ICP Outcomes

 

Interculture Quiz - Spain

Students - try answering the questions before looking at the suggested responses and commentary at the foot of the page.

For each situation, choose one or, where fitting, more options - or none and suggest your own.

1 When you go to someone’s house, what do you do if you are offered a drink or a snack?
a) Say ‘sí, una coca-cola por favor’
b) Say ‘no, gracias’ the first time you are asked even if you are thirsty / hungry
c) Say ‘sólo bebo cava después de las cinco de la tarde’

2 When you are having a conversation with a group of Spanish friends, how do you react to them making a derogatory comment about your clothes?
a) you retaliate by criticising their clothes
b) you take offence
c) you accept it without taking offence
d) you get some new friends

3 When somebody compliments you (eg, saying your Spanish is very good), what is appropriate?
a) to accept the compliment
b) to be modest and tone down the compliment
c) to compliment the other person in return

4 In Spain, when you are about to leave someone’s house...
a) you say you must go and you go
b) you repeat you must go several times but you don’t actually leave until much later
c) you leave without saying goodbye

5 It’s one of your friends’ Saint's Day (eg, Sant Jordi on 23rd April). You...
a) say ‘felicidades’
b) say ‘congratulaciones’
c) say ‘felicidades’ and buy him / her a present
d) don’t say or do anything because this is not a day which is celebrated

6 If you are invited for a meal at someone’s house, which of the following would be appropriate?
a) you take flowers for the lady if you don’t know them well
b) you take some wine, ‘cava’ or desserts if you know them relatively well
c) you don’t take anything if they are close friends and you invite them for lunch or dinner at your house next time
d) you send them a thank-you card afterwards

7 When you go for a meal / drink with someone that you haven’t seen for some time, what would you expect?
a) each of you pays for what you had
b) s/he insists on paying and you have a rather long discussion about it
c) s/he asks the waiter not to accept your money and insists on paying for the bill

8 In Spain, which of the following drinking practices would you expect to find?
a) groups of women only going out drinking
b) people drinking wine in bars in the evening
c) people walking along the streets carrying their drinks to go from one place to the next
d) people drinking coke mixed with red wine

9 If you go for a meal with friends, ...
a) everyone will pay according to what they had
b) you leave the restaurant as quickly as you can because the last person will have to pay the bill
c) you will split the bill in equal amounts regardless of what each of you had

10 Before you start eating, or if someone leaves the table before everyone else has finished eating, or if you arrive at someone’s house when they are still eating, you should say:
a) nothing
b) buen apetito
c) que aproveche

11 You go shopping and you want to ask the shop assistant for a carrier bag. Which of the following are appropriate?
a) Puedo haber una bolsa carrera, por favor.
b) ¿Me da una bolsa de plástico, por favor?
c) ¿Puede darme una bolsa de plástico, por favor?
d) Dame una bolsa de plástico, colega.

12 In Spain, taking your shoes off is appropriate...
a) when you are with close friends at someone’s house
b) in the classroom at the university
c) in a restaurant
d) whenever you are at home if you are staying with a Spanish family
e) if you go to a house where they have carpeting on the floor
f) whenever you go to someone else’s house

13 You are approached by a beggar in a street of a big city. S/he asks you for some money. Would you?
a) take your wallet out and give them some money
b) engage in a discussion in which you carefully give your reasons for not giving them money
c) kindly refuse to give money by saying ‘no, lo siento’ while you carry on walking
d) be as rude as you can and ask them to go away
e) ignore them completely

14 If you ask for ‘un té con leche’ in Spain, what would you expect to get?
a) nothing. Spaniards don’t drink tea
b) tea made with only milk and not hot water
c) a normal cup of English tea
d) tea with UHT milk

15 If a man you’re not interested in is pestering you in a nightclub, what would be the most effective way of getting rid of him?
a) slap him in the face
b) say ‘déjame en paz’
c) say ‘lo siento, pero estoy con mis amigos’
d) leave the nightclub to avoid trouble

16 At lunch time, with a Spanish family, they will invite you to have a second helping...
a) once
b) twice
c) until you accept
d) never

17 You go out with friends in the evening. You all drink quite a lot. When it’s time to leave, someone offers to drive despite having had a considerable amount of alcohol. You...
a) would refuse to get in the car
b) would get in the car anyway
c) would call a taxi

