EXPAT SURVIVAL SPAIN · SEASON 1 · EPISODE 04
THE COMMUNITY MEETING FROM HELL
Real Spanish for the problems nobody teaches you
Emma and Liam expect a five-minute chat about the pool. Instead, they meet a derrama, a furious neighbour and a vote they do not understand. Here is the Spanish that protects your voice — and your wallet.
💊 01 · Pharmacy · 🩺 02 · Doctor · 🔧 03 · Plumber · 🏊 04 · Community meeting
HOW TO USE IT / CÓMO USARLO: scan the visual, listen to the chunks, follow the meeting, build your intervention and finish the voting game. / Mira la infografía, escucha las frases, sigue la reunión, prepara tu intervención y completa el juego.
🧲
FRIDGE RULE
Understand the proposal before you vote — especially when somebody says derrama.
Understand the proposal before you vote — especially when somebody says derrama.
Tap to open the full-size survival guide ↗
00
Your visual survival map
See the people, the problems and the five phrases that keep you in the conversation.
🖼 04 · THE COMMUNITY MEETING FROM HELL · General infographic
Open original in Drive →
Tap the image to open the printable original. / Pulsa la imagen para abrir el original imprimible.
01
Before the meeting starts
Five minutes of preparation can save fifty minutes of confusion.
📨
Read the convocatoria.
Check the date, time, place and who called the meeting.
Check the date, time, place and who called the meeting.
📋
Scan the orden del día.
Mark anything involving money, votes or your property.
Mark anything involving money, votes or your property.
🏠
Know your role.
Owner, tenant or representative? If you rent, ask the owner or agent what you are authorised to do.
Owner, tenant or representative? If you rent, ask the owner or agent what you are authorised to do.
❓
Write three short questions.
Amount, deadline and exactly what is being voted on.
Amount, deadline and exactly what is being voted on.
💶
Ask for the paperwork.
Keep the proposal and presupuesto in front of you.
Keep the proposal and presupuesto in front of you.
🧠
Prepare one rescue chunk.
“No lo he entendido. ¿Puede repetir, por favor?”
“No lo he entendido. ¿Puede repetir, por favor?”
🧠 Neurotip: meetings overload working memory. Do not translate every word. Listen for anchors: punto, propuesta, votación, cuota, derrama and acta.
02
Who is who at the table?
The people are easier when their roles are clear.
Presidente/a de la comunidad
Chairs the meeting and guides the discussion through the agenda.
¿Quién es el presidente de la comunidad?
Administrador/a de fincas
Handles administration, papers, accounts and many practical questions for the community.
¿Me puede enviar el acta, por favor?
Propietario/a
An owner. Owners normally need to understand the proposal, its cost and the vote.
Soy propietaria del apartamento 24.
Inquilino/a
A tenant. Ask the owner or agency about attendance, representation and decisions affecting the property.
Soy inquilino. Voy a hablar con el propietario.
03
How does the meeting unfold?
Six landmarks help you follow the room even when the Spanish is fast.
1 · Asistencia
Attendance and identification.
Firme aquí, por favor.
2 · Orden del día
The agenda is introduced item by item.
Pasamos al primer punto.
3 · Debate
People explain, ask and disagree.
Se abre el turno de palabra.
4 · Propuesta
A concrete action is put forward.
Quiero hacer una propuesta.
5 · Votación
Votes for, against and abstentions.
¿Votos a favor?
6 · Acta
The decisions are recorded in writing.
Constará en acta.
Tonight’s trap: Emma and Liam think the pool timetable is the big issue. Then the administrator says “derrama de 480 euros por vivienda”. Time to slow the meeting down.
04
Arriving at the meeting
Read it · hear it · reuse it.
🧑💼Administrador
Buenas tardes. ¿Son propietarios?
Good afternoon. Are you owners?
👩Emma
Sí. Somos Emma y Liam, del apartamento veinticuatro.
Yes. We’re Emma and Liam from apartment 24.
🧑💼Administrador
Perfecto. Firmen aquí, por favor. Vamos a empezar.
Perfect. Sign here, please. We’re going to start.
👨Liam
Perdón, es nuestra primera junta. ¿Puede hablar un poco más despacio?
Sorry, it’s our first meeting. Can you speak a little more slowly?
👔Presidente
Claro. El primer punto es el horario de la piscina.
Of course. The first item is the swimming-pool timetable.
👩Emma
No lo he entendido. ¿Qué se está votando exactamente?
I didn’t understand. What exactly are we voting on?
👔Presidente
Se propone cerrar la piscina a las nueve de la noche.
The proposal is to close the pool at nine in the evening.
