Sandra barely escaped death in an underground river. Now she and Gabriel must find their way out. Each twist and turn of the dark caverns brings them deeper into the underworld. 

This story is in the third person and present tense, with some present subjunctive and other verb forms used as needed to tell the story. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “oscuridad” (darkness),“susurrar” (to whisper), “conocimiento” (knowledge), “escalofriante” (scary), and “calaveras” (skulls).

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/2025/11/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-5/ 

Find part 1 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-1/ 

Find part 2 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-2/ 

Find part 3 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-3/

Find part 4 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-4/

¡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 . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher

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Sandra and Gabriel have fallen through the floor of the grand pyramid of Chichen Itzá, El Castillo. After solving puzzles and more falling through the pyramids below El Castillo, they have found themselves in a cenote, or underground lake. How will they make it out of this situation before the evil men chasing them catch up? Does Sandra know anything that can help them? 

This story is in the third person and present tense, with other verb forms used as needed to tell the story. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “río” (river),“una corte” (a cut), “jalar” (to pull), “muerte” (death), and “el inframundo” (the underworld).

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/2025/10/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-4/ 

Find part 1 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-1/ 

Find part 2 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/09/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-2/ 

Find part 3 here: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2025/10/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-la-vida-parte-3/

¡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 . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher

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Scary stories exist in every language, in every country. In the Spanish speaking world, none is more well known or widespread than the story of the weeping woman, La Llorona. La Llorona haunts rivers and lakes as she searches for her drowned children. If she can’t find them, she might just grab you.

This story is told in the third person using the present and past tenses. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “tiene miedo” (is scared), “niño” (child), “mujer” (woman), “hombre” (man), “hijos” (children), and “río” (river).

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/2025/06/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-la-llorona/ 

You can find the original recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/10/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-llorona/ 

¡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 sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Claire loves to dance. She dances every chance she gets. She dances in the car, the supermarket, and around the house when she should be doing her chores. Even though Claire loves to dance, she learns that sometimes she shouldn’t because dancing can cause problems.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “bailar” (to dance), “girar” (to spin/twirl), “quehaceres” (chores), “guardar” (to put away), “la escoba” (broom), and “limpiar” (to clean). 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/2022/02/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-a-bailar/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Jayden, Charley and Theo love fishing with their mom. One Saturday they grab their fishing poles and head to the lake. Find out what they catch in today’s story. 

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “el pez” (the fish), “pescar” (to fish), “caña de pescar” (fishing rod), “carrete” (fishing reel), “sedal” (fishing line), “anzuelo” (fishing hook), “cebo” (bait), “gusano” (worm), and “orilla” (shore). 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/2022/02/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-a-pescar/ 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Silvia loves sweets a bit too much. Her love of sugar catches up with her in the form of a toothache. Now she must visit the dentist. First, the hygienist takes x-rays and cleans up her teeth. Then the dentist comes in for a visit. One thing is for sure, Sylvia needs to take better care of her teeth! 

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “caramelos” (candy), “higienista dental” (dental hygienist), “hilo dental” (dental floss), “encías” (gums), “sarro” (tartar), “carie” (cavity), and “empaste” (filling). 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/2022/02/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-una-visita-al-dentista/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Ronaldo comes from a family obsessed with football (or soccer), so it is no surprise that he wants to be a famous football star like his “tocayo”, or namesake, Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ronaldo only wants to play front and center, hogging the ball and making all the goals. He needs to learn the importance of each position to truly become a great player. 

This story is told mostly in the present tense with a paragraph in the past. Repeated words and phrases include “portero” (goalie), “delantero” (forward position), “pelota” (ball), “árbitro” (referee), “tanteo” (score), “tocayo” (namesake), and “entrenador” (coach). 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/2022/02/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gran-ronaldo/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Victoria is feeling nervous and scared about leaving her small town and going to university in a big city. Her friend Piper doesn’t seem scared at all. Victoria learns that some of Piper’s confidence comes from her success in a martial arts class. Victoria decides to give it a try and she learns that small girls like her can be fierce opponents.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “confianza” (confidence/trust), “débil” (weak), “fuerte” (strong), “agarra” (grab/hold), “golpea” (punch/hit), “patea” (kicks), “rueda” (rolls), “apalancamiento” (leverage) and “entrenar” (to train/practice). 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/2022/01/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-pequena-victoria/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for a story about musical instruments. Perhaps you will remember “La mentira de Miguel” (season 1, episode 11). Miguel wanted to go to a rock concert with his friend Wes, but, due to his lying, ended up going to a classical music concert with his mom and sister. Little did he know how much that concert would change his life. He thought rock music was the only sound worth listening to, but after hearing violins, flutes, trumpets, and tubas, he has a new appreciation for instruments.

