BailiwickLanguages are in my bailiwick.

The learning path

From first words to real conversation.

Every learner sees one clear next step, while review, stories, listening, and guided conversation keep practice varied and useful.

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Learning guide

Orb.

A course with a destination

Small steps.
A bigger conversation.

Pick a language, explore a level, and open a unit to see what you’ll learn. The same language path is available to independent learners and school classes.

For schools and independent learners

Names, people, requests and plans. Build the language that helps you take part in everyday situations.

Clear teachingVaried practiceListeningIndependent checksReview after a break

01Meet someone new.Open a conversation, exchange names and feelings, and ask for a repair.

A hello. A name. A little back-and-forth. Let’s turn your first words into a connection.

¡Hola!

1
Start the exchange
Greet someone and ask for a repetition when you need it.
Hola. Otra vez, por favor.
2
Share your name
Introduce yourself and find out the other person’s name.
¿Cómo te llamas?
3
Ask how they are
Listen to a reply and share how you feel.
¿Cómo estás?
4
Bring it together
Complete a fresh encounter with less support.
Mucho gusto.

What you build on: Start here. No Spanish needed.

02The people around you.Introduce another person, explain relationships and clarify whose person you mean.

Friends, neighbors and the people who matter. Introduce someone and help your listener follow who is who.

Es mi amiga.

1
Bring someone along
Say who someone is and how you know them.
Mi amiga.
2
Whose connection?
Follow the speaker, listener and person being discussed.
Tu amigo.
3
Make it clear
Introduce more people and untangle the relationships.
Sus amigos.
4
Connect the people
Use the whole exchange, then try it independently.
Mucho gusto.

What you build on: Builds on Unit 1: greetings, names, simple identity and asking for help.

03Ask for what you need.Request an object or help, understand a simple instruction and repair a service exchange.

Find your words at a desk, in a shared space or with someone new. Ask clearly, stay courteous and fix a mix-up.

Necesito ayuda.

1
Find your request
Name what you need and ask courteously.
Un libro, por favor.
2
Make a choice
Choose an object and explain what is missing.
Quiero un mapa.
3
Listen and act
Follow a short instruction and a service exchange.
Espere, por favor.
4
Handle the exchange
Make your request, clarify and close the conversation.
Muchas gracias.

What you build on: Builds on Unit 1 courtesy and repair, with the speaker/listener distinctions from Unit 2.

04Choose the right things.Request a quantity, describe an item and correct a short list or order.

How many? Which color? The large one or the small one? Turn a vague request into a clear choice.

Dos libros, por favor.

1
Count on it
Hear and use numbers from one to ten.
Uno, dos, tres.
2
How many?
Connect numbers, nouns and questions about quantity.
¿Cuántos libros?
3
Which one?
Choose by color and size; make the words agree.
Un libro rojo.
4
Get the order right
Build a list, correct a detail and make your choice.
Dos libros, por favor.

What you build on: Builds on Unit 3 requests and Unit 2 singular/plural possessives. Numbers and descriptions are taught here.

05Make your name understood.Spell and confirm names, exchange origins, follow short instructions and ask what a word means.

Turn a name you hear into a name you can write. Confirm a detail, share where you’re from and keep the exchange moving.

¿Cómo se escribe?

1
Get the name right
Ask for a spelling and follow the first letter names.
¿Cómo se escribe?
2
Keep every letter
Distinguish similar letters and recognize different speakers’ letter names.
Ene. Eñe.
3
Add your own detail
Keep accents and exchange where people are from.
Soy de México.
4
Make yourself understood
Clarify a word, follow instructions and complete a welcome exchange.
¿Qué significa?

What you build on: Builds on introductions, relationships, familiar objects and asking for help. Letter names and origins are taught here.

06Find the person you mean.Identify people by clothing and appearance, support a description with an action and make a connected introduction.

A blue jacket. A patient friend. A detail that makes someone easy to find. Give your listener a picture they can follow.

Lleva una chaqueta azul.

1
Recognize the person
Describe hair and clothing to help someone identify a person.
Tiene el pelo corto.
2
Make the clue precise
Use colors, degree and a correction to narrow the search.
No lleva sombrero.
3
Add the human detail
Describe a trait and give a small example of what the person does.
Es amable y ayuda.
4
Find and introduce
Follow group descriptions and introduce someone with connected details.
Llevan camisetas azules.

What you build on: Reuses people, relationships, colors and simple requests. Clothing, traits and supporting actions are introduced here.

07Make a meal work for everyone.Express food preferences, check availability and portions, and place a shared order that keeps each person’s choices clear.

Something you like. Something to share. Ask what’s available, choose a portion and bring everyone’s order together.

Para mí, un té, por favor.

1
Find your taste
Name foods and drinks and say what you like.
Me gusta la sopa.
2
Check the counter
Ask about preferences and availability, then specify portions.
Hay dos vasos de agua.
3
Make your order
Describe amounts, offer a drink and identify your own serving.
Para mí, un té, por favor.
4
Order for the table
Keep each person’s ingredient preferences and order together.
Un té sin azúcar para Ana.

What you build on: Reuses courtesy, requests, quantities and speaker/listener reference. Food words, preferences and serving patterns are taught here.

08Find your way around.Describe rooms, locate objects and people, point out the right item and ask where a neighborhood place is.

The book under the sofa. Those chairs over there. The café next to the library. Give clues that help someone get where they need to be.

