Speaking Task: Find Shared Interests and Choose an Activity in Spanish
Speaking Task: Find Shared Interests and Choose an Activity in Spanish
This speaking task combines the preference and free-time language from the previous lessons. You will ask about interests, react to shared likes or dislikes, ask one or two follow-up questions, and choose an activity together.
The goal is to complete a short natural conversation without introducing new grammar.
The conversation goal
A successful exchange should do four things:
- Ask what the other person likes doing.
- Find at least one shared interest.
- Compare or discuss two possible activities.
- Choose one activity together.
Start by asking about free-time interests
Use a familiar opening question:
¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? — What do you like to do in your free time?
A short answer can name one or two activities.
Me gusta leer y escuchar música. — I like reading and listening to music.
Me gusta caminar y jugar al tenis. — I like walking and playing tennis.
React when you share the same interest
If the other person names an activity that you also like, use A mí también. — Me too.
Person A: Me gusta escuchar música. — I like listening to music.
Person B: A mí también. — Me too.
This immediately identifies one shared interest.
React when you share the same dislike
If the other person dislikes something and you agree, use A mí tampoco. — Me neither.
Person A: No me gusta cantar. — I do not like singing.
Person B: A mí tampoco. — Me neither.
This tells both speakers that the activity is probably not a good choice.
Ask one follow-up question
After the first answer, continue with a related question.
- ¿Te gusta caminar? — Do you like walking?
- ¿Te gusta bailar? — Do you like dancing?
- ¿Te gustan los deportes? — Do you like sports?
- ¿Juegas al tenis? — Do you play tennis?
- ¿Puedes jugar al fútbol? — Can you play soccer / football?
One connected follow-up question is usually enough to learn more about the other person.
Find a shared activity
Read this exchange:
Person A: ¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? — What do you like to do in your free time?
Person B: Me gusta caminar y escuchar música. — I like walking and listening to music.
Person A: A mí también me gusta caminar. — I like walking too.
Both speakers now know that caminar — to walk is a shared interest.
Find a shared sport
Person A: ¿Te gustan los deportes? — Do you like sports?
Person B: Sí, me gustan. — Yes, I like them.
Person A: ¿Juegas al tenis? — Do you play tennis?
Person B: Sí, juego al tenis. — Yes, I play tennis.
Person A: A mí también. — Me too.
The shared activity is jugar al tenis — to play tennis.
Check ability before choosing an activity
Sometimes both people like an activity, but one person may not be able to do it.
Person A: Me gusta bailar. — I like dancing.
Person B: A mí también. ¿Puedes bailar? — Me too. Can you dance?
Person A: Sí, puedo bailar. — Yes, I can dance.
Poder helps confirm that the activity is a realistic option.
Use querer to say what you want to do
Once you have identified several interests, use querer to suggest what you want.
- Quiero caminar. — I want to walk.
- Quiero escuchar música. — I want to listen to music.
- Quiero jugar al tenis. — I want to play tennis.
- Quiero bailar. — I want to dance.
The second verb stays in the infinitive.
Use preferir to compare two activities
If there are two possible activities, use a familiar preference question.
¿Qué prefieres, caminar o jugar al tenis? — What do you prefer, walking or playing tennis?
Possible answers include:
- Prefiero caminar. — I prefer walking.
- Prefiero jugar al tenis. — I prefer playing tennis.
Choose one option after comparing
A short exchange can move from two possibilities to one shared choice.
Person A: ¿Qué prefieres, leer o caminar? — What do you prefer, reading or walking?
Person B: Prefiero caminar. — I prefer walking.
Person A: A mí también. — Me too.
The speakers have now chosen an activity they both prefer.
Conversation model: choose between walking and music
Person A: ¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? — What do you like to do in your free time?
Person B: Me gusta caminar y escuchar música. — I like walking and listening to music.
Person A: A mí también. ¿Qué prefieres, caminar o escuchar música? — Me too. What do you prefer, walking or listening to music?