18 What do they mean in Spain if they call you ‘guiri’?
a) foreigner
b) blond
c) stupid
d) English

19 A Spanish colleague or friend of the opposite sex talks to you standing very close to you and touching you frequently. How would you react?
a) you stand back
b) you think s/he is sexually attracted to you
c) you act in the same way
d) you try to avoid this person in future

20 When you get in a taxi, what would you expect?
a) the taxi driver will be honest and take you to your destination taking the shortest route
b) s/he will give you an unwanted tour round the city to charge you more
c) to have to bargain the fare when you get to your destination
d) to have to ask the taxi driver to give you an estimate of how much s/he is going to charge you before you set off

21 When faced with rules (eg, no smoking signs in public places), Spaniards...
a) are generally respectful
b) ignore them
c) feel the need to violate or circumvent them
d) respect them and make others do the same

22 When crossing on a zebra crossing, you would expect cars ...
a) to stop and let you cross
b) not to stop
c) either to stop or not, depending on the driver

23 Recently, two homosexual men who were kissing in a bar in Girona were asked to stop showing their affection in public by a staff member. However, they carried on. What happened in the end?
a) Nothing. They carried on kissing and everyone ignored them
b) Other customers intervened on their behalf to protect their right to kiss in public
c) They both kissed the member of staff who reprimanded them at the same time
d) They were warned to stop again and they were eventually forced to leave the bar for not obeying

24 When travelling around rural areas of Spain, what would you expect?
a) The locals can understand (but not speak) English
b) The locals can only understand / say ‘Hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in English
c) There are always a few locals who can communicate in English because English has always been taught at school

25 How do you pay for dental care in Spain?
a) You don’t pay, it’s free (ie paid by the Spanish Health Service)
b) You pay and then claim your money back from the Health Service
c) You just pay part of the fee (the other half will be paid directly to the dentist by the Health Service)
d) You will not go to the dentist in Spain because Spanish dentists have a very bad reputation (most of them are unqualified Latin Americans who emigrated to Spain)

26 A group of kids laugh at you as walk along the streets of a Spanish city on the sunny morning of 28th December 1999. Why?
a) They can see you are a foreigner
b) They think your clothes are inappropriate because everyone is meant to dress very smartly during Christmas in Spain and you are wearing casual clothes
c) They laugh because somebody has stuck a paper-made silhouette of a man on the back of your coat as a joke
d) They think you walk in a funny way

27 You are a female (sorry if you’re not, try and imagine!) and you placed an advert offering private English tuition. A man rings up expressing interest. The first time you meet him, do you...
a) go to his house?
b) invite him to your house?
c) meet him in a public place?
d) tell him that you’re not willing to teach men

28 When you meet someone who is a casual acquaintance rather than a close friend, which of the following topics of conversation would be appropriate?
a) sex
b) politics
c) the weather
d) what was on TV last night

29 You are having a very nice weekend, but on Sunday you start thinking about work. Thank God it’s a bank holiday on Tuesday. So...
a) You will go to work / university as normal on Monday
b) You will be able to take the afternoon off on Monday
c) You will be able to take the whole of Monday off
d) Impossible! Bank holidays always fall on either Monday or Friday like in Britain

30. Match the following meals to times.

a) merienda	1) 7-9am
b) cena	2) 11am
c) desayuno	3) before lunch
d) almuerzo	4) 12-1pm
e) desayuno de media mañana	5) 1-3pm
f) aperitivo	6) 5-7pm
	7) 9-10.30pm

 (Created by Carlos Montoro of Lancaster University for The Interculture Project)

 

SUGGESTED RESPONSES AND COMMENTARY

Although some aspects of Spanish culture and behaviour are widely known and acknowledged, generalisation is always dangerous. In the case of Spain it is worth stressing once again the variation in behaviour and perceptions between regions, larger and smaller centres, different social groups, people of different education or age. Some of the responses below would be very much a matter of individual perception and personal experience for Spanish people.

