Simple Stories in Spanish (Small Town Spanish Teacher)

This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Ronaldo comes from a family obsessed with football (or soccer), so it is no surprise that he wants to be a famous football star like his “tocayo”, or namesake, Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ronaldo only wants to play front and center, hogging the ball and making all the goals. He needs to learn the importance of each position to truly become a great player. 

This story is told mostly in the present tense with a paragraph in the past. Repeated words and phrases include “portero” (goalie), “delantero” (forward position), “pelota” (ball), “árbitro” (referee), “tanteo” (score), “tocayo” (namesake), and “entrenador” (coach). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/02/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gran-ronaldo/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Silvia loves sweets a bit too much. Her love of sugar catches up with her in the form of a toothache. Now she must visit the dentist. First, the hygienist takes x-rays and cleans up her teeth. Then the dentist comes in for a visit. One thing is for sure, Sylvia needs to take better care of her teeth! 

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “caramelos” (candy), “higienista dental” (dental hygienist), “hilo dental” (dental floss), “encías” (gums), “sarro” (tartar), “carie” (cavity), and “empaste” (filling). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/02/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-visita-al-dentista/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Jayden, Charley and Theo love fishing with their mom. One Saturday they grab their fishing poles and head to the lake. Find out what they catch in today’s story. 

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “el pez” (the fish), “pescar” (to fish), “caña de pescar” (fishing rod), “carrete” (fishing reel), “sedal” (fishing line), “anzuelo” (fishing hook), “cebo” (bait), “gusano” (worm), and “orilla” (shore). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/02/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-a-pescar/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Claire loves to dance. She dances every chance she gets. She dances in the car, the supermarket, and around the house when she should be doing her chores. Even though Claire loves to dance, she learns that sometimes she shouldn’t because dancing can cause problems.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “bailar” (to dance), “girar” (to spin/twirl), “quehaceres” (chores), “guardar” (to put away), “la escoba” (broom), and “limpiar” (to clean). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/02/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-a-bailar/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Life with a toddler can be fun and difficult. That is why routines are so important. When Lily doesn’t take her nap, the rest of the day is rough for her dad, Esteban. Perhaps a nighttime routine with soothing songs will be exactly what they both need to sleep.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “dormir” (to sleep), “la siesta” (nap), “lavar” (to wash), “el baño” (the bath), “burbujas” (bubbles), “dedos/deditos” (fingers and toes), and “mecer” (to rock). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/03/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-hora-de-dormir/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Paloma is a near perfect child. She just has one problem that threatens to take over her life - Paloma is a worrier. She worries about EVERYTHING from school to shopping to what she wears. Paloma reaches out to her mom, who realizes that she needs more help than she can give. So, Paloma meets with a therapist. At first, she is worried, but after time she begins to develop confidence and her worrying subsides.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “preocupada” (worried), “se preocupa por” (worries about), “no te preocupes” (don’t worry), “siente” (feels), “a gusto” (comfortable/at ease), and “terapeuta” (therapist). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/03/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-preocupada/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a coffee or taco!

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. It is springtime in the northern hemisphere. With springtime comes more time outside, cleaning the yard and getting it ready to produce. My yard has sections of grass, flowers, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden. In the spring, I spend time getting each area ready for summer.

This story is told in the first-person present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “primavera” (spring), “jardín” (yard), “huerto” (vegetable garden/fruit orchard), “yuyos” (weeds), “podar” (to prune), “semillas” (seeds), “césped” (grass/lawn), and “mantilla” (mulch). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/03/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-preparando-mi-jardin/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Brandon and Julia love dinosaurs. They have a bunch of plastic toy dinosaurs that they play with together. There is only one problem. Julia’s Tyrannosaurus Rex is always eating Brandon’s dinosaurs. Brandon and Julia both know a lot about dinosaurs. Will Brandon be able to find one that Julia’s T-Rex can’t eat?

This story is told in the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “juega” (plays), “agarra” (grabs), “gruñe” (growls), “medía” (measured), “pesaba” (weighed), “placas” (pates), “cuernos” (horns), and “juega a comerlo” (pretends to eat it). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/04/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-los-dinosaurios/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. After the birth of their daughter Adela, Mark and Alayna decided to spend some time in Spain. They love the food, culture, and people of España and are used the opportunity to practice the language as well.

This story is told mostly in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “fueron” (they went), “postre” (dessert), “viajar” (to travel), and “hermoso” (beautiful). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/04/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-familia-canadiense-en-espana/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. The story of the three little pigs, or los tres cerditos, is one of the first many kids learn. This story of hard work, personal responsibility, and delayed gratification never goes out of style.

This story is told mostly in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “cerditos” (little pigs), “lobo” (wolf), “bosque” (forest), “paja” (straw), “madera” (wood), “ladrillos” (bricks), “fuerte” (strong), and “sopló” (blew). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/04/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-los-tres-cerditos/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Nathan is in love with Ana. They are getting married. But Ana is from Spain and Nathan is from California. Nathan’s family is both excited and nervous for the trip, language, and cultural differences they will find in this “boda en España”.

This story is told mostly in the present tense with a little in the past. Repeated words and phrases include “boda” (wedding), “padres” (parents), “hermoso” (beautiful), “iglesia” (church) and “anillo” (ring). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-boda-en-espana/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Why is the raven black? 7-year-old Agapita has created a series of drawings to explain the dark feathers of this intelligent bird who just wanted to get a glimpse of his creator. This story was originally written in English by Scott Wyatt.

