A1 Spanish

Stories completed

27. El mejor regalo

(The Best Gift)

Today is Arturo's seventy-fifth birthday. He waits for a call. A message. Anything. Nothing comes.

Illustration of a worried man with glasses facing a smiling woman with glasses in a black and white style

Spanish version

Arturo tiene setenta y cinco años.

Vive con su hijo mayor, Fernando.

Hoy es el cumpleaños de Arturo.

Fernando entra en la habitación de su padre.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Wake up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Despiértese, papá. Buenos días. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Get up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Levántese.

Arturo se levanta despacio.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Put on" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Póngase esta camisa. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Take" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Tome su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="medicine" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">medicina y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Drink" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">beba agua.

Desayunan juntos.

—Feliz cumpleaños, papá.

—Gracias, hijo.

—¿Vamos, papá? Tenemos cita con la doctora a las nueve.

Llegan al hospital. En la recepción, una empleada sonríe.

—Buenos días. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="How can I help you?" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">¿En qué puedo ayudarle?

—Tengo una cita con la doctora Ramírez.

—Perfecto. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Fill out" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Complete estos papeles, por favor.

Le da unos formularios a Arturo.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Sign" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Firme aquí, por favor.

Arturo firma.

—Ahora <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Write" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">escriba su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="full name" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">nombre completo aquí.

Arturo escribe.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Put" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Ponga su dirección aquí. Y escriba su número de teléfono aquí.

Arturo completa todo.

—Firme aquí también.

—Perfecto. Ahora <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Wait" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">espere un momento, por favor.

Van a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="waiting room" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">la sala de espera.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Sit down" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Siéntese aquí, papá. Espere un momento.

Una <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="nurse" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">enfermera abre la puerta.

—Señor Arturo, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Come in" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pase por favor.

Entran al <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="doctor's office" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">consultorio. La doctora sonríe.

—Buenos días, señor Arturo. Siéntese aquí.

Arturo se sienta.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Open" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Abra la boca, por favor.

La doctora examina su garganta.

—Bien. Ahora respire hondo.

Escucha su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="heart" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">corazón.

—Perfecto. Todo está bien.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Walk" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Camine un poco todos los días. Tome estas vitaminas por la mañana. Beba mucha agua. Y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Don't eat" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">no coma mucha <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="salt" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sal.

—De acuerdo, doctora.

Cuando salen del hospital, Arturo mira su teléfono.

—Nadie me escribe. Hoy es mi cumpleaños.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="still" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Aún es temprano, papá. Tiene que esperar.

—Sí, es verdad.

—¿Vamos al parque? Necesita caminar.

Van al parque.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Come" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Venga, papá. Camine conmigo.

Caminan por el parque y después se sientan en un banco.

Arturo mira su teléfono otra vez.

—Nadie me llama. Nadie me escribe. Estoy muy triste. Quiero ir a casa.

—No, papá. Vamos a cenar a su restaurante favorito.

—No quiero. Estoy triste. Quiero ir a casa.

—Por favor, papá. Venga conmigo.

—Bueno... <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="it's OK" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">está bien.

Van al coche.

—Póngase <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="seatbelt" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el cinturón, papá.

Llegan al restaurante.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Enter" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Entre, papá. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Be careful" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Tenga cuidado.

Arturo entra y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="lights" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">las luces se encienden.

—¡Sorpresa! ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

Toda la familia está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="there" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">allí.

Su hija, su otro hijo, sus nietos, amigos y vecinos.

Arturo está muy contento. Empieza a llorar.

La familia lo abraza.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="thanks everyone" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Gracias a todos. Este es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the best gift" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el mejor regalo. Estoy muy feliz.

Spanish story with English translation

Arturo tiene setenta y cinco años.

Arturo is seventy-five years old.

Vive con su hijo mayor, Fernando.

He lives with his oldest son, Fernando.

Hoy es el cumpleaños de Arturo.

Today is Arturo's birthday.

