A1 Spanish

Stories completed

11. Decir sí a la vida

(Saying Yes to Life)

Santiago always says no. No to parties, no to dinners, no to fun. What happens when he starts saying yes?

Illustration of a man singing into a microphone on a stand with a music note floating nearby

Spanish version

Santiago y Esteban están en el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="viewpoint" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Mirador del Valle, en Toledo.

Toman un café. Miran la ciudad.

—Hay una fiesta el sábado. ¿Vienes?

—No, gracias.

Esteban suspira.

—¡Siempre dices no! Nunca sales con nosotros. No <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="you have fun" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">te diviertes nunca.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="it's just that" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Es que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I get tired" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">me canso mucho en el trabajo —dice Santiago.

—Tu <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="life" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">vida es muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="boring" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">aburrida, Santiago. No tienes novia. Siempre estás solo en casa. Necesitas decir que sí más <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="times" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">veces. Necesitas cambiar.

Santiago no responde. Pero piensa en las palabras de su amigo.

Es sábado <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="in the morning" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">por la mañana.

Santiago <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="wakes up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">se despierta a las ocho.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="gets up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se levanta de la cama. Va al baño. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="showers" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se ducha con agua caliente.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="shaves" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se afeita delante del espejo. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="brushes his teeth" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se cepilla los dientes.

Sale del baño. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="gets dressed" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se viste. Va a la cocina.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="prepares" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se prepara un café con leche y se sienta a desayunar.

Piensa en Esteban: "Decir sí..."

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="rings" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Suena el móvil.

Mensaje de Esteban: "¿Cenas con nosotros esta noche?"

Santiago escribe: "No, gracias. Estoy cansado..."

Para. Lee el mensaje otra vez.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="deletes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Borra el mensaje.

Escribe: "Sí, voy. ¿A qué hora?"

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="feels" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se siente nervioso. Pero también se siente bien.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="at night" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Por la noche, Santiago va al restaurante. Está cerca de la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="cathedral" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Catedral.

Conoce a personas nuevas. Hablan de trabajo, de música, de <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="movies" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">películas.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="they laugh" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se ríen mucho. Santiago se divierte.

—Después vamos a un karaoke. ¿Vienes? —dice Esteban.

Santiago <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="hesitates" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">duda un momento.

—Bueno... sí. Voy.

En el karaoke hay mucha <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="people" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">gente.

—¡Santiago! ¡<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="sing" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Canta algo! —dice Esteban.

—No sé...

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="come on!" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">¡Vamos!

Santiago <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="is afraid" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tiene miedo. Pero dice:

—Vale. Canto.

Canta "<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="famous Spanish song" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Corazón partío" de Alejandro Sanz.

No canta muy bien, pero la gente <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="applauds" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">aplaude.

Una mujer <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="approaches" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">se acerca. Es muy guapa. Tiene el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="hair" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pelo largo y ojos <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="green" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">verdes.

—Cantas bien. Me llamo Blanca. ¿Cómo te llamas?

Santiago <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="gets nervous" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">se pone nervioso.

—Me llamo Santiago.

—Encantada. ¿Me das tu <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="phone number" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">número de teléfono?

Santiago da su número.

—¿Quieres tomar un café mañana? —pregunta Blanca.

Santiago sonríe.

—Sí. Claro.

Santiago <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="returns" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">regresa a casa a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="midnight" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">medianoche. Está muy contento.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="takes off" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se quita la ropa. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="puts on" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se pone el pijama.

Va al baño. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="washes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se lava la cara. Se cepilla los dientes.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="goes to bed" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Se acuesta en la cama.

Piensa en el día. Piensa en Blanca y sus ojos verdes.

Se siente muy feliz y piensa:

"Necesito decir sí más veces."

Spanish story with English translation

Santiago y Esteban están en el Mirador del Valle, en Toledo.

Santiago and Esteban are at Mirador del Valle, in Toledo.

Toman un café. Miran la ciudad.

They drink a coffee. They look at the city.

—Hay una fiesta el sábado. ¿Vienes?

"There is a party on Saturday. Are you coming?"

