reading questions

In English, say what the writer does in the morning, at midday and in the evening.
Find the phrases that give an opinion and a reason, and copy them out.
Write 8–10 sentences about your own Saturday, using at least three phrases from the text.

Written practice
Writing
Write the sentences out in the language, then translate them back into English.
8–10 sentences
Vocabulary page
Working out
Copy the new words, cover them, and test yourself. Note the ones you keep missing.
15 words

Write your answer, notes or working here

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Photos of paper work, diagrams or working outHow many minutes did the written work take?

Part 1 of 16 · Watch & discover

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Apply linguistic knowledge of the language to derive meaning of unfamiliar words, including through use of a dictionary