Fernando entra en la habitación de su padre.

Fernando enters his father's room.

—Despiértese, papá. Buenos días. Levántese.

"Wake up, Dad. Good morning. Get up."

Arturo se levanta despacio.

Arturo gets up slowly.

—Póngase esta camisa. Tome su medicina y beba agua.

"Put on this shirt. Take your medicine and drink water."

Desayunan juntos.

They have breakfast together.

—Feliz cumpleaños, papá.

"Happy birthday, Dad."

—Gracias, hijo.

"Thank you, son."

—¿Vamos, papá? Tenemos cita con la doctora a las nueve.

"Shall we go, Dad? We have an appointment with the doctor at nine."

Llegan al hospital. En la recepción, una empleada sonríe.

They arrive at the hospital. At the reception, an employee smiles.

—Buenos días. ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?

"Good morning. How can I help you?"

—Tengo una cita con la doctora Ramírez.

"I have an appointment with Doctor Ramírez."

—Perfecto. Complete estos papeles, por favor.

"Perfect. Fill out these papers, please."

Le da unos formularios a Arturo.

She gives some forms to Arturo.

—Firme aquí, por favor.

"Sign here, please."

Arturo firma.

Arturo signs.

—Ahora escriba su nombre completo aquí.

"Now write your full name here."

Arturo escribe.

Arturo writes.

—Ponga su dirección aquí. Y escriba su número de teléfono aquí.

"Put your address here. And write your phone number here."

Arturo completa todo.

Arturo completes everything.

—Firme aquí también.

"Sign here too."

—Perfecto. Ahora espere un momento, por favor.

"Perfect. Now wait a moment, please."

Van a la sala de espera.

They go to the waiting room.

—Siéntese aquí, papá. Espere un momento.

"Sit here, Dad. Wait a moment."

Una enfermera abre la puerta.

A nurse opens the door.

—Señor Arturo, pase por favor.

"Mr. Arturo, come in please."

Entran al consultorio. La doctora sonríe.

They enter the office. The doctor smiles.

—Buenos días, señor Arturo. Siéntese aquí.

"Good morning, Mr. Arturo. Sit here."

Arturo se sienta.

Arturo sits down.

—Abra la boca, por favor.

"Open your mouth, please."

La doctora examina su garganta.

The doctor examines his throat.

—Bien. Ahora respire hondo.

"Good. Now breathe deeply."

Escucha su corazón.

She listens to his heart.

—Perfecto. Todo está bien.

"Perfect. Everything is fine."

—Camine un poco todos los días. Tome estas vitaminas por la mañana. Beba mucha agua. Y no coma mucha sal.

"Walk a little every day. Take these vitamins in the morning. Drink lots of water. And don't eat too much salt."

—De acuerdo, doctora.

"Okay, doctor."

Cuando salen del hospital, Arturo mira su teléfono.

When they leave the hospital, Arturo looks at his phone.

—Nadie me escribe. Hoy es mi cumpleaños.

"Nobody writes to me. Today is my birthday."

—Aún es temprano, papá. Tiene que esperar.

"It's still early, Dad. You have to wait."

—Sí, es verdad.

"Yes, that's true."

—¿Vamos al parque? Necesita caminar.

"Shall we go to the park? You need to walk."

Van al parque.

They go to the park.

—Venga, papá. Camine conmigo.

"Come on, Dad. Walk with me."

Caminan por el parque y después se sientan en un banco.

They walk through the park and then sit on a bench.

Arturo mira su teléfono otra vez.

Arturo looks at his phone again.

—Nadie me llama. Nadie me escribe. Estoy muy triste. Quiero ir a casa.

"Nobody calls me. Nobody writes to me. I am very sad. I want to go home."

—No, papá. Vamos a cenar a su restaurante favorito.

"No, Dad. Let's go have dinner at your favorite restaurant."

—No quiero. Estoy triste. Quiero ir a casa.

"I don't want to. I'm sad. I want to go home."

