Título universitario
University degree
- Habla sobre tus estudios universitarios o metas. (Talk about your university study or goals.)
- Conoce el vocabulario sobre educación superior. (Know vocabulary about higher education.)
- Conoce el sistema de educación superior y las instituciones de tu nuevo país. (Know the higher education system and institutions of your new country.)
-
Expresiones con los tiempos del pasado:
"Ayer" ,"De repente" ,"El mes pasado" , etc... (Expressions with the past tenses: "Ayer", "De repente", "El mes pasado", etc...)
Learn about the Spanish university system, expressions with past tenses, and vocabulary related to academic studies. Practice conversations about university programs and explore the use of past tense verbs like 'estudiaba' and 'he venido' to describe past experiences.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
A2.14.1 Lectura
¿Cómo funciona el sistema universitario en España?
How does the university system work in Spain?
A2.14.2 Cultura
La Universidad de Salamanca: la más antigua de España
The University of Salamanca: the oldest in Spain
Vocabulary (17) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Aprobar
To pass
2
El máster
The master's
3
Desarrollar
To develop
4
Pagar la matricula
To pay the tuition
5
El licenciado
The graduate
Ejercicio 2: Ejercicio de conversación
Instrucción:
- ¿Cuándo te graduaste del instituto (y de la universidad)? (When did you graduate high school (and university)?)
- ¿Qué prácticas hiciste mientras estudiabas? (What internships did you do while studying? )
- ¿Cuáles son tus planes educativos? (What are your educational plans?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Me gradué de la escuela secundaria en 2019. Todavía estoy estudiando en la universidad ahora. I graduated from high school in 2019. I am still studying at university now. |
|
Me gradué del instituto en 2012 y de la universidad en 2016. I graduated high school in 2012 and university in 2016. |
|
Trabajé en una oficina durante dos meses. Aprendí sobre ordenadores. I worked in an office for two months. I learned about computers. |
|
Hice unas prácticas de verano en un colegio. Ayudé al profesor. I did a summer internship at a school. I helped the teacher. |
|
No estudié antes, pero ahora quiero aprender. Voy a tomar clases nocturnas. I didn’t study before, but now I want to learn. I will take evening classes. |
|
Asistiré a algunos cursos para poder asumir más responsabilidades en el trabajo. I will attend some courses so that I can take more responsibility at work. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ayer ___ para aprobar el examen de titulación universitaria.
(Yesterday ___ to pass the university graduation exam.)2. Durante las clases, ___ muchos documentos académicos para entender mejor el contenido.
(During classes, ___ many academic documents to better understand the content.)3. El mes pasado ___ a la universidad para inscribirme en el máster.
(Last month ___ to the university to enroll in the master's program.)4. Muchas veces ___ a la biblioteca para mejorar mis habilidades de estudio.
(Many times ___ to the library to improve my study skills.)Exercise 5: My University Experience
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Estudiar - Study
Pretérito imperfecto
- yo estudiaba
- tú estudiabas
- él/ella/usted estudiaba
- nosotros/nosotras estudiábamos
- vosotros/vosotras estudiabais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estudiaban
Leer - Read
Pretérito imperfecto
- yo leía
- tú leías
- él/ella/usted leía
- nosotros/nosotras leíamos
- vosotros/vosotras leíais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes leían
Venir - Come
Pretérito perfecto
- yo he venido
- tú has venido
- él/ella/usted ha venido
- nosotros/nosotras hemos venido
- vosotros/vosotras habéis venido
- ellos/ellas/ustedes han venido
Exercise 6: Expresiones con los tiempos del pasado: "Ayer", "De repente" , "El mes pasado" , etc...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Expressions with the past tenses: "Ayer", "De repente", "El mes pasado", etc...
Show translation Show answersCompleté, tuvimos, Empezamos, soñaba, parecían, entró, prestaba, escribí
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A2.14.3 Gramática
Expresiones con los tiempos del pasado: "Ayer", "De repente" , "El mes pasado" , etc...
Expressions with the past tenses: "Ayer", "De repente", "El mes pasado", etc...
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Estudiar to study Share Copied!
Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) estudiaba | I used to study |
| (tú) estudiabas | You were studying |
| (él/ella) estudiaba | he studied |
| (nosotros/nosotras) estudiábamos | we studied |
| (vosotros/vosotras) estudiabais | You were studying |
| (ellos/ellas) estudiaban | they studied |
Leer to read Share Copied!
Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) leía | I was reading |
| (tú) leías | You were reading |
| (él/ella) leía | he/she was reading |
| (nosotros/nosotras) leíamos | we were reading |
| (vosotros/vosotras) leíais | You were reading |
| (ellos/ellas) leían | they read |
Venir to come Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he venido | I have come |
| (tú) has venido | You have come |
| (él/ella) ha venido | he/she has come |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos venido | We have come |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis venido | You have come |
| (ellos/ellas) han venido | they have come |
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice Spanish today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Understanding the Spanish University System
This lesson introduces you to the structure and functioning of the university system in Spain, focusing on practical vocabulary and expressions related to academic life and university studies. You will learn about the significance of the University of Salamanca, Spain's oldest university, and practice common expressions that use past tenses such as "Ayer", "De repente", and "El mes pasado".
What You Will Learn
- Key facts about Spanish universities, including distinctions between public and private institutions.
- How to discuss university degrees like grado, máster, and doctorado.
- Conversational practice for asking about university programs in contexts like admissions offices and discussions with classmates.
- Use of past tense expressions to describe past academic activities and experiences naturally.
Highlighted Expressions and Verbs
Expressions such as "Ayer estudié" (Yesterday I studied), and "El mes pasado vine a la universidad" (Last month I came to the university) help you narrate past events relevant to university life. Key verbs are practiced in past forms like estudiaba (I was studying), leía (I was reading), and he venido (I have come).
Special Notes on Language Usage
Spanish past tenses can be more varied than English. For example, the pretérito imperfecto (imperf.) is used to describe habitual past actions or ongoing past states (yo estudiaba = I used to study/I was studying), while the pretérito perfecto (perf.) emphasizes completed past actions with relevance to the present (he venido = I have come). English speakers often use simple past, so focusing on these subtle differences improves fluency. Useful phrases like "El mes pasado" (Last month), "de repente" (suddenly), and "anteriormente" (previously) are great connectors in storytelling or describing experiences.
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
