Spanish version

Es lunes por la mañana en Jaén.

Enrique está en la <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">consulta</span> del <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="doctor" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">médico</span>.

El doctor abre la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="folder" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">carpeta</span>. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="reads" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Lee</span> los <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="test results" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">análisis</span>.

—Enrique, tu <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="cholesterol" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">colesterol</span> está muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="high" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">alto</span>.

—¿Muy alto?

—Sí. Muy alto. ¿Qué comes?

Enrique piensa un momento.

—Como bien, doctor. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="fruits" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Frutas</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="vegetables" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">verduras</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="fish" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pescado</span>...

—¿Bebes alcohol?

—No, no. Bebo solo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="water" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">agua</span>.

El doctor escribe en su ordenador.

—Mmm. Necesitas visitar a una <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="nutritionist" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">nutricionista</span>. Es importante. Aquí está la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="address" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">dirección</span>.

El doctor le da la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="card" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tarjeta</span> a Enrique.

Dos días después, Enrique entra en la oficina de Isabela Ortiz, la nutricionista.

—Hola, Enrique. <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">Siéntate</span>, por favor. Tu colesterol está muy alto. ¿Qué comes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="normally" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">normalmente</span>?

Enrique sonríe.

—Como <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="quite" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">bastante</span> bien. En el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="breakfast" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">desayuno</span> tomo café con leche y como <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="toast" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tostada</span> con tomate. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="sometimes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">A veces</span> como fruta. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="apples" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Manzanas</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="bananas" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">plátanos</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="oranges" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">naranjas</span>.

Isabela sonríe.

—Muy bien. ¿Y en el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="lunch" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">almuerzo</span>?

—Como <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="salad" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ensalada</span>. Muchas verduras. Tomate, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="lettuce" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">lechuga</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="carrot" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">zanahoria</span>, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="cucumber" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pepino</span>.

Isabela abre su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="notebook" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cuaderno</span> y escribe.

—¿Y en la <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="dinner" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cena</span>?

—Como pescado con más verduras. A veces <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="chicken" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">pollo</span>. Como muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="healthy" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sano</span>.

—¿Bebes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="soft drinks" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">refrescos</span>?

—No. Bebo solo agua. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="never" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Nunca</span> bebo refrescos. Son muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="bad" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">malos</span>.

—Excelente. ¿Y comes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="junk food" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">comida basura</span>?

—No, nunca. Solo compro <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="groceries" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">alimentos</span> <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="fresh" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">frescos</span> del <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="market" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mercado</span>.

—¿Comes en restaurantes?

—No. Como en casa. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I live" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Vivo</span> solo y cocino todo en casa.

Isabela lee sus notas. No entiende. Es muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="strange" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">extraño</span>.

—Enrique, comes muy bien. Bebes agua. Comes muy sano. Es muy raro.

—Sí. No entiendo el problema del colesterol.

—Bueno, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="keep it up" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sigue así</span>. Comes muy bien.

Enrique sale de la oficina muy contento.

Al día siguiente, Isabela está en el supermercado.

Compra verduras y fruta.

Camina por los pasillos con su <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="shopping cart" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">carrito</span>.

Ve a Enrique. Tiene un carrito muy grande y muy lleno.

—Hola, Enrique.

—Ah... señora Ortiz... hola... qué sorpresa... —dice Enrique nervioso.

Isabela mira el carrito de Enrique.

—¿Este es tu carrito?

—Eh... sí... pero...

Isabela mira todo el <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="content" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">contenido</span>.

—¿Patatas fritas? ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="hamburgers" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Hamburguesas</span>? ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="sweets" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Dulces</span>? ¿Helado? ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="cookies" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Galletas</span>? ¿Refrescos?

Enrique no habla.

—¿Dónde están las verduras? ¿Y el pescado? ¿Y las frutas?

Enrique piensa un momento.

—Ah... esto... esto no es para mí. Es para... para un amigo.

Isabela sonríe un poco.

—Ah, sí... claro. Para un amigo... <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="what a good friend you are" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Qué buen amigo eres</span>, Enrique.

Spanish story with English translation

Es lunes por la mañana en Jaén.

It is Monday morning in Jaén.

Enrique está en la consulta del médico.

Enrique is at the doctor's office.

El doctor abre la carpeta. Lee los análisis.

The doctor opens the folder. He reads the test results.

—Enrique, tu colesterol está muy alto.

"Enrique, your cholesterol is very high."

—¿Muy alto?