—Por favor, papá. Venga conmigo.

"Please, Dad. Come with me."

—Bueno... está bien.

"Okay... all right."

Van al coche.

They go to the car.

—Póngase el cinturón, papá.

"Put on your seatbelt, Dad."

Llegan al restaurante.

They arrive at the restaurant.

—Entre, papá. Tenga cuidado.

"Go in, Dad. Be careful."

Arturo entra y las luces se encienden.

Arturo enters and the lights turn on.

—¡Sorpresa! ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

"Surprise! Happy birthday!"

Toda la familia está allí.

The whole family is there.

Su hija, su otro hijo, sus nietos, amigos y vecinos.

His daughter, his other son, his grandchildren, friends, and neighbors.

Arturo está muy contento. Empieza a llorar.

Arturo is very happy. He starts to cry.

La familia lo abraza.

The family hugs him.

—Gracias a todos. Este es el mejor regalo. Estoy muy feliz.

"Thank you all. This is the best gift. I am very happy."

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

You are the doctor examining Arturo. Tell him in Spanish: Open your mouth. Breathe deeply.

Example: Abra la boca. Respire hondo.

Notes:

Story 26 commands were for Axel (tú): abre, pon, busca. These commands are for Arturo (usted): abra, ponga, busque. They have a different ending because the respect level is different.
Doctors, receptionists and anyone speaking to an older person or a stranger will use these forms. Fernando uses usted with his own father throughout the whole story.

Question 2

You work at the hospital reception. Tell Arturo in Spanish: Complete these papers, please. Sign here. Write your phone number here.

Example: Complete estos papeles, por favor. Firme aquí. Escriba su número de teléfono aquí.

Notes:

Regular usted commands: take the yo form, then switch the ending. -AR verbs get -e: completo → complete, firmo → firme. -ER/-IR verbs get -a: escribo → escriba.
"Por favor" softens the command. Without it, "complete estos papeles" sounds like an order. With it, it sounds professional and polite. In formal settings "por favor" is almost always there.

Question 3

You are the doctor. Tell Arturo in Spanish: Walk a little every day. Take these vitamins in the morning. Don't eat a lot of salt.

Example: Camine un poco todos los días. Tome estas vitaminas por la mañana. No coma mucha sal.

Notes:

Same formation as Q2: yo form, switch the ending. Works for every regular verb. Once you know the pattern you can make formal commands from any verb you already know.
"No coma" → negative formal command. Unlike tú commands (abre → no abras changes form), usted commands stay the same: coma → no coma. Just add "no." Much simpler, right?

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: Sit down here. Wait a moment. Be careful.

Example: Siéntese aquí. Espere un momento. Tenga cuidado.

Notes:

"Siéntese" → formal reflexive command. Tú = siéntate. Usted = siéntese. The "-te" becomes "-se" for formal. Same switch: levántate → levántese, vístete → vístase.
"Tenga cuidado" → formal version of "ten cuidado." Both irregular: "Ten" for tú, "tenga" for usted. Same verb, same meaning, different register.

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: Wake up. Get up. Put on this shirt. Take your medicine.

Example: Despiértese. Levántese. Póngase esta camisa. Tome su medicina.

Notes:

Three formal reflexive commands in a row: despiértese, levántese, póngase. The pattern is always the same: "-te" for tú, "-se" for usted.
"Póngase" (put on yourself, formal) vs "ponga" (put something, formal). Same difference as tú forms: "ponte" vs "pon." The "-se" makes it about the person's own body or clothing.

Question 6

You are Fernando. Your father enters the restaurant and sees the surprise party. Tell him in Spanish: Come in. Be careful. The whole family is here. Sit down. Happy birthday, dad.

Example: Entre. Tenga cuidado. Toda la familia está aquí. Siéntese. Feliz cumpleaños, papá.

Notes:

"Entre" (regular), "tenga" (irregular), "siéntese" (reflexive).

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Arturo thinks nobody remembers his birthday but the whole family is there! What about you?

