A1 Spanish

Stories completed

18. El mentiroso perfecto

(The Perfect Liar)

Iván's parents call. They're coming for dinner. The apartment is a mess and he can't cook. He has seven hours to pull off the impossible.

Illustration of a stressed man holding his head at a desk with a clock on the wall behind him

Spanish version

Es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="one in the afternoon" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">la una de la tarde.

El teléfono de Iván suena.

—Hola papá.

—Hola Iván. Hoy vamos a tu casa a cenar, a las ocho.

—¿Hoy?

—Sí. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your mother" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Tu madre quiere ver tu apartamento. ¿Puedes hacer <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Spanish rice dish" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">una paella para la cena?

—Paella... sí... claro...

Iván mira su apartamento: es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="a disaster" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">un desastre.

Llama a su amigo David.

—David, tengo un problema muy grande. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I have to" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Tengo que limpiar todo el apartamento. Tengo que cocinar paella... ¡en siete horas!

—¿Y por qué tengo que ayudarte?

—Porque eres <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="my best friend" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mi mejor amigo...

—Vale, vale... Ahora voy.

David llega. Primero, limpian el apartamento.

—Tienes que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to wash" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">lavar los platos.

—Tengo que limpiar el baño.

—Tenemos que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to pick up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">recoger la ropa.

—Ah… y tenemos que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to tidy up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ordenar el salón.

Cuatro horas después, el apartamento está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="clean" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">limpio y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="tidy" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ordenado.

—Ahora tenemos que hacer la paella.

—¿Paella? Eso es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="difficult" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">difícil.

—Tranquilo.

Iván ve <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="a video" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">un vídeo en el móvil.

—Primero tengo que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to pour" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">echar <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="olive oil" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">aceite... Ahora tengo que añadir el pollo...

David <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="tries" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">prueba la paella.

—Iván... <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="this" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">esto no está bueno.

—No... está horrible.

—¿Qué hacemos? <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Your parents" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Tus padres vienen en dos horas.

—Tengo que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to call" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">llamar al restaurante. Tengo que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to order" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pedir una paella.

—Vale... Bueno... yo tengo que ir.

—Sí... claro... <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Thanks for" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Gracias por <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the help" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">la ayuda.

David <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="leaves" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">se va.

Llega la paella del restaurante. El apartamento está perfecto.

Suena el móvil.

—Iván, el coche <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="doesn't work" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">no funciona. No podemos ir.

—¿Cómo?

—Tenemos que arreglar el coche. Vamos <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="another day" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">otro día, ¿vale?

—Pero... todo está listo...

—Lo siento, hijo. Otro día.

Quince minutos después, suena <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the doorbell" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el timbre.

Iván abre la puerta. Es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="his neighbor" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">su vecina, Débora. A Iván <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="he really likes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">le gusta mucho Débora.

—Hola vecino. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Sorry" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Perdona... ¿puedo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to use" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">usar <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="your wifi" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tu wifi? Mi internet no funciona.

—Sí, claro... <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">pasa.

Débora entra.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Wow!" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">¡Vaya! Tu apartamento está muy ordenado. ¿Qué cocinas?

—Es una paella.

—¿Paella?

—Sí... me gusta cocinar.

—¡Qué bien!

—Mira... ¿Tienes hambre? Tengo mucha paella. ¿Quieres comer un poco?

—¿En serio? Sí, me encanta la paella.

Comen juntos. Iván pone un vino muy bueno en la mesa.

—Iván, esta paella está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="delicious" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">muy rica. Cocinas <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="very well" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">muy bien.

—Gracias... cocino mucho. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="For me" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Para mí es fácil.

—¿Fácil? La paella no es fácil.

—Para mí sí. Muy fácil.

—¿Y tu apartamento siempre está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="so" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tan ordenado?

—Sí, siempre. Me gusta tener todo limpio.

—Eres muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="organized" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">organizado... y cocinas muy bien... eres perfecto.

Spanish story with English translation

Es la una de la tarde. El teléfono de Iván suena.

It is one in the afternoon. Iván's phone rings.

—Hola papá.

"Hello Dad."

—Hola Iván. Hoy vamos a tu casa a cenar, a las ocho.

"Hello Iván. Today we're coming to your house for dinner, at eight."

—¿Hoy?

"Today?"