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “mentira” (lie), “chido” (cool), “ensayar” (to rehearse/practice), “labios” (lips), and “sopla” (blow). 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/2022/01/23/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-musica-de-miguel/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for a story about monarch butterflies. Hannah is a curious girl. When a butterfly lands in her back yard, she wants to learn all about it. After visiting the library, she learns that these butterflies are special and that they fly all the way to Mexico from Canada. What else will she learn about the mariposa monarca?

This story is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “mariposa” (butterfly), “alas” (wings), “oruga” (caterpillar), “algodoncillo” (milkweed), “biblioteca” (library), and “bibliotecaria” (librarian). 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/2022/01/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-mariposas-monarcas/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for underwater vocabulary. The Mesoamerican Reef system is the second largest in the world. Located in el /Mar Caribe, Caribbean Sea, the most beautiful section of this reef is accessible through the island of Roatán in Honduras. Here you can see the plant and animal life that call this tropical paradise home.

This story is told mostly in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “pez” (fish), “bucear” (scuba dive), “aletas” (fins), “tortuga” (turtle), “cangrejo” (crab), “tiburón ballena” (tiburón = shark, ballena = whale), and “choca” (crash). 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/2022/01/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-bajo-el-mar/ 

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for vocabulary for doctor-patient interactions. Luis just wants to dance the night away, but a car accident lands him in the emergency room with his date. Now, instead of salsa, he must deal with x-rays, stitches and a cast. What fun! 

This story is told mostly in the the present tense with one paragraph in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “choca” (crash), “duele” (hurts/pains), “pierna” (leg), “brazo” (arm), “cuello” (neck), “collarín” (neck brace) “heridas” (wounds), “puntadas” (stitches), “corte” (cut), and “yeso” (cast). 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/2022/01/02/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-accidente-de-coche/  

¡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 

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This sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for vocabulary for medical interactions. Julio loves winter because winter means skiing. He makes sure to wear all the right clothing: hat, scarf, gloves, and - most importantly - his helmet. When his helmet falls off the ski lift, he thinks he will be fine if he just goes slow. Unfortunately, though, accidents happen. 

This story is told mostly in the the present tense with one paragraph in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “telesilla” (ski lift), “casco” (helmet), “cabeza” (head), “heridas” (wounds), “puntadas” (stitches), “corte” (cut), and “choca” (crash). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/12/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-accidente-en-la-montana/

¡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 

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The end of the school year sparks excitement for summer break, but it can also cause some sadness and students and teachers say goodbye - some for the summer, some for longer. Imani walks through the halls chanting “hasta luego” (see you later) to those she passes, until she realizes that she might not actually “see” some of them in the future. Will she have to say goodbye? 

This story is told in the third person using the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “compañeros” (classmates), “maestro” (teacher), “termina” (ends), and “hasta luego” (see you later).

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/2025/05/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-hasta-luego/ 

You can find the original recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-hasta-luego/ 

¡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 sixth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is inspired by requests from my listeners. Today’s story comes from a request for winter-themed vocabulary. Luisa loves winter. She loves everything about winter including frost, snow, ice, and hockey. But it is December in Canada, and it still hasn’t snowed. Will Luisa be able to make snow angels, snowmen and snow forts? She wishes on a falling star that winter will come - and it does!

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “nieve” (snow), “hielo” (ice), “escarcha” (frost), “bufanda” (scarf), “cae” (fallas), “copas de nieve” (snowflakes), and “muñeco de nieve” (snowman). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/12/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-un-cuento-de-invierno/ 

¡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 

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I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 12 - the last chapter! Zunzuncito is reaching the end of his journey. He crossed the grand lake, passed through the land of giants and arrived at the valley of snails. Now he just needs to suck the nectar and he will be big. Because being big will make him happy, right?