What makes you happy after a bad day?
Do you write "happy birthday" to everyone or only to important people?
What is the best birthday present: a trip, a party or something different?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Arturo is turning seventy-five and the whole day is yours. Help a customer, play the doctor, be Arturo and take care of someone you love. Then tell a friend everything.

At the Pharmacy

You work at a small pharmacy and Arturo walks in slowly and stands at the counter. He looks a little lost and says he needs his medicine.

Your task - help the customer at the pharmacy:

Greet him and ask how you can help
Tell him to write his name on this paper
Tell him to sign here
Tell him to sit down and wait a moment
Give him his medicine - tell him to take one pill every morning and drink a lot of water

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Buenos días, señor. ¿En qué puedo ayudar?
1. Good morning, sir. How can I help?
Escriba su nombre en este papel, por favor.
1. Write your name on this paper, please.
Firme aquí, por favor.
1. Sign here, please.
Siéntese aquí y espere un momento, por favor.
1. Sit down here and wait a moment, please.
Aquí tiene su medicina. Tome una pastilla cada mañana y beba mucha agua.
1. Here is your medicine. Take one pill every morning and drink a lot of water.

The Full Health Plan

You're Doctora Ramírez. The examination is over and Señor Arturo is in good health. Give him your complete health recommendations.

Your task - give your patient health advice for every part of his day:

Tell him to walk for thirty minutes every morning
Tell him to take his vitamins before breakfast
Tell him to drink a lot of water during the day
Tell him to eat more fruit and not eat a lot of salt
Tell him to rest a little in the afternoon
Tell him not to drink coffee at night

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Camine treinta minutos todas las mañanas.
1. Walk thirty minutes every morning.
Tome sus vitaminas antes del desayuno.
1. Take your vitamins before breakfast.
Beba mucha agua durante el día.
1. Drink a lot of water during the day.
Coma más fruta y no coma mucha sal.
1. Eat more fruit and don't eat a lot of salt.
Descanse un poco por la tarde.
1. Rest a little in the afternoon.
No beba café por la noche.
1. Don't drink coffee at night.

Arturo on the Bench

You're Arturo and you're sitting on a park bench with Fernando after the doctor's visit. It's your birthday, the sun is warm and... nobody has called.

Your task - tell Fernando how you feel:

Say you're sad and a little tired
Say today is your birthday and you're now seventy-five years old
Say you want to see your daughter and your grandchildren
Say you don't like going to the doctor; say you like walking in the park more
Say you want to go home and sleep
Fernando insists and you agree to go - tell him you want to be home at nine to sleep

Speak for 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Estoy triste y un poco cansado.
1. I'm sad and a little tired.
Hoy es mi cumpleaños. Ahora tengo setenta y cinco años.
1. Today is my birthday. Now I'm seventy-five years old.
Quiero ver a mi hija y a mis nietos.
1. I want to see my daughter and my grandchildren.
No me gusta ir al médico. Me gusta más caminar en el parque.
1. I don't like going to the doctor. I like walking in the park more.
Quiero ir a casa y dormir.
1. I want to go home and sleep.
Bueno... está bien. Pero quiero estar en casa a las nueve para dormir.
1. OK... fine. But I want to be at home at nine to sleep.

Advice for Someone You Care About

Think about someone in your life - a grandparent, a neighbor, an uncle or aunt. They sit down with you and ask: "What should I do to feel better?"

Your task - give health and life advice:

Say who this person is and how old they are (my grandfather, my neighbor, my aunt...)
Say this person is very important to you
Tell them to eat a good breakfast every morning
Tell them not to work too much and to walk more
Tell them to drink less coffee and more water
Tell them not to eat dinner late
Tell them to take vitamins every day

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Mi abuela tiene setenta y ocho años. / Mi vecino tiene ochenta años.
1. My grandmother is seventy-eight years old. / My neighbor is eighty years old.
Es muy importante para mí.
1. She/He is very important to me.
Desayune bien todas las mañanas. / Coma un buen desayuno todas las mañanas.
1. Have a good breakfast every morning. / Eat a good breakfast every morning.
No trabaje mucho y camine más.
1. Don't work too much and walk more.
Beba menos café y más agua.
1. Drink less coffee and more water.
No cene tarde.
1. Don't eat dinner late.
Tome vitaminas todos los días.
1. Take vitamins every day.

