Sample exercises
See how feedback helps you improve
These shortened examples show the style of a translation and a café conversation with Pip. Full exercises include more content, and generated exercises and conversations may differ.
Translate this paragraph:
“The old lighthouse keeper had lived alone on the island for twenty years. Every evening, he climbed the spiral staircase to light the lamp that guided ships safely through the fog. During the day, he tended a small garden beside the lighthouse. He often watched the waves from his kitchen window. At sunset, he wrote in a journal before going to bed.”
Your translation
El viejo guardián del faro había vivido solo en la isla durante veinte años. Cada atardecer, subía la escalera de caracol para encender la lámpara que guiaba a los barcos con seguridad a través de la niebla. Durante el día, cuidaba un pequeño jardín junto al faro. A menudo, observaba las olas desde la ventana de su cocina. Al atardecer, escribía en su diario antes de acostarse.
92
/ 100 points
Excellent work! Your translation is clear and the full passage is complete.
Review Pip’s notes below to make a few phrases even more natural.
Goal
You translated the full passage and preserved the lighthouse keeper’s routines and setting.
Vocabulary
You used a good range of descriptive vocabulary. In particular, guardián del faro and escalera de caracol fit the passage well.
Grammar
él subió → subía
The imperfect presents his evening routine as a repeated past action. Spanish usually omits él because the verb ending already identifies the subject.
A more natural expression
escalera espiral → escalera de caracol
Escalera de caracol is the usual Spanish expression for a spiral staircase.
Choose the right meaning
seguramente → con seguridad
Although it resembles English “surely,” seguramente often means “probably.” Here, con seguridad means the ships were guided safely.
Naturalness
A menudo observaba las olas...
“A menudo” is correct; Con frecuencia observaba las olas... is another natural option.
Suggestions for next time
- Keep practising how English aspect maps to the Spanish imperfect.
- Try reading your finished translation aloud to check its rhythm.
Pip’s note
There can be more than one good translation. These are just a few places where you could try another phrasing.
One possible polished version
El viejo guardián del faro había vivido solo en la isla durante veinte años. Cada atardecer, subía la escalera de caracol para encender la lámpara que guiaba a los barcos con seguridad a través de la niebla. Durante el día, cuidaba un pequeño jardín junto al faro. A menudo observaba las olas desde la ventana de su cocina. Al atardecer, escribía en su diario antes de acostarse.
This is one natural option; other translations may also work depending on context.
Shortened translation sample; real exercises use longer passages and may receive different feedback.
Scenario
You are visiting a small artisan bakery in Madrid’s La Latina neighborhood. Pip offers you two local specialties: magdalenas and churros. Find out what goes into each, ask which Pip recommends, then order churros.
Goal: find out about two local specialties, then order one.
🔒 Keep it fictional — don’t share real names, addresses, phone numbers, or other personal details in the chat.
💡 Grammar tips for this conversation
Ask politely with “¿Me recomienda…?”
¿Me recomienda probarlos con chocolate?
Ask about dish ingredients with “¿Qué lleva…?”
¿Qué llevan los churros?
¡Hola! Bienvenido a nuestra panadería de barrio. Tenemos magdalenas caseras y churros recién hechos. ¿Qué le apetece probar?
Hola, por favor. Me interesan las magdalenas. ¿Qué ingredientes llevan?
¡Ah, las magdalenas! Son esponjosas, con un toque de limón y azúcar glas por encima. Llevan harina, huevos, mantequilla, azúcar, levadura química, ralladura de limón y leche. ¿Quiere una?
¿Qué ingredientes llevan los churros? ¿Me recomienda probarlos con chocolate caliente?
Los churros llevan harina, agua y sal; se fríen hasta quedar crujientes y se sirven con chocolate caliente. ¿Le gustaría pedir una ración?
Una ración, por favor.
Son 4,50 €. Se lo preparo enseguida; las magdalenas acaban de salir del horno, por si le apetece llevarse una también.
Gracias, hasta luego.
¡Gracias a usted! Que tenga buen día.
Pip is reviewing the conversation…🎉 Conversation complete! Here’s how you did:
92/100You asked about two local specialties, found out what they contain, and ordered churros with hot chocolate.
Goal
You learned what goes into magdalenas and churros, then ordered churros with hot chocolate.
Vocabulary
You used useful food words such as magdalenas, esponjosas, levadura química, churros, and crujientes.
Grammar
¿Me recomienda probarlos con chocolate caliente?
The polite usted form is correct here. The scenario calls for asking about local food, so this is a good model for checking a recommendation.
Naturalness
¿Qué ingredientes llevan los churros y me recomienda probarlos con chocolate caliente?
¿Qué ingredientes llevan los churros? ¿Me recomienda probarlos con chocolate caliente?
Separating the questions makes this long request easier to follow.
Suggestions for next time
- Try asking whether an item is available to eat here or take away.
- Ask which filling or topping the bakery recommends.
Pip’s note
Great choice! Fresh magdalenas and churros with hot chocolate are classic treats at a Spanish bakery.
Shortened sample conversation; real chats and feedback may vary.