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with a few words in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “deseo” (wish), “caracol” (snail) and “no podría” (wouldn’t be able to/couldn’t). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/11/21/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-12/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 11! Zunzuncito is getting closer to the magic flower that will grant his wish to be big. He crossed the grand lake and passed through the land of giants. Only one place remains: the valley of snails. Zunzuncito feels so close and yet so far from his goal. He is feeling impatient.

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only a couple of words in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “caracoles” (snails), “ojos” (eyes), “saca la lengua” (sticks out his tongue) and “tiene hambre” (is hungry). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/11/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-11/

¡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 

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I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 10! After crossing the grand lake, Zunzuncito and Monty must pass through the land of giants. The land of giants is fascinating, until Zunzuncito sees something horrible: animals in cages. Seeing the animals in cages makes him think of being trapped in the spiderweb. He has to do something, but what can a tiny bird do?

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only a couple words in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “jaula” (cage), “cerradura” (lock), “pico” (beak), “romper” (to break), “abrir” (to open) and “puerta” (door). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/11/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-10/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 9! Zunzuncito and Monty fell into the grand lake. Thankfully, a turtle came to save them. Once they cross the grand lake, they will reach the second leg of their journey: pass through the land of giants. To the tiny hummingbird and frog, though, everything is a giant! Will they find the land they seek and pass through it safely?

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only a couple words in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “tierra” (land/earth), “tortuga” (turtle), “piel” (skin) “casa” (house), and “jaula” (cage). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/10/31/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-9/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 8! Zunzuncito is a tiny hummingbird. His friend, Monty, is an even smaller frog. The two animals are searching for a magic flower. Zunzuncito hopes that the magic flower will grant his wish to be big. Majá is a Cuban boa. According to Monty, she knows everything. There is just one problem - Zunzuncito is incredibly afraid of snakes and Majá is the biggest snake on the island of Cuba.

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only a few words in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “miedo” (fear), “bosque” (woods/forest), “lago” (lake) “caracoles” (snails), “apretar” (to squeeze), “lejos” (far) and “cerca” (near). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/10/24/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-8/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 7! Zunzuncito is on a mission to find the magic flower that will grant his wish to be big. He spoke with the wise snake Majá and now he knows where he must go, but how will he get there? Thankfully, he has a small sidekick, the tiny frog Monty, to help him out.

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “lago” (lake) “pez” (fish), “volar” (to fly), “nadar” (to swim) and “tiene razón” (is right). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/10/17/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-7/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 6! Zunzuncito is a tiny hummingbird. His friend, Monty, is an even smaller frog. The two animals are searching for a magic flower. Zunzuncito hopes that the magic flower will grant his wish to be big. Majá is a Cuban boa. According to Monty, she knows everything. There is just one problem - Zunzuncito is incredibly afraid of snakes and Majá is the biggest snake on the island of Cuba.

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only a couplewords in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “miedo” (fear), “bosque” (woods/forest), “lago” (lake) “caracoles” (snails), “apretar” (to squeeze), “lejos” (far) and “cerca” (near). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/10/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-5-2/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 5! Zunzuncito is done dealing with the small life. He wants to be big. Luckily, his new frog friend Monty knows about a special magic flower that might be able to grant his wish. He just doesn’t know where it is. So, the hummingbird and frog head to the woods in search of the all-knowing Majá. On the way, Zunzuncito learns a few things about his small amphibious friend.

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only the first few paragraphs in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “rana” (frog), “bosque” (woods/forest), “árboles” (trees) “tierra” (ground, land, earth), “saltar” (to jump) and “volar” (to fly). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/10/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-5/

¡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 

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I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 4! 

It’s not easy being the smallest bird in the world. You have to deal with bigger bully birds, bees that don’t want to share and spiders that want to suck your blood. Zunzuncito is tired of being small. Perhaps if he is big and strong, he can save himself from these sticky situations. After all, the animal that saved him from the spiderweb must be big and strong, right?