This story is told mostly in the past tense with some dialogue in the present. Repeated words and phrases include “cuervo” (raven/crow), “dibujo” (drawing), “creador” (creator/maker), “mundo” (world) and the verbs “veo” (I see), “vio” (s/he saw), “hizo” (made), and “sería” (would be). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/08/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-color-del-cuervo/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Latriz has a very important job. She is a receptionist in a clinic. The people who come to the clinic talk to her before they talk to the nurse or doctor. The people who call the clinic talk to her for guidance. Latriz needs to help them stay calm and get the help they need. Latriz’s job is very important.

This story includes a lot of dialogue is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “cita” (appointment), “tarjeta” (card), “fiebre” (fever), “ayuda” (help) and “pregunto” (I ask). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-recepcionista/

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Juan is a little cat. He thought today would be like any other day exploring with his family, but instead he woke up to discover that is home became a construction site! Will he be able to make his way through the heavy equipment and find his family?

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “viga” (beam), “tierra” (dirt), “borde” (edge), “busca” (looks for), “grúa” (crane), and “volquete” (dump truck). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-valiente/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Dayana the alpaca is surprised to learn that her wooly coat is going to be sheared. She loves her wool, so she runs away. While she is away, she meets a graceful vicuña, an overgrown oveja (sheep), and a sheared llama. Dayana learns that it might not be so bad to have her coat cut after all.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “lana” (wool), “oveja” (sheep), “hilo” (yarn), and “huye” (runs away). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/06/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-lana-de-dayana/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. I love to travel. I love to see new sights and experience new foods. I love meeting new people. There are a few things I don’t love about traveling, but they don’t seem to matter once I reach my destination.

This story is told in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “viajar” (to travel), “vuelo” (flight), “boleto” (ticket), “equipaje” (luggage), “maleta” (suitcase), “facturar” (check-in) “seguridad” (security), “aduana” (customs), and “tirolesa” (zipline - also called “tirolina”). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/06/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-viaje/  

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Julius didn’t know when he left Germany to study in France that he would fall in love with a girl from Mexico. Now he has a reason to learn Spanish and visit this incredible country.

This story is told in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “Alemania” (Germany), “vuelo” (flight), “boleto” (ticket), “fue” (went), and “quería” (wanted). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/07/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-amor-en-mexico/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Nancy is a visual artist. Her medium is not paint, sculpture or architecture - it is photography. With her photography she is able to capture the love between two people and the characters of two dogs.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “obras” (works), “fondo” (background), “retrato” (portrait), “luz” (light), “pareja” (couple), “objetivos” (camera lenses), and “hace” (makes). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/07/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-fotografa-profesional/

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Before the Spanish sailed across the ocean and spread the language of Castellano, the Americas were filled with multiple dialects of rich languages. Little by little, these diverse native tongues are disappearing. There are people that want to save the indigenous tongues of their ancestors, and they are doing so in interesting ways.

This story is told in the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “lengua” (tongue), “lenguaje” (language), “gente” (people), “orgulloso” (proud), “orgullo” (pride), “raíces” (roots), and “hay que” (one must). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/08/03/simple-stories-in-spanish/ 

Learn more about Juchirap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMEQf4SrYy4

Learn more about Kumbarikira: http://latinalista.com/columns/globalviews/childrens-rap-video-gives-new-life-to-peruvian-indigenous-language 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Having written more than 100 stories for this podcast, I have decided to give a few of them a facelift. After some big changes in my personal life, I would like to start by updating my own personal story with a remake of Season 2, episode 1: ¿Quién soy yo?

This story is told in the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “soy” (I am), “he enseñado” (I have taught), “además” (in addition/furthermore), “también” (also/too), and “difícil” (dificult). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/09/18/simple-stories-in-spanish-quien-soy-yo-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 1, episode 13: Las vacas perdidas. I really enjoyed writing Las vacas perdidas. In the remake, I changed the story from the third person to the first person. I put the story in the past tense, and I added more numbers. Paula enjoys living in the mountains with her dog Bobo and her 150 cows, which she counts every day. One time Paula’s cows got into some sticky situations, but helping them brought her a real surprise.

This story starts in the present tense and moves into the past. Repeated words and phrases include “vaca” (cow), “perdida” (lost), “oyó” (heard), “ladró” (barked), “tras” (after/behind) and “metida” (stuck). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/09/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-vacas-perdidas-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 3, episode 5: La Leyenda del Quetzal. In the middle of the Guatemalan flag there is a beautiful green bird with a bright red chest and a long flowing tail. It is the quetzal, a symbol of liberty and a nahual, or spirit guide, of the Maya and Quiché people. There are many legends surrounding this stunning and elusive bird and today’s story shares one of them. 

This story is in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “tribu” (tribe), “cacique” (chieftan), “guerreros” (warriors), “pecho” (chest), and the verbs “iba” (was going), “era” (was), and “fue” (was/went). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/10/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-quetzal/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 1, episode 14: Ramona en la playa. If you go to Costa Rica, you will probably go to the beach. And if you go to the beach, you will see animals. If you see animals, you will probably see a capuchin monkey. And if you see a capuchin monkey, they will probably steal something from you.

This story is told in an “if-then” format using the present and future tenses and both the second and third person. Repeated words and phrases include “si” (if), “vas” (you go), “verás” (you will see), “mono” (monkey), “playa” (beach), “arena” (sand), “olas” (waves), and “quizás” (perhaps). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/10/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-si-vas-a-costa-rica/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 2, episode 8: ¿Dónde vivo yo? A couple of months ago I moved into a new home. I am still in the same area of Colorado, but there are some differences in my new abode from my previous homes. In today’s remake, I focus more on the description of my home as well as previous homes I have lived in in this area.

This story is told in the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “casa” (house), “había” (there were), “quería” (I wanted), “vecinos” (neighbors), “ventanas” (windows), “comedor” (dining room), “sótano” (basement), and “jardín” (yard/garden). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/10/23/simple-stories-in-spanish-donde-vivo-yo-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 3, episode 3: La leyenda del Caleuche. In southern Chile there is an island named Chiloé. The fishermen of Chiloé tell the tale of a ghost ship: the Caleuche. This ship is different from others because it is driven by a lovely mermaid queen who throws parties for her court. But before they can have their party, they need to harvest souls.

