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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?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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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. 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. 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/ 

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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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/ 

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. 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. 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. 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 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 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 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/ 

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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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 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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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 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 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 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 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/ 

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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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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