3.1 Listening Tarea 1: Short Interpersonal Dialogues & Graphic Selection
Key Takeaways
Tarea 1 has five items: five short dialogues of two or three turns (30–40 words) with a question and three picture options each.
In the Modelo 0 each dialogue is followed by the narrator's question and 10 seconds, then the repeat, 2 seconds and 5 seconds to choose.
After the five dialogues the recording gives 40 seconds to complete the answer sheet.
Speakers may mention two or three of the pictured items, so the answer depends on who does what and when, not on the first word heard.
Negation and decision markers such as 'no hay', 'pero', 'mejor' and 'vale' show which option is finally chosen or rejected.
Understanding Prueba 2 and Tarea 1
The DELE A1 Listening Comprehension test (Prueba 2: Comprensión auditiva) lasts 25 minutes and has 4 tasks with 25 items. In the Modelo 0, the recording itself, including all pauses, lasts about 20 minutes. The recorded instructions repeat the ones printed in the booklet, and every text is played twice.
Tarea 1 checks whether you can catch the general idea and concrete details of very short, simple conversations spoken slowly and with clear articulation. You hear five short dialogues between two people. After each dialogue a narrator reads the question, and you choose one of three pictures (A, B, C).
| Exam Parameter | Tarea 1 Specification |
|---|---|
| Items | 5 (Modelo numbering 1–5), plus a worked example (0) |
| Input | Five dialogues of two or three turns, 30–40 words each, personal domain |
| Question | Printed in the booklet and read by the narrator after the dialogue (Conteste a la pregunta: ...) |
| Options | Three pictures |
| Repetitions | Each dialogue is played twice |
| Delivery | Slow speech with clear articulation |
The Timing Inside the Recording (Modelo 0)
- The instructions and the worked example are played (¿A qué hora comen? with its answer).
- Empieza la Tarea 1, followed by 5 seconds.
- Dialogue 1, then the narrator's question, followed by 10 seconds.
- Dialogue 1 again, 2 seconds, Seleccione la imagen, then 5 seconds.
- Dialogues 2 to 5 follow the same pattern.
- Complete ahora la Hoja de respuestas, followed by 40 seconds to transfer your answers.
There is no long silent preview before each dialogue. Use the instructions and the example to look over all five sets of pictures, make a provisional choice in the 10 seconds after the first hearing, and confirm it after the second.
The Anatomy of a Tarea 1 Dialogue
With only two or three turns, each dialogue goes straight to the point:
- Opening turn: one speaker asks or proposes something (¿Dónde vas?, ¿Qué quieres tomar?).
- Answer: the other replies, sometimes mentioning an alternative (Voy al cine con Laura, ¿te vienes?).
- Reason or correction: a speaker adds why, or changes the plan (No puedo, tengo que ir al supermercado.).
The question then targets one person and one detail: ¿A qué lugar va el hombre hoy?, ¿Qué hace la chica esta tarde?, ¿Qué busca el hombre? Many dialogues mention two or even all three pictured items, so the skill is linking each item to the right person and time.
The Distractor Trap
Do not assume the answer comes in the last turn. In the Modelo 0, a man asks where his mobile phone is; the woman suggests looking in his coat, and he replies that he only has his keys there. Keys and coat are both mentioned, the keys in the very last line, but the question is what he is looking for: the phone. Always listen against the question, not for the most recent noun.
High-Yield Lexicon for Picture Questions
The pictures in Tarea 1 show everyday places, objects, food, clothing, transport and activities. Becoming familiar with these lexical groups helps you name the pictures quickly before each dialogue.
| Lexical Domain | High-Frequency Spanish Terms | English Equivalents |
|---|---|---|
| Food & Drink | café con leche, té verde, zumo de naranja, agua mineral, bocadillo de queso, cruasán, ensalada, fruta | coffee with milk, green tea, orange juice, mineral water, cheese sandwich, croissant, salad, fruit |
| Clothing & Accessories | camisa, camiseta, pantalones, falda, vestido, chaqueta, abrigo, zapatos, zapatillas de deporte, sombrero, gafas | buttoned shirt, t-shirt, trousers, skirt, dress, jacket, coat, shoes, sneakers, hat, glasses |
| Transport & Travel | autobús, tren, metro, bicicleta, coche, taxi, a pie / caminando, barco, billete | bus, train, metro, bicycle, car, taxi, on foot / walking, boat, ticket |
| Household & Furniture | mesa, silla, cama, sofá, armario, estantería, lámpara, cocina, salón, habitación, llaves, teléfono móvil | table, chair, bed, sofa, wardrobe/closet, bookshelf, lamp, kitchen, living room, bedroom, keys, mobile phone |
| Leisure & Hobbies | leer un libro, ver la televisión, escuchar música, nadar en la piscina, jugar al fútbol, bailar, ir al cine | reading a book, watching TV, listening to music, swimming in the pool, playing soccer, dancing, going to the cinema |
Linguistic Markers of Negation, Contrast, and Resolution
To identify which illustration represents the correct answer, pay strict attention to short connector words and phrases that signal rejection, contrast, or definitive acceptance.