"Very high?"

—Sí. Muy alto. ¿Qué comes?

"Yes. Very high. What do you eat?"

Enrique piensa un momento.

Enrique thinks for a moment.

—Como bien, doctor. Frutas, verduras, pescado...

"I eat well, doctor. Fruits, vegetables, fish..."

—¿Bebes alcohol?

"Do you drink alcohol?"

—No, no. Bebo solo agua.

"No, no. I only drink water."

El doctor escribe en su ordenador.

The doctor types on his computer.

—Mmm. Necesitas visitar a una nutricionista. Es importante. Aquí está la dirección.

"Mmm. You need to visit a nutritionist. It's important. Here is the address."

El doctor le da la tarjeta a Enrique.

The doctor gives the card to Enrique.

Dos días después, Enrique entra en la oficina de Isabela Ortiz, la nutricionista.

Two days later, Enrique enters the office of Isabela Ortiz, the nutritionist.

—Hola, Enrique. Siéntate, por favor. Tu colesterol está muy alto. ¿Qué comes normalmente?

"Hello, Enrique. Sit down, please. Your cholesterol is very high. What do you normally eat?"

Enrique sonríe.

Enrique smiles.

—Como bastante bien. En el desayuno tomo café con leche y como tostada con tomate. A veces como fruta. Manzanas, plátanos, naranjas.

"I eat quite well. For breakfast I have coffee with milk and I eat toast with tomato. Sometimes I eat fruit. Apples, bananas, oranges."

Isabela sonríe.

Isabela smiles.

—Muy bien. ¿Y en el almuerzo?

"Very good. And for lunch?"

—Como ensalada. Muchas verduras. Tomate, lechuga, zanahoria, pepino.

"I eat salad. Many vegetables. Tomato, lettuce, carrot, cucumber."

Isabela abre su cuaderno y escribe.

Isabela opens her notebook and writes.

—¿Y en la cena?

"And for dinner?"

—Como pescado con más verduras. A veces pollo. Como muy sano.

"I eat fish with more vegetables. Sometimes chicken. I eat very healthy."

—¿Bebes refrescos?

"Do you drink soft drinks?"

—No. Bebo solo agua. Nunca bebo refrescos. Son muy malos.

"No. I only drink water. I never drink soft drinks. They are very bad."

—Excelente. ¿Y comes comida basura?

"Excellent. And do you eat junk food?"

—No, nunca. Solo compro alimentos frescos del mercado.

"No, never. I only buy fresh food from the market."

—¿Comes en restaurantes?

"Do you eat at restaurants?"

—No. Como en casa. Vivo solo y cocino todo en casa.

"No. I eat at home. I live alone and I cook everything at home."

Isabela lee sus notas. No entiende. Es muy extraño.

Isabela reads her notes. She doesn't understand. It is very strange.

—Enrique, comes muy bien. Bebes agua. Comes muy sano. Es muy raro.

"Enrique, you eat very well. You drink water. You eat very healthy. It's very odd."

—Sí. No entiendo el problema del colesterol.

"Yes. I don't understand the cholesterol problem."

—Bueno, sigue así. Comes muy bien.

"Well, keep it up. You eat very well."

Enrique sale de la oficina muy contento.

Enrique leaves the office very happy.

Al día siguiente, Isabela está en el supermercado.

The next day, Isabela is at the supermarket.

Compra verduras y fruta.

She buys vegetables and fruit.

Camina por los pasillos con su carrito.

She walks through the aisles with her cart.

Ve a Enrique. Tiene un carrito muy grande y muy lleno.

She sees Enrique. He has a very big and very full cart.

—Hola, Enrique.

"Hello, Enrique."

—Ah... señora Ortiz... hola... qué sorpresa... —dice Enrique nervioso.

"Ah... Mrs. Ortiz... hello... what a surprise..." says Enrique nervously.

Isabela mira el carrito de Enrique.

Isabela looks at Enrique's cart.

—¿Este es tu carrito?

"Is this your cart?"

—Eh... sí... pero...

"Eh... yes... but..."

Isabela mira todo el contenido.

Isabela looks at all the contents.

—¿Patatas fritas? ¿Hamburguesas? ¿Dulces? ¿Helado? ¿Galletas? ¿Refrescos?

"Potato chips? Hamburgers? Candy? Ice cream? Cookies? Soft drinks?"

Enrique no habla.

Enrique doesn't speak.

—¿Dónde están las verduras? ¿Y el pescado? ¿Y las frutas?