—Sí. Tu madre quiere ver tu apartamento. ¿Puedes hacer una paella para la cena?

"Yes. Your mother wants to see your apartment. Can you make a paella for dinner?"

—Paella... sí... claro...

"Paella... yes... of course..."

Iván mira su apartamento: es un desastre.

Iván looks at his apartment: it is a disaster.

Llama a su amigo David.

He calls his friend David.

—David, tengo un problema muy grande. Tengo que limpiar todo el apartamento. Tengo que cocinar paella... ¡en siete horas!

"David, I have a very big problem. I have to clean the whole apartment. I have to cook paella... in seven hours!"

—¿Y por qué tengo que ayudarte?

"And why do I have to help you?"

—Porque eres mi mejor amigo...

"Because you're my best friend..."

—Vale, vale... Ahora voy.

"Okay, okay... I'm coming now."

David llega. Primero, limpian el apartamento.

David arrives. First, they clean the apartment.

—Tienes que lavar los platos.

"You have to wash the dishes."

—Tengo que limpiar el baño.

"I have to clean the bathroom."

—Tenemos que recoger la ropa.

"We have to pick up the clothes."

—Ah… y tenemos que ordenar el salón.

"Ah... and we have to tidy up the living room."

Cuatro horas después, el apartamento está limpio y ordenado.

Four hours later, the apartment is clean and tidy.

—Ahora tenemos que hacer la paella.

"Now we have to make the paella."

—¿Paella? Eso es difícil.

"Paella? That's difficult."

—Tranquilo.

"Relax."

Iván ve un vídeo en el móvil.

Iván watches a video on his phone.

—Primero tengo que echar aceite... Ahora tengo que añadir el pollo...

"First I have to add oil... Now I have to add the chicken..."

David prueba la paella.

David tastes the paella.

—Iván... esto no está bueno.

"Iván... this is not good."

—No... está horrible.

"No... it's horrible."

—¿Qué hacemos? Tus padres vienen en dos horas.

"What do we do? Your parents are coming in two hours."

—Tengo que llamar al restaurante. Tengo que pedir una paella.

"I have to call the restaurant. I have to order a paella."

—Vale... Bueno... yo tengo que ir.

"Okay... Well... I have to go."

—Sí... claro... Gracias por la ayuda.

"Yes... of course... Thanks for the help."

David se va.

David leaves.

Llega la paella del restaurante. El apartamento está perfecto.

The paella from the restaurant arrives. The apartment is perfect.

Suena el móvil.

The phone rings.

—Iván, el coche no funciona. No podemos ir.

"Iván, the car doesn't work. We can't come."

—¿Cómo?

"What?"

—Tenemos que arreglar el coche. Vamos otro día, ¿vale?

"We have to fix the car. We'll come another day, okay?"

—Pero... todo está listo...

"But... everything is ready..."

—Lo siento, hijo. Otro día.

"I'm sorry, son. Another day."

Quince minutos después, suena el timbre.

Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rings.

Iván abre la puerta. Es su vecina, Débora. A Iván le gusta mucho Débora.

Iván opens the door. It is his neighbor, Débora. Iván likes Débora a lot.

—Hola vecino. Perdona... ¿puedo usar tu wifi? Mi internet no funciona.

"Hello neighbor. Sorry... can I use your wifi? My internet doesn't work."

—Sí, claro... pasa.

"Yes, of course... come in."

Débora entra.

Débora enters.

—¡Vaya! Tu apartamento está muy ordenado. ¿Qué cocinas?

"Wow! Your apartment is very tidy. What are you cooking?"

—Es una paella.

"It's a paella."

—¿Paella?

"Paella?"

—Sí... me gusta cocinar.

"Yes... I like to cook."

—¡Qué bien!

"How nice!"

—Mira... ¿Tienes hambre? Tengo mucha paella. ¿Quieres comer un poco?

"Look... Are you hungry? I have a lot of paella. Do you want to eat a little?"

—¿En serio? Sí, me encanta la paella.

"Really? Yes, I love paella."

Comen juntos. Iván pone un vino muy bueno en la mesa.

They eat together. Iván puts a very good wine on the table.

—Iván, esta paella está muy rica. Cocinas muy bien.

"Iván, this paella is very delicious. You cook very well."

—Gracias... cocino mucho. Para mí es fácil.

"Thank you... I cook a lot. For me it's easy."