This story includes dialogue and both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “barco” (ship), “pescador” (fisherman), “sirena” (mermaid), “olas” (waves), “cielo” (sky), “hacia” (towards) and “lubina” (seabass). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/10/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-caleuche-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 1, episode 7: La muchacha está enferma. It is that time of year in the northern hemisphere when sicknesses start to appear. When a child is sick, they should stay home from school. However, some kids will fake being sick to avoid doing their schoolwork. Such is the case of Jessica, who would rather be at home on her phone than in school taking tests. She fakes a cold so she can stay at home. What a great actress she is! That is, until she actually does get sick.

This story includes dialogue, commands, body parts, the past tense and some complex verb phrases.. Repeated words and phrases include “resfriada” (stuffed up), “tos” (cough), “estornudar” (to sneeze), “me duele” (it hurts me), “garganta” (throat), “queda” (stay) and “fingió” (faked/pretended). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/11/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-muchacha-enferma/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 1, episode 3: Eduardo busca novia. It can be hard to wander through life alone, especially during the holidays. Eduardo the elephant searches for the perfect girlfriend. He doesn’t care how she looks - she doesn’t even need to be an elephant! He just wants someone who is nice, fun, and patient. However, as Eduardo discovers, those traits can sometimes be hard to find.

This story is written in the past tense and contains dialogue. Repeated words and phrases include “novia” (girlfriend), “novio” (boyfriend), “amable” (kind/nice), “divertido” (fun), “tímido” (shy), “valiente” (brave), “quería” (wanted), “compartir” (share) and “lo siento” (sorry). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/11/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-eduardo-busca-novia/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 6, episode 7: La pequeña Victoria. Victoria was feeling nervous and scared about leaving her small town and going to university in a big city. Her friend Piper didn’t seem scared at all. Victoria learned that some of Piper’s confidence came from her success in a martial arts class. Victoria decided to give the classes a try and she learned that small girls like her can be fierce opponents.

This story is written mostly in the past tense and the first person. Repeated words and phrases include “miedo” (fear), “confianza” (confidence), “apalancamiento” (leverage), “golpear” (to punch/hit), “patear” (to kick), “rodar” (to roll), “agarrar” (to grab), “entrenar” (to train) and “aprender” (to learn). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/11/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-pequena-victoria-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 3, episode 2. Outside of Mexico City there are two volcanoes. One is a dormant volcano called Iztaccíhuatl, a name that means “white woman”. The other is the very active Popocatépetl, which means “smoking mountain.” Legend says these two volcanoes are star-crossed lovers that couldn’t be together in life.

This story is written mostly in the past tense and includes dialogue. Repeated words and phrases include “guerrero” (warrior), “cacique” (tribal chief), “luchar” (to fight), “sonrisa” (smile), and “celoso” (jealous). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/12/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-iztaccihuatl-y-popocatepetl/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 6, episode 1. Luisa loves snow. She loves making snow angels and snowmen. She loves building snow forts and throwing snowballs. She likes skating and skiing and hockey. There is only one problem. It hasn’t snowed yet!

This story is written in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “invierno” (winter), “nieve” (snow), “copos de nieve” (snowflakes), “muñeco de nieve” (snowman), “bolas de nieve” (snowballs), “escarcha” (frost), and “cae” (falls). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/12/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-cuento-de-invierno-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 6, episode 21. Juan is a little cat. Every day he explores the world with his family, but one day everything changed. When he woke up, his family was gone, and he was in the middle of a construction site. Would he be able to make his way through the heavy equipment to find his family?

This story is written in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “viga” (beam), “tierra” (dirt/earth/ground), “borde” (edge), “grúa” (crane), “volquete” (dump truck), “cargadora” (front loader), “montacargas” (forklift), and “buscó” (looked for). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/12/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-valiente-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 2, episode 10: ¿Cómo es mi familia? If you have been following me for a while, you know that my family dynamics changed last year. So, I felt I should start this new year by celebrating the wonderful people I am related to.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “mayor” (older), “menor” (younger), “hijo” (child/son), “hermanos” (siblings), “sobrinos” (nieces and nephews), “tíos” (aunts and uncles), and “abuelos” (grandparents). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/01/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-como-es-mi-familia-2/ 

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This seventh season of Simple Stories in Spanish is updating some of my favorite episodes. Today’s remake is from Season 3, episode 13: La Leyenda del Carruaje de la Muerte. According to the legend, a “carruaje” or carriage appears in the night to carry souls to the afterlife. The carriage with its big, black horses is not meant to be seen. If you do see it, it can mean…death.

This story is told in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “carruaje” (carriage), “muerte” (death), “oyó” (heard), “espantoso” (scary), “tenía miedo” (was afraid), “ruido” (noise), and “jalar” (tu pull). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/01/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-carruaje-de-la-muerte/ 

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Today marks a new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I am kicking off the season with one of my favorite travel stories. When I went to Ecuador ten years ago, I had the opportunity to snorkel twice with blowfish, sea turtles and sea lions, which in Spanish are called sea wolves. The first day was amazing, but the second was a little scary. 

This story is mostly in the first-person plural (pronoun “we”) and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “barco” (boat), “fuimos” (we went), “tortuga” (tortoise), “tiburón” (shark), and “lobo marino” (literally sea wolf, although we call it a sealion).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/01/23/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-viaje-a-las-islas-galapagos/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s personal experience comes from Skipper. Skipper was an amazing volunteer in his community, but he didn’t work alone. Skipper trained therapy dogs. His leonberger Ransom visited people from all walks of life, bringing them love and comfort. 

