Introduction: Mastering the Multi-Speaker Challenge

In your Paper 1 (Listening, reading and writing) exam, you will encounter various audio recordings. While some are monologues (one person talking), the AQA syllabus specifically requires that at least one passage involves more than one speaker. These are often interviews, debates, or casual conversations between friends.

The goal of these questions is simple but can be tricky: you need to figure out who says what. This requires more than just understanding Spanish; it requires "active listening" to track different voices and opinions throughout the conversation. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first—with a few specific strategies, you can easily pick up these marks!

Step 1: Identifying the Voices

Before you even try to understand the complex sentences, you need to "map" the voices in your head. Usually, the exam will involve two or three distinct speakers.

How to distinguish them:

  • Gender and Pitch: Usually, AQA uses speakers with clearly different voices (e.g., one male, one female).
  • Roles: Often, one person is an interviewer (asking questions) and the other is an expert or a young person (giving opinions).
  • Names: Listen carefully at the very beginning. Often, one speaker will say, "Hola, Juan, ¿qué piensas de...?" This is your cue to label "Speaker A" as Juan in your margin notes.

Step 2: Tracking Agreement and Disagreement

A common trap in "who says what" questions is when Speaker A mentions an idea, but Speaker B is the one who actually supports it. You must listen for opinion markers.

Key phrases to watch for:

Agreement (Speaker B agrees with Speaker A):

  • "Tienes razón" (You are right)
  • "Estoy de acuerdo" (I agree)
  • "Exacto" / "Claro" (Exactly / Of course)
  • "Yo también lo veo así" (I see it that way too)

Disagreement (Speaker B has a different view):

  • "No estoy de acuerdo" (I don't agree)
  • "Al contrario..." (On the contrary...)
  • "Pues, yo diría que no" (Well, I would say no)
  • "Sin embargo..." (However...)
Quick Tip: The "Ping-Pong" Method

Think of a multi-speaker passage like a game of ping-pong. The "ball" (the topic) moves back and forth. If the question asks who believes social media is dangerous, wait for that specific "ball" to be hit, then look at who "hit" it!

Step 3: Navigating the AS Themes

The speakers will always be discussing topics from your AS Level themes. Knowing the vocabulary for these specific areas will help you identify opinions faster.

Theme 1: Aspects of Hispanic Society

  • Los cambios en la familia: One speaker might be traditional (valuing the modelo tradicional) while the other is more modern (supporting nuevos modelos de familia).
  • El ciberespacio: Listen for one speaker focusing on beneficios (benefits) and the other on peligros (dangers).
  • La igualdad de los sexos: You might hear a debate about el machismo or la brecha salarial (the pay gap).

Theme 2: Artistic Culture in the Hispanic World

  • La influencia de los ídolos: One speaker might admire a singer's talento, while the other criticizes them as a mala influencia.
  • La identidad regional: You might hear different views on las lenguas (languages like Catalan or Basque) or tradiciones.

Step 4: Common Exam Formats

In Paper 1, "Who says what" questions usually appear in two ways:

  1. The Grid: A table with names at the top (e.g., Maria, Pablo, Both) and statements on the left. You place a tick in the correct box.
  2. Multiple Choice: A statement is given, and you must choose between A (Name 1), B (Name 2), or C (Neither/Both).
Watch out for "Distractors"!

A "distractor" is when a speaker mentions a keyword from the question but doesn't actually hold that opinion.
Example:
Speaker A: "Some people say that the Internet is bad for kids."
Speaker B: "I don't think so, it's a great tool."
Question: Who thinks the Internet is a bad influence?
Answer: Neither! Speaker A was just quoting "other people."

Summary Checklist for the Exam

1. Read the names first: Know who you are listening for before the audio starts.
2. Identify the tone: Is the speaker angry, happy, or neutral? This helps you guess their opinion.
3. Don't tick too early: Wait for the speaker to finish their sentence. They might start with "I used to think..." and end with "but now I believe..."
4. Look for "Both": If both speakers are nodding along ("sí", "claro", "por supuesto"), the answer is likely "both" (los dos).
5. Use your context: Remember, these are AS topics. If they are talking about el patrimonio cultural, they are likely discussing sites like la Alhambra or Machu Picchu.

Note: For more information on dealing with the specific vocabulary of these topics, see the chapters on "Main points and gist" and "Detail and specific information."

Key Takeaway

Success in multi-speaker passages isn't just about translation; it's about tracking the conversation. Stay focused on who is speaking at the exact moment a key opinion is mentioned, and watch out for those sneaky "disagreement" phrases!