Email (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Writing emails
What is the email writing task?
In your Spanish exam, you may be asked to write an informal email to a friend, exchange partner, or host family. The task will provide specific bullet points that you must address, such as describing your family, school, city, food, courses, or after-school activities.
Your main objectives are straightforward: respond to every bullet point clearly using simple, accurate Spanish and include basic personal opinions. Quality matters more than quantity! As this is informal communication, you'll use the tú form throughout and maintain a friendly, conversational tone.
Key Requirements:
- Address ALL bullet points provided in the exam question
- Use informal register (tú forms) throughout
- Include personal opinions with reasons
Email structure and layout
Spanish emails follow a simple, recognisable pattern that makes them easy to organise. You typically don't need authentic email headers unless specifically requested in the exam question.
Basic Email Structure:
- Greeting: Hola, [Nombre] or Querido/Querida [Nombre]
- Opener: Brief friendly line like Espero que estés bien
- Main body: Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences each)
- Closing: Warm sign-off like Un abrazo or Besos
- Name: Your signature
- Start with a friendly greeting such as "Hola, [Nombre]" (Hi, [Name]) or "Querido/Querida [Nombre]" (Dear [Name]) for a slightly more affectionate but still informal tone.
- Follow this with a brief, friendly opener like Espero que estés bien (Hope you're well) or Gracias por tu mensaje (Thanks for your message).
- The main body consists of short paragraphs, typically 1-3 sentences each, with one main idea per bullet point. This keeps your writing clear and well-organised.
- End with a warm closing such as "Un abrazo" (Hugs), "Besos" (Kisses), or "Saludos" (Regards), followed by your name.
- If the task specifically mentions including a subject line, write something like Asunto: Mis vacaciones en... (Subject: My holidays in...).
Content guidance
- Each bullet point should be addressed with 1-2 well-constructed sentences.
- Your content should include descriptions of people, places, and things using key verbs like ser, estar, tener, and hay. Express opinions with reasons using phrases like me gusta... porque... (I like... because...).
- Include past actions using the pretérito tense with time expressions such as ayer (yesterday) or el fin de semana pasado (last weekend). Discuss future plans using ir a + infinitive construction.
- Add concrete details like times, places, activities, food, and prices when relevant.
- Always end with a question to maintain the conversational email tone, such as ¿Y tú? (And you?) to invite a response.
Phrase bank
| Function | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Greetings & openers | ||
| Basic greeting | Hola, [Nombre] | Hi, [Name] |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
| Thanks | Gracias por tu email | Thanks for your email |
| Writing to tell | Te escribo para contarte... | I'm writing to tell you... |
| Giving information | ||
| Family | Vivo con una familia muy amable | I live with a very kind family |
| City | La ciudad es grande y moderna | The city is big and modern |
| Course | El curso de español es interesante y útil | The Spanish course is interesting and useful |
| Places | Hay playas bonitas / un polideportivo / museos | There are nice beaches / a sports centre / museums |
| Opinions | ||
| Likes/dislikes | Me encanta / Me gusta (mucho) / No me gusta (nada) + porque... | I love / I (really) like / I don't like (at all) because... |
| In my opinion | En mi opinión, la comida es deliciosa | In my opinion, the food is delicious |
| Past actions | ||
| Yesterday | Ayer fuimos al centro y probé la paella. Fue genial. | Yesterday we went to town and I tried paella. It was great. |
| Last weekend | El fin de semana pasado visité un museo y saqué fotos | Last weekend I visited a museum and took photos |
| Future plans | ||
| Tomorrow | Mañana voy a ir a la playa | Tomorrow I'm going to go to the beach |
| This Friday | Este viernes vamos a cenar en un restaurante | This Friday we're going to have dinner in a restaurant |
| Closings & questions | ||
| Questions | ¿Y tú? ¿Qué planes tienes? | And you? What plans do you have? |
| Write soon | Escríbeme pronto | Write soon |
| Sign off | Un abrazo / Besos | Hugs / Kisses |
Sample email analysis
Worked Example: Email about host family, city and course
Spanish version: Hola, Alex: Gracias por tu email. Estoy en Valencia con la familia García y son muy amables. Vivo con los padres y dos hijos; tienen un perro que se llama Leo. La ciudad es moderna y hay una playa preciosa. Me encanta la comida española, porque es variada y fresca; ayer probé la paella y fue deliciosa. El curso de español es interesante: estudiamos gramática y hacemos conversaciones. Después de las clases voy al centro con mis nuevos amigos y tomamos algo en una cafetería. Este fin de semana voy a visitar el Oceanográfico con la familia. ¿Y tú? ¿Qué haces este verano? Un abrazo, Sam
English translation: Hi, Alex, Thanks for your email. I am in Valencia with the García family and they are very kind. I live with the parents and two children; they have a dog called Leo. The city is modern and there is a beautiful beach. I love Spanish food because it's varied and fresh; yesterday I tried paella and it was delicious. The Spanish course is interesting: we study grammar and do conversations. After classes I go to the centre with my new friends and we have something in a café. This weekend I'm going to visit the Oceanográfico with the family. And you? What are you doing this summer? Hugs, Sam
Key features: This email successfully covers all typical bullet points (family, city, food, course, after-class activities). It demonstrates excellent use of present tense for descriptions and routines, preterite for past experiences ("probé", "fue"), and near future for plans ("voy a visitar"). The opinion includes a clear reason with "porque".