Person B: Prefiero caminar. — I prefer walking.
Person A: Yo también. Quiero caminar. — Me too. I want to walk.
The conversation begins with interests and ends with a clear choice.
Conversation model: choose a sport
Person A: ¿Te gustan los deportes? — Do you like sports?
Person B: Sí, me gustan. — Yes, I like them.
Person A: ¿Juegas al fútbol? — Do you play soccer / football?
Person B: Sí, juego al fútbol. — Yes, I play soccer / football.
Person A: A mí también. Quiero jugar al fútbol. — Me too. I want to play soccer / football.
The speakers identify a shared sport and choose it directly.
Conversation model: reject one option and choose another
Person A: ¿Te gusta cantar? — Do you like singing?
Person B: No, no me gusta cantar. — No, I do not like singing.
Person A: A mí tampoco. ¿Te gusta escuchar música? — Me neither. Do you like listening to music?
Person B: Sí, me gusta mucho. — Yes, I like it a lot.
Person A: A mí también. Quiero escuchar música. — Me too. I want to listen to music.
The first option is rejected, and the second becomes the shared activity.
Conversation model: compare two shared interests
Person A: Me gusta leer y caminar. — I like reading and walking.
Person B: A mí también. — Me too.
Person A: ¿Qué prefieres, leer o caminar? — What do you prefer, reading or walking?
Person B: Prefiero leer. — I prefer reading.
Person A: Yo también. — Me too.
Both activities are shared interests, but the speakers use preferir to select one.
Speaking mission 1: find one shared interest
Ask your partner about free time, listen to the answer, and respond when you hear something you also like.
You can begin with:
¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? — What do you like to do in your free time?
Then use:
A mí también. — Me too.
if you share one of the interests.
Speaking mission 2: ask a follow-up question
After finding one interest, ask one connected question.
For example:
¿Juegas al tenis? — Do you play tennis?
or:
¿Puedes bailar? — Can you dance?
Choose the question that matches the interest already mentioned.
Speaking mission 3: compare two options
Use two activities that both people accept and ask which one the other person prefers.
¿Qué prefieres, caminar o escuchar música? — What do you prefer, walking or listening to music?
Then answer with Prefiero… — I prefer….
Speaking mission 4: choose an activity
Finish the conversation with a clear choice.
- Quiero caminar. — I want to walk.
- Quiero jugar al tenis. — I want to play tennis.
- Quiero escuchar música. — I want to listen to music.
- Quiero bailar. — I want to dance.
The final choice should come from the interests discussed in the conversation.
A complete integrated speaking task
Use this model as a reference, then create a similar conversation with different activities.
Person A: ¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre? — What do you like to do in your free time?
Person B: Me gusta caminar, leer y escuchar música. — I like walking, reading, and listening to music.
Person A: A mí también me gusta caminar. ¿Te gusta el tenis? — I like walking too. Do you like tennis?
Person B: Sí, me gusta el tenis. — Yes, I like tennis.
Person A: ¿Juegas al tenis? — Do you play tennis?
Person B: Sí, juego al tenis. — Yes, I play tennis.
Person A: ¿Qué prefieres, caminar o jugar al tenis? — What do you prefer, walking or playing tennis?
Person B: Prefiero jugar al tenis. — I prefer playing tennis.
Person A: A mí también. Quiero jugar al tenis. — Me too. I want to play tennis.
This exchange identifies interests, asks a follow-up question, finds common ground, compares two options, and ends with one shared activity.
A practical speaking sequence
Use this sequence when you perform the task without a model:
- Ask about free-time interests.
- Listen for one activity you share.
- React with también or tampoco when appropriate.
- Ask one connected follow-up question.
- Use preferir if you need to compare two options.
- Use querer to state the final activity you want to do.
From shared interests to food, drinks, and meals
You can now hold a short Spanish conversation in which you discover shared interests, ask follow-up questions, compare activities, and choose one activity together. The next lesson begins a new topic: everyday food, drinks, and meals in Spanish.