

Simple Stories in Spanish
Small Town Spanish Teacher
Simple Stories in Spanish is a biweekly production of the Small Town Spanish Teacher. Listen along as she tells easy to understand stories to help you learn or practice the Spanish language. Wherever you are in your language journey, Simple Stories will help propel you forward. You can find transcripts of the stories at smalltownspanishteacher.com. You can support the creation of these stories by buying me a coffee (or taco!) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 6, 2021 • 14min
Las Fiestas de San Fermín
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. “Las Fiestas de San Fermín” are more commonly known as “The Running of the Bulls”. These eight and a half days involve so much more than the 3 minute sprint from the Ayuntamiento, or City Hall, to the Plaza de Toros. There are parades, music, giant paper maché heads, brilliant fireworks, and bullfightsThis story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “toro” (bull), “corrida” (bullfight), “fuegos artificiales” (fireworks), “Ayuntamiento” (City Hall), “calle” (street) and "lucha" (fight). 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/2021/06/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-fiestas-de-san-fermin/¡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 Support the show

May 30, 2021 • 13min
Las Fiestas de Palmares
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. To visit Costa Rica is to experience la pura vida, or pure life. While it is known mostly for nature and coffee, the celebrations of Costa Rica make you feel alive. They are full of that “pura vida”. The biggest celebration in Costa Rica is Fiestas de Palmares - two weeks of parades, bullfights, concerts and soccer, or football, matches.This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “caballo” (horse),“jinete” (horse rider), “lucir” (to show off), “toro” (bull), “corrida” (bullfight), “tico/tica” (Costa Rican), “carpas” (tents), and “largo” (long). 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/2021/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-fiestas-de-palmares/¡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 Support the show

May 23, 2021 • 12min
La Noche de Rábanos
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Oaxaca, México is best known for its celebration of Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead. However, there is another festival in Oaxaca that bears mentioning: La Noche de Rábanos, or Night of the Radishes. This colorful evening of radish and vegetable sculptures is a feast for the eyes as professionals and amateurs alike compete to make the best radish sculpture. This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “rábano” (radish),“agricultores” (farmers), “puesto” (stand/stall), “gente” (people), and “además” (in addition). 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/2021/05/23/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-noche-de-rabanos/¡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 Support the show

May 16, 2021 • 13min
La Fiesta de la Tirana
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Northern Chile embraces more than Chilean culture. In this region you can find Bolivian, Peruvian, and indigenous influence. This combination of cultures is presented each year in the Fiesta de la Tirana. While “Tirana” means “tyrant” the festival actually celebrates the Virgen del Carmen, one of the Virgin Mary’s many incarnations. It takes place in the very small town of La Tirana, named for a rebellious Incan princess.This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “fe” (faith),“bailes” (dances), “bailadores” (dancers), and “iglesia” (church). 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/2021/05/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-fiesta-de-la-tirana/¡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 Support the show

May 9, 2021 • 11min
La Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. La Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is the second most popular fiesta en Argentina. Vendimia means “grape harvest” and the province of Mendoza has a lot of grapes. This 10-day festival includes parades and presentations that represent the rich culture and heritage of wine making in Mendoza.This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “vino” (wine),“viña” (vineyard), “uvas” (grapes), “cosecha” (harvest), “bendición” (blessing), and “reina” (queen). 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/2021/05/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-fiesta-de-la-vendimia/¡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 Support the show

May 1, 2021 • 13min
La celebración de Inti Raymi
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Inti Raymi was the most important celebration of the Incas. People came from every corner of the Incan empire to pledge their allegiance to the Sapa Inca and to honor Inti, the god of the sun. The Spanish occupation put an end to Inti Raymi, but 400 years later it was reborn. Inti Raymi today is a celebration of Incan history, language and culture.This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “sol” (sun),“incaico” (Incan), “momias” (mummies) and “próximo año” (next year). 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/2021/05/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-inti-raymi/¡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 Support the show

Apr 25, 2021 • 13min
La celebración de Carnaval en la República Dominicana
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Carnaval is a popular celebration throughout Latin America. Each country has its own special way to showcase their local culture during this multi-day party of food, music, and dancing. Carnaval originated as a three day party before Lent, but has since evolved into vibrant celebrations of culture. In the Dominican Republic, Carnaval lasts an entire month with each town giving it its own twist.This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade),“disfraz” (costume), “máscara” (mask) and “diablo” (devil). 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/2021/04/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-carnaval-en-la-republica-dominicana/¡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 Support the show

Apr 18, 2021 • 13min
La Feria de las Flores
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Medellín, Colombia is already a vibrant city, but somehow it becomes even more vibrant and lively during “La Feria de las Flores”. The entire city is decorated by carnations, lilies, orchids, roses and more as the Department of Antioquia, of which Medellín is the capital, celebrates one of its largest exports with flower displays, flower decorations, and a giant flower parade.This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “flores” (flowers), “campo” (countryside), “atrae” (attracts), “lleva” (carries), “arreglo” (arrangement), and “silleta” (a wooden structure, like a chair with its legs cut off, that was strapped to a person’s back and used to transport people and goods from the country to the city). 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/2021/04/18/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-feria-de-las-flores/¡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 at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher Support the show

Apr 11, 2021 • 15min
La celebración de la Santísima Tragedia/Mama Negra
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Latacunga, Ecuador is the home of a celebration in honor of la Virgen de las Mercedes (The Virgen Mary has many names and many faces in Hispanic cultures, in this instance, she is the Virgen of Merced, or “Mercy”). They celebrate with a large parade. At the center of this celebration is Mama Negra, a representative of African cultures in Ecuador.This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “rezar” (to pray), “esclavos” (slaves), “ropa” (clothing) and “iglesia” (church). 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/2021/04/11/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-la-santisima-tragedia-mama-negra/¡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 at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher Support the show

Apr 4, 2021 • 14min
La celebración de las Fallas
This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. 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/2021/04/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-las-fallas/¡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 at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher Support the show