Routines: personal 'a'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use the personal 'a' between verbs and people or pets as direct objects, to describe routine activities.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The SSC [ga] is pronounced as in 'ganar', [go] is pronounced as in 'domingo' and [gu] is pronounced as in 'preguntar'.
- A direct object is the person, animal or thing that receives the action of the verb.
- When a direct object is a person or pet, Spanish uses the personal 'a' after the verb, e.g. 'cuido a mi gato'.
- For other direct objects it is not necessary, e.g 'cuido mi casa'.
Keywords
[ga] - sound-symbol correspondence pronounced as in ‘ganar’ ('to win')
[go] - sound-symbol correspondence pronounced as in ‘domingo’ ('Sunday')
[gu] - sound-symbol correspondence pronounced as in 'preguntar' ('to question')
Direct object - person, animal or thing that receives the action of the verb
Personal 'a' - preposition placed before a direct object when that object is a specific person or pet
Common misconception
In Spanish the personal 'a' is required between verbs and all direct objects.
In Spanish you use the personal 'a' after the verb when the following direct object is a specific person or an animal we have a name for (a pet).
Teacher tip
In this lesson the Spanish personal 'a' is introduced. As part of a plenary you could consider a fun 'call and response' activity where you say a noun and if it needs a personal 'a' the pupils hold up their arms in an A shape. If it doesn't, pupils should stay completely still.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Las tiendas están '. Choose the correct missing word.
Q2.Match the Spanish and English.
comment
success
photo
network
reason
country
Q3.Match the Spanish and English.
to love, loving
to create, creating
to leave, leaving
to understand, understanding
to send, sending
to publish, post
Q4.Order the words to say: 'I am lucky and he is tired'.
Q5.Write in English: 'mi gato está encima de la mesa'.
Q6.Write in Spanish: 'there are thirteen open doors'.
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match the word with the missing sound.
__to
jue__
se__ndo
Q2.Which sentences require the personal 'a'?
Q3.Order the words to say: 'I know an English teacher'.
Q4.Write in Spanish: 'I don't understand my boyfriend'.
Q5.Write in Spanish: 'I bring the drinks'.
To help you plan your 8 Spanish lesson on: Routines: personal 'a', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 Spanish lesson on: Routines: personal 'a', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 Spanish lessons from the Relationships and daily life: personal 'a', pronouns unit, dive into the full secondary Spanish curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.