"Where are the vegetables? And the fish? And the fruits?"

Enrique piensa un momento.

Enrique thinks for a moment.

—Ah... esto... esto no es para mí. Es para... para un amigo.

"Ah... this... this is not for me. It's for... for a friend."

Isabela sonríe un poco.

Isabela smiles a little.

—Ah, sí... claro. Para un amigo... Qué buen amigo eres, Enrique.

"Oh, yes... of course. For a friend... What a good friend you are, Enrique."

Illustration of a girl stacking triangular cards, representing the key Vocabulary Flashcards
Part 2

Vocabulary Flashcards

Instructions
Illustration of a person going through a circular frame, representing the story challenge
Part 3

Story Challenge

Instructions
Review Story
Illustration of a girl assembling puzzle pieces, representing the patterns challenge
Part 4

Patterns Challenge

Instructions

Challenge

Flashcards

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Part 5

Listening Challenge

Instructions
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Part 6

Writing Challenge

Instructions

Elena

Solo

Discussion

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á‍é‍í‍ó‍úñü¡¿

Example: Vive solo. Come en casa. Nunca come en restaurantes.

Notes:

  • "Vive" and "come" both end in -e. That's the él/ella form for ER and IR verbs. Compare with AR verbs where it's -a (trabaja, cocina). Different family, different ending.
  • "Nunca" (never) goes before the verb: "Nunca come en restaurantes." You can also flip it: "No come nunca en restaurantes." Both correct, same meaning.

Example: ¿Qué comes en el desayuno? ¿Bebes refrescos? ¿Comes comida basura?

Notes:

  • When talking TO someone (tú), ER/IR verbs end in -es: comes, bebes. Compare with AR verbs where it's -as (hablas, cocinas).
  • "En el desayuno" means "for breakfast." Spanish uses "en" where English uses "for" with meals: en el desayuno, en el almuerzo, en la cena.

Example: Como un bocadillo en el desayuno. Bebo café con leche. A veces como ensalada en el almuerzo.

Notes:

  • The yo form for ER/IR verbs ends in -o, same as AR verbs. Como, bebo, vivo. That -o is universal for "I" no matter the verb type.
  • "A veces" (sometimes) goes at the beginning, just like "nunca." Notice the pattern: frequency words in Spanish like to sit right before the verb. "Normalmente como ensalada." "A veces bebo café." "Nunca como hamburguesas."

Example: (Yo) vivo en Madrid. (Tú) comes verduras. (Ella) bebe café. (Nosotros) escribimos en el cuaderno. (Ellos) leen los resultados.

Notes:

  • Full ER/IR set: -o (yo), -es (tú), -e (ella), -imos (nosotros), -en (ellos). The nosotros form is where ER and IR split: comemos (ER) vs escribimos (IR).
  • "Leen" has a double E because leer keeps its stem "le-" and adds "-en." It looks odd but it's completely regular!

Example: El doctor lee los resultados. El colesterol está muy alto. Enrique come frutas y verduras. Nunca come comida basura.

Notes:

  • "El colesterol está muy alto" uses ESTAR because it's a current condition. The cholesterol is high right now. If it were always high by nature, you'd use SER, but medical results are temporary states.
  • "Frutas y verduras" with no article. When talking about food in general, Spanish often drops it: "come frutas" rather than "come las frutas."

Example: Isabela está en el supermercado. Ve a Enrique. El carrito de Enrique es muy grande. Tiene hamburguesas, galletas y helado. Enrique está nervioso.

Notes:

  • "Ve a Enrique" needs that "a" before his name because he's a person. When you see or meet a person in Spanish, you add "a" before them. "Ve un carrito" (no a, it's a thing) vs "Ve a Enrique" (a, he's a person). This is called the personal "a."
  • "El carrito de Enrique" is how you say "Enrique's cart." Spanish uses de instead of 's: the thing + de + the owner.
  • "Es muy grande" (SER, the cart's size) vs "está nervioso" (ESTAR, how Enrique feels right now). Same answer, two different verbs doing two different jobs.

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Enrique lives alone and says he eats very well and cooks everything at home. What about you?

  1. Do you eat healthy food or junk food?
  2. Do you drink water, coffee or soft drinks?
  3. Do you live alone or with other people?

Comments section for language learners

Illustration of a confident woman being interviewed with multiple microphones, representing the speaking challenge
Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Instructions

What do you eat? What does your friend eat? What does Enrique REALLY eat? Practice talking about food, asking questions and exposing a diet built on lies.

