Role Play 2: El Portátil Roto (The Broken Laptop) (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Role play 2: El portátil roto (The broken laptop)
Scenario overview
This role play takes place in a computer repair shop in Ávila, Spain. You are a customer whose laptop has broken, and you need to get it repaired or replaced. The examiner plays the role of the shop assistant who will help you with your computer problem.
The situation is urgent because you have an important essay due tomorrow, and your only copy is saved on the broken laptop. This creates natural opportunities to use different tenses and express emotions like worry, relief, and negotiation.
This scenario is designed to test your ability to handle unexpected situations in Spanish while using a variety of tenses and vocabulary. The urgency of the situation will naturally encourage you to express emotions and negotiate solutions.
Setting and context
The role play is carefully designed to simulate a realistic Spanish-speaking environment where technology problems require immediate attention. This setting allows you to practice problem-solving vocabulary while demonstrating your ability to communicate under pressure.
- Location: Una tienda de reparación de portátiles (A laptop repair shop) in Ávila
- Your role: A student with a broken laptop
- Examiner's role: Shop assistant/technician
- Problem: Your laptop fell and the screen is broken
- Urgency: You have an essay due tomorrow with only one copy on the laptop
Remember that the urgency of this situation should drive your conversation. Always emphasise the time pressure and the importance of accessing your files to create natural, emotionally-driven dialogue.
Key vocabulary
Understanding and using the right vocabulary is essential for successfully navigating this role play. Focus on mastering these key terms before your examination.
Technology vocabulary:
- el portátil = laptop
- la pantalla = screen
- roto/rota = broken
- arreglar = to fix
- reparar = to repair
- el disco duro = hard drive
- los archivos = files
- copiar = to copy
Action vocabulary:
- caerse = to fall
- resbalar = to slip
- correr = to run
- coger = to catch/take (used in Spain; can be inappropriate slang in some Latin American countries)
- entregar = to hand in/submit
Shopping vocabulary:
- la marca = brand
- el modelo = model
- el escaparate = shop window
- la oferta especial = special offer
- regalar = to give as a gift
- la bolsa = bag
Model dialogue exchanges
The following exchanges demonstrate how to structure your conversation effectively, showing the natural flow from problem explanation to negotiated solution.
Exchange 1: Explaining the problem
Examiner: "¡Hola! ¿En qué puedo ayudarte?" (Hello! How can I help you?)
Model answer: "Se me cayó el portátil y la pantalla está rota. Lo peor es que debo entregar una redacción mañana y la única copia está en el portátil." (My laptop fell and the screen is broken. The worst thing is that I have to hand in an essay tomorrow and the only copy is on the laptop.)
Grammar point: "Se me cayó" uses the “se accidental” construction to show accidental action - literally "it fell on me".
Exchange 2: Explaining how it happened
Examiner: "Vamos a ver. ¿Qué pasó?" (Let's see. What happened?)
Model answer: "Llegaba tarde y tuve que correr para coger el autobús. Resbalé y el portátil se cayó al suelo, y no me di cuenta del problema hasta que me levanté." (I was running late and I had to run to catch the bus. I slipped and the laptop fell to the ground, and I didn’t realise the problem until I got up.)
Grammar point: Mix of preterite tense (tuve, resbalé) for completed actions and imperfect (llegaba) for ongoing situation.
Exchange 3: Discussing options
Examiner: "Vas a necesitar una nueva pantalla que cuesta doscientos euros." (You're going to need a new screen that costs two hundred euros.)
Model answer: "Me alegra saber que se puede arreglar, pero he visto un portátil de la misma marca y modelo en rebajas en el escaparate y solo cuesta trescientos euros." (I'm glad to hear that it can be fixed, but I saw a laptop of the same brand and model on sale in the shop window and it only costs three hundred euros.)
Alternative response: "¿No sería mejor comprar uno nuevo? He visto el mismo modelo en el escaparate." (Wouldn't it be better to buy a new one? I've seen the same model in the window.)
Exchange 4: Negotiating the purchase
Examiner: "Sí, hay una oferta especial esta semana. ¿Quieres comprarlo?" (Yes, there's a special offer this week. Do you want to buy it?)
Model answer: "Sí, lo compraré si pudiera copiar todos mis archivos al portátil nuevo antes de irme de la tienda y si me regalan / me dan gratis una bolsa para el portátil." (Yes, I'll buy it if you could copy all my files onto the new laptop before I leave the store and if you give me a laptop bag for free.)
Grammar point: Future tense "compraré" shows definite intention with conditions.
Sample question and response
During the role play, you may be asked to pose a relevant question. This demonstrates your ability to take initiative in the conversation and shows advanced communication skills.
The examiner may ask: "Ask one relevant question."
Model questions you could ask:
- "¿Cuánto tiempo tardará la reparación?" (How long will the repair take?)
- "¿Tiene garantía el portátil nuevo?" (Does the new laptop have a warranty?)
- "¿Puede recuperar todos mis archivos?" (Can you recover all my files?)
Pronunciation tips
Proper pronunciation is crucial for effective communication in this role play scenario. Pay special attention to these challenging sounds and stress patterns.
Focus on these challenging words:
- Roto: Roll the 'r' sound, stress on first syllable [RO-to]
- Redacción: Stress on final syllable [re-dac-CIÓN]
- Tuve: 'u' sound like in 'food' [TOO-ve]
- Coger: Soft 'g' before 'e' [co-HER]
- Arreglar: Double 'r' rolling sound [a-rre-GLAR]
- Reparar: First 'r' is soft, final 'r' slightly stronger [re-pa-RAR]
- Trescientos: 'sc' makes 's' sound [tres-CIEN-tos]
- Regalarme: Stress on third syllable [re-ga-LAR-me]
- Portátil: Stress on first syllable with accent [POR-tá-til]
Useful sentence templates
These templates provide you with flexible structures that can be adapted to various situations within the role play. Memorise these patterns to help you respond naturally and confidently.
Key Sentence Patterns to Master:
Expressing problems:
- "Se me ha roto..." (My... has broken)
- "Tengo un problema con..." (I have a problem with...)
- "No funciona..." (... doesn't work)
Explaining urgency:
- "Es urgente porque..." (It's urgent because...)
- "Necesito... para mañana" (I need... for tomorrow)
Negotiating:
- "¿Sería posible...?" (Would it be possible...?)
- "Lo compraré si..." (I'll buy it if...)
- "¿Me puede hacer un descuento?" (Can you give me a discount?)
Remember!
Successful completion of this role play requires more than just vocabulary knowledge. You need to demonstrate linguistic flexibility and cultural awareness in your responses.
Essential Success Strategies:
- Use a mix of tenses: preterite for completed actions, present for current situation, future for plans
- Include emotional expressions to show the urgency of your situation
- Practice the key vocabulary pronunciation, especially rolled 'r' sounds
- Be prepared to negotiate - this shows advanced Spanish skills
- Always explain both the problem AND why it's urgent (the essay deadline)