Role Play 4: El Medio Ambiente (The Environment) (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Role play 4: El medio ambiente (The environment)
Understanding the scenario
This role play focuses on environmental issues, particularly plastic pollution and conservation efforts. You play the role of a young person who is environmentally conscious, sharing good news with your parent (played by the examiner) about recent environmental legislation.
In this scenario, you are very worried about planet contamination caused by single-use plastics, but you're also happy because you've just heard some encouraging news about environmental protection measures. This emotional contrast is key to delivering an authentic performance.
The role play setup
Your character: An environmentally aware young person Examiner's character: Your parent Context: You're telling your parent about positive environmental news Your emotions: Concerned about pollution but happy about recent developments
Remember that you're playing a character who cares deeply about the environment. Show genuine emotion when discussing both the problems and the solutions. Your enthusiasm about the good news should be evident in your delivery.
Key vocabulary
Environmental terms
- el medioambiente - the environment
- la contaminación - pollution/contamination
- los plásticos de usar y tirar - single-use plastics
- la prohibición - prohibition/ban
- biodegradables - biodegradable
- reciclado - recycled
- proteger - to protect
- grave - serious/severe
Useful connecting words
- por ejemplo - for example
- en vez de - instead of
- absolutamente - absolutely
- imprescindible - essential/indispensable
Action words
- desplazarnos - to travel/move around
- cambiar - to change
- hacer - to do/make
- viajar - to travel
- caminar - to walk
Study Strategy: Focus particularly on the environmental terms as these will form the backbone of your role play. Practice saying "los plásticos de usar y tirar" and "imprescindible" as these are key phrases you'll need to use confidently.
Model sentences
Expressing concern and happiness
- Estoy muy preocupado/a por la contaminación del planeta - I'm very worried about planet pollution
- Estoy muy contento/a porque acabo de oír buenas noticias - I'm very happy because I've just heard good news
Sharing good news
- El Parlamento Europeo ha aprobado la prohibición de los plásticos de usar y tirar - The European Parliament has approved the ban on single-use plastics
- Por ejemplo, los cuchillos, tenedores, cucharas, vasos, platos y las pajitas - For example, knives, forks, spoons, cups, plates and straws
Suggesting solutions
- Hay muchas cosas que podemos hacer todos - There are many things we can all do
- En vez de plásticos podemos usar papel reciclado, cartón y otros materiales biodegradables - Instead of plastics we can use recycled paper, cardboard and other biodegradable materials
Expressing strong opinions
- Sí, absolutamente imprescindible - Yes, absolutely essential
- La contaminación causada por los plásticos es un problema grave - Contamination caused by plastics is a serious problem
Notice how these model sentences move from expressing personal emotions to sharing factual information and then to suggesting concrete actions. This progression will help structure your responses naturally during the role play.
Model answers
Short Response Example:
Examiner: Pareces muy contento/a, ¿por qué?
You: Sí, estoy muy contento/a porque el Parlamento Europeo ha prohibido los plásticos de usar y tirar como las pajitas y los vasos.
Yes, I'm very happy because the European Parliament has banned single-use plastics like straws and cups.
Extended Response Example:
Examiner: ¿Podemos hacer algo más?
You: ¡Por supuesto! Hay muchas cosas que podemos hacer. Por ejemplo, en vez de plásticos podemos usar materiales biodegradables como papel reciclado y cartón. También, como ciudadanos responsables, podríamos desplazarnos en bici o viajar en transporte público para proteger el medioambiente.
Of course! There are many things we can do. For example, instead of plastics we can use biodegradable materials like recycled paper and cardboard. Also, as responsible citizens, we could travel by bike or use public transport to protect the environment.
Pronunciation tips
Stress patterns
- prohibición - pro-hi-bi-CIÓN (stress on final syllable)
- contaminación - con-ta-mi-na-CIÓN (stress on final syllable)
- imprescindible - im-pres-cin-DI-ble (stress on penultimate syllable)
Words ending in -ción always have the stress on the final syllable. This is a consistent pattern in Spanish that will help you with pronunciation of similar environmental terms.
Tricky sounds
- prohibición - The 'h' is silent; pronounce as "pro-i-bi-ción"
- ejemplo - The 'j' sounds like English 'h': "e-HEM-plo"
- pajitas - Again, 'j' as 'h': "pa-HI-tas"
Pronunciation Practice:
Try saying these words slowly, focusing on the tricky sounds:
- prohibición → "pro-i-bi-THIÓN" (with soft 'th' sound for 'c')
- ejemplo → "e-HEM-plo"
- pajitas → "pa-HI-tas"
Rolling 'r' sounds
- proteger - Roll the 'r': "pro-te-RRRER"
- reciclado - Single 'r' is softer: "re-ci-CLA-do"
Grammar spotlight
Perfect tense usage
The phrase "ha aprobado" (has approved) uses the perfect tense, formed with:
- haber (to have) + past participle
- ha (he/she/it has) + aprobado (approved)
Perfect Tense Formation: This tense is crucial for talking about recent events that have relevance to the present moment - perfect for discussing recent environmental legislation that affects us now.
Subjunctive mood
Watch for potential subjunctive use in longer responses:
- Para que protejamos el medioambiente - So that we protect the environment
Conditional statements
- Podríamos (we could) - conditional form of "poder"
- Deberíamos (we should) - conditional form of "deber"
The conditional mood is excellent for making suggestions and talking about what people could or should do to help the environment. It sounds more diplomatic than direct commands.
Template responses you can adapt
These flexible templates can be customised for different environmental topics:
- For expressing concern: Estoy muy preocupado/a por [environmental issue] porque [reason]
- For sharing solutions: Podemos [action] en vez de [current practice]
- For emphasising importance: Es absolutamente imprescindible porque [explanation]
- For personal responsibility: Como ciudadanos, necesitamos [action] para proteger el medioambiente
Key Points to Remember:
- Stay in character - you're an environmentally conscious young person sharing good news with a parent
- Use a variety of tenses - present, perfect, conditional and future where appropriate
- Include specific examples - mention particular plastic items like straws, cups, and cutlery
- Show environmental awareness - demonstrate knowledge of both problems and solutions
- Express strong emotions - show you care deeply about environmental issues