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

Scenario 4

Scenario 5

Breakfast This Week

You're having coffee with a Spanish colleague at work. They ask: "¿Qué comes en el desayuno?" You walk them through your week.

Your task - say what you eat for breakfast each day:

  1. Say what you eat on Monday (coffee with milk, toast with tomato)
  2. Say what you eat on Tuesday (fruit - one banana and two strawberries)
  3. Say what you eat on Wednesday (coffee with milk, an apple)
  4. Say what you eat on Thursday (toast with tomato, an orange)
  5. Say what you eat on Friday (coffee with milk, fruit, and toast)

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

  1. El lunes tomo café con leche y como tostada con tomate.
    1. On Monday I have coffee with milk and eat toast with tomato.
  2. El martes como fruta. Un plátano y fresas.
    1. On Tuesday I eat fruit. One banana and two strawberries.
  3. El miércoles tomo café con leche y como una manzana.
    1. On Wednesday I have coffee with milk and eat an apple.
  4. El jueves como tostada con tomate y una naranja.
    1. On Thursday I eat toast with butter and an orange.
  5. El viernes tomo café con leche y como fruta y tostada.
    1. On Friday I have coffee with milk, fruit, and toast.

The Honest Patient

You're sitting across from Isabela Ortiz, the nutritionist. Unlike Enrique, you're going to tell the complete truth. She opens her notebook: "¿Qué comes normalmente?"

Your task - describe what you really eat and drink for each meal:

  1. Say what you eat and drink for breakfast
  2. Say what you eat for lunch
  3. Say what you eat for your afternoon snack (la merienda)
  4. Say what you eat and drink for dinner
  5. Tell Isabela you don't understand the problem, that you don't eat junk food and you eat very healthy!

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

  1. En el desayuno como tostada con tomate y bebo café con leche.
    1. For breakfast I eat toast with tomato and I drink coffee with milk.
  2. En el almuerzo como ensalada con verduras. Tomate, lechuga y zanahoria.
    1. For lunch I eat salad with vegetables. Tomato, lettuce, and carrot.
  3. En la merienda como fruta. Una manzana o un plátano.
    1. For my afternoon snack I eat fruit. An apple or a banana.
  4. En la cena como pescado con verduras y bebo agua.
    1. For dinner I eat fish with vegetables and I drink water.
  5. ¡No entiendo el problema! No como comida basura. ¡Como muy sano!
    1. I don't understand the problem! I don't eat junk food. I eat very healthy!

You're the Nutricionista

You're Isabela Ortiz. A new patient sits down in your office.

Your task - ask the patient about their eating habits:

  1. Tell the patient their cholesterol is very high
  2. Ask what they eat for breakfast
  3. Ask what they eat for lunch and dinner
  4. Ask what they drink (water? coffee? sodas?)
  5. Ask if they eat junk food or fresh food
  6. Tell the patient their diet is very good and that they eat very healthy!

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

  1. Tu colesterol está muy alto.
    1. Your cholesterol is very high.
  2. ¿Qué comes en el desayuno?
    1. What do you eat for breakfast?
  3. ¿Qué comes en el almuerzo y en la cena?
    1. What do you eat for lunch and for dinner?
  4. ¿Qué bebes? ¿Agua? ¿Café? ¿Refrescos?
    1. What do you drink? Water? Coffee? Sodas?
  5. ¿Comes comida basura o alimentos frescos?
    1. Do you eat junk food or fresh food?
  6. Tu dieta es muy buena. ¡Comes muy sano!
    1. Your diet is very good. You eat very healthy!

Helping Your Friend at the Doctor

Your friend doesn't speak Spanish. You go with them to the doctor in Jaén. The doctor speaks fast and you're the only one who can make this appointment work.

Your task - speak with the doctor:

  1. Greet the doctor
  2. Introduce your imaginary friend (name, age, where they're from)
  3. Explain your friend doesn't speak Spanish
  4. Say your friend's cholesterol is very high
  5. Say your friend doesn't eat well (burgers, cookies, ice cream, sodas and candies)
  6. Ask the nutritionist's name and where the office is
  7. Thank the doctor and say goodbye

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

  1. Hola, buenos días, doctor.
    1. Hello, good morning, doctor.
  2. Este es mi amigo [name]. Tiene [age] años y es de [country].
    1. This is my friend [name]. He's [age] years old and is from [country].
  3. Mi amigo no habla español.
    1. My friend doesn't speak Spanish.
  4. Su colesterol está muy alto.
    1. His cholesterol is very high.
  5. No come bien. Come hamburguesas, galletas, helado, refrescos y dulces.
    1. He doesn't eat well. He eats burgers, cookies, ice cream, sodas, and candies.
  6. ¿Cómo se llama la nutricionista? ¿Dónde está su oficina?
    1. What is the nutritionist's name? Where is her office?
  7. Muchas gracias, doctor. ¡Adiós!
    1. Thank you very much, doctor. Goodbye!

