The school day (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
The school day
Essential vocabulary for talking about school
Understanding how to describe your school day is crucial for your GCSE Spanish exam. This topic appears frequently in both speaking and writing assessments, making it essential to master the key vocabulary and structures.
Core school day vocabulary
The following vocabulary forms the foundation of discussing your school routine:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el instituto/colegio | school |
| la clase | class/classroom/lesson |
| el/la alumno/a | pupil |
| el/la estudiante | student |
| el descanso | break |
| los deberes | homework |
| el horario | timetable |
| el patio | playground/yard |
| el/la compañero/a | classmate |
| empezar | to start/begin |
Example sentences in context:
- Voy al colegio en bici. (I go to school by bike.)
- Las clases empiezan a las ocho. (Classes start at eight o'clock.)
- Durante el descanso, juego al fútbol. (During break, I play football.)
Transport and movement
These expressions help you describe how you travel to and from school:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| a pie | on foot |
| en bici/coche/autobús | by bike/car/bus |
| voy al instituto | I go to school |
| volver a casa | to go back home |
Time expressions for the school day
When talking about your school day, you'll need to express times clearly using the key structure a las + time for specific hours:
Worked Example: Time Expressions
- La primera clase empieza a las ocho. (The first class starts at eight o'clock.)
- Tenemos nuestra primera clase a las ocho y cuarto. (We have our first class at quarter past eight.)
- Ayer volví a casa a las tres y media. (Yesterday I went back home at half past three.)
School activities vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| estudiar | to study |
| la hora de comer | lunch time |
| jugar al fútbol | to play football |
| tomar un bocadillo | to have a sandwich |
| las clases duran | the lessons last |
| cuarenta y cinco minutos | forty-five minutes |
Important grammar rule: shortening adjectives
Critical Grammar Rule: Adjective Shortening
Some adjectives change their form when they appear before a masculine singular noun. These adjectives drop their final -o.
This only happens with masculine singular nouns - never with feminine or plural nouns.
Key adjective changes
| Full form | Shortened form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| primero | primer | el primer día (the first day) |
| tercero | tercer | el tercer club (the third club) |
| bueno | buen | un buen estudiante (a good student) |
| malo | mal | mal tiempo (bad weather) |
| alguno | algún | algún día (some day) |
| ninguno | ningún | ningún descanso (no break) |
Special Cases:
- The adjective grande shortens to gran before both masculine and feminine singular nouns
- Algún and ningún require an accent when shortened
Examples in context:
- Es un gran colegio. (It's a great school.)
- Tengo una gran profesora. (I have a great teacher.)
Articles with school vocabulary
Understanding article usage is essential for accuracy in your Spanish writing and speaking.
Key Article Rules:
Remember that el is always used with:
- colegio (school)
- descanso (break)
When el follows a, they combine to form al:
- Voy al instituto. (I go to school.)
Translation practice
Practice these translations to build confidence with school vocabulary and time expressions.
Translate into English:
- Voy al colegio en bici.
- Tenemos nuestra primera clase a las ocho y cuarto.
- Durante el descanso juego al fútbol.
- Ayer volví a casa a las tres y media.
Answers:
- I go to school by bike.
- We have our first class at quarter past eight.
- During break I play football.
- Yesterday I went back home at half past three.
Translate into Spanish:
- The lessons last forty-five minutes.
- During first break, I have a sandwich.
- It's a great school.
- I go to school on foot.
Answers:
- Las clases duran cuarenta y cinco minutos.
- Durante el primer descanso, tomo un bocadillo.
- Es un gran colegio.
- Voy al instituto a pie.
Exam tips
Here are strategies for success across different parts of your Spanish exam:
- Speaking exam: Be prepared to describe your typical school day using time expressions and varied vocabulary
- Writing exam: Use a variety of vocabulary to demonstrate your range and avoid repetition
- Listening exam: Pay close attention to time expressions and school activities
- Remember to use the correct articles (el with colegio and descanso)
- Practice using shortened adjectives correctly in your responses
Key Points to Remember:
- Master time expressions with a las for describing your school schedule
- Learn the adjective shortening rule - only before masculine singular nouns
- Use el with colegio and descanso, and remember al = a + el
- Practice describing school activities using present tense verbs
- Include transport methods when describing how you get to school