This story is told mostly in the the present tense, with only the first paragraph in the past (to recap the previous chapters). Repeated words and phrases include “salvador” (savior/rescuer), “liberar” (to liberate/free), “llora” (cries) and “patas” (animal feet or hands. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/09/26/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-4/

¡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 

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I care a lot 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.

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/2025/05/05/simple-stories-in-spanish-told-faster-mi-salud-mental/ 

You can find the original recording of this story at: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2023/10/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-mi-salud-mental/ 

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I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 3! Zunzuncito, a tiny bee hummingbird, just wants to suck delicious nectar from beautiful flowers. But he is not the only one hunting for food. After being chased away from flowers by a group of bees, Zunzuncito is now trapped in a spiderweb. There are many large spiders in Cuba and some of them do suck the blood of little birds caught in their webs. How will Zunzuncito escape? 

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “pájaro” (bird), “telaraña” (spiderweb), “araña” (spider), “llora” (cries), “tiene miedo” (is scared) and “patas” (animal feet or hands. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/09/19/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-3/

¡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 

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I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 2! Zunzuncito, one of the tiniest hummingbirds in the world, flits from flower to flower in search of delicious nectar. However, some flowers are occupied by larger hummingbirds and insects. In this second chapter of “La aventura de Zunzuncito”, our tiny bee hummingbird finds himself in a battle for nectar with his namesake bees.  

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “pájaro” (bird), “colibrí” (hummingbird), “alas” (wings), “vuela” (flies - verb), “flores” (flowers), “abejas" (bees), and “aguijones” (stingers). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/09/12/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-2/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week. This week is chapter 1! Zunzuncito is one of the tiniest hummingbirds in the world. Some might think he spends all his time happily sucking nectar from flowers, and they are not wrong. However, sometimes insects and even other hummingbirds get in between Zunzuncito and his dinner.

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “pájaro” (bird), “colibrí” (hummingbird), alas” (wings), “vuela” (flies - verb) and “flores” (flowers). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/09/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito-capitulo-1/

¡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 

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Welcome to the fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish! The island nation of Cuba is full of amazing animals. One of the most fascinating is the tiny bee hummingbird, also called the zunzuncito. I was inspired by this little hummingbird and, with some motivation from my students, I wrote a short novel called “La aventura de Zunzuncito”. For this fifth season of Simple Stories in Spanish, I will be sharing a chapter from the novel each week.

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “pájaro” (bird), “colibrí” (hummingbird), “ranita” (little frog), and “flor” (flower). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/08/29/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-aventura-de-zunzuncito/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. While not necessarily historically accurate, January 6th marks the day that the wise men gave their gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh to the baby Jesus. This moment is celebrated as “el Día de los Reyes Magos”. While other kids around the world get presents from Santa on Christmas, kids in the Spanish-speaking world are waiting for gifts from the reyes magos. They leave out their shoes with hay for the camels and wake up to find presents left by the kings.

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “enero” (January), “regalo” (gift), “reyes” (kings), and “magos” (magi/wise men). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/08/15/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-dia-de-los-reyes-magos/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. 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/2021/08/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-semana-santa/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. ¡Hola y bienvenidos a este episodio de Simple Stories in Spanish! Saint Thomas, or Santo Tomás, is the patron saint of Chichicastenango, Guatemala. The locals celebrate their patron saint with a variety of dances. Each dance has its own origen and theme, although with some similarities. The dancers wear bright costumes and they also wear realistic looking masks that cover their whole face with a painted one. 

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “mercado” (market), “escaleras” (stairs), “llevar” (to wear), “bailarines” (dancers), and “baile/danza” (dance). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/08/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-fiesta-de-santo-tomas/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. While it is not a big, crazy party, the Día de la Virgen de Suyapa is an important celebration in the nation of Honduras. La Virgen de Suyapa was the name given to a small statue of the Virgin Mary that a boy discovered on the outskirts of the capital Tegucigalpa. Today, that discovery is marked with a celebration outside of the basilica and a large fair. 

