Bucket list
Lista de deseos
- Talk about your bucket list and future plans
- Expressing wishes, politeness and suggestions: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"
- Giving advice with the condicional simple
Explore how to express wishes and give polite advice in Spanish using phrases like "Me gustaría", "Debería", and "Querría". Practice forming the conditional simple tense to share your future plans and dreams effectively.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
A2.31.1 Lectura
¿Qué harías si tuvieras un año libre de trabajo?
What would you do if you had a year off work?
A2.31.2 Cultura
El Camino de Santiago: un sueño hecho realidad
The Camino de Santiago: A dream come true
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Imposible
Impossible
2
Viajar por el mundo
To travel the world
3
El futuro
The future
4
Planificar
To plan
5
Realizar
To accomplish
Ejercicio 2: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- What did you want to be when you were a child? (What did you want to be when you were a child?)
- What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon? (What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon?)
- How will you accomplish them? (How will you accomplish them?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Cuando era pequeño quería ser bombero. When I was little I wanted to become a firefighter. |
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Cuando era niño, soñaba con ser médico. As a child I dreamed of becoming a doctor. |
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Quiero tener más responsabilidades en mi trabajo en el futuro. I want to have more responsibility in my job in the future. |
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Quiero ser el jefe de mi empresa en unos años. I want to be the boss of my company in a few years. |
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Me gustaría cambiar de profesión pronto porque no estoy contento con mi trabajo actual. I would like to change my profession soon because I am not happy with my current job. |
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Volveré a la universidad para convertirme en profesor. I will go to university again to become a teacher. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Me gustaría ______ un viaje a comienzos del verano para conocer más paisajes de España.
(I would like to ______ a trip at the beginning of summer to see more landscapes of Spain.)2. Querría ______ todos mis planes antes de que termine el año para aprovechar el tiempo.
(I would want to ______ all my plans before the end of the year to make the most of the time.)3. Deberías ______ con un futuro posible y tener una aventura que cambie tu vida.
(You should ______ of a possible future and have an adventure that changes your life.)4. En tu lugar, ______ más tiempo a planificar las listas de cosas que hacer durante el viaje.
(In your place, I would ______ more time to planning the to-do lists during the trip.)Exercise 5: Wishlist for the next year
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Estar - To be
Condicional simple
- yo estaría
- tú estarías
- él/ella/usted estaría
- nosotros/nosotras estaríamos
- vosotros/vosotras estaríais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estarían
Poder - To be able to
Condicional simple
- yo podría
- tú podrías
- él/ella/usted podría
- nosotros/nosotras podríamos
- vosotros/vosotras podríais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes podrían
Querer - To want
Condicional simple
- yo querría
- tú querrías
- él/ella/usted querría
- nosotros/nosotras querríamos
- vosotros/vosotras querríais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes querrían
Deber - To should
Condicional simple
- yo debería
- tú deberías
- él/ella/usted debería
- nosotros/nosotras deberíamos
- vosotros/vosotras deberíais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes deberían
Desear - To wish
Condicional simple
- yo desearía
- tú desearías
- él/ella/usted desearía
- nosotros/nosotras desearíamos
- vosotros/vosotras desearíais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes desearían
Dedicarse - To dedicate oneself
Condicional simple
- yo me dedicaría
- tú te dedicarías
- él/ella/usted se dedicaría
- nosotros/nosotras nos dedicaríamos
- vosotros/vosotras os dedicaríais
- ellos/ellas/ustedes se dedicarían
Exercise 6: Expresar deseos, cortesía y sugerencias: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Expressing wishes, politeness and suggestions: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"
Show translation Show answersQuerría, gustaría, Me gustaría, deberías, Deberías
Exercise 7: Dar consejos con el condicional simple
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Giving advice with the condicional simple
Show translation Show answersDeberías, En tu lugar, Podrías, Si fuera tú, Yo recomendaría, Mi consejo es
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A2.31.3 Gramática
Expresar deseos, cortesía y sugerencias: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"
Expressing wishes, politeness and suggestions: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Estar to be Share Copied!
Condicional simple
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) estaría | I would be |
| (tú) estarías | You would be |
| (él/ella) estaría | he/she would be |
| (nosotros/nosotras) estaríamos | we would be |
| (vosotros/vosotras) estaríais | you would be |
| (ellos/ellas) estarían | they would be |
Desear to desire Share Copied!
Condicional simple
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) desearía | I would desire |
| (tú) desearías | You would desire |
| (él/ella) desearía | he/she would desire |
| (nosotros/nosotras) desearíamos | We would desire |
| (vosotros/vosotras) desearíais | You would desire |
| (ellos/ellas) desearían | they would desire |
Dedicarse a to engage in Share Copied!
Condicional simple
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) me dedicaría | I would engage in |
| (tú) te dedicarías | You would engage in |
| (él/ella) se dedicaría | he/she would engage in |
| (nosotros/nosotras) nos dedicaríamos | we would engage in |
| (vosotros/vosotras) os dedicaríais | You would engage in |
| (ellos/ellas) se dedicarían | they would engage in |
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Lesson Overview: Talking About Your Bucket List and Future Plans
This A2-level lesson focuses on expressing desires, polite suggestions, and giving advice in Spanish, especially in the context of future plans or dreams, such as taking a year off work or fulfilling travel goals like walking the Camino de Santiago.
Key Grammar Topic: The Conditional Simple Tense
The main grammar structure taught here is the condicional simple (simple conditional), which is used to politely express wishes, desires, and recommendations. Important modal expressions are introduced, such as:
- Me gustaría (I would like)
- Debería (I should / you should)
- Querría (I would want)
These phrases help learners communicate politely when sharing goals or advising others.
Practical Vocabulary and Expressions
The lesson includes useful phrases to express personal dreams, plans, and suggestions. Examples include:
- Viajar a Japón el próximo verano (Travel to Japan next summer)
- Aprender a hablar japonés (Learn to speak Japanese)
- Organizar mi tiempo (Organize my time)
Interactive Content
Though some materials like exercises are behind a payment wall, logged-in users can explore dialogues set in everyday contexts: talking about dreams in a café, discussing future plans at work, and sharing personal wishes at home. These dialogues provide real-life examples of the target phrases and verbs in action.
Verb Conjugation Practice
The lesson also offers multiple-choice exercises to strengthen understanding of the simple conditional conjugation of verbs such as planificar, realizar, soñar, and dedicar. This is crucial for forming polite and hypothetical statements.
Short Story Example: "Lista de deseos para el próximo año"
This mini story illustrates the use of the conditional simple to describe hypothetical wishes and plans and includes verb tables for clear reference.
Important Cultural and Language Notes
In English, expressing wishes often uses phrases like "I would like to" or "I want to," which are very similar to Spanish but usually less formal than Spanish conditional forms. Spanish uses the conditional simple not only to talk about future desires but also to soften suggestions and advice, which gives conversations a polite tone. For example:
- Me gustaría is a respectful way to say "I would like," making the desire sound considerate.
- Deberías can be used to give advice politely, equivalent to "You should" in English but softer.
By mastering these structures, learners can communicate their dreams and give advice in a culturally appropriate and polite manner.
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