Simple Stories in Spanish

This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. Outside of Mexico City there are two impressive mountains. But perhaps, they are more than just mountains. According to legend, the mountains are two star-crossed lovers who couldn’t be together in life. Iztaccíhuatl is an extinct volcano while Popocatéptl is active, and watches over her. This story features repetitions some le...

This new season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. The most well-known legend of the Spanish-speaking world is that of “La Llorona” or the weeping woman. She floats near water in search of her lost children. But you must be careful, because she may mistake you for one of her sons! This story features repetitions of the phrase “tiene miedo” (is scared) as well as the words “niño”...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This second season of personal simple stories continues with an answer to the question “what is my family like?” (¿Cómo es mi familia?). My family is very special to me. It is both small (pequeño) and big (grande). In this story I talk about my husband (esposo/marido) my sons (hijos), my sisters (hermanas), my brothers (hermanos) and my parents (padres). You...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This second season of personal simple stories continues with an answer to the question “where do I go?” (¿Adónde voy yo?). I go to many lugares (places) within my typical week or year when I have the opportunity. This episode features the verb “voy” (I go) with varias places (lugares) that I visit. Some of the places I go are mundane, such as the store (tiend...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with an answer to the questions “where do I live?” (¿Dónde vivo yo?). When I first moved to the state (estado) of Colorado, I didn’t really like it. Over the past few years, though, I have come to really enjoy where I live. Although I am not from here, I now call Colorado home. In this episode I describe th...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with an answer to the questions “what do I eat?” (¿Qué como yo?). Starting with a typical desayuno (breakfast) of huevos (eggs), moving to almuerzo (lunch) and cena (dinner), exploring some meriendas (snacks) and postres (desserts) and ending with my favorite drink of agua (water), this story lists many foo...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with a somewhat abstract question: “¿Qué quiero yo?” (What do I want?). Some things that I want might change from time to time. Others depend on how I am feeling. Some of my wants are within reach, while others seem impossible. This episode features the verb “quiero” (I want) in multiple ways with many cogn...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with a list of activities. The questions “¿Qué hago yo?”, or “What do I do?” is answered with actions. So, what do I do? I talk (hablo), I walk (camino), I explore (exploro) and I create (creo) by knitting (tejo) and writing (escribo) in addition to many other comprehensible verbs in the “yo” (I) form. You...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with the a description of the creator. “Soy” and “estoy” are often confused in Spanish because they both translate as “I am”, however, they are used in different situations. This episode answers the questions “¿Cómo estoy yo?” (How am I [feeling]?) with the emotions I feel in various circumstances. These em...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with the a description of the creator. “¿Cómo soy yo?” (What am I like?) begins with a short physical description followed by many personality traits. This simple story features multiple repetitions of “soy” (I am) and “puedo” (I can) as well as many other comprehensible verbs in the “yo” (I) form. You can...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories continues with the creator’s likes. This story features multiple repetitions of “me gusta” (I like) and “me encanta” (I love) as well as many other comprehensible verbs in the “yo” (I) form. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at smalltownspanishteacher.com. No matter where you are in your language...

Who is the Small Town Spanish Teacher? This new season of personal simple stories begins with the creator’s introduction. This story features multiple repetitions of “soy” (I am), “tengo” (I have) and “me gusta” (I like) as well as many other comprehensible verbs in the “yo” (I) form. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/category/simple-stori...

The end of the school year sparks excitement for summer break, but it can also cause some sadness and students and teachers say goodbye - some for the summer, some for longer. Imani walks through the halls chanting “hasta luego” (see you later) to those she passes, until she realizes that she might not actually “see” some of them in the future. You can find a transcript of the story and read along...

Some students feel that they just don’t know anything, so why even try? Perhaps they just need a little bit of motivation and confidence. Daniel is not the smartest student, but he finds inspiration through a “cuaderno mágico” (magic notebook). Daniel “se da cuenta” (realizes) that maybe he is smart after all. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteache...