—No, gracias.

"No, thanks."

Esteban suspira.

Esteban sighs.

—¡Siempre dices no! Nunca sales con nosotros. No te diviertes nunca.

"You always say no! You never go out with us. You never have fun."

—Es que me canso mucho en el trabajo —dice Santiago.

"It's just that I get very tired at work," says Santiago.

—Tu vida es muy aburrida, Santiago. No tienes novia. Siempre estás solo en casa. Necesitas decir que sí más veces. Necesitas cambiar.

"Your life is very boring, Santiago. You don't have a girlfriend. You're always alone at home. You need to say yes more often. You need to change."

Santiago no responde. Pero piensa en las palabras de su amigo.

Santiago doesn't respond. But he thinks about his friend's words.

Es sábado por la mañana. Santiago se despierta a las ocho.

It is Saturday morning. Santiago wakes up at eight.

Se levanta de la cama. Va al baño. Se ducha con agua caliente.

He gets out of bed. He goes to the bathroom. He showers with hot water.

Se afeita delante del espejo. Se cepilla los dientes.

He shaves in front of the mirror. He brushes his teeth.

Sale del baño. Se viste. Va a la cocina.

He leaves the bathroom. He gets dressed. He goes to the kitchen.

Se prepara un café con leche y se sienta a desayunar.

He makes himself a coffee with milk and sits down to have breakfast.

Piensa en Esteban: "Decir sí..."

He thinks about Esteban: "Saying yes..."

Suena el móvil.

The phone rings.

Mensaje de Esteban: "¿Cenas con nosotros esta noche?"

Message from Esteban: "Are you having dinner with us tonight?"

Santiago escribe: "No, gracias. Estoy cansado..."

Santiago writes: "No, thanks. I'm tired..."

Para. Lee el mensaje otra vez.

He stops. He reads the message again.

Borra el mensaje.

He deletes the message.

Escribe: "Sí, voy. ¿A qué hora?"

He writes: "Yes, I'm coming. What time?"

Se siente nervioso. Pero también se siente bien.

He feels nervous. But he also feels good.

Por la noche, Santiago va al restaurante. Está cerca de la Catedral.

In the evening, Santiago goes to the restaurant. It is near the Cathedral.

Conoce a personas nuevas. Hablan de trabajo, de música, de películas.

He meets new people. They talk about work, about music, about movies.

Se ríen mucho. Santiago se divierte.

They laugh a lot. Santiago has fun.

—Después vamos a un karaoke. ¿Vienes? —dice Esteban.

"Afterwards we're going to a karaoke. Are you coming?" says Esteban.

Santiago duda un momento.

Santiago hesitates for a moment.

—Bueno... sí. Voy.

"Well... yes. I'm coming."

En el karaoke hay mucha gente.

At the karaoke there are many people.

—¡Santiago! ¡Canta algo! —dice Esteban.

"Santiago! Sing something!" says Esteban.

—No sé...

"I don't know..."

—¡Vamos!

"Come on!"

Santiago tiene miedo. Pero dice:

Santiago is afraid. But he says:

—Vale. Canto.

"Okay. I'll sing."

Canta "Corazón partío" de Alejandro Sanz.

He sings "Corazón partío" by Alejandro Sanz.

No canta muy bien, pero la gente aplaude.

He doesn't sing very well, but the people applaud.

Una mujer se acerca. Es muy guapa. Tiene el pelo largo y ojos verdes.

A woman approaches. She is very beautiful. She has long hair and green eyes.

—Cantas bien. Me llamo Blanca. ¿Cómo te llamas?

"You sing well. My name is Blanca. What's your name?"

Santiago se pone nervioso.

Santiago gets nervous.

—Me llamo Santiago.

"My name is Santiago."

—Encantada. ¿Me das tu número de teléfono?

"Nice to meet you. Will you give me your phone number?"

Santiago da su número.

Santiago gives his number.

—¿Quieres tomar un café mañana? —pregunta Blanca.

"Do you want to have a coffee tomorrow?" asks Blanca.

Santiago sonríe.

Santiago smiles.