Formulations of Rejection and Dislike
- No me gusta... (I do not like...)
- No me apetece... (I do not feel like having/doing...)
- No, qué va... (No, not at all... / No way...)
- Es demasiado caro / difícil... (It is too expensive / difficult...)
- Hoy no tienen... (Today they do not have...)
Formulations of Contrast and Alternative
- Pero... (But...)
- En vez de eso... (Instead of that...)
- Mejor... (Better... / It is better to...)
- En realidad... (Actually... / In reality...)
- Sin embargo... (However...)
Formulations of Final Decision and Agreement
- Vale, perfecto. (Okay, perfect.)
- De acuerdo. (Agreed.)
- Entonces me llevo este / esta... (Then I will take this one...)
- Póngame dos, por favor. (Give me two, please.)
- Buena idea. (Good idea.)
- Me quedo con... (I will stick with / I will take...)
Annotated Model Dialogues (A1 Length)
Dialogue 1: A Drink at a Café
Pictures: A) a cup of coffee, B) a bottle of water, C) a glass of orange juice
Question: ¿Qué toma el hombre?
Camarera: Hola, ¿qué quiere tomar?
Hombre: Un zumo de naranja, por favor.
Camarera: Lo siento, hoy no hay zumo. Hay agua o café.
Hombre: Pues un café con leche.
Breakdown: the man first asks for juice, the waitress says there is none (hoy no hay zumo) and offers water or coffee, and he chooses coffee (Pues un café con leche). All three pictures are mentioned; the answer is A.
Dialogue 2: Getting to the Park
Pictures: A) a train, B) a bus, C) two bicycles
Question: ¿Cómo van a ir al parque mañana?
Mujer: ¿Vamos en bici al parque mañana?
Hombre: Uf, está muy lejos. ¿Y en tren?
Mujer: Los domingos no hay tren. Vamos en autobús; sale a las nueve.
Hombre: Vale.
Breakdown: the bike is rejected (está muy lejos), the train does not run on Sundays (no hay tren), and Vale accepts the bus. The answer is B.
Dialogue 3: Something Missing
Pictures: A) glasses, B) a handbag, C) a wallet
Question: ¿Qué busca la mujer?
Mujer: Luis, ¿sabes dónde están mis gafas?
Hombre: ¿En el bolso?
Mujer: No, en el bolso solo tengo la cartera.
Breakdown: the handbag and the wallet are mentioned last, but the question asks what she is looking for: her glasses. The answer is A.
The Three-Phase Method for Tarea 1
Before the dialogue --> Name the three pictures in Spanish; spot what makes them different
First hearing + 10 s --> Follow who wants what; make a provisional choice
Second hearing + 5 s --> Check the deciding words (no hay, pero, mejor, vale); confirm
End of task: 40 s --> Transfer all five answers to the answer sheet
Phase 1: Before the Dialogue
Look closely at the three pictures and name each one in Spanish. Ask what makes them different: the place, the object, the number, the time or the activity. If the pictures show clothing, think camisa versus camiseta, pantalón corto versus pantalón largo.
Phase 2: First Hearing
Follow the turns. When an item appears with no, no hay, pero or está lejos, treat it as a probable distractor. Use the 10 seconds to mark a provisional answer in the booklet.
Phase 3: Second Hearing
Confirm your choice and check for a late change (Mejor no, dame el otro). Then use the 40 seconds at the end of the task to copy all five answers onto the answer sheet, because you may write only on the answer sheet for marking.
In DELE A1 Listening Tarea 1, how should a candidate handle a dialogue in which all three illustrated options are spoken by the characters?
Assume the recording contains an error and leave the answer sheet blank to receive credit automatically.
Select the first option mentioned, because A1 dialogues always state the correct answer in the opening sentence.
Choose the option that represents the cheapest or most common item, regardless of what the speakers say.
Listen for negation particles and contrastive markers to verify which option is ultimately accepted rather than rejected.
Read this dialogue: Hombre: «¿Vamos al cine esta tarde?» Mujer: «Hoy no. ¿Damos un paseo por el parque?» Hombre: «Pero está lloviendo mucho. Mejor jugamos al ajedrez en casa.» Mujer: «Vale, buena idea.» What do they decide to do?
Buy an umbrella at the shop
Take a walk in the park
Go to the cinema this afternoon
Stay at home and play chess
In the Modelo 0 recording for Tarea 1, how should a candidate use the 10-second pause after the first hearing of each dialogue?
Make a provisional choice, then confirm it during the second hearing
Close the booklet so the pictures do not influence the choice
Read ahead to the eight sentences of Tarea 3 instead
Translate the printed instructions into another language in the margin
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.