—¿Fácil? La paella no es fácil.

"Easy? Paella is not easy."

—Para mí sí. Muy fácil.

"For me it is. Very easy."

—¿Y tu apartamento siempre está tan ordenado?

"And is your apartment always this tidy?"

—Sí, siempre. Me gusta tener todo limpio.

"Yes, always. I like to have everything clean."

—Eres muy organizado... y cocinas muy bien... eres perfecto.

"You're very organized... and you cook very well... you're perfect."

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 classmate asks what's happening with Iván. Reply in Spanish: He has to clean the apartment. He has to cook a paella.

Example: Tiene que limpiar el apartamento. Tiene que cocinar una paella.

Notes:

TENER QUE + infinitive: conjugate TENER (tiene), add "que," then the infinitive stays the same. Same structure as QUERER and PODER from the last stories.
Two different infinitives, same structure. Change the infinitive and you can express any obligation: tiene que limpiar, tiene que cocinar, tiene que trabajar…

Question 2

You see Iván's messy apartment. Ask him in Spanish: Do you have to clean the bathroom? Do you have to wash the dishes? What do you have to cook?

Example: ¿Tienes que limpiar el baño? ¿Tienes que lavar los platos? ¿Qué tienes que cocinar?

Notes:

Questions with TENER QUE keep the same word order. Just wrap it in ¿...? and you have a question: "Tienes que limpiar" → "¿Tienes que limpiar?"
"Lavar los platos" = wash the dishes. "Limpiar el baño" = clean the bathroom. Two different cleaning verbs: lavar for washing and limpiar for general cleaning.

Question 3

Your friend asks about your tasks. Answer in Spanish: I have to study Spanish. I have to clean the bathroom. I don't have to work today.

Example: Tengo que estudiar español. Tengo que limpiar el baño. No tengo que trabajar hoy.

Notes:

"No tengo que" = I don't have to. Negation goes before the whole structure: no + tengo que + infinitive. Same placement as PODER: no puedo, no tengo que.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: I have to call the restaurant. You have to help your friend. Iván has to cook paella. We have to clean the apartment. They have to eat at eight.

Example: Tengo que llamar al restaurante. Tienes que ayudar a tu amigo. Iván tiene que cocinar paella. Tenemos que limpiar el apartamento. Tienen que comer a las ocho.

Notes:

Full set: tengo que, tienes que, tiene que, tenemos que, tienen que.
Same TENER conjugation you already know, but now with "que" + infinitive it expresses obligation instead of possession. "Tiene un coche" = he has a car. "Tiene que limpiar" = he has to clean.
"Ayudar a tu amigo" → helping a person needs the personal "a."

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: David is Iván's best friend. He has to help Iván. They have to clean and cook. It is very difficult.

Example: David es el mejor amigo de Iván. Tiene que ayudar a Iván. Tienen que limpiar y cocinar. Es muy difícil.

Notes:

"Tiene que" (he, singular) vs "tienen que" (they, plural).

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Débora is Iván's neighbor. Débora likes the paella. Iván cannot tell the truth. Iván says he cooks very well. He has to learn to cook.

Example: Débora es la vecina de Iván. A Débora le gusta la paella. Iván no puede decir la verdad. Iván dice que cocina muy bien. Tiene que aprender a cocinar.

Notes:

"Aprender a cocinar" → learning TO do something uses "a." Tiene que aprender a cocinar, not "aprender cocinar."

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Iván has seven hours to look like the perfect son. What about you?

What do you normally have to do before a family or friend visit?
What important things do you have to do this year?
Do you have a best friend that helps you when you need?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Welcome to Iván's messy, chaotic, absolutely NOT organized apartment. From emergency restaurant calls to surprise dinner dates, practice cleaning, ordering, describing people and giving life advice.

David Arrives to Help

You're Iván and David walks into your apartment and looks around. It's a disaster. He asks what needs to happen before tonight.

