Question 1

How do I say 'I am scrolling through social media' in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

You can say 'Estoy navegando por las redes sociales' (I am browsing social media) or 'Estoy viendo las redes sociales' (I am looking at social media). The present continuous tense (estar + gerund) is perfect for describing actions in progress. For example: 'Ahora mismo estoy viendo TikTok' (Right now I am watching TikTok).

Question 2

What's the difference between 'el móvil' and 'el teléfono'?

Accepted Answer

In Spain, 'el móvil' is the most common word for a mobile phone, while 'el teléfono' can refer to any phone, including landlines. In Latin America, 'el celular' is often used instead of 'móvil'. For the GCSE exam, stick to 'el móvil' as it's standard in Spanish from Spain. Example: 'He perdido mi móvil' (I have lost my mobile).

Question 3

How can I talk about the disadvantages of technology in my writing?

Accepted Answer

Use phrases like 'El problema es que...' (The problem is that...), 'Puede ser adictivo' (It can be addictive), or 'Es malo para la salud porque pasamos mucho tiempo sentados' (It is bad for health because we spend a lot of time sitting). You can also say 'Una desventaja es que reduce el tiempo cara a cara' (A disadvantage is that it reduces face-to-face time).

Question 4

Do I need to know the subjunctive for this topic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only in specific contexts. The subjunctive is used after 'cuando' (when) to refer to future events: 'Cuando tenga tiempo libre, jugaré a videojuegos' (When I have free time, I will play video games). Also after 'para que' (so that): 'Uso el móvil para que mis padres puedan contactarme' (I use my mobile so that my parents can contact me).

Question 5

What are some good phrases to describe my online habits?

Accepted Answer

You can say: 'Suelo usar las redes sociales por la noche' (I usually use social media at night), 'A menudo veo vídeos en YouTube' (I often watch videos on YouTube), 'Rara vez juego a videojuegos' (I rarely play video games), or 'Todos los días mando mensajes a mis amigos' (Every day I send messages to my friends).

Question 6

How do I compare two technologies in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Use comparative structures: 'más... que' (more... than), 'menos... que' (less... than), and 'tan... como' (as... as). For example: 'El ordenador es más rápido que la tableta' (The computer is faster than the tablet), 'El móvil es menos caro que el portátil' (The mobile is less expensive than the laptop), 'Instagram es tan popular como TikTok' (Instagram is as popular as TikTok).

Topic 2: Technology in everyday life

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Related Topics in AQA GCSE Spanish

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region

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