Chatter at a Royal Ball Read and prepare carefully.

Task 1
Getting Ready for Conversation
This activity aims to help you think in Spanish. This is a different approach to grammar, one that imitates the natural learning process of a child. The goal here is not to make a grammar expert out of you, but to help you communicate in Spanish. As in the learning process of a child, proper grammar use will follow. Be enthusiastic! Push yourself to create new phrases.

Self Quiz on Recognition of the Pictographs
Select the matching word for each pictograph.

Read through this list of words and make sure you are familiar with their meanings.

Checklist

¿Quién? sí toca bien canta siempre
él el rey ¿cuál? mejor que ¿no? no
y el que cantos fúnebres
Task 2
With your eyes closed, listen to this dialogue several times until you fully understand the conversation.

The Setting
A royal ball is in process in a royal palace. Two servants are observing and commenting about members of the royal families.

Conversation 1

English

Spanish

··:

Who is singing?

¿Quién está cantando?

·:

The king, the king is singing.

El rey, el rey está cantando.

··:

Which king?

¿Cuál rey?

·:

The one who always used to play funeral chants on the drum.

El que siempre tocaba cantos fúnebres en el tambor.

··:

Oh, it's the king who used to play funeral chants on the drum.

Oh, es el rey que siempre tocaba cantos fúnebres en el tambor.

·:

Yes, and (he) sings well, doesn't he?

Sí, y canta bien, ¿no?

··:

(He) sings better than (he) plays.

Canta mejor que toca.