In this workshop you practise a short, polite exchange about finding the nearest metro station. You will ask the question, listen to a simple answer with directions, and check whether the place is close enough to walk. You can play both roles: first as the person asking, then as the person answering. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you never have to invent a phrase. Listen, repeat, and then try the three tasks.
Asking politely for the station
Start with a polite opener. The line «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?» means "Excuse me, where is the nearest metro station?" The word "Disculpe" gets attention politely, "dónde está" asks where something is, and "la estación de metro más cercana" means the nearest metro station. If you already named the place and want help with the route, use «¿Me puede indicar cómo llegar?», which means "Can you tell me how to get there?" Say it slowly and clearly. A friendly tone matters more than speed. Practise both lines out loud until they feel comfortable.
Understanding the answer and checking distance
After you ask, you may hear a short answer with directions. The line «Siga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la izquierda. Está frente al parque.» means "Go straight for two blocks and turn left. It's across from the park." Notice the difference between a location and an instruction: "a la izquierda" here tells you to turn left, while "frente al parque" tells you the station is across from the park. To check the distance, use «¿Está lejos o cerca?», which means "Is it far or near?" If you want to know whether walking is possible, use «¿Se puede ir caminando?», which means "Can you walk there?" A simple answer like «No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.» means "No, it's close. It's about five minutes on foot."
Putting the exchange together
A natural mini-dialogue uses the lines in order. You ask «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?», which means "Excuse me, where is the nearest metro station?" The other person answers with «Siga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la izquierda. Está frente al parque.». Then you check the distance with «¿Está lejos? ¿Se puede ir caminando?», which means "Is it far? Can I walk there?" The answer «No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.» tells you it is close and walkable. Practise switching roles: say the question, then play the answer, then switch back. This helps you recognise the lines when you hear them and produce them when you speak.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?
Excuse me, where is the nearest metro station?
dees-KOOL-peh, DON-deh es-TAH la es-ta-SYON deh MEH-tro mas ser-KA-na
¿Me puede indicar cómo llegar?
Can you tell me how to get there?
meh PWEH-deh een-dee-KAR KOH-mo yeh-GAR
¿Está lejos o cerca?
Is it far or near?
es-TAH LEH-hos o SER-ka
¿Se puede ir caminando?
Can you walk there? / Is it walkable?
seh PWEH-deh eer ka-mee-NAN-do
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?
Excuse me, where is the nearest metro station?Siga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la izquierda. Está frente al parque.
Go straight for two blocks and turn left. It's across from the park.¿Está lejos? ¿Se puede ir caminando?
Is it far? Can I walk there?No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.
No, it's close. It's about five minutes on foot.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You are standing on a street corner and want to find the nearest metro station. Play both roles using the recordings.
Your task: First, say the polite question from «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?». Then play the other person and give the directions from «Siga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la izquierda. Está frente al parque.». Repeat the exchange twice, once slowly and once at a natural speed.
Reply comprehension: far or near?
You have asked about the station and now hear a short answer about distance. You need to decide what to do next.
Your task: Listen to «No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.». Decide whether the station is close enough to walk. Then say the question from «¿Se puede ir caminando?» to confirm that walking is possible. Finally, answer your own question using the information in «No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.».
Recall with correct roles
You are practising the full exchange from memory. One person asks for the station and checks the distance; the other gives directions and confirms it is walkable.
Your task: Without looking at the text, say the question from «Disculpe, ¿dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?». Then give the directions from «Siga derecho dos cuadras y doble a la izquierda. Está frente al parque.». Then ask the distance question from «¿Está lejos? ¿Se puede ir caminando?». Finally, give the answer from «No, está cerca. Son como cinco minutos caminando.». Do the whole sequence once as the asker and once as the answerer.
Common questions
Do I need to memorise every line before I speak?
No. Start by reading the lines aloud, then cover the text and try from memory. It is fine to look back at a recording when you forget something. Repeat the exchange in short sessions, and the lines will become easier to produce without support.
What if the other person answers with words I do not know?
You can always use a line from the recordings to keep the conversation going. For example, ask «¿Me puede indicar cómo llegar?» to request directions, or ask «¿Está lejos o cerca?» to check whether the place is far or near. These questions give the other person a chance to answer more simply.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask for the nearest metro stationChecked September 2026
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