Lesson 1.1: Greetings and Introductions

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to greet someone in Spanish, introduce themselves, and ask how someone is doing.

Introduction

Welcome to the exciting journey of learning Spanish, where every word you learn is a step closer to a new world of opportunities! Today, we start with the basics – greetings and introductions. Imagine landing in a beautiful Spanish-speaking city, surrounded by culture, history, and the warm smiles of locals. The first words you exchange can open doors to meaningful connections. So let’s dive in and start building those bridges!

Learning Content

1. Basic Greetings

• Hola (Hello)
• Buenos días (Good morning)
• Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)
• Buenas noches (Good evening/night)

1. Introducing Yourself

• Me llamo… (My name is…)
• Soy… (I am…)
• Encantado/a (Pleased to meet you; use “encantado” if you’re male and “encantada” if you’re female)
• ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)

1. Asking How Someone Is Doing

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you? Informal)
• ¿Cómo está usted? (How are you? Formal)
• Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Fine, thanks. And you? Informal)
• Bien, gracias. ¿Y usted? (Fine, thanks. And you? Formal)

Activities

1. Role-Play

• Pair up with a classmate.
• Take turns greeting each other, introducing yourselves, and asking how the other person is doing.
• Practice both the informal (“tú”) and formal (“usted”) forms.

1. Create Your Own Introduction Card

• Design a small card that includes your name, a greeting, and a question asking how someone is doing in Spanish.
• On the back, write the English translation. You can use this card as a quick reference in future conversations.

Discussion Questions

• Why might the choice between “tú” and “usted” be important in conversations?
• How do greetings in Spanish compare to those in your native language or other languages you know?

Expanding Learning

• Watch a short video of people greeting each other in Spanish. Pay attention to their body language and tone of voice. How do these non-verbal cues support the verbal greeting?
• Research how greetings might vary in different Spanish-speaking countries. For example, in some cultures, a kiss on the cheek is a common greeting among friends.

Conclusion

Mastering greetings and introductions is your first step into the world of Spanish. These simple words are powerful tools for beginning conversations and forging connections. Remember, every conversation you have in Spanish, no matter how brief, is a victory in your language learning journey. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll move from simple greetings to deep, meaningful conversations. ¡Hasta la próxima!