Españolandia Guide Book: “Guía de Españolandia”

By registering and paying for Españolandia, we will send you a passport (blue) and guide (orange) for each student. In order to practice in class before the arrival of the materials and to more easily incorporate the concepts into your lessons, we have provided the pages to the guide online (by clicking on the following hyperlinks).

Help your students prepare for Españolandia by having them practice the words and phrases (found in the links below) they will need in order to visit each of these places:

Introduction to Guide Book

Hints for Speaking with the “Natives”

La aduana

To enter Españolandia, students will need to pass through la aduana (customs) and show their passport (with the first information page having been completed previously). They will be asked questions such as their name, age, purpose for visiting the country, etc. This speaking and listening activity practices basic greetings, introductions, and simple questions. Upon exiting Españolandia, students will pass through the aduana de salida and show their passport with their 7+ completed stamps. If students need to exit Españolandia (to go to the bathroom, compete in an event, etc.) they will enter again through the aduana de salida, the same place they exited.

La aduana vocabulary and useful phrases

 

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El banco

Because Españolandia is a foreign country, a different type of money is used. To purchase items in Españolandia, visitors will need to exchange dollars (cash only) to Españolandia pesos. The exchange rate in Españolandia is 10 Españolandia pesos = $1.00 US dollar (or $0.10 for one peso). Españolandia does NOT accept credit/debit cards, pesos can only be purchased using cash. ATMs are available outside of the Wilkinson Center (WSC) on the west side of the building. Pesos should be treated like real money and may not be copied for use in Españolandia. Money is exchanged at the banco de entrada (entrance bank) and any unused pesos can be exchanged for US dollars at the banco de salida (exit bank). The bank gives students an opportunity to practice speaking and listening regarding subjects such as currency, numbers, exchange rates, and questions.

El banco vocabulary and useful phrases

El banco (el dinero) vocabulary and useful phrases

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El correo

The correo (post office) of Españolandia gives students an opportunity to not only speak and listen as they ask questions about prices, but also to practice writing.  Students can write a post card from Españolandia in Spanish, where they are encouraged to talk about the country and the things they’ve experienced. Stamps may be purchased and postcards with complete addresses will be mailed via USPS. Postcards with incomplete addresses will not be sent. Students who wish to mail a post card should come prepared with the name and complete postal address of the recipient. (Ex. Fulana García 555 Main St. Provo, UT 84602)

El correo vocabulary and useful phrases

El correo (escribir una tarjeta postal) 

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La tienda de música / Radio Españolandia

The citizens of Españolandia love music (only in Spanish, of course!) and therefore we have a lot of music playing in the streets. Students can practice speaking and listening by requesting songs to be played on “Radio Españolandia”, participate in karaoke, or interview others about music likes/dislikes. The radio is also used to make announcements and occasionally as a lost and found. A special performance by the BYU mariachi band “Los pumas” may also take place.

La emisora de radio vocabulary and useful phrases

 

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Las entrevistas

Españolandia citizens love interacting with visitors! Some of our citizens walk around the country and give free entrevistas (interviewsto students. These citizens can be identified by the sign around their neck with their name and “concedo entrevistas”, such as in the images below. This allows students to practice speaking and listening by asking questions and getting to know a new person.

Las entrevistas vocabulary and useful phrases

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El metro

The metro (subway) connects the entrance customs and bank portion of Españolandia to the main city: Ciudad Españolandia. Metro tickets are purchased for 1 peso (equivalent of $0.10 USD). If students do not bring money to Españolandia, they should explain their situation (i.e.”No tengo dinero”) at the entrance bank, where they will be given 1 peso to purchase a metro ticket. This is an opportunity for students to practice speaking and listening regarding topics such as transportation, money, locations, and more. A guitarrista del metro (subway guitar player) may also be present.

La estación del metro vocabulary and useful phrases

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La farmacia

Students may visit the farmacia (pharmacy) and practice speaking and listening as they describe how they’re feeling to the doctors and pharmacists. This is a great opportunity to practice descriptions, parts of the body, and asking and answering questions. “Medicine” (candy such as Skittles or M&Ms) can also be purchased at the pharmacy.

