Giving Instructions by Sandra Rosenstiel
You've learned a lot about different ways to tell people what to do in Spanish. Another context in which you may find yourself in that position is when you give someone instructions. Think about all the things you have to tell a new employee and all the ways you have learned how to do so, for example, impersonal expressions, polite requests, hay que, tener que, deber, and necesitar. Two other constructions that you already know can also be used to give instruction: the simple present and ir + a + infinitive. Let's imagine that you are volunteering at a work-training facility or have offered to give computer classes in Spanish at your local library. Your particular task is to explain how to use a computer and the Internet.
You've already learned some basic computer vocabulary. Let's add to that list:
Computer and Internet Vocabulary
el portátil, el laptop (laptop computer)
el ratón (mouse)
el inalámbrico (wireless)
el botón (button)
el cable (cable)
la conexión (connection)
apretar, e > ie (press)
tocar (touch, strike)
mover (move)
la red, el Internet (Web, Internet)
buscador (browser)
hacer una búsqueda (do a search)
la página, el sitio web (Web page, Web site)
la página de entrada (home page)
avanzar, retroceder (scroll down/up, go forward/back)
abrir/cerrar una página (open/close a page)
instalar un programa (install a program)
hacer clic, seleccionar (click on, select)
borrar (erase, delete)
el servidor (server)
Computer How-To
You probably don't give much thought to the steps involved in using your computer and surfing the Internet; it might be a challenge to explain it to someone who is inexperienced. The verb hacer comes in very handy to tell someone how to do something: Entonces, haces esto (Then you do this) and Después, vas a hacer esto (After that, you're going to do this). You can give a lot of instruction using only the simple present and ir + a + infinitive, but don't forget about all the other structures you've learned to tell people what and how to do things too. Let's try out a few instructions for getting started.
Primero, aprietas este botón para encender la computadora.
(First, you press this button to turn on the computer.)
Ahora tienes que esperar un momento. La computadora va a cargar los programas.
(Now you have to wait a moment. The computer is going to load the programs.)
Para conectar al Internet, debes hacer clic en este icono.
(In order to connect to the Internet, you should click on this icon.)
All of these instructions use the tú form for teaching a friend or child. Just change the verbs to the usted or ustedes form to address someone you don't know well or a group.
Many computer and business terms in Spanish are taken directly from English. Some are translated directly; some are used in English. Usage may vary widely from country to country. For example, the word “computer” in Latin America is computadora. In Spain, however, the word is ordenador.
