EOI B1/B2 Mediación. Model 3: Summarising from Spanish to English .

🏛️ EOI WRITTEN MEDIATION TASK – LEVEL B1 & B2

🌇 TOPIC: Choosing Between Barcelona and Madrid

Context:

Your Irish friend Sophie is planning to spend six months in Spain to study Spanish and enjoy city life.

She’s deciding between Barcelona and Madrid, and you’ve found two Spanish articles describing both cities.

She doesn’t understand Spanish well, so you’ll write her an email summarising the main information and giving your opinion.

🕐 Write 70–90 words (B1) or 90–110 words (B2).💡 Don’t translate literally — summarise the main ideas in English and add your recommendation.

🇪🇸 Texto 1 – Barcelona: arte, playa y vida moderna

Barcelona combina el encanto de una ciudad moderna con un ambiente mediterráneo único. Destaca por su arquitectura de Gaudí, sus calles llenas de vida y su costa con playas urbanas muy populares. Es una ciudad cosmopolita y multicultural, ideal para los amantes del arte y la innovación.Sin embargo, el coste de vida es algo alto y en verano hay muchos turistas, lo que puede hacer la ciudad un poco ruidosa y cara. Aun así, ofrece una gran calidad de vida, buena comida y una excelente red de transporte público.

Texto 2 – Madrid: cultura, historia y ambiente local

Madrid, la capital de España, ofrece una mezcla perfecta de historia, cultura y vida nocturna. Tiene algunos de los museos más importantes de Europa, como el Prado o el Reina Sofía, y numerosos parques como El Retiro. Su ambiente es muy animado, con bares y terrazas abiertos hasta tarde.Aunque no tiene playa, Madrid tiene un clima agradable y está muy bien comunicada con el resto del país. Los precios son algo más bajos que en Barcelona, y la gente suele ser muy amable y sociable.

✉️ TASK

Write an email to Sophie summarising the main ideas from both texts and recommending which city would be better for her stay.👉 Use your own words and keep it clear and friendly.

💬 MODEL ANSWER (B1 – 87 words)

Hi Sophie, I’ve read about both cities. Barcelona is by the sea, full of art, beaches, and modern buildings. It’s lively and multicultural, but it can be noisy and quite expensive, especially in summer. Madrid has more history, great museums, and a friendly local atmosphere. There’s no beach, but it’s cheaper and very well connected. If you want to enjoy city life and meet people easily, I think Madrid is better for studying and living comfortably.

💬 MODEL ANSWER (B2 – 107 words)

Hi Sophie,I compared both cities for your stay in Spain. Barcelona is modern, artistic, and offers beaches and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. It’s perfect for creativity and outdoor life, but it’s rather expensive and crowded with tourists in summer. Madrid, on the other hand, is cheaper, full of culture and nightlife, and its people are very welcoming. Although there’s no beach, it’s well-connected and has a genuine Spanish atmosphere. If your goal is to improve your Spanish and experience local culture, Madrid would be the ideal choice. Barcelona is great too, but more international and touristy.

🧭 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEDIATION (B1–B2)

LEVEL	✅ DO	❌ DON’T	USEFUL LANGUAGE
B1	Use short, clear sentences. Compare both cities briefly. End with a simple opinion.	Don’t translate every word or repeat details.	“The first city is…”, “It’s more…”, “I think the best choice is…”
B2	Use connectors and richer vocabulary. Show clear contrast and reasoning.	Don’t overcomplicate or mix too many ideas.	“While / Although / However / Personally, I’d recommend… / It depends on…”

Structure tips:

1. ✉️ Greeting + Purpose (why you write).

2. 🌆 Comparison (main differences).

3. 💡 Recommendation (your opinion + reason).

Useful connectors:

• On the one hand / On the other hand / Whereas / In contrast / In my opinion / Personally, I’d choose…Useful vocabulary:

• cosmopolitan – affordable – lively – artistic – historical – welcoming – touristy – connected – authentic – multicultural