Your task - tell David what you have to do:

Greet David and say you have a very big problem
Say your parents are going to have dinner at your house (tonight, eight o'clock)
Tell David that he has to help you with a lot of things
Tell David what rooms you both have to clean (bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom)
Say what else you both have to do (wash dishes, pick up clothes, clean the windows and the floor, cook a paella)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

¡Hola David! Tengo un problema muy grande.
1. Hi David! I have a very big problem.
Mis padres van a cenar en mi casa esta noche, a las ocho.
1. My parents are going to have dinner at my house tonight, at eight.
Tienes que ayudarme con muchas cosas.
1. You have to help me with many things.
Tenemos que limpiar el baño, la cocina, el salón y la habitación.
1. We have to clean the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room and the bedroom.
También tenemos que lavar los platos, recoger la ropa, limpiar las ventanas y el suelo, y cocinar una paella.
1. We also have to wash the dishes, pick up the clothes, clean the windows and the floor, and cook a paella.

Calling the Restaurant

The paella is horrible. Your parents are coming in two hours and you need a real paella. Pick up the phone and call the restaurant.

Your task - order a paella from the restaurant:

Greet the restaurant and say you need a paella for 3 people
Ask how much the paella costs
Ask if they can bring it to your apartment (your address)
Say what time you need it (seven o'clock)
Say you also want a bottle of wine
Ask if you can pay with card
Say thank you and goodbye

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Hola, buenas tardes. Necesito una paella para tres personas, por favor.
1. Hello, good afternoon. I need a paella for three people, please.
¿Cuánto cuesta la paella?
1. How much does the paella cost?
¿Pueden traer la paella a mi apartamento? Mi dirección es [address].
1. Can you bring the paella to my apartment? My address is [address].
Necesito la paella para las siete. / La necesito a las siete.
1. I need the paella by seven. / I need it at seven.
También quiero una botella de vino, por favor.
1. I also want a bottle of good wine, please.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
1. Can I pay with card?
Muchas gracias. Adiós.
1. Thank you very much. Goodbye.

Débora Sends a Voice Note

You're Débora and you're having dinner with Iván. You go to the bathroom and send a quick voice note to your best friend.

Your task - send a voice note about Iván:

Say where you are right now (neighbor's apartment, his name)
Describe the apartment (clean? messy? organized?)
Tell her about the food you're eating (what is it? how is it?)
Describe Iván as a person (organized? cooks well?)
Say that you like Iván
Say you want to have dinner with him again

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Estoy en el apartamento de mi vecino. Se llama Iván.
1. I'm in my neighbor's apartment. His name is Iván.
El apartamento está muy limpio y ordenado.
1. The apartment is very clean and organized.
Comemos paella. Está muy rica.
1. We're eating paella. It's really tasty.
Iván es muy organizado y cocina muy bien.
1. Iván is very organized and he cooks very well.
Me gusta mucho Iván.
1. I really like Iván.
Quiero cenar con él otra vez.
1. I want to have dinner with him again.

Advice for a Messy Friend

Your friend's apartment is always a disaster and his life is chaos. He wants to invite someone special for dinner but doesn't know where to start.

Your task - give your friend a complete plan to impress:

Tell your friend he has to clean and organize his apartment
Tell him he has to eat well every day (fruit, vegetables)
Tell him he has to go to the gym (how many days a week?)
Tell him he has to learn to cook and make something good for the dinner (what to cook?)
Tell him he has to buy good wine for the dinner
Describe the kind of person his date wants to see (organized, clean, cooks well)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Tienes que limpiar y ordenar tu apartamento. Tu apartamento tiene que estar limpio y ordenado.
1. You have to clean and organize your apartment. Your apartment has to be clean and organized.
Tienes que comer bien todos los días. Tienes que comer fruta y verduras.
1. You have to eat well every day. You have to eat fruit and vegetables.
Tienes que ir al gimnasio tres o cuatro días a la semana.
1. You have to go to the gym three or four days a week.
Tienes que aprender a cocinar y cocinar algo bueno para la cena. Una paella, por ejemplo.
1. You have to learn to cook and cook something good for the dinner. A paella, for example.
Tienes que comprar un vino bueno para la cena.
1. You have to buy a good wine for the dinner.
Ella quiere ver a un chico organizado, limpio y que cocina bien. ¡Tienes que ser ese chico!
1. She wants to see a guy who is organized, clean, and who cooks well. You have to be that guy!

The Paella Warning

You're having coffee with a couple you know. They say: "We're going to have a dinner party this weekend. We found a video online about how to cook a paella and it looks super easy!" You almost spit out your coffee. "Easy? Let me tell you about Iván..."