—Sí. Claro.

"Yes. Of course."

Santiago regresa a casa a medianoche. Está muy contento.

Santiago returns home at midnight. He is very happy.

Se quita la ropa. Se pone el pijama.

He takes off his clothes. He puts on his pajamas.

Va al baño. Se lava la cara. Se cepilla los dientes.

He goes to the bathroom. He washes his face. He brushes his teeth.

Se acuesta en la cama.

He lies down in bed.

Piensa en el día. Piensa en Blanca y sus ojos verdes.

He thinks about the day. He thinks about Blanca and her green eyes.

Se siente muy feliz y piensa:

He feels very happy and thinks:

"Necesito decir sí más veces."

"I need to say yes more often."

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 Santiago's morning. Reply in Spanish: He wakes up at eight. He showers. He shaves. He brushes his teeth.

Example: Se despierta a las ocho. Se ducha. Se afeita. Se cepilla los dientes.

Notes:

"Se" before each verb means the action is done to himself. He showers himself, he shaves himself. That little "se" is what makes these reflexive.
"Se cepilla los dientes" → Spanish says "the teeth," not "his teeth." When the action is to your own body, use the article (los dientes), not the possessive.

Question 2

You meet Santiago at the restaurant. Ask him in Spanish: What time do you wake up? Do you shower in the morning? Do you have fun with Esteban?

Example: ¿A qué hora te despiertas? ¿Te duchas por la mañana? ¿Te diviertes con Esteban?

Notes:

Talking to someone (tú), "se" becomes "te": él se despierta → ¿tú te despiertas? The pronoun always matches who's doing the action.
"Por la mañana" = in the morning. Time of day uses "por": por la mañana, por la tarde, por la noche.
"Te diviertes" → divertirse changes its stem: the "e" becomes "ie." You'll see this in a few verbs.

Question 3

Blanca asks how you feel tonight. Answer in Spanish: I feel nervous at the karaoke. But I have fun with the people. I feel very happy.

Example: Me siento nervioso(a) en el karaoke. Pero me divierto con la gente. Me siento muy feliz.

Notes:

"Me siento" = I feel. For yourself it's "me," for someone else it's "se": me siento nervioso, Santiago se siente nervioso.
"Feliz" never changes. Nervioso becomes nerviosa for gender, but feliz stays feliz for everyone.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: I wake up at seven. You shower at eight. Santiago shaves. We get dressed. They have fun.

Example: Me despierto a las siete. Te duchas a las ocho. Santiago se afeita. Nos vestimos. Se divierten.

Notes:

The full pronoun set: me (yo), te (tú), se (él/ella), nos (nosotros), se (ellos). Notice "se" works for both one person and a group.
"Nos vestimos" → vestirse is regular in the nosotros form. But watch: yo me visto (the "e" becomes "i"). Nosotros keeps the normal stem.

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: It is Saturday. Santiago wakes up at eight. He showers. He gets dressed. He prepares a coffee and sits down to eat breakfast.

Example: Es sábado. Santiago se despierta a las ocho. Se ducha. Se viste. Se prepara un café y se sienta a desayunar.

Notes:

"Se prepara un café" → he prepares a coffee for himself. Without "se," it would mean he prepares a coffee for someone else. Small word, big difference in meaning.
"Se sienta a desayunar" → "sentarse a" means "sit down to do something." The "a" connects the sitting to what comes next.

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Santiago returns home at midnight. He is very happy. He takes off the clothes. He puts on the pajamas. He washes the face. He goes to bed.

Example: Santiago regresa a casa a medianoche. Está muy contento/feliz. Se quita la ropa. Se pone el pijama. Se lava la cara. Se acuesta.

Notes:

"Se quita" (takes off) and "se pone" (puts on) → opposites, both reflexive, both about clothing. Quitarse and ponerse will come up constantly.
"Contento" and "feliz" both mean happy, but contento is more like "pleased, satisfied with how things went."
Notice how the evening routine mirrors the morning: despertarse/acostarse, vestirse/quitarse la ropa, ducharse/lavarse la cara. Spanish routines come in pairs.