Today’s story is told in the third person using both the present and the past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “dueño” (owner), “entrenamiento” (training), “equipo” (team), “consuelo” (comfort), “discapacidad” (disability), “entrenar” (to train) and “entretener” (to entertain).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/01/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-skipper-y-ransom/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s story is one I did not write. It is a very special story of love told by someone I happen to share a name with. Camila is a native of Colombia. Her husband, Stephen, listens to this podcast to practice his Spanish, so Camila decided to write a story especially for him.

Today’s story is told in the third person using mostly the past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “hermoso” (beautiful), “conocer” (to meet/to know), “disfrutar” (to enjoy), and “vista” (view/sight).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/02/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-amor-a-primera-vista/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s story is about a very talented musical family and their band, Sugar ‘n Sage. Based in Vancouver, Canada, this groups gets audiences on their feet, dancing and singing along to their toe-tapping songs.

Today’s story is told in the third person using both the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “juntos” (together), “agrega” (adds), “baterista” (drummer), and “cantante” (singer).

Learn more about Sugar 'n Sage on their website: https://www.sugarnsage.ca/

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/02/14/simple-stories-in-spanish-sugar-n-sage/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s story is about my own personal Spanish journey. As you are aware, I am not a native Spanish speaker. While you can read a bit about why I’m a Spanish teacher on my blog, a couple of listeners have asked me to share the story of my Spanish journey in Spanish.

Today’s story is told in the first person using both the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “viaje” (journey), “idioma” (language), “seguir” (to continue), “tuve” (I had), and “extranjero” (foreign).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/02/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-espanol/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s story is about chickens. Josh and Marya were looking for a change of pace during the pandemic and they found it by becoming the owners of a few backyard chickens. With the help of a local Chicken Guy, Marya and Josh got set up for success in their new urban farming adventure.

Today’s story is told in the third person using multiple tenses, including the present, past, and conditional. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “gallinas” (chickens), “gallinero” (chicken coop) “el pollero” (the Chicken Guy), “el jardín” (garden/yard) “alquilar” (to rent), and “poner huevos” (to lay eggs).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/02/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-gallinas/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Today’s story is about my mother and her family. When my mom was eight years old, she moved with her family from Michigan to Sumatra, Indonesia. I always loved hearing her stories and today I am going to share the story of her journey with you.

Today’s story is told in the third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “viaje” (trip), “barco” (boat) “abuelos” (grandparents), “llegó” (arrived), and “holandés” (Dutch).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/03/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-viaje-a-indonesia-parte-1/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Last episode I shared my mother’s journey from Michigan to Sumatra, Indonesia when she was eight. My mom and her family had a lot to learn when they arrived in Indonesia. Life there was quite different from life in Michigan. From school to food to shopping, nothing was quite the same.

This story is told in the third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “recuerda” (she remembers), “nivel” (level/grade), “hacía calor” (it was hot), “llevaban” (they wore), “lluvia” (rain) and “zanjas” (ditches).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/03/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-vida-en-indonesia-parte-2/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Many of my favorite stories of my mom’s life in Indonesia are about animals. I loved seeing pictures and hearing stories of her animal encounters. Today, I am going to share these stories with you.

This story is told in the third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “lagarto” (lizard), “techo” (ceiling/roof), “cabra” (goat), “piel” (skin) and “silvestre” (wild).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/03/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-vida-con-animales-en-indonesia-parte-3/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. Living in Indonesia had a huge impact on my mother. Although she was young, she remembers much of her time there. While most of her time was spent in Kisaren, she also traveled to other places with her family. Her journey home marked a literal journey around the world that changed her forever.

This story is told in the first and third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “fueron” (they went), “llegaron” (they arrived), “tuvieron” (they had), “volaron” (they flew) and “se quedaron” (they stayed).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/04/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-unos-viajes-en-indonesia-parte-4/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. At the end of March, I decided to take my boys on a trip to some national parks in southern Utah. Unfortunately, our trip took a turn for the worse when my check engine light came on. Fortunately, we were still able to have some fun in Zion National Park.

This story is told in the first person using the past and conditional tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “la primavera” (Spring), “aceite” (oil), “estrellas” (stars), “estanque” (pool) and “sendero” (trail).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/04/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-vacaciones-de-primavera-y-el-problema-con-mi-coche-parte-1/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. This is the second half of my Spring Break adventure in southern Utah. While everything did not go as planned, due to engine trouble, we were still able to have fun and enjoy Bryce Canyon National Park.

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “taller” (shop), “nieve” (snow), “sendero” (trail). “por suerte” (luckily) and “puesto de observación” (lookout/observation point).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/05/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-vacaciones-de-primavera-y-el-problema-de-mi-coche-parte-2/  

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. David is one of my listeners and he recently shared his story with me. His adventures started when he joined the US navy at the age of 17 and they continue today. From playing the guitar to building his own house, David has lived a fascinating life.

This story is told in the third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “marina de guerra” (navy), “inscribirse” (to sign up/enlist), “avión” (plane) and “cambió” (changed).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/05/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-vida-fascinante-de-david/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I take my son on a lot of hikes. One time he decided to bring two of his stuffed animals on our hike in Grizzly Creek. Their names are Wolfy and Toothclaw. Toothclaw decided to take a swin in the creek and I went after him.

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “arroyo” (creek/stream), “sendero” (path/trail), “mochila” (backpack), and “peluche” (stuffed animal).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/05/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-toothclaw-y-el-arroyo-grizzly/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher Don’t forget to comment “For John” for this episode!

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I have very fond memories of my childhood. I spent a lot of time outside with my friends and family, no matter the time of year. As a child I played, I ran, I rode bikes, I read, and I just had fun.

