A1 Spanish

Stories completed

9. ¿Adónde vamos, mamá?

(Where Are We Going, Mom?)

Guillermo is 42, lives with his mom and is always exhausted. He sees a doctor. The diagnosis? Simple. The solution? Not so much.

Illustration of an exhausted man sleeping in a large armchair in a minimalist black and white style

Spanish version

Ernesto y sus amigos están en la plaza del <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="town hall" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Ayuntamiento de Valencia.

Hay música, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="fire" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">fuego y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="thousands of" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">miles de personas.

Es la noche de la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Valencia festival bonfire" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Cremà.

—¿Dónde está Guillermo? —pregunta Lucía.

Ernesto saca su teléfono.

—Voy a llamar.

—¿Hola?

—¡Guillermo! ¿Dónde estás? ¡Vamos a la Cremà! ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="are you coming" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Vienes?

—No, Ernesto. Estoy muy cansado.

—¿Cansado? ¡Pero <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="always" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">siempre estás cansado!

—No voy. Lo siento.

—Guillermo, necesitas ir al médico.

—Sí... <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="maybe you're right" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">quizá tienes razón.

Una semana después, Guillermo tiene <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="appointment" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cita con el médico.

Sale de su habitación.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="mom" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Mamá, voy a salir. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="see you later" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Hasta luego.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="where to" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">¿Adónde vas?

—Voy al médico.

—¿Al médico? ¿Está todo bien?

—Sí, no te preocupes.

Guillermo sale de casa.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="good afternoon" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Buenas tardes, Guillermo. ¿Qué pasa?

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I don't know" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">No sé, doctor Ramírez. Estoy muy cansado.

—¿Trabaja mucho?

—Sí, trabajo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="all week" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">toda la semana.

—¿Qué hace después del trabajo?

—Los lunes mi mamá y yo vamos al supermercado. Los <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Tuesday" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">martes vamos al <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="bank" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">banco. Los <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Wednesday" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">miércoles vamos a la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="pharmacy" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">farmacia. Los jueves vamos a casa de mi <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="aunt" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tía. Los <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Friday" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">viernes vamos al mercado. Los sábados vamos a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="mass" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">misa. Y después vamos a comer con la familia. Los <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Sundays" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">domingos vamos a...

—Espere, espere. ¿Vive con su mamá?

—Sí.

—¿Cuántos años tiene <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="you (formal)" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">usted?

—Cuarenta y dos.

El doctor escribe en su cuaderno.

—Guillermo, el problema es simple. Usted necesita <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to rest" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">descansar. No puede salir de casa esta semana.

—¿En serio?

—En serio. No va al supermercado, no va al banco, no va a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="nowhere" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ningún sitio.

Guillermo sonríe.

—Gracias, doctor.

Guillermo abre la puerta de su casa.

—Mamá, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I'm here now" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ya estoy aquí.

—Hola, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my love" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mi amor. ¿Qué dice el doctor?

—Dice que necesito descansar. Esta semana no puedo salir.

—Ay, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my son" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mi hijo. Perfecto. Descansa.

Guillermo va al sofá. Por fin.

—Pero <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="first" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">primero vamos al supermercado.

—¿Qué? Mamá, el doctor dice que...

—Es rápido. Solo quince minutos.

—Pero...

—Y después vamos a la farmacia.

—Mamá...

—Y después vamos a casa de tu tía. Hoy es su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="birthday" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cumpleaños.

—¡Mamá! El doctor dice que no puedo salir esta semana.

—Sí, sí, mi amor. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="after" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Después de todo eso, descansas.

Guillermo mira el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="ceiling" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">techo y suspira.

—¿Vamos? —pregunta su mamá.

—Bueno. Vamos.

Su mamá sonríe y va a buscar su bolso.

—Ah, y mañana vamos al banco.

Spanish story with English translation

Ernesto y sus amigos están en la plaza del Ayuntamiento de Valencia.

Ernesto and his friends are in the Town Hall plaza of Valencia.

Hay música, fuego y miles de personas.

There is music, fire, and thousands of people.

Es la noche de la Cremà.

It is the night of the Cremà.

—¿Dónde está Guillermo? —pregunta Lucía.

"Where is Guillermo?" asks Lucía.

Ernesto saca su teléfono.

Ernesto takes out his phone.

—Voy a llamar.

"I'm going to call."