1. When you go to someone’s house, what do you do if you are offered a drink or a snack?

a) Say ‘sí, una coca-cola por favor’
b) Say ‘no, gracias’ the first time you are asked even if you are thirsty / hungry
c) Say ‘sólo bebo cava después de las cinco de la tarde’

Best response. Definitely b. This wasn’t obvious to me at first, but on reflection there is a lot of truth in the suggestion that Spaniards prefer to refuse the first offer of a drink or snack at someone’s house, even if it is the home of close relatives or friends. This allows the host/-ess to insist on offering, again a very common Spanish trait, until the person accepts the offer.
Other responses. a North European nationals, e.g. Germans, might expect this to be the answer, since they are more used to refusing and accepting invitations in a direct manner. This could be shocking in a Spanish context as it might sound too impertinent or demanding. c is not advisable in case the host/-ess has run out of this variety of sparking wine.
Notes. Although c is intended as a joke, it allows you to point out that ‘cava’ is the Spanish version of champagne. I think that this is a good opening question because students tend to laugh, which puts them at ease and makes it easier for the teacher to convey what is potentially a rather odd concept.

2. When you are having a conversation with a group of Spanish friends, how do you react to them making a derogatory comment about your clothes?

a) you retaliate by criticising their clothes
b) you take offence
c) you accept it without taking offence
d) you get some new friends

Best response. I would suggest c, not because it’s the best or only way to deal with this situation, but because in my view this is the best approach out of the four options available. It could avoid confrontation, tension, bad feelings or further teasing.
Other responses. Spaniards are more likely to comment on (and be judgemental about) people’s appearance. So the value of this question lies in the fact that most students will probably find themselves in this situation at some point. a could give rise to ill feelings between the people involved, although admittedly this would be an encounter on more equal terms. b may arguably happen, but be aware that showing your offence too clearly may in fact provoke further teasing. d may lead to a rather lonely life in Spain, as such comments , as said before, are actually rather commonplace (although they are certainly not always derogatory).
Notes. As students tend to be genuinely interested in dress codes in Spain, this question should generate good discussion.

3. When somebody compliments you (eg, saying your Spanish is very good), what is appropriate?

a) to accept the compliment
b) to be modest and tone down the compliment
c) to compliment the other person in return

Best response. b is what Spaniards are most likely to do, which does not mean that it is what students should do, unless they accept that when in Rome… Other responses. a may sound a bit pretentious. c is a good option but can appear to be hypocritical.
Notes. Students tend to find this question less valuable than certain others because they claim that in this respect Spain and Britain are no different.

4. In Spain, when you are about to leave someone’s house...

a) you say you must go and you go
b) you repeat you must go several times but you don’t actually leave until much later
c) you leave without saying goodbye

Best response. b is the norm in Spain, I would say. 
Other responses. a may seem a bit rude or give rise to the impression that you are in a rush to leave. c is what we call ‘una despedida a la francesa’ (French farewell) in Spanish – don’t ask me why. Impolite.
Notes. I found that students appreciated being made aware of this difference, although of course they already have an idea that taking time to do things (even to say goodbye) fits in with the image of a less hectic Spanish lifestyle.

5. It’s one of your friends’ Saint Day (eg, Sant Jordi on 23rd April). You...

a) say ‘felicidades’
b) say ‘congratulaciones’
c) say ‘felicidades’ and buy him / her a present
d) don’t say or do anything because this is not a day which is celebrated

Best response. a is the usual formula.
Other responses. b is a good example of Spanglish – incorrect! c: in general, presents are not given (unless the person is very close to you). d is clearly wrong, included here to catch those unaware of the greater importance of Saint Days in Catholic Spain.
Notes. It is surprising how many students still don’t know about this issue. It is worth raising students awareness about this, as it could be useful in their social interactions in Spain.

6. If you are invited for a meal at someone’s house, which of the following would be appropriate?

a) you take flowers for the lady if you don’t know them well
b) you take some wine, ‘cava’ or desserts if you know them relatively well
c) you don’t take anything if they are close friends and you invite them for lunch or dinner at your house next time
d) send them a thank-you card afterwards

Best response. a, b, and c are all acceptable in Spain. If you opt for a, it would be best to check with the florist which type of flower is appropriate. b is very common when relatives are involved. c is self-explanatory.
Other responses. d is unheard of in Spain – no one would object to receiving a thank-you card, but it would certainly look odd.
Notes. Students tend to ask questions related to this issue – they seem to be genuinely interested in matters of etiquette.