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

The "old" Santiago always says no while the "new" Santiago always says yes. What about you?

Do you normally say yes or no to new things?
Do you feel nervous or happy with new people?
Do you sing well or badly?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Welcome to Toledo. Today you'll walk through morning routines, talk about feelings at different moments, push a friend to stop saying no and take over a guided tour at the Mirador del Valle.

Santiago's Saturday Morning

You're Santiago. It's Saturday morning and you don't work today. You wake up and start your day.

Your task - describe your morning routine:

Say what day it is and what time you wake up (nine o'clock)
Say what time you wake up from Monday to Friday (seven thirty)
Describe what you do in the bathroom (shower with hot water, shave in front of the mirror, comb hair, brush teeth)
Say what you do after the bathroom (get dressed, go to the kitchen)
Say what you make yourself for breakfast and that you sit down to have breakfast

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Es sábado. Me despierto a las nueve.
1. It's Saturday. I wake up at nine.
De lunes a viernes me despierto a las siete y media.
1. From Monday to Friday I wake up at seven thirty.
Voy al baño. Me ducho con agua caliente. Me afeito delante del espejo. Me peino. Me cepillo los dientes.
1. I go to the bathroom. I shower with hot water. I shave in front of the mirror. I comb my hair. I brush my teeth.
Me visto. Voy a la cocina.
1. I get dressed. I go to the kitchen.
Me preparo un café con leche y me siento a desayunar.
1. I make myself a coffee with milk and I sit down to have breakfast.

Santiago After Midnight

It's midnight. Santiago has just walked through the door after an incredible night: dinner, karaoke and a woman called Blanca. He's home now.

Your task - describe what Santiago does when he gets home:

What time does Santiago get home? How does he feel?
What does he do with his clothes? What does he put on? (takes off clothes, puts on pyjamas)
What does he do in the bathroom? (washes face, brushes teeth)
He goes to bed. Who does he think about? Describe her (pretty, long hair, green eyes)
Do you think Santiago is happy? Is his life boring now?

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Santiago llega a casa a medianoche. Se siente muy contento.
1. Santiago gets home at midnight. He feels very happy.
Se quita la ropa. Se pone el pijama.
1. He takes off his clothes. He puts on his pyjamas.
Va al baño. Se lava la cara. Se cepilla los dientes.
1. He goes to the bathroom. He washes his face. He brushes his teeth.
Se acuesta en la cama. Piensa en Blanca. Blanca es muy guapa. Tiene el pelo largo y ojos verdes.
1. He lies down in bed. He thinks about Blanca. Blanca is very pretty. She has long hair and green eyes.
Sí, Santiago está muy contento. Su vida no es aburrida ahora.
1. Yes, Santiago is very happy. His life is not boring now.

How Are You Feeling Today?

You're in Toledo for a Spanish course. It's been an intense week. Your teacher asks everyone: "Tell me, how do you feel in different moments of your day?"

Your task - describe how you feel at different times:

Say how you feel on Monday morning when you wake up early for work (tired? happy? nervous? sad?)
Say how you feel at work or in class (bored? good? tired?)
Describe how you feel on Friday night with friends and what you do (have fun? laugh? go out?)
Describe how you feel on Sunday alone at home and what you do (rest? eat well?)
Say how you feel right now, today and why (happy? nervous? tired? excited?)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

El lunes por la mañana me despierto temprano. Me siento triste y cansado/a.
1. On Monday morning I wake up early. I feel sad and tired.
En el trabajo me siento aburrido/a. / En clase me siento bien pero siempre estoy cansado/a.
1. At work I feel bored. / In class I feel good but I'm always tired.
El viernes por la noche estoy con amigos. Me divierto mucho. Me río mucho.
1. On Friday night I'm with friends. I have a lot of fun. I laugh a lot.
El domingo estoy solo/a en casa. Me siento bien. Descanso y como bien.
1. On Sunday I'm alone at home. I feel good. I rest and I eat well.
Ahora / Hoy me siento [contento/a / nervioso/a] porque estudio español. / Hoy me siento cansado/a porque trabajo mucho.
1. Right now / Today I feel [happy / nervous] because I study Spanish. / Today I feel tired because I work a lot.

