Language Teacher's Toolbox

Hello everyone, Becky here!

This is a T/F activity about Spanish culture that I like to incorporate either when talking about greetings (101) or about body parts (102). I got this from my Spanish culture class when I studied in Spain. I have the questions in both English and Spanish below and the answer key in English. Enjoy!

True or False?

1. To greet each other, men shake hands, they hug, and sometimes, they give a strong pat on the back.

2. Women tend to give 2 kisses when greeting friends.

3. In formal situations, men and women only shake hands. IT’s is seen badly if they kiss or hug.

4. Standing up with the hands on the hips indicates being angry.

5. It’s rude to move the index finger towards you to tell a person to come towards you. You must move the hand up and down with your palm towards your body.

6. If you yawn in public, you should cover your mouth with your hand.

7. It’s normal to always make eye contact when you talk to someone.

8. When two people talk they get close and they may even touch each other.

9. It’s normal to talk really loudly or even shout whether inside or outside.

10. In business meetings it’s important to exchange business cards.

11. People wait for you to say “hi” and “bye” when you enter and leave public places like a store or an elevator.

12. If you smoke, you always have to offer tobacco to everyone else so you don’t seem rude.

13. It is acceptable to tell someone that you don’t know well something positive about their physical appearance or their clothes.

14. At dinner time, you can start as soon as you are served without waiting for the others.

15. Putting your index finger on your temple means that you are calling somebody crazy.

16. Putting one fist on your forearm of the other arm while raising that fist is considered a scornful gesture and insult by the other person.

Verdadero o Falso:

En España…

1. Para saludarse, los hombres se dan la mano, se abrazan y, a veces, incluso, se dan una palmada (pat) fuerte en la espalda.
2. Las mujeres suelen dar dos besos a los amigos que saludan.
3. En situaciones formales, los hombres y las mujeres sólo se dan la mano. Está mal visto si se besan o abrazan.
4. Estar de pie (Standing) con las manos sobre las caderas (hips) indica enfado (angry).
5. Es de mala educación mover el dedo índice hacia uno mismo para llamar a una persona. Hay que mover la mano arriba y abajo con la palma hacia (towards) el cuerpo.
6. Bostezar (to yawn) en público se consiste si te tapas (cover) la boca con una mano.
7. Es normal mirar siempre a los ojos de las personas con las que hablas.
8. Cuando dos personas hablan se acercan (get close) mucho e incluso se tocan (touch each other).
9. Es normal hablar de forma fuerte o gritando tanto en lugares abiertos como cerrados.
10. En reuniones de negocios es muy importante intercambiar tarjetas con cada persona con la que se habla.
11. Se espera que digas ‘hola’ y ‘adiós’ al entrar y salir de sitios públicos, como, por ejemplo, una tienda, un ascensor (elevator), etc.
12. Si se fuma, siempre hay que ofrecer tabaco a todo el mundo para no parecer maleducado (rude).
13. Está bien visto decirle a alguien que no conoces mucho algo positivo sobre su aspecto físico o su ropa.
14. A la hora de la comida se puede empezar tan pronto como (as soon as) le sirvan a uno sin esperar (waiting for) a los demás (others).
15. Apoyar el dedo índice en la cabeza significa que estás llamando a alguien loco.
16. Poner un puño (fist) en el antebrazo (forearm) contrario alzando (raising) el otro puño es considerado un gesto de insulto por otra persona.

True or False? (Answers)

1. To greet each other, men shake hands, they hug, and sometimes, they give a strong pat on the back. T

2. Women tend to give 2 kisses when greeting friends. T

3. In formal situations, men and women only shake hands. It’s is seen badly if they kiss or hug. F

4. Standing up with the hands on the hips indicates being angry. T

5. It’s rude to move the index finger towards you to tell a person to come towards you. You must move the hand up and down with your palm towards your body. T

6. If you yawn in public, you should cover your mouth with your hand. T

7. It’s normal to always make eye contact when you talk to someone. T

8. When two people talk they get close and they may even touch each other. T

9. It’s normal to talk really loudly or even shout whether inside or outside. T

10. In business meetings it’s important to exchange business cards. T

11. People wait for you to say “hi” and “bye” when you enter and leave public places like a store or an elevator. T

12. If you smoke, you always have to offer tobacco to everyone else so you don’t seem rude. T

13. It is acceptable to tell someone that you don’t know well something positive about their physical appearance or their clothes. T

14. At dinner time, you can start as soon as you are served without waiting for the others. F

15. Putting your index finger on your temple means that you are calling somebody crazy. T

16. Putting one fist on your forearm of the other arm while raising that fist is considered a scornful gesture and insult by the other person. T