Spanish - Classroom Teacher

Lesson 127 of 159

Students in a classroom practicing Spanish phrases with their teacher — lesson about classroom phrases and requests.

Goal: Useful classroom lines to talk with your teacher

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome — ready for a short, practical Spanish lesson for class? This lesson gives you quick phrases students use with teachers every day. Listen, repeat, then try the mini-conversation.

Level A2: In Lesson 127 you'll practice common classroom phrases for asking permission, explaining absences, borrowing things, and solving small problems in class. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on seven ready-to-use lines (asking to come in, saying you missed class, saying you don't have a partner, borrowing, visibility problems, needing more time, and whether to take notes). Short, focused, and classroom-ready.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Understand and use seven classroom phrases at A2 level.
  • Ask for permission and borrow items politely.
  • Explain absence, visibility issues, and when you need more time.
  • Practice listening, short dialogue role-play, and speaking aloud.
A classroom door and students preparing to enter — practicing 'May I come in?' and other teacher phrases in Spanish.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Todavía no termino.

I'm not finished yet.

Meaning: I'm not finished yet.

When to use: Tell the teacher or a classmate you need more time to complete work.

Todavía no termino, ¿puedo entregarlo mañana?
I'm not finished yet; can I hand it in tomorrow?
Un momento, todavía no termino la actividad.
One moment, I'm not finished with the activity.

Ayer falté.

I was absent yesterday.

Meaning: I was absent yesterday.

When to use: Explain to the teacher that you missed the previous class.

Perdón, ayer falté porque estaba enfermo.
Sorry, I was absent yesterday because I was sick.
Ayer falté y necesito apuntes de la clase.
I was absent yesterday and I need class notes.

No tengo con quién trabajar.

I don't have a partner.

Meaning: I don't have a partner.

When to use: Tell the teacher you don't have anyone to work with for pair or group work.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 'pareja' which can sound like a romantic partner; use 'con quién trabajar'.

No tengo con quién trabajar en este ejercicio.
I don't have anyone to work with on this exercise.
¿Me puedes asignar un grupo? No tengo con quién trabajar.
Can you assign me a group? I don't have a partner.

¿Me prestas ___?

Can I borrow ___?

Meaning: Can I borrow ___?

When to use: Ask politely to borrow classroom items like a pen, paper, or eraser.

¿Me prestas un lápiz, por favor?
Can I borrow a pencil, please?
¿Me prestas la hoja extra que tienes?
Can I borrow the extra sheet you have?

No alcanzo a ver el pizarrón.

I can't see the board.

Meaning: I can't see the board.

When to use: Tell the teacher there is a problem seeing the board so they can help you sit or repeat the information.

Perdón, no alcanzo a ver el pizarrón desde aquí.
Sorry, I can't see the board from here.
¿Puedes escribirlo más grande? No alcanzo a ver el pizarrón.
Can you write it bigger? I can't see the board.

¿Puedo pasar?

May I come in?

Meaning: May I come in?

When to use: Ask permission to enter a classroom when arriving late or when the door is closed.

Perdón, ¿Puedo pasar? Llegué tarde por el tráfico.
Excuse me, may I come in? I arrived late because of traffic.
Toc, toc — ¿Puedo pasar?
Knock knock — may I come in?

¿Hay que apuntar esto?

Do we need to write this down?

Meaning: Do we need to write this down?

When to use: Ask the teacher if something needs to be noted in your notebook.

¿Hay que apuntar esto en la libreta o solo es para escuchar?
Do we need to write this in the notebook or just listen?
¿Hay que apuntar esto? No quiero perderlo.
Do we need to write this down? I don't want to lose it.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Before class, two students talk by the door and use several classroom phrases.

Two students talking before class using common classroom lines in Spanish such as borrowing items and explaining absences.

Who says they were absent yesterday?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Puedo pasar?

May I come in?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Sí, pasa. ¿Ayer faltaste?

Yes, come in. Were you absent yesterday?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Sí, ayer falté. ¿Me prestas un lápiz?

Yes, I was absent yesterday. Can I borrow a pencil?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Claro. Pero yo no tengo con quién trabajar hoy.

Sure. But I don't have a partner to work with today.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Entiendo. Por cierto, no alcanzo a ver el pizarrón.

I understand. By the way, I can't see the board.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Siéntate aquí. ¿Hay que apuntar esto?

Sit here. Do we need to write this down?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Sí. Todavía no termino mi ejercicio.

Yes. I'm not finished with my exercise yet.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish sentence means 'I don't have a partner'?

Which phrase asks permission to enter the classroom?

Which sentence means 'Can I borrow ___?'

Which phrase would you say if you cannot see what the teacher wrote on the board?

Ayer falté. = I was absent yesterday.

I missed class yesterday, so I tell the teacher: ___.

No alcanzo a ver el pizarrón. = I can't see the board.

You can't see the board from the back row, so you tell the teacher: ___.

Todavía no termino. = I'm not finished yet.

You need a little more time to finish your worksheet, so you tell the teacher: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Todavía no termino.

I'm not finished yet.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ayer falté.

I was absent yesterday.

Say this phrase out loud:

No tengo con quién trabajar.

I don't have a partner.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me prestas ___?

Can I borrow ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

No alcanzo a ver el pizarrón.

I can't see the board.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedo pasar?

May I come in?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Hay que apuntar esto?

Do we need to write this down?