Paperwork and bureaucracy
Papeleos y burocracia
- Navigate social security, working permits and paperwork.
- Know your obligations and paperwork in the country.
- Irregular verbs in the present perfect
Learn essential Spanish vocabulary for handling paperwork and bureaucracy, including verbs like "poner" (to put), "escribir" (to write), and key terms such as "permiso de trabajo" (work permit) and "certificado de empadronamiento" (certificate of residence). This lesson focuses on navigating government offices and using irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto.
Listening and reading
Start this class by listening to the audio and completing the corresponding exercises.
Vocabulary (19) 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
El seguro
The insurance
2
El empleo
Employment
3
Entregar
To submit
4
El ayuntamiento
The town hall
5
El funcionario
The official
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. El funcionario me ___ que entregue todos los documentos antes de mañana.
(The official ___ me to submit all the documents before tomorrow.)2. Yo ___ la solicitud para el permiso de trabajo esta mañana.
(I ___ the application for the work permit this morning.)3. Yo ___ la solicitud en el mostrador del ayuntamiento.
(I ___ the application on the city hall counter.)4. ¿Tú ___ la oficina de la seguridad social cerca de la plaza?
(Have you ___ the social security office near the square?)Exercise 4: Procedures at the town hall
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Poner - Poner
Pretérito perfecto
- yo he puesto
- tú has puesto
- él/ella/usted ha puesto
- nosotros hemos puesto
- vosotros habéis puesto
- ellos/ellas/ustedes han puesto
Rellenar - Rellenar
Pretérito perfecto
- yo he rellenado
- tú has rellenado
- él/ella/usted ha rellenado
- nosotros hemos rellenado
- vosotros habéis rellenado
- ellos/ellas/ustedes han rellenado
Decir - Decir
Pretérito perfecto
- yo he dicho
- tú has dicho
- él/ella/usted ha dicho
- nosotros hemos dicho
- vosotros habéis dicho
- ellos/ellas/ustedes han dicho
Entregar - Entregar
Pretérito perfecto
- yo he entregado
- tú has entregado
- él/ella/usted ha entregado
- nosotros hemos entregado
- vosotros habéis entregado
- ellos/ellas/ustedes han entregado
Exercise 5: Verbos irregulares en el pretérito perfecto
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Irregular verbs in the present perfect
Show translation Show answershemos puesto, han vuelto, han hecho, ha dicho, Has dicho, Has hecho, has escrito, Has puesto
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Poner to put Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he puesto | I have put |
| (tú) has puesto | you have put |
| (él/ella) ha puesto | he/she has put |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos puesto | we have put |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis puesto | You have put |
| (ellos/ellas) han puesto | They have put |
Llenar to fill Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he llenado | I have filled |
| (tú) has llenado | You have filled |
| (él/ella) ha llenado | he/she has filled |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos llenado | we have filled |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis llenado | You have filled |
| (ellos/ellas) han llenado | they have filled |
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Lesson Overview: Paperwork and Bureaucracy in Spain
This lesson is designed for A2 level Spanish learners focusing on practical language skills related to "Trámites para trabajar en España" (Procedures for working in Spain). You will study essential vocabulary, common expressions, and important irregular verbs used when dealing with bureaucracy and paperwork.
Key Topics Covered
- Bureaucratic processes: How to handle official paperwork such as applying for unemployment benefits, retirement pensions, work permits, and renewing residency documents.
- Irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto: Focus on verbs like poner, escribir, decir, and volver used in perfect tense to describe completed actions related to paperwork.
- Dialogues for real-life situations: Practice conversations at the Social Security office, city hall, and with officials about required documents and procedures.
Important Vocabulary and Expressions
Familiarize yourself with common words and phrases such as:
- el trámite – procedure
- la prestación por desempleo – unemployment benefit
- el permiso de trabajo – work permit
- el certificado de empadronamiento – certificate of residency registration
- la solicitud – application/request
- el funcionario – official/employee (government)
- presentar documentos – to submit documents
- llenar un formulario – to fill out a form
- entregar los papeles – to hand in the paperwork
Verbs to Pay Special Attention To
The lesson highlights irregular verbs in the pretérito perfecto tense:
- Poner (to put/place): yo he puesto, tú has puesto, él ha puesto, etc.
- Escribir (to write): yo he escrito, tú has escrito, él ha escrito, etc.
- Decir (to say/tell): yo he dicho, tú has dicho, él ha dicho, etc.
- Volver (to return): yo he vuelto, tú has vuelto, él ha vuelto, etc.
Contextual Dialogues
Conversations simulate real visits to Social Security, work permit offices, and city hall, giving you practical phrases for asking information, submitting documents, and clarifying procedures. For example:
"Buenos días, ¿me puede indicar dónde debo hacer el trámite para la prestación por desempleo?"
"Claro, primero debe rellenar este formulario y luego esperar la cita con el funcionario."
Additional Notes on Language Differences
Unlike English, Spanish uses the pretérito perfecto tense frequently to express recent actions linked to the present, often with words like "ya" or "todavía no." For example, "Todavía no he vuelto de la cita" translates as "I haven't yet returned from the appointment." Also, procedural vocabulary tends to be more formal in Spanish compared to English; titles such as "el funcionario" for an official are important.
Useful expressions include:
- ¿Qué documentos necesito para...? – What documents do I need for...?
- He escrito la solicitud... – I have written the application...
- Le recomiendo llamar a... – I recommend you call...
- Debe presentar... – You must submit...
This lesson will strengthen your confidence in managing paperwork and official conversations in Spanish-speaking environments.
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