Postcard (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Writing a postcard
What is a postcard?
A postcard is a short, friendly message that you write when you're on holiday or visiting somewhere special. In your Spanish exam, you'll need to write about your travel experience using simple, everyday language.
The postcard task requires you to demonstrate your ability to communicate personal experiences in an informal, conversational style. You'll be writing to family or friends, sharing details about your trip in a warm and engaging way.
The postcard format is designed to test your ability to write naturally and authentically in Spanish, as if you were genuinely sharing your travel experiences with loved ones back home.
Key requirements:
- Length: 60-100 words
- Style: Informal register using tú/vosotros (Spain) or ustedes (Latin America) as specified in the prompt
- Purpose: Share holiday experiences clearly and accurately
- Coverage: Address all bullet points provided in the exam question
Postcard structure
Understanding the physical layout of a postcard helps you organise your content effectively. A postcard has two distinct sides that serve different purposes.
Message side (left side)
The message area contains your actual communication. Start with a location and date, such as "Málaga, 12 de agosto de 2025"(Málaga, 12 August 2025).
Follow this with a friendly greeting like "Hola desde..." (Hello from...) or "Queridos mamá y papá" (Dear Mum and Dad).
The main body consists of 5-8 short sentences that cover all required bullet points.
End with a warm closing such as "Besos" (Kisses), "Un abrazo" (Hugs), or "Con cariño" (With love), followed by your name.
Address side (right side)
This contains the recipient's details in the correct Spanish format: recipient's name, street and number, postcode and city, and country.
For example, when addressing someone in Ireland: "Sra. Mary Byrne, 12 Oak Road, D06 Dublin, Ireland / Irlanda."
Essential content checklist
Your postcard must cover specific topics to meet exam requirements. Each bullet point should be addressed with at least one clear sentence.
Location and companions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Estoy en Barcelona con mi familia | I'm in Barcelona with my family |
| Estoy en un camping en Cádiz | I'm at a campsite in Cádiz |
Weather conditions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hace sol | It's sunny |
| Está nublado | It's cloudy |
| Llueve | It's raining |
| Hace calor | It's hot |
Accommodation details
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Nos alojamos en un hotel cerca de la playa | We're staying in a hotel near the beach |
| La habitación es cómoda y el desayuno está incluido | The room is comfortable and breakfast is included |
Activities and experiences
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Nadamos, visitamos museos, hicimos una excursión | We swim, we visit museums, we went on a trip |
Personal opinions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me encanta la ciudad porque es bonita y animada | I love the city because it's pretty and lively |
| Lo pasé genial | I had a great time |
Future plans
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Mañana vamos a visitar el mercado | Tomorrow we're going to visit the market |
| Esta tarde voy a sacar fotos | This afternoon I'm going to take photos |
Friendly closing
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo estás? ¡Hasta pronto! | How are you? See you soon! |
Useful phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Greetings & Location | |
| Hola desde Valencia | Hello from Valencia |
| Estoy en Sevilla con mi clase | I'm in Seville with my class |
| Weather | |
| Hace sol / hace calor | It's sunny / hot |
| Está nublado | It's cloudy |
| Llueve / Nieva | It's raining / snowing |
| Tengo calor / tengo frío | I feel hot / cold |
| Accommodation & Food | |
| Nos alojamos en un hotel cerca de la playa | We're staying in a hotel near the beach |
| La habitación es cómoda | The room is comfortable |
| La comida está riquísima | The food is delicious |
| Activities & Places | |
| Visité / visitamos la catedral | I/we visited the cathedral |
| Nadé en el mar; tomé el sol | I swam in the sea; I sunbathed |
| Hicimos una excursión en barco | We did a boat trip |
| Opinions | |
| Me encanta la ciudad porque es bonita | I love the city because it's pretty |
| Lo pasé genial / fatal | I had a great / awful time |
| Lo mejor / lo peor es... | The best / worst thing is... |
| Plans | |
| Mañana vamos a visitar el mercado | Tomorrow we're going to visit the market |
| Esta tarde voy a sacar fotos | This afternoon I'm going to take photos |
| Closings | |
| ¿Qué tal en casa? | How are things at home? |
| Besos / Un abrazo + name | Love / Hugs + name |
Building Your Vocabulary
These phrases form the foundation of successful postcard writing. Practice using them in different combinations to create natural-sounding messages that flow well from one idea to the next.
Key grammar points
Using ser, estar and hay correctly
| Spanish | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| La ciudad es grande | The city is big | Use ser for describing characteristics |
| El hotel está en el centro | The hotel is in the centre | Use estar for locations and temporary states |
| En la playa hay mucha gente | There are lots of people on the beach | Use hay for "there is/there are" |
Weather expressions
| Pattern | Spanish Examples | English |
|---|---|---|
| hace + weather | Hace sol, hace calor, hace viento, hace frío | It's sunny, hot, windy, cold |
| está + adjective | Está nublado | It's cloudy |
| Verb directly | Llueve, nieva | It's raining, snowing |
| Personal feelings | Tengo calor/frío | I feel hot/cold |
Critical Weather Rule
Never mix up personal feelings with general weather conditions. Use "tengo calor/frío" when YOU feel hot or cold, and "hace calor/frío" when describing the weather generally.