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “recuerdo” (memory), “muñeca” (doll), “afuera” (outside), and “jugábamos” (we used to play).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/05/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-cuando-era-nina/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. As you have heard in previous stories, I love the outdoors. I have been on many hiking and camping trips, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I combined the two and went on my first backpacking adventure. That trek taught me many lessons and today I am sharing those lessons with you.

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “mochila” (backpack), “sendero” (trail), “nieve” (snow), “derretida” (melted) and “llevar” (to bring/carry).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/05/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-lecciones-de-mochilear/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I enjoy learning about my family history. My love of genealogy was encouraged by my dad who has done a lot of research. This last week I spent some time searching for clues about my ancestors. I found multiple documents, pictures, and even a few people I didn’t know about before. Today I am going to share a few of their stories. 

This story is told in both the first and third person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “antepasado” (ancestor), “bisabuelo” (great grandparent) “registro” (file), “luchó” (fought), “Alemania” (Germany), “Suecia” (Sweden), and “EE. UU.” (USA). There are also a lot of dates. Years in Spanish are read as a whole number starting with “mil” (one thousand), then the “cientos” (hundreds).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/06/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-historias-de-mis-antepasados/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. One of the best things I ever did was spend a semester of college in Spain. I lived with families and attended La Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona. I made many friends and traveled all over. I immersed myself in the language and culture. While that experience was more years ago than I care to admit, I remember it fondly. 

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “recuerdo” (I remember) and “fui” (I went).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/06/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-semestre-en-espana/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. If you’ve been following me for a while, you may know that I am from the state of Minnesota, but I live in Colorado. So, how did I get here? It wasn’t an easy decision or experience to move to Colorado, however, I am glad to be here and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. 

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “entrevista” (interview), “vuelo” (flight), puerta de embarque (gate in an airport terminal), retraso (delay), and ventilador (electric fan).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/07/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-viaje-a-colorado/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I love the theater. I love acting and singing and being in front of an audience. I haven’t been on a stage in years, but I have wonderful memories from my time in the theater.

This story is told in the first person using both the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: comedieta (skit), obra de teatro (play), escenario (stage), palco (theater balcony) and asiento (seat).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/07/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-en-el-teatro/ 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. My high school Spanish teacher had a poster of Machu Picchu on his wall. I would look at that poster and tell myself that one day I would visit those magical ruins in the mountains of Peru. That day came in the summer of 2009.

This story is told in the first person using the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “edificio” (building), pared (wall), “empinado” (steep), “altura” (height), and quechua (a native Peruvian language).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/07/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-viaje-a-peru/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Check out my new book “La Aventura de Zunzuncito” based on season 5 of this podcast! https://amzn.to/3Kbatpq 

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This new season of fresh stories all about personal experiences. I love Lego sets. I have been playing with them for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I would build and stage houses. Now that I’m older, I help my sons build whatever their heart desires and make stop motion videos.

This story is told in the first person using both the past and present tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “recuerdo” (I remember), “minifigura” (minifigure/Lego person), “divertirse” (to have fun), and “me encanta” (I love).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/08/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-obsesion-con-lego/ 

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Thirty years ago, Lisa took a pottery class. She learned the basics of throwing, forming, and firing clay. Now she is an expert potter, creating pieces for stores, events, and individuals.

This story is told in the third person using the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “la cerámica” (ceramics/pottery), “arcilla” (clay), “barbotina” (slip: water-clay mixture), “tornear” (to throw clay on a wheel), “torno” (pottery wheel), “esmaltar” (to glaze), and “asas” (handles).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/09/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-ceramica-de-lisa/ 

Check out Lisa's pottery at her website: ljakobsbergceramics

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I have been thinking a lot lately about mental health. I usually feel like I have a good grasp of my own mental health, but there are days I want to ignore the world and all my responsibilities in it. I have many activities that help boost my mental health and today I would like to share a few. Please note, I am not a mental health professional and what works for me may not work for everyone.

This story is told in the first person using mostly the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “me siento” (I feel), “salud” (health), “levantar pesas” (lift weights), and “felicidad” (happiness)

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/10/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-salud-mental/ 

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Moctezuma II is largely considered to be the last true Aztec emperor. He died shortly after inviting the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, into the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma was a priest and a great general before becoming a respected leader. But public opinion of him changed drastically when he was imprisoned by the very Spaniards he invited into his town. His people became so angry that they threw rocks at him, and killed him. Or did they?

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “herido” (wounded), “sacerdote” (priest), “argumentan” (argue), and the verb “creer” (to believe).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/11/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-muerte-de-moctezuma/ 

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In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte placed his older brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. This act led to multiple uprisings. After a short reign of only 5 years, Joseph left Spain and King Ferdinand VII reclaimed the throne. Those 5 tumultuous years led to many changes in Spain and its colonies.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “rey” (king), “poder” (power), and the verb “mandar” (to send or order).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/11/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-napoleon-y-espana/ 

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The Panama Canal plays a critical role in today’s global commerce, but it almost didn’t happen. A group of French engineers led by Charles De Lesseps spent nine years in Panama excavating earth to no avail. Later, Theodore Roosevelt took up the canal dream. Another 10 years of hard labor resulted in the engineering feat that is the Panama Canal.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “obreros” (workers), “esclusa” (canal lock), “tratado” (treaty) and a lot of numbers like “mil” (thousand) and “cientos” (hundreds).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/12/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-canal-de-panama/ 

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When the Old Christians Rugby Club chartered a flight from Uruguay to Chile, they were excited at the prospect of their upcoming match. The 45 passengers included the team and some family and friends. The plane hit turbulence over the Andes mountains resulting in a crash that would prove fatal for many on board. The remaining survivors were trapped on a snowy mountain, not knowing their fate.