The Dog Walk Debrief

You're walking your dog and you run into someone you know who is also going through this story collection. They're a couple of stories behind you. "Oh you're on Story 27? I heard it's really emotional."

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

Who is Arturo? (age, who he lives with)
What day is it for Arturo?
What does Fernando tell his father in the morning?
Where do they go after breakfast? (time, doctor)
What does the receptionist tell Arturo? (forms, name, sign)
Describe the doctor's checkup
What advice does the doctor give? (walk, water, no salt)
At the park, how does Arturo feel and what does he want?
What does Fernando say? Where does he take Arturo?
What happens when Arturo enters the restaurant? Who is there?
How does Arturo feel at the end? What does he say?
Imagine you're Arturo on the bench - how do you feel with no messages?
Now as yourself - what do you think about this story? Why?
Do you like birthday parties? Do you like surprise parties?
What do you like more on your birthday - the gifts, the messages or being with your family and friends?

Speak for 3.5-4 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Arturo tiene setenta y cinco años. Vive con su hijo mayor, Fernando.
1. Arturo is seventy-five years old. He lives with his oldest son, Fernando.
Hoy es el cumpleaños de Arturo.
1. Today is Arturo's birthday.
Fernando le dice: "Despiértese. Levántese. Póngase esta camisa. Tome su medicina y beba agua."
1. Fernando tells him: "Wake up. Get up. Put on this shirt. Take your medicine and drink water."
Después del desayuno, van al hospital. Tienen una cita con la doctora a las nueve.
1. After breakfast, they go to the hospital. They have an appointment with the doctor at nine.
La empleada le dice: "Complete estos papeles. Firme aquí. Escriba su nombre. Ponga su dirección."
1. The receptionist tells him: "Fill in these papers. Sign here. Write your name. Put your address."
La doctora le dice: "Siéntese aquí. Abra la boca." Examina su garganta. Después dice: "Respire hondo." Escucha su corazón. Dice que todo está bien.
1. The doctor tells him: "Sit down here. Open your mouth." She examines his throat. Then she says: "Breathe deeply." She listens to his heart. She says that everything is fine.
La doctora le dice: "Camine un poco todos los días. Tome estas vitaminas. Beba mucha agua. Y no coma mucha sal."
1. The doctor tells him: "Walk a little every day. Take these vitamins. Drink a lot of water. And don't eat a lot of salt."
En el parque, Arturo mira su teléfono. Nadie le llama. Nadie le escribe. Está muy triste. Quiere ir a casa.
1. In the park, Arturo looks at his phone. Nobody calls him. Nobody writes to him. He's very sad. He wants to go home.
Fernando dice: "Vamos a cenar a su restaurante favorito." Arturo no quiere, pero Fernando insiste.
1. Fernando says: "Let's go have dinner at your favorite restaurant." Arturo doesn't want to, but Fernando insists.
Arturo entra en el restaurante y... ¡sorpresa! ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Toda la familia está allí. Su hija, su otro hijo, sus nietos, amigos y vecinos.
1. Arturo walks into the restaurant and... surprise! Happy birthday! The whole family is there. His daughter, his other son, his grandchildren, friends and neighbors.
Arturo está muy contento. Llora. Dice: "Gracias a todos. Este es el mejor regalo. Estoy muy feliz."
1. Arturo is very happy. He cries. He says: "Thank you all. This is the best gift. I'm very happy."
Estoy muy triste. Es mi cumpleaños y nadie me escribe. Nadie me llama. Quiero estar con mi familia.
1. I'm very sad. It's my birthday and nobody writes to me. Nobody calls me. I want to be with my family.
Esta historia es muy bonita porque la familia de Arturo es muy amable y Arturo está feliz. / Me gusta mucho esta historia.
1. This story is very pretty because Arturo's family is very kind and Arturo is happy. / I like this story a lot.
Sí, me gustan las fiestas de cumpleaños. Y me gustan mucho las fiestas sorpresa. / No, no me gustan las fiestas sorpresa.
1. Yes, I like birthday parties. And I really like surprise parties. / No, I don't like surprise parties.
Me gusta más estar con mi familia y mis amigos. / Para mí, los regalos no son muy importantes. Me gusta más estar con mi familia.
1. I like being with my family and friends more. / For me, gifts aren't very important. I like being with my family more.