We all get bored. Jorgito has a room full of things, but he still gets bored. When he tells people he is bored, they just send him away to do something else. Will he just stay bored forever? Or will he find something to entertain the day away? This story features multiple repetitions of “estoy aburrido” (I’m bored) as well as “juguetes" (toys) such as “carritos” (toy cars) “dinosaurios” (dino...

Mothers are very important people in the lives of many. Nadia is mother to Luisa and Perla. Luisa loves (quiere) her family and she loves to help (ayudar). But sometimes her help can lead to headaches for her mother. All is well, though, when Luisa hugs (abraza) her mom and tells her “I love you” (te quiero). I hope you enjoy “Te quiero, mamá”. No matter where you are in your language journey, sto...

Who doesn’t enjoy a day at the beach? Ramona certainly does. She goes to the beach (playa) every day and watches the tourists (turistas) as they take pictures (toman fotos) play in the waves (olas) and play in the sand (arena). Ramona is not a tourist. She is a capuchin monkey (mono capuchino). She is also a famous thief (ladrona). Listen in to find out how Ramona swindles beachgoers in “Ramona en...

Paula enjoys living in the mountains with her dog Bobo and her one hundred and fifty cows (vacas). But sometimes her cows wander off and need help getting out of some sticky situations. Paula counts (cuenta) her coas and when they are missing (le faltan), she looks for them. Paula will do anything to help her cows if they get stuck (metida). She will pull (jala), cut (corta) and even sing (canta)...

When things get lost, the logical solution is to look for them. Sometimes we are so busy looking that we don’t see what is right under our noses. Lourdes is busy (ocupada). She tries to make time for her son’s problems, but sometimes her own problems get in the way, such as when she needs some ginger (jengibre) for her cake (pastel). This story has multiple repetitions of ¿buscaste? (did you look?...

Miguel just wants to go to a concert, but his mom says no, even when he begs (suplica). So, Miguel and his friend come up with a plan that involves just a little lie (mentira). Miguel typically tells the truth (verdad), so lying is not easy for him. Will he be able to maintain the lie, or will he cave under pressure? Find out in “La mentira de Miguel”. No matter where you are in your language jour...

Luis enjoys his life as a ranchero. He likes taking care of animals. But being on a ranch requires specific footwear, namely boots (botas). Luis has a special friend that he wants to spend time with on the ranch, but she does not have boots, so Luis decides to get her some. Luis goes (va) all over town, including the shoe store (zapatería) the bank (banco) and the gas station (estación de gas) as...

Most people know the story of Goldilocks and the three bears, but what if the bear is the intruder? Berry is an “oso curioso” (curios bear). He just wants to know what life is like inside of a house (casa). Berry looks through windows (ventanas) and sees (ve) and touches (toca) a lot of different things. What will this curious bear find? No matter where you are in your language journey, stories wi...

Birthdays are a special time, especially for young kids. Ruthie wakes up on her birthday wanting something special to eat for breakfast (desayuno): cake (pastel)! Her parents think that she should eat what they do, but Ruthie is determined to have her pastel and eat it too. Can she convince her sweet grandmother to make her cake for breakfast? With multiple repetitions of desayuno (breakfast), deb...

When a child is sick, they should stay home. However some kids fake being sick to get out of schoolwork. Such is the case of Jessica, who would rather be at home than taking tests. She fakes a cough (tos), and a cold (está resfriada) so she can stay at home on her teléfono. What a great actress! That is until she actually does get sick (enferma). No matter where you are in your language journey, s...

The world is full of musical styles and instruments. Some people like to sing while others like to play and even more just like to listen. Music truly has the potential to bring people together. Eduardo and Feliz enjoy making music and want to create a band. Eduardo sings (canta), Félix and others play (toca) instruments and others just listen (escucha) to the música. Discover where their music ad...