This story does discuss death and other disturbing images, so listener discretion is advised.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “chocó” (crashed), “avión” (plane), “fuselaje” (fuselage/main body of an aircraft), “heridas” (wounds/injuries), “siguieron” (continued/kept going) and “sobrevivientes” (survivors).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/12/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-milagro-en-los-andes/ 

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Diego Maradona is one of the greatest footballers, or soccer players, of all time. He started playing professionally just before his 16th birthday. He was already a popular player when he arrived at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. However, it would be his performance here, especially in the quarterfinal game against England, that would cement his name in history.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “ganó” (won/beat), “partido” (game), “pelota” (ball), “golpeó” (hit), and “Inglaterra” (England).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/01/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-maradona-y-la-mano-de-dios/ 

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Puerto Rico is an anomaly. After being visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493, it fell under Spanish rule. England, Portugal, and France attempted invasions, but Puerto Rico did not break free from Spain until 1898 when the Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American war and gave Puerto Rico to the United States. Today it remains an unincorporated territory of the US, but that could change in the near future. 

This story is told in the third person and the present and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “ciudadano” (citizen), “estadounidense” (American/of the United States), “derecho” (right), and “guerra” (war).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/01/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-ciudadania-de-puerto-rico/ 

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In their attempts to convert the native peoples of the Americas to Christianity, Catholic missionaries destroyed many elements of preHispanic cultures, including their books. The mayan culture in particular had hundreds, if not thousands, of books and documents concerning mythology, astronomy, history and religion. Thankfully, one person thought to record this information and hid it. That book, El Popol Vuh, was found and preserved by a sympathetic friar. Today you can even read it online.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “códice” (codex/ancient text), “fray” (friar), “lengua” (language/tongue), and “lo” (it).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/02/14/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-popol-vuh/ 

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Sign Language is a beautiful form of communication. For many years, the Deaf community was denied education, in large part because of Aristotle. Thankfully, many people recognized the ability of deaf people to communicate using signs. Sign Language became documented and standardized. However, due to dictatorship and revolution, in 1980s Nicaragua, sign language didn’t really exist. So, a group of deaf students created their own language from nothing.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “lengua de señas/lenguaje de signos” (sign language), “sordo” (deaf), “alfabetización” (literacy), and “labios” (lips).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/02/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-nacimiento-de-una-lengua/ 

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“Inca” or “Sapa Inca” is the title given to the kings of the Incan Empire. The incas did not have a written language, rather they had a rich oral tradition. Due to the lack of records, it is hard to know when exactly the Incan state, Tahuantinsuyo began. However, oral tradition tells of the Sun God, Inti, and his desire for a civilized people in the Andes mountains. He sent his son, Manco Capac, to make that dream a reality. Thus Manco Capac became the first Inca.

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “gente” (people), “hundir” (to sink), “tierra” (earth), “enseñó” (taught) and “venerar” (to worship).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/03/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-primer-inca/ 

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Many kings and queens are given nicknames along with their titles. Juana was the third child of Isabel and Fernando “the Catholics”. Her nickname, “la loca”, or “the crazy one” came from her dramatic outbursts, often related to her husband, Felipe “the Handsome”. The question remains, was Juana really loca? Or was she the victim of circumstances and manipulations well out of her control?

This story is told in the third person and the past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “heredero” (heir), “nacimiento” (birth), “rey” (king), “reina” (queen) and “poder” (power).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/04/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-juana-la-loca/ 

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Hector is the king of a distant kingdom. He has one daughter who he wants to see married to a strong knight before he dies. Laura, his daughter, has no interest in marrying. She just wants to read and study to become a novelist. Hector turns to Fausto the wizard to enchant his daughter into marrying a valiant knight.

This story is in the third person and the past tense. It also includes complex grammar in the form of the conditional and past subjunctive tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “rey” (king), “reino” (kingdom), “caballero” (knight), “espada” (sword), “escudo” (shield), and encantar (to enchant/curse). 

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/05/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-princesa-laura/ 

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Part 2 of "La princesa Laura"

Fausto is not happy that his plan to become king was ruined when Mauricio drank a potion intended for Laura. Now Laura is queen and Mauricio is everyone’s hero. If only Fausto could become more important to the people than Laura and Mauricio. Maybe if he causes problems that only he can solve with his magic, the people will see that they need him as their king.

This story is in the third person and the past tense. It also includes complex grammar in the form of the conditional and past subjunctive tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “reina” (queen), “reino” (kingdom), “mago” (magician/wizard), “creía” (believed/thought), and encantar (to enchant/curse).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/05/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-problemas-en-el-reino/ 

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Fausto wants to be king so he is causing problems that only he can solve. First birds, then rats terrorized the town before he came in and led them away with his magic. The kingdom is impressed, but will they be impressed enough to overthrow Queen Laura and make him their king?

This story is in the third person and the past tense. It also includes complex grammar in the form of the conditional and past subjunctive tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “culebra” (snake), “morder” (to bite), “escamas” (scales), veneno (venom/poison), and “cuerda” (rope). 

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/06/05/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-mago-fausto/ 

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Mauricio is a great knight who only wants one thing: to make his queen happy. But he doesn’t know how to do that because she is dying of a snake bite. The queen needs a doctor, not a silly knight. Perhaps the answer is in the books Laura is always reading.

This story is in the third person and the past tense. It also includes complex grammar in the form of the conditional and past subjunctive and past perfect tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “caballero” (knight),“víbora” (viper/snake), “veneno” (venom/poison), and “enferma” (sick).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/06/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-caballero-mauricio/ 

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Laura almost died. She was bit by an enormous viper, but thankfully Mauricio arrived with an antidote just in time. Mauricio is confused. One minute he was battling in a competition of knights, drinking water offered by the princess and the next minute he finds out he has been married to her for a year. Fausto is a snake. He was never able to get to the potion that would turn him back into a person. How will this story end?