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

Who is Iván? Describe his apartment at the start (clean? messy?)
Who calls Iván, what do they want and what is Iván's problem? (father, dinner, paella, apartment, remaining time)
Who does Iván call for help? Why him?
What do Iván and David have to clean and do? (rooms and chores)
Describe the apartment after four hours
Describe Iván's attempt at cooking paella (video, cooking, how is it?)
What does Iván have to do now?
Why can't his parents come?
Who comes to the door and what does she want?
Describe the dinner with Débora (food, what does she think of Iván?)
Does Iván tell the truth about the paella and his apartment?
What do you think about the story? Why? (Esta historia es... / Me gusta... porque...)
Iván doesn't tell Débora the truth. Does he have to tell her the truth?
You are Débora and you discover the truth about the paella and the apartment. How do you feel now? Do you want to have dinner with Iván again?

Speak for 2-2.5 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Iván es un chico. Su apartamento es un desastre. No limpia la casa y no es organizado.
1. Iván is a guy. His apartment is a disaster. He doesn't clean the house and he's not organized.
El padre de Iván llama por teléfono. Sus padres van a cenar en su casa a las ocho y su padre quiere una paella. El problema es que su apartamento es un desastre y tiene que limpiar todo y cocinar en siete horas.
1. Iván's father calls on the phone. His parents are going to have dinner at his house at eight and his father wants a paella. The problem is that his apartment is a disaster and he has to clean everything and cook in seven hours.
Iván llama a su amigo David. David es su mejor amigo.
1. Iván calls his friend David. David is his best friend.
Tienen que lavar los platos, limpiar el baño, recoger la ropa y ordenar el salón.
1. They have to wash the dishes, clean the bathroom, pick up the clothes and organize the living room.
Cuatro horas después, el apartamento está limpio y ordenado.
1. Four hours later, the apartment is clean and organized.
Iván ve un vídeo en el móvil. Echa aceite, añade el pollo... pero la paella está horrible.
1. Iván watches a video on his phone. He adds oil, adds the chicken... but the paella is horrible.
Iván tiene que llamar a un restaurante. Tiene que pedir una paella.
1. Iván has to call a restaurant. He has to order a paella.
Sus padres no pueden ir porque el coche no funciona.
1. His parents can't come because the car doesn't work.
Débora, su vecina, viene a la puerta. Quiere usar el wifi de Iván porque su internet no funciona.
1. Débora, his neighbor, comes to the door. She wants to use Iván's wifi because her internet doesn't work.
Cenan juntos. La paella está muy rica. Débora dice que Iván cocina muy bien y es perfecto.
1. They have dinner together. The paella is very tasty. Débora says that Iván cooks very well and is perfect.
No. Iván no dice la verdad. Iván no sabe cocinar y la paella es del restaurante. Su apartamento siempre es un desastre. Iván no es organizado.
1. No. Iván doesn't tell the truth. Iván doesn't know how to cook and the paella is from the restaurant. His apartment is always a disaster. Iván is not organized.
Esta historia es muy divertida. Me gusta mucho porque el final es muy bueno. / Me encanta esta historia porque Iván tiene mucha suerte.
1. This story is very funny. I really like it because the ending is very good. / I love this story because Iván is very lucky.
Sí, Iván tiene que decir la verdad a Débora. / No, Iván no tiene que decir la verdad. ¡Es mejor así!
1. Yes, Iván has to tell the truth to Débora. / No, Iván doesn't have to tell the truth. It's better this way!
Estoy enfadada / sorprendida. No quiero cenar con Iván otra vez. / Sí, me gusta Iván. Quiero cenar con él otra vez.
1. I'm angry / surprised. I don't want to have dinner with Iván again. / Yes, I like Iván. I want to have dinner with him again.

Part 8

Culture

1. Iván's Tries to Cook One of the Hardest Dishes in Spain

Iván watched a video on his phone and tried to make a paella from scratch.

It went about as well as you'd expect.

A quick refresher on where paella comes from

Remember when we talked about Valencia?

We covered the seafood debate, the opinions, the whole thing.

So you already know paella is Valencia's dish… not Spain's.

And you know that putting shrimp in a traditional one is basically a declaration of war.

What we didn't talk about is how hard it actually is to make.

Paella started as lunch for farmers working the rice fields near the Albufera lagoon (a big marshy wetland just south of Valencia), probably around the 15th or 16th century.

The first written recipe shows up in the 1700s.