👨Liam
Gracias. Ahora sí. Estamos de acuerdo.
Thank you. Now we understand. We agree.
🛟 RESCUE BUTTON · When the room is too fast
👩Emma
Perdón. No lo he entendido. ¿Puede repetir más despacio, por favor?
Sorry. I didn’t understand. Can you repeat more slowly, please?
🧑💼Administrador
Claro. Voy a explicar la propuesta otra vez.
Of course. I’m going to explain the proposal again.
05
Your visual vocabulary map
ARTICLE + WORD + IMAGE: learn “la derrama”, not only “derrama”.
🧠 COMMUNITY MEETING VOCABULARY · Visual memory map
Open original in Drive →
🧠 Scan by colour: people → papers → money → building. Then cover the English and retrieve the meaning.
06
The €480 surprise
The complete practical conversation: proposal, cost, disagreement, vote and written follow-up.
👔Presidente
Pasamos al segundo punto: la avería de la piscina.
Let’s move to the second item: the fault in the swimming pool.
🧑💼Administrador
La reparación no está incluida en el presupuesto anual.
The repair is not included in the annual budget.
👨Liam
Perdón. ¿Eso significa que habrá una derrama?
Sorry. Does that mean there will be a special levy?
🧑💼Administrador
Sí. La propuesta es una derrama de cuatrocientos ochenta euros por vivienda.
Yes. The proposal is a special levy of 480 euros per property.
👩Emma
¿Cuánto tenemos que pagar y cuál es el plazo?
How much do we have to pay and what is the deadline?
🧑💼Administrador
Se puede pagar en dos cuotas de doscientos cuarenta euros.
It can be paid in two instalments of 240 euros.
🧔Vecino
No estoy de acuerdo. Quiero pedir otro presupuesto.
I disagree. I want to request another quote.
👩Emma
Estoy de acuerdo con pedir un segundo presupuesto antes de decidir.
I agree with requesting a second quote before deciding.
👔Presidente
Entonces votamos esa propuesta. ¿Votos a favor?
Then we’ll vote on that proposal. Votes in favour?
🧑💼Administrador
Queda aprobada por mayoría. Habrá un segundo presupuesto.
It is approved by majority. There will be a second quote.
👨Liam
¿Puede enviar los dos presupuestos por correo electrónico?
Can you send both quotes by email?
🧑💼Administrador
Sí. También les enviaré el acta de la reunión.
Yes. I’ll also send you the minutes of the meeting.
👩Emma
Gracias. ¿Puede constar nuestra petición en el acta?
Thank you. Can our request be recorded in the minutes?
👔Presidente
Sí, constará en acta. Pasamos al turno de ruegos y preguntas.
Yes, it will be recorded. We’ll move to questions and other business.
🧠 Three-pass listening: 1) listen without reading; 2) listen while reading both languages; 3) stop after each Spanish line and repeat it aloud.
07
Build your intervention before you speak
Choose the pieces. Get one calm, ready-to-use contribution.
YOUR READY-TO-USE SPANISH
Buenas tardes. Soy Emma. Soy propietaria de esta comunidad. Quiero hablar de la piscina. No he entendido la propuesta. ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Gracias.
08
Community meeting survival vocabulary
Hover with a mouse or tap a card on your phone. Tap 🔊 for Spanish.
🟢 people🔵 papers🟣 voting🟠 money🔴 building
la comunidad
owners’ association / community
la junta
owners’ meeting
el presidente / la presidenta
chairperson / community president
el administrador / la administradora
property manager
el vecino / la vecina
neighbour
el propietario / la propietaria
owner
el inquilino / la inquilina
tenant
el representante / la representante
representative / proxy
la convocatoria
meeting notice
el orden del día
agenda
el acta
minutes
la propuesta
proposal
la votación
vote
la mayoría
majority
la unanimidad
unanimity
a favor
in favour
en contra
against
la abstención
abstention
la cuota
regular community fee
la derrama
special levy
el presupuesto
quote / budget
los gastos comunes
shared costs
la deuda
debt
las zonas comunes
common areas
la piscina
swimming pool
la llave
key
el ruido
noise
la basura
rubbish
el aparcamiento
parking
las obras
building works
la avería
fault / breakdown
el plazo
deadline / time limit
09
12 phrases worth memorising
Tap any phrase to hear it. These are your meeting lifelines.
☀️ Useful today? Keep the whole survival series close.
Tick the Blogger follow button so Episode 05 finds you before the next Spanish emergency.
Follow Neuro-Spanish for You! →10
What do they mean?
Six phrases that tell you where the meeting is going.
“Pasamos al siguiente punto.”