This story is in the third person and the past tense. It also includes complex grammar in the form of the conditional and past subjunctive and past perfect tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “hada madrina” (fairy godmother),“varita mágica” (magic wand), “recordar” (to remember), and “parecía” (seemed).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/07/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-felices-para-siempre/ 

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Arturo the monster lives alone in the mountains. He is tired of being alone in his cave and decides to go to the city to make some animal friends. Some animals look down on him because of his size, looks, and smell, but one animal steals his heart.

This story is in the third person and the past tense with some present tense dialogue. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “apestaba” (stank/smelt bad),“lastimado” (hurt), “mono” (monkey), and “cerdo” (pig).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/07/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-monstruo/ 

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Catalina and Gustavo are very happy together, but something, or someone, is missing. When they learn they can’t have children, Catalina decides they should build a child, not a monster like Frankenstein, but a robot child.

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some future tense as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “funciona” (works/functions), “crear” (create), “piel” (skin), “cerebro” (brain), and “á” and “emos” at the end of a verb (will).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/08/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot/ 

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Catalina and Gustavo want a child so badly that they build a robot together. They are so happy when everything works. They love spending time with their robot son, but he feels like something is missing.

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some future tense as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “reemplazar” (replace), “jardín trasero” (backyard), “vecinos” (neighbors), “rostro” (face), and “herida” (wound).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/08/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot-parte-2/ 

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Catalina and Gustavo built a robot child. Now that child wants to go to school like other children. There are so many things that could go wrong, but they take the risk. Will it work? Will they be able to convince everyone that Benjamín is a normal 10-year-old child?

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some future tense as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “ajustes” (adjustments), “vuelven” (return), “cuerpo” (body), and “seguro” (safe).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/09/11/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot-parte-3/ 

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Benjamín is not like other children. He goes to school and enjoys playing, but he is not a normal child: he is a robot child. He had an accident in front of his friend Elian. Now, Elian and other kids are whispering about him and calling him a monster. Catalina and Gustavo are willing to do anything to protect their little family, but will it be enough?

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some future tense and subjunctive as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “se acerca” (approaches/nears), “vete” (go away), “piedras” (stones), and “abraza” (hugs).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/09/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot-parte-4/ 

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Catalina and Gustavo worked hard to bring their child Benjamín to life. After the neighbors discovered their secret, they were taken away to a secret location. Now, their son is being held hostage in a way to make them create more robots like him. Will Catalina and Gustavo find a way out?

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some future, conditional, subjunctive, and perfect tense use as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “taller” (workshop), “cerebro” (brain), “tapar” (to cover), “confía” (trusts), and “mientras” (while).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/10/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot-parte-5/ 

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Catalina, Gustavo, and Benjamín are trapped. Their only way out is to build a robot for the man who took them: Javier. But, Catalina and Gustavo have a different plan - one that will allow them to escape with their robot son and take down Javier in the process. Will they be able to pull it off?

This story is in the third person and the present tense with some past, future, perfect, and subjunctive tenses as well. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “cerebro” (brain), “piel” (skin), “salir” (to leave), and “enciende” (ignite/turn on).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/11/05/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-hijo-robot-parte-6-conclusion/ 

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Pablo Pavo is a lazy turkey. He lives in the woods and just wants to eat all day. The other woodland animals are worried about Pablo. They know hunting season is coming and Pablo needs to learn how to avoid humans. Each animal gives Pablo advice on how to stay safe. But, will Pablo listen?

This story is in the third person and the present tense with multiple instances of the present subjunctive tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “pavo” (turkey), “consejo” (advice),“evitar” (to avoid), “cazar” (to hunt), and “patas” (legs/feet).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/11/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-pavo-flojo/ 

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Isabel wishes she were home for Christmas instead of all alone in a big city. She knows that other people in her apartment building are also alone, so when the electricity goes out, she decides to spread light and joy through candles and song.

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “siente” (feels),“vecinos” (neighbors), “velas” (candles),“caja” (box), “Navidad” (Christmas), “Nochebuena” (Christmas Eve, and “villancicos” (carols).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2024/12/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-feliz-navidad/ 

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Juan lives a boring life in a boring house, driving a boring car to a boring job. When he turns 40, he decides that it is time to do something exciting, so he turns to the world of extreme sports.

This story is in the third person and the present tense with a sprinkling of past and future. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “aburrida” (boring),“deportes” (sports), “paracaidismo” (skydiving), “espeleología” (spelunking), and “buceo” (scuba diving).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/01/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-2/ 

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Today celebrates 5 years of Simple Stories in Spanish! In honor of its 5th anniversary, I have decided to retell one of my favorite stories from season 1. This story was inspired by the capuchin monkeys that I saw all over Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica.

Who doesn’t enjoy a day at the beach? Ramona certainly does. She goes to the beach every day and watches all the tourists. But Ramona isn’t just anybody, she is a capuchin monkey and is very famous for her thieving ways.

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “playa” (beach), “arena” (sand), “comida” (food), and “mono” (monkey).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/02/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-ramona-la-mona-capuchina/ 

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One of my favorite activities is to create stories with my students. Today’s was created by my Spanish 1 college class. You can see illustrations of our class story on my website through the link in the show notes.

Dave is a fun-loving, active young woman. She does a different activity every day of the week. Her activities take her all over the world.

This story is in the third person and the present tense with a little bit of past and conditional tenses. Please suspend all logic as the point of the story was to talk about the calendar, weather, and activities, and it is not logical. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “verano” (summer),“invierno” (winter), “tiempo” (weather), “charcos” (puddles),“camión” (truck), and “baloncesto” (basketball).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/02/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-dave-la-chica/ 

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Every now and again I am sent a story by a listener. Today’s fascinating, true story comes from Sharon.