Worked Example: Holiday email from Barcelona
Spanish version: Querida Marta: ¿Cómo estás? Barcelona es una ciudad fantástica: hay museos, barrios históricos y playas. Nos alojamos en un hotel cerca de la Sagrada Familia; la habitación es cómoda y el desayuno está incluido. Mi amigo Alex es muy simpático y siempre toma fotos. Todos los días visitamos un lugar diferente y comemos tapas. Ayer fuimos al Parque Güell y fue muy divertido. Mañana vamos a hacer una visita guiada al estadio. Lo que más me gusta es el ambiente por la tarde, porque hay música y gente en las plazas. ¿Quieres venir el año que viene? Besos, Clara
English translation: Dear Marta, How are you? Barcelona is a fantastic city: there are museums, historic neighbourhoods and beaches. We are staying in a hotel near the Sagrada Familia; the room is comfortable and breakfast is included. My friend Alex is very nice and always takes photos. Every day we visit a different place and eat tapas. Yesterday we went to Park Güell and it was great fun. Tomorrow we're going to take a guided tour of the stadium. What I like most is the evening atmosphere, because there is music and people in the squares. Do you want to come next year? Kisses, Clara
Key features: This email covers typical holiday topics (city, hotel, friend, daily routine, highlights). Note the variety of tenses and the natural flow from description to specific examples and future plans.
Essential grammar points
Critical Grammar Rules:
Ser/estar/tener/hay usage:
- Use es for descriptions: "Mi ciudad es grande"
- Use está for locations: "El hotel está en el centro"
- Use tiene for possession: "La familia tiene dos hijos"
- Use hay for "there is/are": "En la ciudad hay un parque"
Tense variety:
- Present tense for routines and opinions: "estudio", "me gusta"
- Preterite for completed past actions: "fui", "hice", "comí", "vi", "fue"
- Near future with ir a + infinitive: "voy a visitar"
Gustar agreement:
- Singular: Me gusta el español
- Plural: Me gustan las clases
Adjective agreement: Examples: profesores amables, comida deliciosa, playas bonitas
Muy vs mucho:
- muy + adjective: "muy interesante"
- mucho with verbs: "me gusta mucho"
Accents and punctuation: Remember question words need accents: ¿Qué?, ¿Dónde?, ¿Cómo?. Other essential accents include fútbol, también, habitación. Write months and days in lowercase: junio, sábado.
Common mistakes and tips
Watch out for these frequent errors that can lower your marks:
Gustar errors: Remember plural agreement - Me gustan las playas not Me gusta las playas. (I like the beaches.)
Word order with mucho: Write Me gusta mucho Barcelona not Muy me gusta Barcelona. (I really like Barcelona.)
Mixing ser/estar/hay: Keep these distinct - Barcelona es grande (characteristic - Barcelona is big), El hotel está en el centro (location - The hotel is in the centre), En la ciudad hay un acuario (there is/are - In the city, there is an aquarium).
Tense monotony: Don't use only present tense. Include at least one past action and one future plan.
Forgetting to close: Always end properly with Un abrazo, Besos, plus your name.
For exam success, ensure you include:
- Correct greeting and closing in informal register
- Cover all bullet points with 1-2 sentences each
- Show tense variety (present + preterite + near future)
- Give opinions with reasons using "porque"
- Use proper agreement, gustar forms, muy/mucho, and accents
- Connect your ideas smoothly with words like y, pero, porque, también, además, and sin embargo
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Address every bullet point - Use 1-2 sentences for each topic mentioned in the exam question
- Mix your tenses - Include present tense for descriptions, at least one past action (preterite), and one future plan (ir a + infinitive)
- Give opinions with reasons - Use me gusta porque... or en mi opinión... to show your ability to express and justify views
- Keep it conversational - Start with a friendly greeting, end with a question like ¿Y tú?, and close warmly with Un abrazo or Besos
- Check your accuracy - Verify ser/estar/hay usage, gustar agreement, adjective agreement, and essential accents before finishing