—¿Hola?

"Hello?"

—¡Guillermo! ¿Dónde estás? ¡Vamos a la Cremà! ¿Vienes?

"Guillermo! Where are you? We're going to the Cremà! Are you coming?"

—No, Ernesto. Estoy muy cansado.

"No, Ernesto. I'm very tired."

—¿Cansado? ¡Pero siempre estás cansado!

"Tired? But you're always tired!"

—No voy. Lo siento.

"I'm not going. I'm sorry."

—Guillermo, necesitas ir al médico.

"Guillermo, you need to go to the doctor."

—Sí... quizá tienes razón.

"Yes... maybe you're right."

Una semana después, Guillermo tiene cita con el médico.

One week later, Guillermo has an appointment with the doctor.

Sale de su habitación.

He leaves his room.

—Mamá, voy a salir. Hasta luego.

"Mom, I'm going out. See you later."

—¿Adónde vas?

"Where are you going?"

—Voy al médico.

"I'm going to the doctor."

—¿Al médico? ¿Está todo bien?

"To the doctor? Is everything okay?"

—Sí, no te preocupes.

"Yes, don't worry."

Guillermo sale de casa.

Guillermo leaves home.

—Buenas tardes, Guillermo. ¿Qué pasa?

"Good afternoon, Guillermo. What's going on?"

—No sé, doctor Ramírez. Estoy muy cansado.

"I don't know, Doctor Ramírez. I'm very tired."

—¿Trabaja mucho?

"Do you work a lot?"

—Sí, trabajo toda la semana.

"Yes, I work all week."

—¿Qué hace después del trabajo?

"What do you do after work?"

—Los lunes mi mamá y yo vamos al supermercado. Los martes vamos al banco. Los miércoles vamos a la farmacia. Los jueves vamos a casa de mi tía. Los viernes vamos al mercado. Los sábados vamos a misa. Y después vamos a comer con la familia. Los domingos vamos a...

"On Mondays my mom and I go to the supermarket. On Tuesdays we go to the bank. On Wednesdays we go to the pharmacy. On Thursdays we go to my aunt's house. On Fridays we go to the market. On Saturdays we go to mass. And then we go to eat with the family. On Sundays we go to..."

—Espere, espere. ¿Vive con su mamá?

"Wait, wait. Do you live with your mom?"

—Sí.

"Yes."

—¿Cuántos años tiene usted?

"How old are you?"

—Cuarenta y dos.

"Forty-two."

El doctor escribe en su cuaderno.

The doctor writes in his notebook.

—Guillermo, el problema es simple. Usted necesita descansar. No puede salir de casa esta semana.

"Guillermo, the problem is simple. You need to rest. You cannot leave the house this week."

—¿En serio?

"Really?"

—En serio. No va al supermercado, no va al banco, no va a ningún sitio.

"Really. You don't go to the supermarket, you don't go to the bank, you don't go anywhere."

Guillermo sonríe.

Guillermo smiles.

—Gracias, doctor.

"Thank you, doctor."

Guillermo abre la puerta de su casa.

Guillermo opens the door of his house.

—Mamá, ya estoy aquí.

"Mom, I'm home."

—Hola, mi amor. ¿Qué dice el doctor?

"Hello, my love. What does the doctor say?"

—Dice que necesito descansar. Esta semana no puedo salir.

"He says I need to rest. This week I can't go out."

—Ay, mi hijo. Perfecto. Descansa.

"Oh, my son. Perfect. Rest."

Guillermo va al sofá. Por fin.

Guillermo goes to the sofa. Finally.

—Pero primero vamos al supermercado.

"But first we're going to the supermarket."

—¿Qué? Mamá, el doctor dice que...

"What? Mom, the doctor says that..."

—Es rápido. Solo quince minutos.

"It's quick. Only fifteen minutes."

—Pero...

"But..."

—Y después vamos a la farmacia.

"And then we're going to the pharmacy."

—Mamá...

"Mom..."

—Y después vamos a casa de tu tía. Hoy es su cumpleaños.

"And then we're going to your aunt's house. Today is her birthday."

—¡Mamá! El doctor dice que no puedo salir esta semana.

"Mom! The doctor says I can't go out this week."

—Sí, sí, mi amor. Después de todo eso, descansas.

"Yes, yes, my love. After all that, you rest."

Guillermo mira el techo y suspira.

