Picture the gate of a Spanish primary school just before nine. Children wave to friends in the patio and greet the teacher at the door. Before nine o'clock this morning, how many different ways did you say hello? Think of family, friends, teachers, the bus driver. Let's collect four from the class.

Here are today's eight Spanish greeting phrases, met in two short groups. First come the four time-of-day hellos, then the four that ask how someone is or say nice to meet you. Listen to each one, then say it back together. Listen for the soft h in Hola: it is almost silent, not like the English h in hello. For the how-are-you pair: ¿Cómo estás? is for a friend; ¿Cómo está usted? is for a teacher or other adult. Listen for the extra word usted.

The Spanish words and their meanings are in two columns on the board, and volunteers take it in turns to match them. When a volunteer picks a Spanish word, everyone says it aloud together. You are looking for each Spanish greeting beside its English meaning.