Rice, rabbit, chicken, beans, tomatoes… all cooked in a wide shallow pan over open fire.

A traditional Valencian paella in a carbon steel pan with chicken, green beans, saffron rice, lemon wedges and spoons.

Paella Valenciana served straight from the pan with spoons already in position. In Valencia this is how it arrives. No plates needed.

Simple ingredients. Not a simple dish.

In 2021, the Valencian government gave Paella Valenciana official protected cultural status and listed exactly ten ingredients:

Rice - Bomba or Senia, short-grain varieties grown in Valencia
Chicken
Rabbit
Flat green beans (ferraura)
White lima beans (garrofón)
Tomato - fresh, grated
Olive oil
Saffron
Salt
Water

Ten things. No chorizo. No peas. No onion. No discussion.

Why it's so hard to get right

The number one rule: you don't stir paella. Ever. Once the rice goes in, you don't touch it.

This is not risotto. Stirring releases starch and turns it into mush.

The rice cooks in a very thin, even layer.

The liquid has to be exactly the right amount… too much and it's soggy, too little and it dries out.

The heat starts strong and has to drop at exactly the right moment.

Every stove is different, so timing from a recipe only gets you halfway there.

Traditionally it's cooked outdoors over wood fire (orange wood if you're serious about it). Controlling heat over fire is a skill that takes years.

Cooking paella from a phone video like Iván? That's how you end up calling a restaurant two hours before your parents arrive.

How to actually eat paella (yes, there are rules)

If you ever eat paella the way it's meant to be eaten… from the pan, with a group, wooden spoons… there's an etiquette.

Valencians take this seriously.

You get a wedge - the pan is divided into invisible sections like a pie. You eat from the edge inward. You stay in your lane
Dig a trench - seriously. You carve a little border between your section and your neighbour's. Maintain it as long as possible
Spoon only - Eating paella with a fork in Valencia will make you look ridiculous. Those are their words, not mine
Don't rotate the pan - You eat what's in front of you. Spinning the pan to reach a better section is considered very poor form
Unwanted pieces go to the centre - Meat or vegetables you don't want get placed in the middle for others. But once you take something out… you can't put it back
When someone quits, their section is fair game - But you cross the border politely. No destroying everything along the way

And then the spoons hit the bottom.

The socarrat.

The layer of crispy, caramelized rice at the bottom of the pan. This is the prize.

Traditionally it was reserved for the most important guest at the table.

These days nobody waits for permission.

Stay calm. Split it equally. This is where friendships are tested.

A few more things worth knowing

It's a men's tradition - cooking paella over fire has traditionally been men's work in Valencia. At big family Sunday gatherings… the men cook. This is still very much a thing
Sunday ritual - Valencian families eat paella outdoors every Sunday. Everyone eats directly from their own section of the pan with wooden spoons. No individual plates. You get your wedge and you stay in your lane
Saffron is wildly expensive - each crocus flower produces only three tiny threads, all picked by hand. It takes roughly 150,000 flowers for a single kilogram. Cheap paella uses food colouring instead… and yes, you can taste the difference

🧑‍🍳 Fluent with Stories Recommendation

If after all that you still want to give it a shot (I mean... why not)… at least learn from the right person.

There are thousands of paella recipes online. Most will get you a decent plate of rice.

But if you want to actually understand how to make a good one… I confidently recommend Spanish chef Guille Varela.

He breaks it down step by step and treats the dish with the respect Valencians would approve of.

How to Make Authentic Spanish Paella, by Chef Guille Varela

Oh and one more thing.

Start simple. Chicken, rice, saffron.

Don't try to impress anyone on your first attempt. Unlike Iván… you have time to get it right.

Did You Know?

🍚 Bomba rice can absorb three times its volume in liquid without breaking apart. Normal rice handles about twice. That's why regular rice turns to mush in a paella pan
🧅 Adding onion to paella is almost as controversial as adding chorizo. Most Valencian purists say absolutely not… but some regions quietly do it anyway
🌐 There's a website called Wikipaella that acts as the self-appointed "paella police." They surveyed over 170 restaurants and 70 home cooks across Valencia to settle the ingredient debate once and for all
🕐 In Valencia paella is strictly a lunch dish. Eating paella for dinner is considered very strange. If a restaurant serves you paella at 9 PM… you're probably not in Valencia
🥘 Paella has its own emoji

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