Guillermo looks at the ceiling and sighs.

—¿Vamos? —pregunta su mamá.

"Shall we go?" asks his mom.

—Bueno. Vamos.

"Fine. Let's go."

Su mamá sonríe y va a buscar su bolso.

His mom smiles and goes to get her purse.

—Ah, y mañana vamos al banco.

"Oh, and tomorrow we're going to the bank."

Part 2

Vocabulary Flashcards

Part 3

Story Challenge

Part 4

Patterns Challenge

Part 5

Listening Challenge

Part 6

Writing Challenge

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Question 1

Your friend asks about Guillermo's week. Reply in Spanish: On Mondays, he goes to the supermarket. On Tuesdays, he goes to the bank. On Wednesdays, he goes to the pharmacy.

Example: Los lunes va al supermercado. Los martes va al banco. Los miércoles va a la farmacia.

Notes:

"Los lunes" = "on Mondays." Spanish uses the article for recurring days. No preposition, no "en," just los + day.
"Va al" is "va + a + el" contracted. "Al supermercado," "al banco." But "a la farmacia" because farmacia is feminine, so no contraction happens.

Question 2

You meet the mother of Guillermo. Ask her in Spanish: Where do you go on Mondays? Do you go to the supermarket? Where do you go on Saturdays?

Example: ¿Adónde va los lunes? ¿Va al supermercado? ¿Adónde va los sábados?

Notes:

"¿Adónde?" for asking where someone is GOING. "¿Dónde?" for asking where someone IS. Movement = adónde, location = dónde.
This is usted (the mother), so "va" not "vas." Same verb form as él/ella, but the social register is completely different.

Question 3

Guillermo asks where you go during the week. Answer in Spanish: On Mondays, I go to the supermarket. On Fridays, I go to the park. On Sundays, I do not go anywhere.

Example: Los lunes voy al supermercado. Los viernes voy al parque. Los domingos no voy a ningún sitio.

Notes:

"Voy" is the yo form and it's completely irregular. No stem, no pattern, just memorize it: voy.
"A ningún sitio" means "to nowhere." Full phrase: "no voy a ningún sitio." You need the "no" AND the "ningún" together.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: I go to the bank. You go to the pharmacy. He goes to the supermarket. We go to church. They go to the market.

Example: (Yo) voy al banco. (Tú) vas a la farmacia. (Él) va al supermercado. (Nosotros) vamos a misa. (Ellos) van al mercado.

Notes:

IR is fully irregular: voy, vas, va, vamos, van. Five forms, no pattern connecting them. Just learn the set.
"Vamos a misa" drops the article. A few expressions skip it: "ir a misa," "ir a casa," "ir a clase." Most places still need it: "al banco," "al mercado."

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: Ernesto goes to the party. Guillermo does not go. He is very tired. Ernesto and Lucía go to the plaza.

Example: Ernesto va a la fiesta. Guillermo no va. Está muy cansado. Ernesto y Lucía van a la plaza.

Notes:

"Va" for one person, "van" for multiple. The -n marks plural, same pattern as other verbs: come/comen, tiene/tienen, va/van.
"Guillermo no va." Two words after the subject: no + verb.

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Guillermo goes to the doctor. He is tired and works all week. The doctor writes in a notebook.

Example: Guillermo va al médico. Está cansado y trabaja toda la semana. El doctor escribe en un cuaderno.

Notes:

"Toda la semana" = all week. "Todo" changes to match what follows: todo el día, toda la semana, todos los lunes.
Four verbs from four different groups in one paragraph: está (ESTAR), va (IR), trabaja (AR), escribe (ER). If you can mix these comfortably, you're using everything from Stories 1–9!

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Guillermo is always tired and his mother always has plans! What about you?

Are you more like Guillermo (tired, no energy) or more like his mother (always active)?
Do you have a friend or person in your family like the mother of Guillermo? Who?
Where do you go on the weekends?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Grab your jacket... you've got places to be. You'll visit Doctor Ramírez, speak with Ernesto, describe your life in a new city and tell a stranger all about poor Guillermo.

Heading Out

You're grabbing your jacket and heading for the door. Your noisy flatmate asks: "¿Adónde vas?"