7. When you go for a meal / drink with someone that you haven’t seen for some time, what would you expect?

a) each of you pays for what you had
b) s/he insists on paying and you have a rather long discussion about it
c) s/he asks the waiter not to accept your money and insists on paying the bill

Best response. a, b and c are all possible, and it is not really possible to say which occurs more often or when. Spaniards can be generous or not, like any other nationality. If they are not, b and c are out of the question. If they are, they would try to pay, and they are likely to be more forceful in their efforts, in which case b and c are to be expected.
Notes. This question provides a good chance to bring the students’ attention to the fact that Spaniards might be forceful when trying to be generous – which can cause embarrassment in public places.

8. In Spain, which of the following drinking practices would you expect to find?

a) groups of women only going out drinking
b) people drinking wine in bars in the evening
c) people walking along the streets carrying their drinks to go from one place o the next
d) people drinking coke mixed with red wine

Best response. a is more and more common in post-Franco Spain, and d is fairly common in some fiestas, bars and households, and is called calimocho.
Other responses. b is very rare, as wine usually accompanies food in Spain and is not drunk on its own. Contrary to British tradition, c is not socially acceptable.
Notes. This question is likely to raise interest and awareness on the issue of drinking – students are likely to learn something from each of the four options given, although only c/ seems to me to be of any immediate practical use (or it might be just a product of my shock when I saw this practice in Britain for the first time).

9. If you go for a meal with friends, ...

a) everyone will pay according to what they had
b) you leave the restaurant as quickly as you can because the last person will have to pay the bill
c) you will split the bill in equal amounts regardless of what each of you had

Best response. a and c are equally possible nowadays. I really wouldn’t like to say which is more likely to occur in different contexts, because this can vary a lot depending on several factors (eg, age, origin, financial status…). Be prepared for both!
Other responses. b is a common joke at the end of meals, at least in Barcelona: ‘El último paga’ ("The last one pays"). It has never actually happened to me, so no need to rush out of restaurants at the end of your meal.
Notes. Students are likely to ask questions here. They are understandably concerned about conforming to Spanish norms in public. If you conduct the quiz and you don’t have direct experience in the matter, you are advised to talk to Spaniards beforehand or bring one with you to the session.

10. Before you start eating, or if someone leaves the table before everyone else has finished eating, or if you arrive at someone’s house when they are still eating, you should say:

a) nothing
b) buen apetito
c) que aproveche

Best response. c
Other responses. b echoes the French and Italian phrases – not used in modern Spanish. In my experience, a/ tends to be the norm in Britain.
Notes. And here’s where the value of this question lies: students are better off knowing that it would be rude not to say c in the contexts mentioned in the question. This is one of the first etiquette rules that I learned as a child.

11. You go shopping and you want to ask the shop assistant for a carrier bag. Which of the following are appropriate?

a) Puedo haber una bolsa carrera, por favor.
b) ¿Me da una bolsa de plástico, por favor?
c) ¿Puede darme una bolsa de plástico, por favor?
d) Dame una bolsa de plástico, colega.

Best response. b and c are both equally appropriate, c being slightly more polite than b.
Other responses. a is perfectly accurate Spanglish – unfortunately incomprehensible to a Spanish-speaking sales assistant. d is in the wrong register; too informal.
Notes. It would be useful to point out that it is fine to say ‘Dame X’ or ‘Quiero X’ ("Give me X" or "I want X") in Spain, even without reducing the size of the imposition with por favor (please), shocking though this may sound to an English speaker. Note also that colega is similar to the English ‘mate’, although not used in the same contexts (eg, public encounters) as in Britain.

12 In Spain, taking your shoes off is appropriate...
a) when you are with close friends at someone’s house
b) in the classroom at the university
c) in a restaurant
d) whenever you are at home if you are staying with a Spanish family
e) if you go to a house where they have carpeting on the floor
f) whenever you go to someone else’s house

Best response. I can only think of e being socially acceptable, or indeed required, in the (unlikely) event of your host/-ess asking you to.
Other responses. Taking your shoes off in public strikes me as being much more acceptable in Northern European countries than in Spain. Therefore, in cases a, b, c, d and f it would be generally unacceptable to do so.
Notes. Prior knowledge about this may avoid embarrassment in situ.

