How to Write an Essay About Yourself in Spanish

Composing an essay describing yourself in a native language is fairly straightforward, but writing in a foreign language is challenging. Depending on your level of Spanish, the paper will be harder or easier due to your knowledge of vocabulary, tenses, and expressions. In general, keep the essay simple but interesting to read, noting details about your personality and your lifestyle within stories and information you share.

To write an essay in Spanish, about yourself, use your resources to tell a story about yourself:

start with the basics
talk about your hobbies
consult online resources
tell a story
talk about the future

Step 1: Start with the basics

Begin with basic information. Write your name, age, birthday, and where you live in complete sentences. Translate any words you do not know how to write into your essay. You may also add where you go to school or your favorite subject in school.

For example:

Me llamo Alicia. Tengo dieciocho (18) anos. Mi cumpleaños es el 16 de Julio. Yo vivo en Minneapolis con mi hermano, Pierre.

Step 2: Talk about your hobbies

Discuss your hobbies. Skip to a new paragraph to talk about the sports, arts, music and/or subjects you like in and out of school. For example, if you play a sport, talk about how much time you dedicate to it.

For example:

Juego futbol cada dia con mis amigos despues de escuela. Quiero jugar futbol professional cuando soy más viejo.

Step 3: Use your resources

Consult a dictionary or online dictionary for phrases and expressions. The Spanish language is full of idiomatic expressions, just as English is.

For example, we have expressions like “It’s raining cats and dogs.” Include at least one or two Spanish phrases, such as: "El hijo de la gato, ratones mata (The son of a cat kills mice)." The English equivalent is “Like father like son.”

Mix the expression in the essay naturally, instead of planting one awkwardly in the middle or very end of your paper.

Step 4: Tell a story

Tell a short narrative. Describe a small event that happened to you recently. Perhaps you got lost in a park looking for your little brother, you saw a hurricane for the first time on vacation, or you took a trip to the beach to relax. Look up any vocabulary you don't know and make sure you are writing in the correct tense. Use the past, present and future to describe the event or story.

For example, if you went to the beach with your boyfriend in April, write: “Mi novio y yo fuimos al playa en Abril. Cada dia fue como cielo, porque las olas y el viento y areana nos calmo.

Step 5: Talk about the future

Conclude your essay using future tense verbs. Write the goals you have for the near future.

For example, you might want to study for an upcoming social studies test or apply for a job at a local graphic design business that is looking for new artists.

Write what you will do, or want to do, using the future tense.You can also describe your feelings, like nervousness, excitement or dread (nerviosismo, excitación o terror).

For example: El Martes iré al entrevista de diseño gráfico.