Simple Stories in Spanish

Latest Episodes:

Si vas a Costa Rica Oct 16, 2022

Show notes

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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La Leyenda del Quetzal - updated Oct 09, 2022

Show notes

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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Las vacas perdidas - updated Sep 25, 2022

Show notes

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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¿Quién soy yo? - updated version Sep 18, 2022

Show notes

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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Las lenguas indígenas Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

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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Una fotógrafa profesional Jul 17, 2022

Show notes

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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Amor en México Jul 03, 2022

Show notes

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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El viaje Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

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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La lana de Dayana Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

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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El gatito valiente May 29, 2022

Show notes

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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