Your Friend Needs a Push

A friend calls you. Again. Same thing every week: "I'm so bored. I'm always at home. I never go out. I'm always alone." You love him/her, but you can't hear this one more time. Today you're going to fix this.

Your task - talk to your friend:

Tell your friend their problem: their life is very boring, they're always at home, they're alone, they don't have a boyfriend/girlfriend
Tell your friend that they need to say yes more
Tell your friend three more things they need to do (go out more? have fun? be with friends?)
Describe a good Saturday night for your friend: where they go, who with, what is there (restaurant? friends? lots of people? good music?)
Tell your friend: this Saturday you say yes, you come with all of us, you have dinner with all of us

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Tu vida es muy aburrida. Siempre estás en casa. Estás solo/a. No tienes novio/a.
1. Your life is very boring. You're always at home. You're alone. You don't have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
Necesitas decir sí más veces.
1. You need to say yes more often.
Necesitas salir más. Necesitas divertirte. Necesitas estar con amigos.
1. You need to go out more. You need to have fun. You need to be with friends.
El sábado por la noche vas a un restaurante con amigos. Hay mucha gente. Hay buena música.
1. On Saturday night you go to a restaurant with friends. There are lots of people. There's good music.
Este sábado dices sí. Vienes con nosotros. Cenas con nosotros.
1. This Saturday you say yes. You come with us all. You have dinner with us all.

The Tour Guide Needs a Break

You're on a guided tour at the Mirador del Valle in Toledo. The tour guide suddenly loses his voice. He's coughing, waving his hands, he can't speak. He looks at you desperately and whispers: "You... talk about something... five minutes... please." You panic. But then you remember Santiago's story.

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

Say who Santiago and Esteban are, where they are, and what they drink (place, city)
Say what Esteban tells Santiago: his life is boring, he doesn't have a girlfriend, he's always alone at home, he needs to change
On Saturday, Esteban sends Santiago a message. Say what the message is. Say what Santiago writes first, then say what he changes it to
Say where Santiago goes at night and where the restaurant is (near what?)
Say who Santiago meets at dinner, what they talk about (three topics), and how Santiago feels
Say where they go after dinner. Say what Santiago sings, whether he sings well and what the people do
Say who comes up to Santiago. Describe what she looks like (pretty? hair? eyes?)
Say what Blanca asks Santiago (two things)
Say how Santiago feels at the end of the night and what he thinks he needs to do
Say what you think about the story and why (Esta historia es... porque…)
And you: do you say yes or no in your life? Do you need to change something?

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Santiago y Esteban son amigos. Están en el Mirador del Valle, en Toledo. Toman un café.
1. Santiago and Esteban are friends. They're at the Mirador del Valle, in Toledo. They have a coffee.
Esteban dice que la vida de Santiago es muy aburrida. No tiene novia. Siempre está solo en casa. Necesita cambiar. Necesita decir sí más veces.
1. Esteban says that Santiago's life is very boring. He doesn't have a girlfriend. He's always alone at home. He needs to change. He needs to say yes more often.
Esteban escribe un mensaje: "¿Cenas con nosotros esta noche?" Santiago escribe: "No, gracias. Estoy cansado..." Pero borra el mensaje y escribe: "Sí, voy. ¿A qué hora?"
1. Esteban writes a message: "Are you having dinner with us tonight?" Santiago writes: "No, thanks. I'm tired..." But he deletes the message and writes: "Yes, I'm coming. What time?"
Por la noche, Santiago va a un restaurante. Está cerca de la Catedral.
1. At night, Santiago goes to a restaurant. It's near the Cathedral.
Conoce a personas nuevas. Hablan de trabajo, de música, de películas. Santiago se divierte.
1. He meets new people. They talk about work, music, films. Santiago has fun.
Después de la cena van a un karaoke. Santiago canta "Corazón partío" de Alejandro Sanz. No canta muy bien, pero la gente aplaude.
1. After the dinner they go to a karaoke. Santiago sings "Corazón partío" by Alejandro Sanz. He doesn't sing very well, but the people clap.
Una mujer se acerca. Blanca es muy guapa. Tiene el pelo largo y ojos verdes.
1. A woman comes up. Blanca is very pretty. She has long hair and green eyes.
Blanca pregunta: "¿Me das tu número de teléfono?" Y pregunta: "¿Quieres tomar un café mañana?"
1. Blanca asks: "Will you give me your phone number?" And she asks: "Do you want to have a coffee tomorrow?"
Santiago está muy contento. Se siente muy feliz. Piensa: "Necesito decir sí más veces."
1. Santiago is very happy. He feels very happy. He thinks: "I need to say yes more often."
Esta historia es muy bonita porque Santiago dice sí más veces. / Esta historia es muy divertida porque Santiago canta en el karaoke.
1. This story is very nice because Santiago says yes more times. / This story is very fun because Santiago sings at the karaoke.
Sí, necesito decir sí más veces. Necesito estar más veces con mis amigos. / No, yo estoy muchas veces con amigos. Me divierto mucho.
1. Yes, I need to say yes more often. I need to be with my friends more often. / No, I'm with friends many times. I have a lot of fun.