Your task - tell him where you're going:

Say you're going to the supermarket
Ask if they need food from the supermarket
Say that after that, you're going to the pharmacy
Then to your aunt's house
Say you're going with your mom

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Voy al supermercado.
1. I'm going to the supermarket.
¿Necesitas comida del supermercado?
1. Do you need food from the supermarket?
Después voy a la farmacia.
1. After that I'm going to the pharmacy.
Y después a casa de mi tía.
1. And after that to my aunt's house.
Voy con mi mamá.
1. I'm going with my mom.

In Doctor Ramírez's Office

You're Guillermo, sitting across from Doctor Ramírez. He leans forward and asks some questions.

Your task - answer the doctor's questions:

Tell the doctor you're very tired
Say you work all week
Tell him where you and your mom go on Mondays and Tuesdays
Tell him where you go on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Tell him where you go Fridays and the weekend
The doctor asks your age and with whom you live

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Estoy muy cansado.
1. I'm very tired.
Trabajo toda la semana.
1. I work all week.
Los lunes mi mamá y yo vamos al supermercado. Los martes vamos al banco.
1. On Mondays my mom and I go to the supermarket. On Tuesdays we go to the bank.
Los miércoles vamos a la farmacia. Los jueves vamos a casa de mi tía.
1. On Wednesdays we go to the pharmacy. On Thursdays we go to my aunt's house.
Los viernes vamos al mercado. Los sábados vamos a misa y después vamos a comer con la familia.
1. On Fridays we go to the market. On Saturdays we go to mass and then we go to eat with the family.
Tengo cuarenta y dos años. Sí, vivo con mi mamá.
1. I'm forty-two years old. Yes, I live with my mom.

The Tables Have Turned

Ring, ring. It's Ernesto. You're Guillermo… but tonight is different. YOU'RE the one at a party. You pick up the phone: "¿Hola?"

Your task - talk to Ernesto on the phone:

Tell Ernesto where you are (at a party with friends)
Say you're all going to have some beers
Ask Ernesto if he's coming
Ernesto says: "No, estoy muy cansado." Tell him he's always tired!
Tell Ernesto he needs to go to the doctor
Tell him you're all going to the cinema this weekend and ask if he's coming

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Estoy en una fiesta con amigos.
1. I'm at a party with friends.
Vamos a tomar unas cervezas.
1. We're going to have some beers.
¿Vienes?
1. Are you coming?
¡Siempre estás cansado!
1. You're always tired!
Necesitas ir al médico.
1. You need to go to the doctor.
Este fin de semana vamos al cine. ¿Vienes?
1. This weekend we're going to the cinema. Are you coming?

Your New Life in Valencia

You've just moved to Valencia. You call an old friend back home to tell them everything.

Your task - describe your new life in Valencia:

Say where you live now
Say how you feel about the city (big? small? pretty? a lot of people?)
Say what you do for work (supermarket mornings, shoe store afternoons)
Say you have a lot of new friends here
Say Ernesto and Guillermo are very good friends
Describe your new friends (funny? nice? tall?)
Say what you do together on weekends (parties? cinema?)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Ahora vivo en Valencia.
1. Now I live in Valencia.
Valencia es muy bonita y muy grande. Tiene muchas personas. Estoy muy contento/a aquí.
1. Valencia is very beautiful and very big. It has a lot of people. I'm very happy here.
Trabajo en un supermercado por las mañanas y en una tienda de zapatos por las tardes.
1. I work in a supermarket in the mornings and in a shoe store in the afternoons.
Tengo muchos amigos nuevos aquí.
1. I have a lot of new friends here.
Ernesto y Guillermo son muy buenos amigos.
1. Ernesto and Guillermo are very good friends.
Ernesto es muy divertido y Guillermo es muy simpático.
1. Ernesto is very funny and Guillermo is very nice.
Los fines de semana vamos a fiestas con amigos. Los domingos vamos al cine.
1. On weekends we go to parties with friends. On Sundays we go to the cinema.

The Nice Stranger on The Train

You're on a train to Valencia. The person next to you sees you studying Spanish on your phone. "Oh, you're learning Spanish? What are you reading?" You smile. "It's a story about a man called Guillermo. Want to hear it?"

