

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

Dec 20, 2022 • 18min
El gatito valiente - updated
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/ Support the show

Dec 12, 2022 • 15min
Un cuento de invierno
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/ Support the show

Dec 4, 2022 • 17min
La leyenda de Iztaccíhuatl y Popocatépetl - updated
This episode of Simple Stories in Spanish retells the legend of two volcanoes near Mexico City who were star-crossed lovers. It explores forbidden love, tragic loss, and eternal rest. The podcast also discusses ways to support the show and its creators.

Nov 21, 2022 • 17min
La pequeña Victoria - updated version
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/ Support the show

Nov 13, 2022 • 18min
Eduardo busca novia - updated
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/ Support the show

Nov 7, 2022 • 19min
La muchacha enferma - updated
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/ Support the show

Oct 31, 2022 • 17min
El Caleuche - updated version
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/ Support the show

Oct 23, 2022 • 18min
¿Dónde vivo yo? - updated version
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/ Support the show

Oct 16, 2022 • 16min
Si vas a Costa Rica
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/ Support the show

Oct 9, 2022 • 19min
La Leyenda del Quetzal - updated
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/ Support the show