La farmacia vocabulary and useful phrases

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Fotos en la playa de Españolandia

Visitors have the chance to take home a souvenir of their visit: a picture of themselves and their friends on the beautiful beaches of Españolandia, complete with typical Españolandia accessories. Because the majority of students bring their own phone or camera, physical copies of photos are no longer sold. Españolandia natives are available to help visitors find the perfect accessories and pose for a picture, taken on the students phone or camera. If photos are posted to social media, the hashtag #españolandia2020 (or current year) is available. This speaking activity encourages students to use vocabulary regarding clothing and accessories, as well as terms related to photography.

La foto de turista vocabulary and useful phrases

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La frutería

Españolandia is a land with magnificent orchards, and fresh fruit is available for purchase at the frutería (fruit stand). Students can practice speaking and listening as they ask vendors about the items, describe what they would like to purchase, and even haggle prices.

La frutería vocabulary and useful phrases

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El hotel “Buenavista”

The hotel “Buenavista” is Españolandia’s five star hotel, located next to the metro and within walking distance of all popular attractions! Guests can practice speaking and listening as they inquire about prices, reservations, room availabilities, amenities, and more. Visitors also practice reading and writing by filling out a hotel check in form in order to earn a stamp for their passports.

El hotel vocabulary and useful phrases

El hotel (llenar el formulario)

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El kiosco

Españolandia’s kiosko (newsstand) not only sells newspapers for visitors to stay up to date regarding current events, but also sells a variety of reading materials and other items. Helpful employees help visitors practice speaking and listening by answering questions about what is available for sale, prices, and more. This is an excellent place to negotiate the prices as well.

El kiosco vocabulary and useful phrases

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La panadería

Españolandia is known for its delicious baked goods, which visitors can purchase at the panadería (bakery). Cakes, chips, candy bars, sodas, bottled water, and more snacks are available for purchase. Visitors can practice speaking and listening as they inquire about the items available for purchase, ask about different flavors and variety available, and more. Prices may also be negotiated.

At Españolandia, we strongly encourage recycling and ask visitors to please dispose of their bottles and cans in the appropriate recycling bins found across the city.

La panadería vocabulary and useful phrases

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El restaurante “El buen comer”

For those looking for a more authentic Españolandia meal (instead of the American food at other locations on BYU campus), look no further than Españolandia’s star restaurant: “El buen comer”. Offering pork and chicken tacos catered from a local restaurant, visitors can practice speaking and listening as they ask about the meal options available. Note: prices for meals at the restaurant are fixed and are paid for in Españolandia pesos.

El restaurante vocabulary and useful phrases

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La tienda de recuerdos

Looking for an excellent souvenir to remember Españolandia forever? Look no further than our tienda de recuerdos (souvenir shop)! With a variety of fun and silly knickknacks available for purchase, visitors can practice speaking and listening  by asking about products, colors, prices, and more. This is a great place to negotiate the price!

La tienda de recuerdos vocabulary and useful phrases

La tienda de recuerdos (como regatear)

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La tienda de ropa “Última moda”

Españolandia’s most fashionable citizens shop at the “Última moda” clothing store. Visitors can practice speaking and listening as they ask about the clothing items on display, trying on any items that they wish. This is a great opportunity to talk about different colors, fabrics, fits, and clothing styles. Although many clothing articles (such as shirts, dresses, etc.) are not available for purchase, items such as sunglasses, hair accessories, and drawstring bags can be bought here.

La tienda de ropa vocabulary and useful phrases

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La cárcel / la seguridad

Remember, speaking English in Españolandia is a crime. There will be security guards and police who patrol the city, and if you are caught speaking English you may get sent to jail (la cárcel). To get out of jail, you may be asked to sing a song in Spanish, conjugate a verb, pay a small fine in pesos, etc. Students may request a stamp on their passports at the jail, however, they should remember that the purpose of their visit is to practice Spanish!

Photos courtesy of Cristian Torres.