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

Where are Ernesto and his friends at the start? (city, place, event)
Who is missing? Where is he? How does he feel?
What does Ernesto say to Guillermo on the phone? Does Guillermo go?
Where does Guillermo go one week later?
What does Guillermo tell Doctor Ramírez?
Describe Guillermo's week after work (at least 4 days)
The doctor asks Guillermo two personal questions: what are they? What does Guillermo answer?
What does the doctor tell Guillermo to do?
Guillermo goes home and tells his mom the news. What does she do?
What do you think about the story? (Esta historia es...)
Do you go to many places during the week like Guillermo and his mother? Where?
And where do you go on the weekends?

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Ernesto y sus amigos están en la plaza del Ayuntamiento de Valencia. Es la noche de la Cremà.
1. Ernesto and his friends are in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Valencia. It's the night of the Cremà.
Guillermo no está con sus amigos. Está en casa. Está muy cansado.
1. Guillermo isn't with his friends. He's at home. He's very tired.
Ernesto dice: "¡Vamos a la Cremà! ¿Vienes?" Guillermo dice que no va. Ernesto dice que Guillermo siempre está cansado y que necesita ir al médico.
1. Ernesto says: "Let's go to the Cremà! Are you coming?" Guillermo says he's not going. Ernesto says that Guillermo is always tired and that he needs to go to the doctor.
Una semana después, Guillermo va al médico.
1. One week later, Guillermo goes to the doctor.
Guillermo dice que está muy cansado. Dice que trabaja toda la semana.
1. Guillermo says that he's very tired. He says that he works all week.
Los lunes su mamá y él van al supermercado. Los martes van al banco. Los miércoles van a la farmacia. Los jueves van a casa de su tía.
1. On Mondays his mom and he go to the supermarket. On Tuesdays they go to the bank. On Wednesdays they go to the pharmacy. On Thursdays they go to his aunt's house.
El doctor pregunta: "¿Cuántos años tiene?" y "¿Vive con su mamá?" Guillermo dice que tiene cuarenta y dos años y vive con su mamá.
1. The doctor asks: "How old are you?" and "Do you live with your mom?" Guillermo says he is forty-two years old and lives with his mom.
El doctor dice que Guillermo necesita descansar. No puede salir de casa esta semana.
1. The doctor says that Guillermo needs to rest. He can't leave the house this week.
Guillermo dice a su mamá que necesita descansar. Pero su mamá dice: "Primero vamos al supermercado. Y después a la farmacia. Y después a casa de tu tía."
1. Guillermo tells his mom he needs to rest. But his mom says: "First we're going to the supermarket. And then to the pharmacy. And then to your aunt's house."
Esta historia es muy divertida. / Esta historia es muy graciosa. Pobre Guillermo.
1. This story is very funny. Poor Guillermo.
Sí, voy a muchos sitios durante la semana. Voy al supermercado, al gimnasio y a la universidad.
1. Yes, I go to many places during the week. I go to the supermarket, the gym, and the university.
Los fines de semana voy al cine y a casa de mis amigos.
1. On weekends I go to the cinema and to my friends' house.

Part 8

Culture

1. Valencia, the City Guillermo Doesn't Appreciate Enough

Ernesto and his friends are in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento on the biggest night of the year. Music, fire, thousands of people. He calls Guillermo to come.

Guillermo says no. Too tired.

We'll get to what he turned down. But first... the city he lives in. Because Guillermo has it pretty good and I don't think he knows it.

A quick look at Valencia

Valencia is Spain's third-largest city. About 825,000 people on the Mediterranean coast.

Aerial view of Valencia's City Hall and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento surrounded by ornate buildings

The Plaza del Ayuntamiento... the square where everything happens in March.

Old and new side by side. Founded by the Romans in 138 BC. Ruled by the Moors for centuries. Reconquered in 1238. By the 15th century it was one of the largest cities in Europe.
Right next to all that history sits the City of Arts and Sciences... a futuristic complex that looks like it belongs on another planet
Has its own language. Valenciano, closely related to Catalan. Street signs and menus are bilingual
The birthplace of paella. Real Valencian paella uses rabbit, chicken, green beans and snails... not seafood. Ordering "seafood paella" in Valencia is a quick way to start an argument
Horchata de chufa. A cold, sweet drink made from tiger nuts (a root vegetable that grows in the soil around Valencia). You drink it with fartons (long, soft pastries made for dipping). There's an actual regulatory council that certifies the real stuff. That's how seriously they take it

We'll come back to the city later. But first... we need to talk about March.

2. Las Fallas

Now. What Guillermo turned down.

