Descriptive listening tests your ability to identify spoken details about people, places, weather, and food in Spanish. In the Junior Cycle examination, you hear recorded announcements and dialogues and usually answer the questions in English.
Recognising Topics and Describing People
First identify the overall topic from key vocabulary: words like habitación, piscina, and aparcamiento point to accommodation. When describing people, use the verb as a clue, then listen to the words that follow:
| Verb | Usage | Spoken Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ser | Physical build and personality traits | es alto/a, bajo/a (tall/short), es simpático/a, tímido/a (friendly/shy) |
| Tener | Age, hair, and eyes | tiene quince años (is 15), pelo castaño/rubio/rizado (brown/blonde/curly hair), ojos marrones (brown eyes) |
| Llevar | Clothes and accessories | lleva gafas (wears glasses), lleva sudadera (wears a hoodie) |
Speakers often use degree words such as muy (very), bastante (quite) and un poco (a little) to show how strong a trait is.
Describing Places and Accommodation
Questions about towns and accommodation test physical features, locations, and facilities. Pay attention to how different verbs guide the meaning:
| Verb | Function | Spoken Example |
|---|---|---|
| Estar | Specific location | El hotel está en el centro, cerca de la playa. |
| Hay | Existence of facilities | Hay piscina, aparcamiento (car park) y tiendas. |
| Tener | What a place has | La casa tiene tres dormitorios (bedrooms) y dos baños. |
| Ser | General characteristics | La ciudad es moderna, ruidosa y grande. |
Listen for location prepositions: cerca de (near), lejos de (far from), al lado de (next to), and enfrente de (opposite).
Weather Conditions and Time Indicators
Weather details regularly appear in announcements and holiday dialogues. Different verbs describe specific weather conditions:
| Pattern | Spoken Examples | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hace + noun | hace sol, hace calor, hace frío, hace viento | sunny, hot, cold, windy |
| Está + adjective | está nublado, está despejado | cloudy, clear |
| Weather verbs | llueve, nieva | it is raining, it is snowing |
Dialogues often contrast different days, so listen for time markers: hoy (today), ayer hizo sol (yesterday it was sunny), and mañana lloverá (tomorrow it will rain).
Describing Food and Drink
Restaurant and café dialogues focus on menu orders, seating preferences, and courses:
| Category | Spoken Phrases | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Course markers | de primero, de segundo, para beber, de postre | for starter, for main course, to drink, for dessert |
| Ordering phrases | Quisiera…, Me gustaría…, Para mí… | I would like…, For me… |
| Food and drink | la ensalada mixta, el pollo asado, las patatas fritas, el vino tinto, el agua con gas | mixed salad, roast chicken, chips, red wine, sparkling water |
Match each food or drink to the course named in the question.
Aural Exam Strategies for Descriptive Questions
These tips help you catch the exact details you need while listening under exam conditions:
- Read the question prompts during the pause before the audio plays to anticipate what information to look for.
- Listen out for negatives: no hay piscina means there is no swimming pool.
- Write numbers as digits (e.g. 15, 60) during the first listen to avoid spelling delays.
Key terms
- Ser
- The verb 'to be', used to describe identity, origin, and physical or personality characteristics.
- Estar
- The verb 'to be', used to describe physical locations, positions, and states or conditions.
- Tener
- The verb 'to have', used to state age, hair type, eye colour, and features of a building.
- Hay
- The impersonal form of haber meaning 'there is' or 'there are', used to state what facilities exist.
- Llevar
- The verb meaning 'to wear' or 'to carry', used when describing clothing, accessories, and glasses.
Check yourself
What does 'tiene quince años' mean in English?
He/she is 15 years old.
What does 'mañana lloverá' mean in English?
Tomorrow it will rain.
What does the location phrase 'cerca de' mean?
Near (or close to).
Which verb indicates what clothes, accessories, or glasses a person is wearing?
Llevar (e.g. lleva gafas).