Part 8

Culture

1. The Song Santiago Sang Comes from the Best-Selling Album in Spanish History

Santiago stands up at a karaoke bar full of strangers, terrified and picks "Corazón partío" by Alejandro Sanz.

He doesn't sing very well. The story tells us that. But the whole room claps anyway.

That's what "Corazón partío" does to people.

The guy behind it

Alejandro Sanz was born in Madrid in 1968. His parents were from Andalusia and his family had flamenco roots. He started playing guitar at seven.

His first album came out in 1989 under the stage name "Alejandro Magno" (Alexander the Great).

It went nowhere. He quit music, studied business and came back a few years later with a new name and a different sound.

Then in 1997 he released an album called Más.

Over 6 million copies sold worldwide
More than 2 million in Spain alone
Certified 22x Platinum in Spain
Holds the Guinness World Record for best-selling album in the country

And the biggest song on it? "Corazón partío."

It's a flamenco-pop ballad about heartbreak.

Went to number one in Spain, crossed over across Latin America and the US, and turned Sanz into an international star.

He's since won 24 Latin Grammys and 4 Grammys and was the first Spanish musician to give a lecture at Harvard.

He still can't take "Corazón partío" off his live setlist. He once said the audience would throw rocks at him if he tried. (I mean… I wouldn't throw a rock… but I'd want my money back.)

The perfect karaoke choice (even when you can't sing)

Corazón partío" is one of those songs where the room does half the work for you.

The chorus is big and emotional and everyone already knows the words. You don't need to be good. You just need to commit.

Santiago committed. He was scared, he wasn't great and it didn't matter.

Blanca walked over anyway.

So… just in case you ever find yourself in a karaoke bar and need a song that works even when your voice doesn't, I'll leave you the video with lyrics below.

Alejandro Sanz — Corazón Partío (with lyrics)

And if the moment ever comes… do what Santiago did. Just get up there and shine.

2. Santiago Was Sitting in Front of the Most Painted City in Spain

Santiago and Esteban are having coffee at the Mirador del Valle... with the entire old city of Toledo spread out in front of them.

El Greco (Spain's most famous Renaissance painter, despite being Greek) painted this same view over four hundred years ago.

That painting now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. It's one of the most celebrated landscapes in Western art.

Santiago was looking at all of this from that bench. Whether he knew what he was looking at or not… it's a good place to rethink your life.

Panoramic view of Toledo from the Mirador del Valle showing the Alcázar, Cathedral and Tagus River

Toledo from the Mirador del Valle, with the Alcázar and the Tagus River below.

A city that froze at its best moment

Toledo sits on a rocky hill above the Tagus River, about 70 km south of Madrid.

Around 86,500 people live there today.

It was the capital of Spain for centuries. The seat of kings. The base of the most powerful church in the country.

Then in 1561 Philip II moved the court to Madrid (you already know this part).