We are moving to the next agenda item.
Listen again
“Se abre el turno de palabra.”
The floor is open for people to speak.
Listen again
“Se somete a votación.”
It is being put to a vote.
Listen again
“Queda aprobado por mayoría.”
It is approved by majority.
Listen again
“Hay tres votos en contra y una abstención.”
There are three votes against and one abstention.
Listen again
“Constará en acta.”
It will be recorded in the minutes.
Listen again
11
Mini grammar that actually helps
Six patterns. Dozens of useful interventions.
HAY QUE + infinitive
Hay que reparar la piscina.
The pool has to be repaired.
Say what must be done.
NO SE PUEDE + infinitive
No se puede hacer ruido.
You cannot make noise.
State a general rule.
SE PROPONE + infinitive
Se propone cerrar a las nueve.
The proposal is to close at nine.
Recognise the proposal.
ESTOY DE ACUERDO CON
Estoy de acuerdo con la propuesta.
I agree with the proposal.
Add the idea after “con”.
QUIERO + infinitive
Quiero pedir otro presupuesto.
I want to request another quote.
Make your intention clear.
¿PUEDE + infinitive?
¿Puede repetirlo?
Can you repeat it?
Request action politely.
🧠 Neurotip: learn the whole frame and swap one useful word: “Hay que reparar la piscina / el ascensor / la puerta”; “Quiero pedir otro presupuesto / otra reunión / más información”.
12
Message the administrator
When the phone is too fast, put your request in writing.
COPY-READY MESSAGE
Hola. Soy Emma, propietaria del apartamento 24. ¿Me puede enviar la convocatoria, el orden del día y el último acta, por favor? También quisiera confirmar la hora y saber si se va a votar alguna derrama. Gracias.
Useful add-ons: “No podré asistir.” · “¿Puedo enviar una autorización?” · “¿Cuál es el plazo de pago?” · “¿Puede responderme por escrito?”
13
Community Meeting Rescue
18 tiny situations · instant feedback · optional timer · pause/resume · saved progress · errors do not subtract XP.
Question 1/18
⭐ 0 XP in this game
⏱ 02:30
Pressure-free by design: the timer is optional. Pause whenever real life interrupts or leave the page: your question, score and remaining time are saved locally.
14
Voting language without panic
Recognise the question. State your choice.
A favor
In favour / yes
En contra
Against / no
Abstención
Abstention
Mayoría
More supporting votes than the relevant alternative in that count.
Queda aprobado por mayoría.
Unanimidad
Everyone in the relevant vote agrees.
Queda aprobado por unanimidad.
15
The money conversation
The meeting is not clear until the amount, purpose and deadline are clear.
Cuota
A regular community fee.
¿Cuál es la cuota mensual?
Derrama
An extra or special levy, often connected to a particular expense.
¿Cuánto es la derrama y para qué es?
Presupuesto
The quote or budget behind the proposed cost.
¿Podemos ver el presupuesto?
Plazo y forma de pago
Ask when and how the amount must be paid.
¿Cuál es el plazo?
16
Your meeting card
Print it. Take it to the next junta.
🧠 NEURO-SPANISH FOR YOU! · COMMUNITY MEETING SURVIVAL
LA CALA DE MIJAS · 60-SECOND CHECKLIST
☐ Read the convocatoria
☐ Mark the orden del día
☐ Write down 3 questions
☐ Identify what is being voted on
☐ Ask the amount and deadline
☐ Ask to see the presupuesto
☐ State: a favor / en contra
☐ Ask for the acta
SAY THIS: “No lo he entendido. ¿Qué se está votando exactamente? ¿Cuánto tenemos que pagar? ¿Puede repetir, por favor?”
17
Three expat habits that help
Calm, written and precise beats perfect Spanish.
Write first, speak second
Keep one sentence per issue. It lowers memory load and makes your intervention clearer.
Tengo una pregunta sobre la derrama.
Ask for written follow-up
Request the proposal, quotes and minutes by email so you can review them slowly.
¿Me lo puede enviar por correo electrónico?
Slow down money words
When you hear cuota, derrama, presupuesto or plazo, stop and confirm the meaning.
¿Puede explicarlo otra vez?
🌞 You do not need perfect Spanish. You need usable Spanish. A calm “No lo he entendido” is participation, not failure.
Keep Neuro-Spanish for You! in your Costa del Sol survival kit.
Real Spanish for the pharmacy, doctor, plumber, community meeting — and the rest of real life in Andalucía.
Educational language guide, not legal or financial advice. Community procedures and individual circumstances can vary; confirm important decisions and obligations with the relevant administrator or qualified professional.
Saved
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario