Simplified and native speakers:
• Simplified example
• Claudia J.
• Marcela R.
• José M.
• Maricela N.
• Irene V.
Click red links to download .m4v files for use in iPod:
• Simplified example
• Claudia J.
• Marcela R.
• José M.
• Maricela N.
• Irene V.
Subscribe to podcast: sup10
Key vocabulary for this task
Example phrases for this task
Grammar points for this task
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Simplified Example "Buenas noches. Necesito programar una cita con el doctor..." |
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Claudia J. Perú, Lima "Aló, buenas noches. Sí señorita, ¿se encuentra el Dr. Mendoza?..." |
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Marcela R. Chile, Santiago "¿Aló? Hola buenas tardes..." |
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José M. Venezuela, Maracaibo "¿Aló? Buenos días señorita, por favor quisiera hacer una cita con el doctor Peña..." |
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Maricela N. Ecuador, Quito "Buenas tardes señorita. Tenga la bondad una cita para el doctor..." |
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Irene V. Bolivia, Santa Cruz "Bueno. Hola. Sí. Este, quisiera por favor marcar una cita con el doctor..." |
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Talking on the Phone
Without a doubt, making a phone call in a foreign language is one of the most difficult tasks for a non-native speaker. This anxiety comes not only from the reduced sound quality that a telephone conversation implies, but also the speed with which natives of the language speak on the phone. Furthermore, you may not know the appropriate vocabulary for your specific call. In what follows we will first look at some helpful suggestions for speaking on the phone in general, and secondly, we will review some common expressions that you might need to speak about your health. A. Suggestions for speaking on the phone:1. Spanish speakers answer the phone in distinct ways in different parts of the Hispanic world. In Spain, for example, the most common expression is, "Dígame." In Mexico, "Bueno," is most common. In many other parts of Latin America, "Aló" predominates. 2. When you call someone it is very common to first say, "Buenos días" or "Buenas tardes," or "Buenas noches," depending on what time of day you make your call. 3. For a formal telephone conversation you should ask for someone by using one of the following expressions:
4. If you have trouble understanding the person with whom you are speaking, use one of the following expressions:
5. Using formal commands during a phone conversation is very common. Some of the most common expressions include:
Native English speakers commonly make mistakes in Spanish when speaking about health ailments. This is because there are some large differences in the structure of each language. For example, the most common construction for expressing the idea that something hurts is: Me duele + article + body part. In this construction the verb doler is formed like the verb gustar. If what hurts you is singular (e.g. your head), you will use duele. If what hurts you is plural (e.g. your lungs), then use the plural duelen. Another point to keep in mind is that in Spanish you will not normally refer to your body parts with possessive pronouns (my, your etc.). A definite article is used instead. For example:
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