# First steps in Spanish for absolute beginners

**Language:** Spanish  
**CEFR Level:** A1  

> Join Elena and Carlos for essential greetings and personal introductions, one short conversation at a time. Each lesson trains your ear until you can follow every word and answer back.

**Setting:** In Zaragoza's historic Casco Viejo, Carlos is completing a temporary pharmacy assistant rotation and volunteers at the community urban garden managed by Elena. Surrounded by raised vegetable beds and herbs, the two build a warm friendship while discussing their daily routines, families, and lives.

## Lessons

### 1. Introducing yourself

Elena and Carlos greet each other and catch up on their morning before Elena admits she has forgotten Carlos's last name and asks him for it.

### 2. Spelling your name and surname

Carlos shares his last name and asks Elena how to spell her first name, which she does letter by letter, before Carlos mentions a wild idea.

### 3. Expressing opinions about plans

Carlos pitches his idea of creating a fourteen-lesson Spanish course for his English friend, but Elena thinks that sounds like a lot of work.

### 4. Asking where someone is from

Carlos explains how he plans to structure the course topics, and Elena agrees with the logic before asking where his friend is from.

### 5. Asking about occupation

Carlos and Elena discuss starting a Spanish lesson with basic questions about a person's age and what they do for a living.

### 6. Asking about age

Carlos and Elena talk about the importance of learning numbers for shopping, and Elena asks him to count the carrots in her basket.

### 7. Talking about hobbies

After Carlos practices counting the carrots, he and Elena brainstorm other useful vocabulary topics like family, housing, and daily routines.

### 8. Talking about routines

Elena introduces various vegetables, prompting Carlos to ask how to find out how much the produce costs at the market.

### 9. Asking for clarification

Carlos asks Elena how often she waters the plants, and she explains that she wakes up early almost every day to do it.

### 10. Discussing your progress with Spanish

Carlos talks about his weekday job at the pharmacy and his Sunday habits, prompting Elena to ask about his weekends.

### 11. Talking about preferences

Carlos explains his weekend job as a DJ, and he and Elena discuss how he manages to balance two very different professions.

### 12. Asking where to put things

Elena and Carlos begin planting, and Carlos asks for clarification on where to place the watering can.

### 13. Expressing gratitude and responding

Carlos thanks Elena for helping him brainstorm course ideas, and Elena agrees that chatting casually is much better than reading a boring book.

### 14. Saying goodbye and wishing luck

Elena and Carlos wrap up their conversation to get back to work, exchanging farewells and wishing each other good luck.