Part 8

Culture

1. Why Fernando Never Once Says Tú

Fernando spends this entire story taking care of his father.

He does it using usted.

Every single verb. Levántese. Póngase. Siéntese. Venga. Not once does Fernando switch to tú.

If you're learning Spanish and you've been told that usted = formal and tú = informal… this story probably looks strange.

Why would a son who clearly loves his father talk to him like a stranger?

He's not. And that's the whole point.

What usted really means (and what it doesn't)

In modern Spain most people use tú with their parents. That shift happened over the last 50 or 60 years as the country opened up after the Franco era.

Families got less formal. Kids started calling their parents tú. It became the norm.

But usted with parents hasn't fully disappeared. You'll still hear it in some older families, in rural areas, in parts of Andalusia and in households where the habit just… stuck.

Arturo is 75. Fernando probably grew up in a home where usted was just how you spoke to your father. Not because there was distance. Because that's what respect sounded like in that family.

And here's what this story shows better than any textbook: usted doesn't mean cold. It can also mean love and respect, depending on the context.

The rules you'll actually need

When you visit Spain, here's roughly how it works:

Tú - friends, family, people your age, kids, coworkers you're close with… basically anyone where there's no reason to be formal
Usted - anyone you don't know well who's older than you, service staff (waiters, hotel receptions, shops), doctors, officials and your partner's parents (at least at first)

The switch from usted to tú usually happens naturally.

Someone will say "puedes tutearme" (you can use tú with me) and that's it. You're in.

In Spain younger people default to tú pretty quickly.

Use usted with someone in their twenties and they might laugh.

Use tú with someone in their seventies that you just met… and you might get a look.

When in doubt… start with usted. Nobody was ever offended by too much respect.

It works differently in Latin America

Here's where it gets interesting.

In much of Latin America usted is used more widely than in Spain. But the reasons vary:

Colombia (especially Bogotá) - usted is everywhere. Friends use it with friends. Parents use it with kids. Couples use it with each other. It can actually be a sign of closeness, not distance. Switching to tú can feel cold
Costa Rica - usted is the default for almost everyone, even in casual situations
Mexico - closer to Spain's system but generally more formal. Usted with elders, bosses and strangers is strong
Argentina and Uruguay - they skip both tú and usted in daily life and use vos instead, with its own verb forms

Same language. Completely different logic depending on where you are. You'll get the hang of it.

Did You Know?

🙏 God gets tú in Spanish. Prayers, hymns, the Bible… all informal. The Lord's Prayer says "Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos" using the tú form
📜 The word "usted" comes from "vuestra merced" (your grace/your mercy)… a medieval form of address that got shortened over centuries into a single word
👵 In 20th-century Spain it was common for a woman who called her own mother "usted" to live long enough to hear her grandchildren call her "tú." The shift happened that fast
🔄 There's a verb for switching to informal: tutear. But there's no verb for switching to usted. It's just the starting point
📺 Most Spanish brands and companies now use tú in their advertising and websites. Using usted in an ad would make a brand look old and stiff
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 In some Spanish families, a parent switching from tú to usted mid-conversation with their child is a warning sign. It means "you're in trouble." The sudden formality creates distance on purpose

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