Toledo's population dropped. Its economy slowed.

And because nobody built over anything or tore anything down... the city just stayed.

The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1986) and no modern exteriors are allowed inside the old walls.

You walk through streets so narrow and crooked that you can touch both walls… and nothing looks newer than the 1500s.

A narrow stone alley between tall buildings in Toledo's historic old town

A street in Toledo's old town. Built before anyone thought of cars. Or personal space.

Nobody preserved it on purpose. Madrid took the power, Toledo lost the money and the city just stayed exactly as it was. Five hundred years later… that's the whole reason people come.

The place that saved Europe's homework

In the 12th and 13th centuries something happened in Toledo that changed the course of European history.

The city had been reconquered from Muslim rule in 1085.

The new Christian rulers inherited something extraordinary... vast Arabic libraries full of Greek and Islamic philosophy, science and medicine that the rest of Europe had lost access to for centuries.

Teams of Christian, Muslim and Jewish scholars started translating these texts from Arabic into Latin and early Spanish. This became known as the Toledo School of Translators.

What they brought back to Europe:

Aristotle's complete works - Europe had lost most of them. Toledo brought them back
Algebra, astronomy and medicine - from Islamic scholars like Avicenna and Averroes
Medical terminology - words like "diaphragm" and "pupil" were first invented by a Toledo translator and are still used today

These translations spread to universities across Europe and helped lay the ground for the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution.

This small city on a hill in central Spain is one of the reasons modern science exists.

Two thousand years of steel

Toledo has been making swords since before the Romans.

What made Toledo steel different:

Two types of steel (one hard, one soft) forged together. The hard steel held the edge. The soft steel kept it from snapping
A master smith could only produce 2 to 3 swords per year
By the 1500s, Toledo was considered the greatest sword-making centre in the world

When firearms started replacing swords, King Carlos III created the Royal Arms Factory in 1761 to keep the craft alive.

You can still walk through the old town and find shops full of swords and armour. Most of it is decorative now. But a few workshops still forge the real thing.

One day in Toledo (start by saying yes)

Toledo is a day trip from Madrid. Thirty minutes on the high-speed train.

You could decide to go over breakfast and be there before lunch.

Start at the Mirador del Valle - get there in the morning before the tour buses arrive. Just look at it for a while, the way Santiago and Esteban did
Cross into the old city - get lost in the streets. That's not a suggestion. You will get lost. The alleys loop back on themselves and dead-end into walls
Look up at the Alcázar - the massive fortress at the highest point of the city. You can see it from everywhere and it looks like it's watching you back

The Alcázar de Toledo fortress on a hilltop above the city walls surrounded by greenery

The Alcázar de Toledo, sitting at the highest point of the city.

Walk past the Cathedral - it's enormous, dark and beautiful even from outside
Try the mazapán - Toledo's signature sweet. Almond paste shaped into little animals and figurines. Sold everywhere in the old town
Find a bar in a side street - sit down, order wine and something local

Personally… every good thing that happened to me in Toledo happened because I turned down the wrong street. That city rewards you for getting lost.

So… if you're waiting for the perfect time to go to Spain… there isn't one. Santiago wasn't ready either. He just said yes.

Did You Know?

⛪ Toledo's Cathedral took over 250 years to build. Construction started in 1226 and wasn't essentially complete until the late 1400s. It's still the seat of the Primate of Spain, the country's most senior Catholic bishop
🎨 El Greco (real name Domenikos Theotokopoulos) was Greek, born in Crete. He came to Toledo in 1577 hoping to work for King Philip II. The king rejected his paintings... so El Greco stayed in Toledo and became one of Spain's most famous artists anyway
🌊 The Tagus River wraps around Toledo on three sides, forming a natural moat that made the city nearly impossible to take by force for most of its history
🎤 Alejandro Sanz's first album flopped so badly he performed short sets at strip clubs to try to promote it. He quit music to study business... then came back and became Spain's best-selling recording artist
🎶 Sanz collaborated with Shakira on "La Tortura" in 2005. The song broke the record for most weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart

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