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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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 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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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/ 

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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. 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/ 

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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. 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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