13 You are approached by a beggar in a street of a big city. S/he asks you for some money. Would you?
a) take your wallet out and give them some money
b) engage in a discussion in which you carefully give your reasons for not giving them money
c) kindly refuse to give money by saying ‘no, lo siento’ while you carry on walking
d) be as rude as you can and ask them to go away
e) ignore them completely

Best response. I tend not to give money to beggars, and for this reason I would suggest c is the best answer. Apologies if this question makes students feel patronised.
Other responses. In my experience, a may lead to the beggar asking for even more money. b may give rise to unwanted further hassle. d has proved to me to be dangerous (at least in Barcelona) as it can cause an angry reaction on the part of the beggar. e is not a good option for similar reasons described in b and d.
Notes. Begging is more common in Spain than it is in the UK, so it might be worth spending a couple of minutes exploring this issue with the students. It might also be worth probing the students to find out if they have any prejudices against beggars which could get them into trouble. Of course we’re not going to change their beliefs, but at least we can raise their awareness of the consequences of being prejudiced if this shows in their attitude towards beggars.

14 If you ask for ‘un té con leche’ in Spain, what would you expect to get?
a) nothing. Spaniards don’t drink tea
b) tea made with only milk and not hot water
c) a normal cup of English tea
d) tea with UHT milk

Best response. d is the most likely to happen, as fresh milk is rarely used in Spain. b is less likely, but by no means uncommon. Standards for preparing and serving tea are poor – unfortunately tea has got a second-class status, mainly due to the huge popularity of coffee.
Other responses. a is a bit extreme, but be warned about the lack of good quality tea or electric kettles in most Spanish shops (not a problem if you live in Barcelona, where M&S boasts an entire building in the most central of squares, Plaça Catalunya). For a decent cup of tea (c) I would advise the students to be reliant on their own means, rather than on what is on offer in public places.
Notes. A nice cup of tea seems to me to be such a comforting thing to have for most British people I have come across, that I thought these reminders might be welcome.

15 If a man you’re not interested in is pestering you in a nightclub, what would be the most effective way of getting rid of him?
a) slap him in the face
b) say ‘déjame en paz’
c) say ‘lo siento, pero estoy con mis amigos’
d) leave the nightclub to avoid trouble

Best response. Rough Guide wisdom suggests that b is the best option.
Other responses. a and d may not be strictly necessary, and c is probably a bit too mild to prove effective.
Notes. Note that men will have to assume a female identity in this question, which given the fact that the majority of language students are women doesn’t strike me as asking for too much. Harassment can be a severe problem for students in a foreign context, so here goes a little invitation to discuss this issue briefly.

16 At lunch time, with a Spanish family, they will invite you to have a second helping...
a) once
b) twice
c) until you accept
d) never

Best response. Usually c.
Other responses. a and b appear to me rather to be the common practice in Britain. d is not likely to happen.
Notes. I think that it is useful to make students aware of this Spanish trait, as this could trigger a potentially very embarrassing situation, or one in which the student may appear to be rude when refusing. I can’t suggest ways of dealing with the situation here, as I don’t know what to do myself when faced with such forceful invitations. I would just like to give a word of warning. 

17 You go out with friends in the evening. You all drink quite a lot. When it’s time to leave, someone offers to drive despite having had a considerable amount of alcohol. You...
a) would refuse to get in the car
b) would get in the car anyway
c) would call a taxi

Best response. c may sound like the best response, but realistically a taxi may not be readily available at any given time.
Other responses. a could be the most sensible thing to do, but this could be at the expense of looking ‘cool’. b is what most students choose to do during their period abroad in Spain, and is certainly what I used to do when I lived there. This is not to say I would suggest it is necessarily the only option.
Notes. This is a very delicate issue. Please accept my apologies for not offering a more prescriptive suggestion, but I feel that I can’t because drink-driving is much tolerated in Spain and it would be hypocritical of me to preach what I don’t do. My aim here is just to point out the differences.