The Florida Everglades is facing a big problem. Many of its native species are being killed off by Burmese pythons. However, a dog named Greg is helping to clear to Everglades of this stealthy predator, hunting down snakes invisible to the naked eye.

This story is in the third person and the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “piton” (python),“pantano” (swamp), “cazar” (to hunt), “cazador” (hunter), and “refugio” (shelter).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/03/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-greg-el-perro-cazador-de-pitones/ 

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This episode is a faster retell of the celebration of Las Fallas. One of my favorite fiestas occurs in March in the city of Valencia, España. San José (St. Joseph) is the patron saint of Valencia and in his honor, they build impressive life-like sculptures. They also decorate a tall statue of the Virgen María with sweet-smelling carnations and light up the sky with “fuegos artificiales”, or fireworks.

This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “madera” (wood), “quema” (burn), “fuego” (fire), “vestido” (dress) and “calle” (street). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/03/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-las-fallas/ 

You can find the original recording of this story here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/04/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-las-fallas/ 

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My son wrote a research story for his 5th grade class about black panthers. Through his writing I learned a lot about black panthers that I didn’t know before, like they are actually jaguars and leopards, not their own species! I enjoyed the story so much that I asked him to tell it with me.

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “pantera” (panther),“depredador” (predator), “presa” (prey), “hogar” (home), and “genial” (cool/neat).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/03/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-panteras-negras/ 

If you would like to send money to my son for his hard work, just write "for John" in the comment.

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This episode is a faster retell of El gatito valiente from season. Juan is a little cat. He thought today would be like any other day exploring with his family, but instead he woke up to discover that is home became a construction site! Will he be able to make his way through the heavy equipment and find his family?

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “viga” (beam),“tierra” (dirt), “borde” (edge), “busca” (looks for), “grúa” (crane) and “volquete” (dump truck).

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/04/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-el-gatito-valiente/ 

You can find the original recording of this story here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-valiente/ 

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Juan is a little cat. In a previous episode (El gatito valiente: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-valiente/ ), Juan got separated from his family in a construction site. He was a shy, scared cat, but that experience made him brave and daring. Now Juan goes out of his way to explore the world around him. But he still prefers a good construction site.

This story is in the third person and the present tense, with some past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “casco” (helmet) “destornillador” (screwdriver),“martillo” (hammer), “llave grifa” (pipe wrench), “almádena” (sledgehammer), “la pared” (wall) and “alfombra” (carpet). 

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/04/14/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-atrevido/ 

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher or donating to Small Town Spanish Teacher on Venmo or PayPal.

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This episode is a faster retell of La Semana Santa from season 4. Semana Santa, or “Holy Week” occurs the week before Easter. While it is a religious celebration all over the world, the most grand Semana Santa arguably is in Sevilla, España. The week is filled with processions of penitents and pasos that depict the events leading to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While it is a very religious event, you do not need to be religious to appreciate the history and culture of one of the longest living Spanish traditions. 

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “paso” (religious float), “Pascua Florida” (Easter), “llevar” (to wear), “cruz” (cross), and “cofradía” (brotherhood). 

No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/04/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-la-semana-santa/ 

You can find the original recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/08/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-semana-santa/ 

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How does this teacher start her students on their language journey? With a story, of course! Listen along as the Small Town Spanish Teacher tells the story of "Carlos y el elefante" - the story she uses on day 1 of Spanish 1. It repeats the verbs "mira" (sees/looks), "corre" (runs), "se sienta" (sits), "se levanta" (stands) and "para" (stops) as well as multiple cognates. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can read along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/02/08/carlos-y-el-elefante/

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What do people do in the park? They run and walk and maybe even dance. What does an elephant do in the park? Well, he writes poetry and makes friends with a mouse, of course! Listen along as the Small Town Spanish Teacher tells the story of "El elefante y el ratón" - the story she uses on day 1 of Spanish 1. It repeats the verbs "mira" (sees/looks), "corre" (runs), "escucha" (listens), "dice" (says), "escribe" (writes) and "para" (stops) as well as multiple cognates. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can read along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/02/15/el-elefante-y-el-raton/

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It can be hard to wander through life alone, especially on Valentine’s Day. Eduardo the elephant is searching for the perfect girlfriend. He wants someone who is nice (amable), fun (divertida), and patient (paciente). However, as Eduardo discovers, those traits can sometimes be hard to find. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can read along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/02/22/eduardo-busca-novia/

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Friends can be similar, but also quite different. Eduardo the elephant decides to change his lifestyle after his tiny friend Felix the mouse calls him fat. He runs (corre) and eats (come) good food. Perhaps now Felix should change his lifestyle too! No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can read along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/02/22/eduardo-es-gordo/

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Every party has potential for fun and for disaster. Eduardo the elephant wants to create a perfect birthday party for his friend Félix. He invites guests (invitados), decorates (decora) and prepares (prepara) food - including lots and lots of cheese (queso). He even buys a piñata! It will sure be a party to remember. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can listen along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/03/07/el-cumpleanos-de-felix/

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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 adventure leads them and the other animals that join their band. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!

You can read along here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/03/07/la-banda-de-animales/

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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, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/03/14/la-muchacha-esta-enferma/.

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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), debes (you should), puedes (you can) and parece (it seems), this story is great for reviewing foods and common verbs. Yet, no matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. 

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/03/20/pastel-para-el-desayuno/

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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 will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/03/28/el-oso-curioso/

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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 he tries to buy (comprar) the perfect boots. Will he be able to get what he wants? Find out in “Las botas”. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. 

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at  https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/04/03/las-botas/

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