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “estatuilla” (figurine), “peregrinaje” (pilgrimage), “rezar” (pray), “dulces” (sweets), “cómodo” (comfortable), and “milagro” (miracle). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/07/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-del-dia-de-la-virgen-de-suyapa/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. In the last 70 years, Panama has made a big effort to preserve its past. One way to remember the customs of the past and ensure their existence in the future is to create celebrations centered around them. Thus we find celebrations about agriculture, greetings and even clothing throughout the country of Panamá. 

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “costumbres” (customs), “artesanías” (crafts), “ropa” (clothing), “concursos” (competitions), and “alrededor” (around/surrounding). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/07/11/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-celebraciones-folkloricas-de-panama/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. El Día de los Muertos, is a celebration most commonly associated with the county of Mexico. However, Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead” is actually celebrated throughout Central America as well. While some of the traditions and beliefs are similar, each region gives the celebration its own flavor. Today we will look at the Día de los Muertos celebrations in the country of Guatemala.

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “los muertos” (the dead), “los vivos” (the living), “mundo” (world), “carrera” (race), and “barrilete” / “cometa” (kite). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/07/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-dia-de-los-muertos-en-guatemala/

¡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 

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Srin is from India, Anna is from Spain. They met on the beach in Miami. Since that first meeting, they have become inseparable. Now they are ready for the next chapter in life’s adventure.

This story is in the third person and includes multiple tenses, including present, past, perfect and future. Important vocabulary in the story includes: “ambos” (both),“pandemia” (pandemic), and “media naranja” (“other half”).

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/2025/04/22/simple-stories-in-spanish-srin-y-anna/ 

¡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 . You can also find me on Venmo and PayPal @Small Town Spanish Teacher

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. The celebration of Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a bright, colorful festivity to remember and honor those who have passed away. To celebrate deceased ancestors, graves are cleaned and decorated, altars with offerings of food and drink are constructed, and faces are painted to make the dead feel comfortable and welcome as they visit the land of the living for the day. Today’s podcast will focus on how Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico.

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “los muertos” (the dead), “muerte” (death), “vida” (life), “cempasúchil” (marigolds), “velas” (candles) and “mundo” (world). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/06/27/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-dia-de-muertos-en-mexico/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. During the traditional celebrations of Carnaval in the country of Uruguay, two nights stand out for their energy and uniqueness. El Desfile de Llamadas, or Parade of the Calls, showcase el candombe, a unique rhythm created by three drums that originated with enslaved Africans in Montevideo. El Desfile de Llamadas celebrates the rhythms and history of Afro-Uruguayans in a colorful and energetic procession.

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “llamadas” (calls), “tambores” (drums), “esclavizados” (enslaved), and “barrios” (neighborhoods). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/06/20/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-desfile-de-llamadas/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Many countries celebrate Carnaval and they all have their own twist. In a previous episode, I told the story of Carnaval en la República Dominicana. Today I will tell the story of Carnaval en Guaranda, Ecuador. Like the Carnaval Dominicano, El Carnaval de Guaranda combines indigenous culture with European influence to create a truly unique celebration.

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “maíz” (corn), “divertido” (fun), “divertirse” (to have fun), and “ropa” (clothing). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/06/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-carnaval-de-guaranda/

¡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 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. “Las Fiestas de San Fermín” are more commonly known as “The Running of the Bulls”. These eight and a half days involve so much more than the 3 minute sprint from the Ayuntamiento, or City Hall, to the Plaza de Toros. There are parades, music, giant paper maché heads, brilliant fireworks, and bullfights

This story is told in the the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “toro” (bull), “corrida” (bullfight), “fuegos artificiales” (fireworks), “Ayuntamiento” (City Hall),  “calle” (street) and "lucha" (fight). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/06/06/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-fiestas-de-san-fermin/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. To visit Costa Rica is to experience la pura vida, or pure life. While it is known mostly for nature and coffee, the celebrations of Costa Rica make you feel alive. They are full of that “pura vida”. The biggest celebration in Costa Rica is Fiestas de Palmares - two weeks of parades, bullfights, concerts and soccer, or football, matches.

This story is told in the the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “caballo” (horse),“jinete” (horse rider), “lucir” (to show off), “toro” (bull), “corrida” (bullfight), “tico/tica” (Costa Rican), “carpas” (tents), and “largo” (long). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-las-fiestas-de-palmares/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Oaxaca, México is best known for its celebration of Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead. However, there is another festival in Oaxaca that bears mentioning: La Noche de Rábanos, or Night of the Radishes. This colorful evening of radish and vegetable sculptures is a feast for the eyes as professionals and amateurs alike compete to make the best radish sculpture. 