Every March, Valencia builds over 750 enormous satirical sculptures across the city... and then sets them all on fire. On purpose. In one night.

That's Las Fallas. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016.

It started centuries ago when carpenters burned wooden candle stands called parots to celebrate the arrival of spring on March 19 (the feast of San José, patron saint of carpenters).

Colourful satirical falla sculpture with elaborate painted figures during Las Fallas in Valencia

This is what a falla looks like. Huge hand-painted figures made from wood and papier-mâché... some as tall as a six-floor building.

People started dressing them up to look like neighbours they didn't like. That tradition became... this.

The sculptures take months to build. Some stand over 20 metres tall. The biggest cost over €200,000. They satirise politicians, celebrities, scandals... nothing is off limits
The mascletà runs every day from March 1 to 19 at 2 PM in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Not fireworks... a choreographed explosion of firecrackers designed for pure sound and vibration. It hits 120 decibels. The ground shakes.
The Cremà is the final night. March 19. Every single sculpture burns. Over 3 million people come for this
One figure is saved each year by public vote: the ninot indultat ("the pardoned figure"). It goes to the Fallas Museum. Everything else? Gone. Months of work. Up in smoke
The food. People eat buñuelos de calabaza (pumpkin fritters dusted in sugar and dipped in thick hot chocolate) from street stalls on every corner

Honestly... I hope Ernesto drags Guillermo to Las Fallas next year. He needs it.

3. What I'd Tell You About Valencia Over a Beer

Even without Fallas... Valencia is worth the trip. Here's what I always tell friends.

If you go during Fallas (mid-March):

See the mascletà. Plaza del Ayuntamiento by 1 PM. Starts at 2 PM sharp. Keep your mouth slightly open
Walk the fallas at night. After March 15, all the sculptures are up and lit. The smaller side-street ones are sometimes the best
Eat buñuelos de calabaza. From a street stall. Dipped in chocolate. Don't overthink it
Stay for the Cremà on March 19. Pick any neighbourhood. You don't need the main square. Book accommodation months in advance

Any time of year:

Mercado Central - one of the oldest running markets in Europe. Walk through it slowly. Buy whatever smells the best

Ornate facade of Valencia's Mercado Central with stained glass, ironwork and arched entrances

Valencia's Mercado Central. Not a cathedral... a market.

The Turia Gardens - Valencia's river used to flood the city. They moved it. Now the old river channel is a 9 km park that runs right through the centre. Rent a bike. You'll ride under old stone bridges and end up at the City of Arts and Sciences
The old town - narrow streets, hidden squares, bars everywhere. Get lost on purpose
Eat paella for lunch (never dinner... Valencians will judge you). Find a place near the beach that cooks it over wood fire
Drink horchata with fartons at any horchatería. Cold. On a warm afternoon

Here's the thing about Valencia that's hard to explain until you've been there.

It doesn't feel like it's performing for tourists. I feel that Barcelona has that energy sometimes... the sense that the city knows you're looking.

Valencia doesn't care.

People sit in the same squares their grandparents sat in. They eat the same rice dishes. They argue about the same recipes. The city has changed a lot but the rhythm hasn't.

You walk through the Turia park on a Sunday and there are families grilling, kids playing football, old men on benches.

Tree-lined path in Valencia's Turia Gardens with the Pont de la Mar, a historic bridge that once crossed the Turia River

The Pont de la Mar... a bridge built for a river, now sitting in the middle of Valencia's biggest park.

You sit at a terrace in the old town and nobody rushes you. The light in the evening is gold. There's always someone playing guitar somewhere.

It's not the loudest city in Spain (well... except in March). It's not the biggest. But it doesn't need to be. You show up and the city does the rest.

Did You Know?

⛪ Valencia Cathedral claims to house the Holy Grail... the actual cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper.
🌊 In 1957 the Turia River flooded Valencia and left three quarters of the city underwater. The government wanted to pave over the old riverbed and build a highway. Citizens protested with the slogan "The riverbed is ours and we want it green." They won. That's how the Turia Gardens were born
🍹 Agua de Valencia is the city's signature cocktail: cava, fresh orange juice, vodka and gin. It was invented in 1959 at the Café Madrid bar. It tastes like a party and hits like one too
🏆 The first ninot indultat (figure saved from the Cremà by public vote) was called "Grandmother and Granddaughter" in 1934

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