Listening practice - opinions on technology
Technology is a hot topic in the media and society. Spanish speakers are likely to be found discussing their opinions about mobile phones, computers and other technologies in cafés and city streets in many countries. Meanwhile, social media is often the subject of news reports.
Not everyone will share the same points of view. It's essential to be able to understand and use a variety of ways of expressing opinions and reasons. Here are some key phrases to listen for.
| Pienso que ... | I think that ... |
| Creo que ... | I believe that ... |
| Me parece que ... | It seems to me that ... |
| En mi opinión ... | In my opinion ... |
| A mi modo de ver ... | As I see it ... |
| Prefiero ... | I prefer ... |
| Odio ... | I hate ... |
| Lo que (no) me gusta es ... | What I (don't) like is ... |
| Pienso que ... |
| I think that ... |
| Creo que ... |
| I believe that ... |
| Me parece que ... |
| It seems to me that ... |
| En mi opinión ... |
| In my opinion ... |
| A mi modo de ver ... |
| As I see it ... |
| Prefiero ... |
| I prefer ... |
| Odio ... |
| I hate ... |
| Lo que (no) me gusta es ... |
| What I (don't) like is ... |
It might not always be clear what an extract is about when you first start listening.
Listen to Rosa and Jorge talk about technology.
Question
What is Rosa discussing?
She is talking about apps. There is no need to go into extra detail unless it is asked for.
Transcript:
Creo que es una pérdida de dinero descargar aplicaciones nuevas porque no son muy útiles.
Translation:
I think that it is a waste of money downloading new apps because they are not very useful.
Question
Now listen to Jorge. What two things does he say?
| A | He doesn't have time to use apps. |
| B | He uses a fitness app at the gym. |
| C | He uses an app at home. |
| D | He thinks the app is good value. |
| E | He uses the app twice a day. |
| A |
| He doesn't have time to use apps. |
| B |
| He uses a fitness app at the gym. |
| C |
| He uses an app at home. |
| D |
| He thinks the app is good value. |
| E |
| He uses the app twice a day. |
The correct answers are C and E.
He says no tengo tiempo para ir al gimnasio (I don't have time to go to the gym) so it can't be A. He says that he uses the app en casa (at home) which means that it can't be B. Although numbers are mentioned, these have nothing to do with cost and he does not mention the price of the app so D is not mentioned either.
Transcript:
No tengo tiempo para ir al gimnasio, pero uso una aplicación de ejercicios para ponerme en forma en casa. Hago circuitos de ocho minutos de entrenamiento de alta intensidad dos veces al día.
Translation:
I don't have time to go to the gym, but I use an exercise app to get in shape. I do circuits of eight minutes of high intensity training twice a day.
Una amiga española, Raquel, está hablando de las aplicaciones.
Question
Selecciona la frase correcta.
Según Raquel, su app preferida es...
| A | popular |
| B | gratis |
| C | divertida |
| D | cara |
| A |
| popular |
| B |
| gratis |
| C |
| divertida |
| D |
| cara |
A. Raquel says todos mis amigos la usan (all of my friends use it) which means that it is popular, so the answer has to be A instead of B (free), C (fun) or D (expensive).
Question
Según Raquel, le gusta...
| A | sacar fotos |
| B | mandar mensajes |
| C | editar fotos |
| D | colgar fotos |
| A |
| sacar fotos |
| B |
| mandar mensajes |
| C |
| editar fotos |
| D |
| colgar fotos |
C. Raquel says Lo que prefiero es editar las fotos con efectos especiales (what I prefer is editing the photos with special effects) which means the answer has to be C instead of A (taking photos), B (sending photos) and D (uploading photos). The app is for photos and messages but she doesn't mention sending messages (mandar mensajes).
Transcript:
Mi aplicación preferida es una app de fotos y mensajes porque todos mis amigos la usan. Lo que prefiero es editar las fotos con efectos especiales.
Translation:
My favourite app is a photo and messaging app because all my friends use it. What I prefer is editing the photos with special effects.