Showing time range with tenses
| Tense | Spanish Examples | English | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Estoy, hay, hace | I am, there is, it's | Current situations |
| Preterite | Fui, visitamos, comí, vi, fue, hice, saqué | I went, we visited, I ate, I saw, it was, I did, I took | Completed past actions |
| Near future | Voy a nadar, vamos a visitar | I'm going to swim, we're going to visit | Plans |
Muy versus mucho
| Use | Spanish Example | English | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| muy | muy bonito | very pretty | Use before adjectives |
| mucho | me gusta mucho | I like it a lot | Use as an adverb meaning "a lot" |
Essential accents and spelling
| Spanish | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Hola! ¿Qué tal? ¿Cómo estás? | Hello! How are things? How are you? | Always include question marks at beginning and end |
| agosto, lunes | August, Monday | Months and days are lowercase |
Sample postcards
Worked Example: Beach Holiday Postcard
Spanish:
Málaga, 12 de agosto Hola desde el sur de España: Estoy en Málaga con mi familia y lo paso genial. Hace sol y hace mucho calor, pero la brisa es agradable. Nos alojamos en un hotel cerca de la playa; la habitación es cómoda y el desayuno está incluido. Ayer visitamos el centro histórico y comí espetos de sardinas: fueron riquísimos. Mañana vamos a hacer una excursión en barco. Lo mejor es el ambiente por la tarde. ¿Qué tal en casa? Besos, Ana
English translation: Málaga, 12 August Hello from the south of Spain: I'm in Málaga with my family and I'm having a great time. It's sunny and very hot, but the breeze is nice. We're staying in a hotel near the beach; the room is comfortable and breakfast is included. Yesterday we visited the historic centre and I ate sardine skewers: they were delicious. Tomorrow we're going to take a boat trip. The best thing is the evening atmosphere. How are things at home? Love, Ana
Worked Example: City Break Postcard
Spanish:
Valencia, 5 de julio Queridos abuelos: Valencia es una ciudad moderna y hay una playa preciosa. Estoy aquí con el colegio. Hace viento hoy, pero ayer hizo mucho sol. Nos alojamos en un albergue juvenil; es sencillo pero limpio. Ayer fuimos al Oceanográfic y saqué muchas fotos. Esta tarde voy a probar una paella con mis amigos. Lo peor es el tráfico en el centro, pero el metro es muy práctico. ¿Cómo estáis? Un abrazo, Diego
English translation: Valencia, 5 July Dear grandparents: Valencia is a modern city and there is a beautiful beach. I am here with the school. It's windy today, but yesterday it was very sunny. We're staying in a youth hostel; it's simple but clean. Yesterday we went to the Oceanográfic and I took lots of photos. This afternoon I'm going to try paella with my friends. The worst thing is the traffic in the centre, but the metro is very convenient. How are you? Hugs, Diego
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Error | Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal feelings | Estoy calor/frío | Tengo calor/frío | Use "tengo" for personal feelings |
| General weather | Es sol/es nublado | Hace sol/Está nublado | Use proper weather patterns |
| Verb agreement with gustar | Me gusta mucho las playas | Me gustan mucho las playas | Verb agrees with what is liked |
| Limited tense usage | Only present tense | Include preterite (Ayer fuimos) and future (Mañana voy a...) | Show language range |
Missing Bullet Points
Each required topic must be covered with at least one sentence. Create a mental checklist as you write.
Writing template
Structured Approach
Use this structure to organise your thoughts:
| Element | Template | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Date/Location | [Ciudad], [día] de [mes] | Valencia, 5 de julio |
| Greeting | [Saludo]: Estoy en _______ con _______ | Hola: Estoy en Valencia con mi clase |
| Weather | Hace _______ y está _______ | Hace sol y está despejado |
| Accommodation | Nos alojamos en _______ cerca de _______ | Nos alojamos en un hotel cerca de la playa |
| Past activity | Ayer _______ y fue _______ | Ayer visitamos el museo y fue interesante |
| Opinion | Me encanta _______ porque _______ | Me encanta la ciudad porque es bonita |
| Future plans | Mañana voy a _______ | Mañana voy a nadar |
| Question home | ¿Qué tal en casa? | ¿Qué tal en casa? |
| Closing | [Cierre], [Nombre] | Besos, Ana |
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Cover all bullet points from the exam question with specific details
- Use a variety of tenses: present, preterite, and near future to show your language range
- Apply weather expressions correctly using the proper patterns (hace/está/llueve)
- Keep sentences short and clear, aiming for 60-100 words total
- End with a friendly question and warm closing to maintain the personal, informal tone