This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “rábano” (radish),“agricultores” (farmers), “puesto” (stand/stall), “gente” (people), and “además” (in addition). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/05/23/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-noche-de-rabanos/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Northern Chile embraces more than Chilean culture. In this region you can find Bolivian, Peruvian, and indigenous influence. This combination of cultures is presented each year in the Fiesta de la Tirana. While “Tirana” means “tyrant” the festival actually celebrates the Virgen del Carmen, one of the Virgin Mary’s many incarnations. It takes place in the very small town of La Tirana, named for a rebellious Incan princess.

This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “fe” (faith),“bailes” (dances), “bailadores” (dancers), and “iglesia” (church). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/05/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-fiesta-de-la-tirana/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. La Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is the second most popular fiesta en Argentina. Vendimia means “grape harvest” and the province of Mendoza has a lot of grapes. This 10-day festival includes parades and presentations that represent the rich culture and heritage of wine making in Mendoza.

This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “vino” (wine),“viña” (vineyard), “uvas” (grapes), “cosecha” (harvest), “bendición” (blessing), and “reina” (queen). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/05/09/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-fiesta-de-la-vendimia/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Inti Raymi was the most important celebration of the Incas. People came from every corner of the Incan empire to pledge their allegiance to the Sapa Inca and to honor Inti, the god of the sun. The Spanish occupation put an end to Inti Raymi, but 400 years later it was reborn. Inti Raymi today is a celebration of Incan history, language and culture.

This story is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “sol” (sun),“incaico” (Incan), “momias” (mummies) and “próximo año” (next year). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/05/01/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-inti-raymi/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Carnaval is a popular celebration throughout Latin America. Each country has its own special way to showcase their local culture during this multi-day party of food, music, and dancing. Carnaval originated as a three day party before Lent, but has since evolved into vibrant celebrations of culture. In the Dominican Republic, Carnaval lasts an entire month with each town giving it its own twist.

This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade),“disfraz” (costume), “máscara” (mask) and “diablo” (devil). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/04/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-carnaval-en-la-republica-dominicana/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a taco at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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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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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Medellín, Colombia is already a vibrant city, but somehow it becomes even more vibrant and lively during “La Feria de las Flores”. The entire city is decorated by carnations, lilies, orchids, roses and more as the Department of Antioquia, of which Medellín is the capital, celebrates one of its largest exports with flower displays, flower decorations, and a giant flower parade.

This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “flores” (flowers), “campo” (countryside), “atrae” (attracts), “lleva” (carries), “arreglo” (arrangement), and “silleta” (a wooden structure, like a chair with its legs cut off, that was strapped to a person’s back and used to transport people and goods from the country to the city). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/04/18/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-feria-de-las-flores/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

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This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. Latacunga, Ecuador is the home of a celebration in honor of la Virgen de las Mercedes (The Virgen Mary has many names and many faces in Hispanic cultures, in this instance, she is the Virgen of Merced, or “Mercy”). They celebrate with a large parade. At the center of this celebration is Mama Negra, a representative of African cultures in Ecuador.

This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “desfile” (parade), “rezar” (to pray), “esclavos” (slaves), “ropa” (clothing) and “iglesia” (church). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/04/11/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-la-santisima-tragedia-mama-negra/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show

This fourth season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on celebrations. One of my favorite fiestas occurs in March in the city of Valencia, España. San José (St. Joseph) is the patron saint of Valencia and in his honor, they build impressive life-like sculptures. They also decorate a tall statue of the Virgen María with sweet-smelling carnations and light up the sky with “fuegos artificiales”, or fireworks.

This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “madera” (wood), “quema” (burn), “fuego” (fire), “vestido” (dress) and “calle” (street). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/04/04/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-celebracion-de-las-fallas/

¡Muchas gracias por escuchar! Thank you for listening, and a HUGE thank you for your support. I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories in Spanish. If you would like to help me in that endeavor, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpanishTeacher 

Support the show