18 What do they mean in Spain if they call you ‘guiri’?
a) foreigner
b) blond
c) stupid
d) English

Best response. a. Slightly pejorative, but not offensive.
Other responses. b, c and d are simply wrong.
Notes. This question could hopefully serve a purpose beyond the merely informative one, namely that of putting the students in the situation of being called something that sounds negative but the meaning of which is unclear – chances are they will have to face this kind of situation repeatedly in Spain.

19 A Spanish colleague or friend of the opposite sex talks to you standing very close to you and touching you frequently. How would you react?
a) you stand back
b) you think s/he is sexually attracted to you
c) you act in the same way
d) you try to avoid this person in future

Best response. a, b and c are all likely reactions, and yet none of them might be said to be the best reaction.
Other responses. d is an overreaction, I would say.
Notes. Again this question is not meant to provide answers to the situation, but simply to raise awareness on the issue of Spaniards being much more tactile in general than the British.

20 When you get in a taxi, what would you expect?
a) the taxi driver will be honest and take you to your destination taking the shortest route
b) s/he will give you an unwanted tour round the city to charge you more
c) to have to bargain the fare when you get to your destination
d) to have to ask the taxi driver to give you an estimate of how much s/he is going to charge you before you set off

Best response. a seems to me to be the most likely in present-day Spain.
Other responses. Of course this may not always be the case, so b, although less common nowadays, is still possible – watch out for this!  c is not common at all and therefore I would not recommend it. d is strongly advisable prior to longer journeys, which can be very costly.
Notes. Students tend to ask interesting questions on this issue, which is relevant seeing as incidents with taxi drivers are reported by students coming back from their year abroad every year.

21 When faced with rules (eg, no smoking signs in public places), Spaniards...
a) are generally respectful
b) ignore them
c) feel the need to violate or circumvent them
d) respect them and make others do the same

Best response. Rumour has it, and I’m afraid I have to agree with it, that c is often true of Spain.
Other responses. a and d are rare. b would come second-highest as the most likely response to rules.
Notes. Younger generations might be more compliant with norms, and of course this attitude is not shared by all Spaniards, but as the Spanish saying goes, ‘hecha la ley hecha la trampa’ (With the law comes the trick (ie, minor offence)). Law-abiding British students could be shocked by this.

22 When crossing on a zebra crossing, you would expect cars ...
a) to stop and let you cross
b) not to stop
c) either to stop or not, depending on the driver

Best response. Unfortunately b. Not surprising in view of comments made in relation to the previous question.
Other responses. a is a wrong (and dangerous) assumption to make. c is an optimistic view, which might be true of some areas of the Peninsula, but…
Notes. … be cautious, don’t trust cars in zebra crossings, this is truly a matter of life and death.

23 Recently, two homosexual men who were kissing in a bar in Girona were asked to stop showing their affection in public by a staff member. However, they carried on. What happened in the end?
a) Nothing. They carried on kissing and everyone ignored them
b) Other customers intervened on their behalf to protect their right to kiss in public
c) They both kissed the member of staff who reprimanded them at the same time
d) They were warned to stop again and they were eventually forced to leave the bar for not obeying

Best response. Based on a true story, the sad but actual outcome was d.
Other responses. a and b never happened, nor did c (unfortunately).
Notes. Students should be made aware, I think, that Spain is sadly and markedly a more homophobic country than Britain. A useful question, I hope, for everyone, but particularly for homosexual students.

24 When travelling around rural areas of Spain, what would you expect?
a) The locals can understand (but not speak) English
b) The locals can only understand / say ‘Hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in English
c) There are always a few locals who can communicate in English because English has always been taught at school

Best response. b, if that.
Other responses. Even though English is actually taught at school, c is wrong because the formal, grammar-based kind of teaching doesn’t enable people to communicate in the language. a is also wrong.
Notes. This information might be of use for those students who were not already aware.

25 How do you pay for dental care in Spain?
a) You don’t pay, it’s free (ie paid by the Spanish Health Service)
b) You pay and then claim your money back from the Health Service
c) You just pay part of the fee (the other half will be paid directly to the dentist by the Health Service)
d) You will not go to the dentist in Spain because Spanish dentists have a very bad reputation (most of them are unqualified Latin Americans who emigrated to Spain)

Best response. a but only for very basic, absolutely essential treatments for people without the necessary financial means to afford the usual private dentist.
Other responses. b and c are not available in Spain. d is meant to focus students’ attention on the fact that many dentists are of Latin American origin with a reputation for being exceptionally good professionals.
Notes. This is probably unnecessary factual information, but it might be one way of compensating for this quiz’s emphasis on negative features of Spain. At least it can be reassuring for students to know that Spain has good dentists (better than the ones I’ve been to in Britain), even if they have to pay for them.

