5.4 Oral Tarea 3: Simulated Conversation Linked to the Photo

Quick Focus: Oral Tarea 3 (Conversación con el entrevistador) is a 3–4-minute conversation in a simulated situation linked to the photo you described in Tarea 2. You prepare it during the 12 minutes, using a sheet that gives your role and the things you must do. The interviewer plays the other person and follows a question plan, choosing questions according to your answers. For the calificador this task counts double (50% of their share).

What the Official Specification Says

The official model situation

In Modelo 0 the photo shows a family party. The Tarea 3 sheet says: your parents are celebrating 20 years of marriage, and you are going to organize a small surprise party with your siblings. The examiner is your brother. During the conversation you must:

• decide where and when the party will be;
• think about whether to invite other relatives;
• choose what food and drink there will be;
• think of what present to give them.

The examiner's plan for this situation includes greeting, proposing the party, then where and when, whom to invite and how, what food to prepare and who buys it, whether to make or buy a cake, what to do at the party (music from when they were young? old photos and videos? a poem?), the present, anything else, and goodbye. The examiner picks from these according to your answers and may improvise with details you give.

The model shows two things. First, the register comes from the role: here the examiner is your brother, so you use tú. In a shop or hotel situation you would use usted. Second, the conversation goes beyond the four points on your sheet, so be ready to answer extra related questions.

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How Tarea 3 Is Rated

Two practical conclusions:

1. Give full answers. Sí or el sábado on its own is a band-1 answer. Add a reason or proposal: El sábado, porque todos trabajamos entre semana. ¿Te parece bien a las ocho?
2. Take the initiative. You have a list of things to do. Don't wait for the examiner to ask about each one; propose, suggest and ask.

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Functions and Phrases You'll Need

A sample exchange (model situation)

Examinador: ¿Recuerdas que la semana que viene es el aniversario de papá y mamá? Candidato: ¡Claro! Veinte años. ¿Qué te parece si les hacemos una fiesta sorpresa? Examinador: ¡Buena idea! ¿Qué día te parece mejor? Candidato: El sábado por la noche, porque el domingo muchos trabajan. Podemos hacerla en mi casa, que es grande y tiene terraza. Examinador: ¿Invitamos a los tíos? Candidato: Sí, y también a los abuelos. Yo los llamo esta tarde. Tú puedes escribir a los primos. Examinador: ¿Y la comida? Candidato: Yo hago una paella y tú compras las bebidas. La tarta la podemos pedir en la pastelería de la esquina: de chocolate, que les encanta.

The candidate proposes, gives reasons (porque…, que es grande), shares out tasks (yo…, tú…) and adds details. That is the profile of band 2 to band 3.

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Other Typical Situations

Because the situation depends on the photo, it can be transactional or informal:

• Shop or market (photo of a shop): buying a present, asking for a size, price or colour.
• Travel (photo at a station or airport): buying a ticket, asking about timetables and platforms.
• Restaurant (photo of a terrace): booking a table, ordering, asking about ingredients.
• Friends or family (photo of a party or a park): planning a trip, a weekend or a celebration.

Preparation (About 3 Minutes of the 12)

1. Read your role and the list of things you must do.
2. Decide tú or usted from the role.
3. For each item on the list, note one proposal and one question (¿Dónde? – en mi casa – ¿te parece?).
4. Prepare two closing lines.

When You Don't Know a Word

Use circumlocution rather than silence or English: No sé cómo se dice… es una cosa para…. The descriptors accept that you may need help from the interviewer, but communicating in Spanish is what counts.