¿Dónde está la biblioteca?

1
Step inside
Name a room’s contents and find a particular object.
La mesa está en la cocina.
2
Follow the clues
Look above, below, beside and between known things.
Al lado del sofá.
3
This one, over there
Point out the right item and locate familiar neighborhood places.
Ese café está cerca.
4
Help a new arrival
Follow changing questions and give a clear final location.
Está al lado de la biblioteca.

What you build on: Reuses objects, quantities, descriptions and hay from earlier units. Locations, rooms and pointing words are taught here.

09Make time for your day.Read common clock times, discuss daily routines, compare schedules and explain how often and in what order things happen.

An early start. A busy Wednesday. A little time to read. Share your routine and follow someone else’s day.

¿A qué hora te levantas?

1
Get the time right
Read the hour and familiar minutes past it.
Son las dos y media.
2
Build your day
Connect activities, weekdays and getting ready with a time.
Me levanto a las siete.
3
Follow their routine
Ask about another person’s day, frequency and sequence.
Primero estudio. Después leo.
4
Compare your days
Compare schedules and explain a connected routine.
Leo por la tarde.

What you build on: Reuses numbers, people and familiar places. Clock expressions, weekdays, daily actions and routine patterns are taught here.

10Find something to do together.Discuss abilities and preferences, explain a task or need, and ask for or understand permission with a simple reason.

Something you can do. A game you prefer. A task that needs a hand. Talk through the choices and find an activity that works.

¿Puedes ayudar?

1
What can you do?
Share abilities and find what you have in common.
Yo también puedo.
2
Choose an activity
Separate what you want, prefer and can do.
Prefiero jugar al ajedrez.
3
Say what needs doing
Explain a task, offer help and give a reason.
Tengo que estudiar.
4
Ask before you act
Ask permission and understand a rule and its reason.
¿Puedo leer aquí?

What you build on: Builds on daily actions and schedules. Abilities, preferences, obligations, game choices and permission are introduced here.

11Make a plan that works.Invite someone, agree where and when, accept or decline with a reason, and explain intended activities for yourself or a group.

A place to go. Someone to invite. One change of plan. Bring your new language together and make the details clear.

¿Quieres ir conmigo?

1
Bring someone along
Choose a destination, identify your companions and invite a friend.
¿Quieres ir conmigo?
2
Find a plan that fits
Agree where and when, respond kindly and suggest a change.
Hoy no puedo. Mejor el jueves.
3
Say what happens next
Explain what you and other people intend to do.
Vamos a leer en el café.
4
Make the whole plan work
Keep the people, accepted details and intended activity together.
Nos vemos a las cinco.

What you build on: Brings together places, times, routines and activity preferences. Going somewhere, invitations and intended future plans are taught here.

12Find what you need.Ask supplied prices, distinguish dollars and cents, request a repeated total and correct an item.

Ask a price, choose the right item, and check the total together.

¿Cuánto cuesta?

1
Ask the price
Connect the item and its stated price.
¿Cuánto cuesta el libro?
2
Read the amount
Distinguish dollars and cents.
Dos dólares con cincuenta centavos.
3
Check the details
Ask for a missing price or repeated total.
¿Puede repetir el total?
4
Bring it together
Follow a complete shopping exchange.
Un mapa, por favor.

What you build on: Reuses quantities, colors, courtesy and clarification from the earlier units. Prices and shopping exchanges are taught here.

13A plan for the weather.Describe familiar weather and connect the stated conditions to suitable clothing and plans.

A rainy morning or a sunny afternoon. Follow the forecast and choose what fits.

Hace sol.

1
Notice the weather
Name the conditions you hear or read.
Hace frío.
2
Choose what fits
Use the weather details to choose clothing.
Llevo una chaqueta.
3
Keep the day clear
Follow a change in the forecast.
Mañana llueve.
4
Make a choice
Keep the conditions and plan together.
Voy a llevar un paraguas.

What you build on: Reuses clothing, days, places and activity choices. Weather expressions and their use in simple plans are taught here.

14Catch the important details.Read practical notices, match fictional form details, and compose a short message that preserves the agreed information.

An opening time, a small form, a change of meeting place. Find what matters and pass it on.

Nos vemos en la biblioteca.

1
Read the notice
Check opening hours and exceptions.
Horario.
2
Keep the right details
Match names, days and appointment times to a form.
Nombre.
3
Pass on a change
Say what changed and what stayed agreed.
Nos vemos en el parque.
4
Check the message
Keep the recipient and practical details clear.
A las cinco.

What you build on: Reuses names, origin, times, days, places and agreed plans. Notice and message formats are taught here.

These units work toward A1 goals. Completing the path is not a proficiency certificate.

Start your path

Experiences, journeys, requests and arrangements that connect several messages. The new A2 path is ready to try.

Clear teachingVaried practiceListeningIndependent checksReview after a break

15Tell me about yesterday.Tell a short past story, ask what happened and keep the people and events clear.

Tell a short past story, ask what happened and keep the people and events clear.

¿Qué hiciste ayer?

1
A finished event
Learn, listen and try it yourself.
¿Qué hiciste ayer?
2
Build the past account
Learn, listen and try it yourself.
¿Qué hiciste ayer?
3
Ask and correct details
Learn, listen and try it yourself.
¿Qué hiciste ayer?
4
Tell the whole story
Practice, then bring the ideas together.
¿Qué hiciste ayer?