26 A group of kids laugh at you as walk along the streets of a Spanish city on the sunny morning of 28th December 1999. Why?
a) They can see you are a foreigner
b) They think your clothes are inappropriate because everyone is meant to dress very smartly during Christmas in Spain and you are wearing casual clothes
c) They laugh because somebody has stuck a paper-made silhouette of a man on the back of your coat as a joke
d) They think you walk in a funny way

Best response. c. 28^th December is ‘El día de los Inocentes’ (equivalent to April Fool’s Day).
Other responses. a, b and d are likely to be the first reactions to being laughed at.
Notes. A chance to reveal some cultural information which students usually welcome.

27 You are a female (sorry if you’re not, try and imagine!) and you placed an advert offering private English tuition. A man rings up expressing interest. The first time you meet him, do you...
a) go to his house?
b) invite him to your house?
c) meet him in a public place?
d) tell him that you’re not willing to teach men

Best response. I would recommend c to be on the safe side, until you know that you can trust the person.
Other responses. a and b are potentially very risky. d is definitely an option if the female student wants to avoid trouble altogether.
Notes. I never thought of this, which reveals not only that I’m male, but also that my female partner has had some input to this quiz. Good advice for any students who might want to give private lessons abroad.

28 When you meet someone who is a casual acquaintance rather than a close friend, which of the following topics of conversation would be appropriate?
a) sex
b) politics
c) the weather
d) what was on TV last night

Best response. c and d. The latter is probably one of the most common topics of conversation amongst commuters on early-morning trains to Barcelona.
Other responses. a seems as inappropriate as it would be in Britain. b could generate conflict, as Spaniards have more passionate political affiliations (or at least they express them more passionately and get involved in heated discussions more easily – a common source of tension between family members, in my experience).
Notes. The art of mastering small talk is largely dependent on having a talent for it, I think, but then I’ve never been good at it. This is why I would argue that encouraging knowledge of what constitutes acceptable topics and what doesn’t can be of use to those students who are less gifted.

29 You are having a very nice weekend, but on Sunday you start thinking about work. Thank God it’s a bank holiday on Tuesday. So...
a) You will go to work / university as normal on Monday
b) You will be able to take the afternoon off on Monday
c) You will be able to take the whole of Monday off
d) Impossible! Bank holidays always fall on either Monday or Friday like in Britain

Best response. c, due to the Spanish concept of ‘puente’ (bridge), which literally bridges the gap between days, which are supposed to be officially non-working days, and thus makes the remaining day in the middle a non-working day as well.
Other responses. a and b are just wrong, and d is meant to draw students’ attention to the fact that the Spanish equivalent to British bank holidays can fall on any day of the week.
Notes. This is a striking difference between Spain and Britain, and can be a source of frustration for our British students (or not, as the case may be for the less industrious type of student). In any case, raising awareness on this cannot do any harm, and may save the students some unnecessary trips to work or university during ‘puentes’ in Spain.

30. Match the following meals to times.

a) merienda	1) 7-9am
b) cena	2) 11am
c) desayuno	3) before lunch
d) almuerzo	4) 12-1pm
e) desayuno de media mañana	5) 1-3pm
f) aperitivo	6) 5-7pm
	7) 9-10.30pm

Best response. a-6;  b-7;  c-1;  d-5;  e-2;  f-3
Other reponses. 7 is more typically a British lunch time – too early for Spaniards.
Notes. Students should note that it is a common practice for people at work to go to bars for a second breakfast, usually only a café con leche or possibly also a croissant or other pastry. Some Spaniards may also have a snack (merienda) in the early evening. In addition, this question is intended to alert students to the late time of the evening meal in Spain, which is often a substantial affair. Aperitivo tends to be reserved for a weekend treat when the family are all together.

 (Created by Carlos Montoro of Lancaster University for The Interculture Project)

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