The Gym Buddy

You're at the gym. The person on the treadmill next to you says they need to eat healthier. You start laughing. They take out an earbud: "What's so funny?" You slow down: "OK... I have to tell you this story.

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

  1. Where is Enrique at the beginning of the story? (day, city, place)
  2. What does the doctor say about Enrique's cholesterol?
  3. What does Enrique tell the doctor he eats and drinks (and what he doesn't drink)?
  4. Who does Enrique visit next? (profession and name)
  5. Describe what Enrique tells Isabela he eats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  6. What does Isabela think about Enrique's diet? (good? bad? strange?)
  7. Where does Isabela see Enrique the next day?
  8. Describe Enrique's cart (what does it have? name 4-5 items)
  9. What does Enrique say about the cart?
  10. What do you think about the story and about Enrique? (Esta historia es... / Enrique es...)
  11. Do you eat healthy or do you eat like Enrique? (Como Enrique = like Enrique)

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

  1. Enrique está en Jaén. Es lunes y está en la consulta del médico.
    1. Enrique is in Jaén. It's Monday and he's at the doctor's office.
  2. El doctor dice que su colesterol está muy alto.
    1. The doctor says that his cholesterol is very high.
  3. Enrique dice que come frutas, verduras y pescado. Y bebe solo agua. No bebe alcohol.
    1. Enrique says that he eats fruit, vegetables and fish. And he only drinks water. He doesn't drink alcohol.
  4. Enrique visita a Isabela Ortiz, la nutricionista.
    1. Enrique visits Isabela Ortiz, the nutritionist.
  5. Enrique dice que en el desayuno toma café con leche y come tostada con tomate. En el almuerzo come ensalada con verduras. En la cena come pescado con más verduras.
    1. Enrique says that for breakfast he has coffee with milk and eats toast with tomato. For lunch he eats salad with vegetables. For dinner he eats fish with more vegetables.
  6. Isabela piensa que es muy extraño. Enrique come muy bien, pero su colesterol está muy alto. No entiende el problema.
    1. Isabela thinks it's very strange. Enrique eats very well, but his cholesterol is very high. She doesn't understand the problem.
  7. Isabela ve a Enrique en el supermercado.
    1. Isabela sees Enrique at the supermarket.
  8. El carrito de Enrique tiene mucha comida basura. Tiene patatas fritas, hamburguesas, helado, galletas y refrescos..
    1. Enrique's cart has a lot of junk food. It has crisps, burgers, ice cream, cookies and sodas.
  9. Enrique dice que no es para él. Dice que es para un amigo.
    1. Enrique says that it's not for him. He says it's for a friend.
  10. Esta historia es muy divertida. ¡Enrique es muy mentiroso!
    1. This story is very funny. Enrique is a big liar!
  11. Yo como sano. ¡No como como Enrique! / Yo como como Enrique...
    1. I eat healthy. I don't eat like Enrique! / I eat like Enrique...
Illustration of people around a globe with location markers, representing the culture section.
Part 8

Culture

Context

1. The (Imaginary) Diet Enrique Described Is a Real Thing

Fish. Vegetables. Fruit. Water. Everything cooked at home with fresh ingredients from the market.

Enrique sat in that nutritionist's office and described something very close to one of the most studied and respected eating patterns in the world.

He didn't know that. He was just trying to sound healthy. But the food list he came up with? It has a name.

The world's most famous way of eating

The Mediterranean diet isn't a diet in the way most people think of diets. It's not a plan. It's not a programme. The word "diet" actually comes from the Greek diaita… which means way of life.

It's just how people in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries have eaten for centuries.

Here's what it normally includes:

  • Olive oil - the main source of fat (not butter, not vegetable oil)
  • Vegetables and fruit - daily, in large amounts
  • Fish and seafood - a couple of times a week
  • Legumes, nuts and whole grains - regularly
  • Dairy - moderate (mostly cheese and yoghurt)
  • Meat - small amounts, not the centre of the meal

And here's why doctors like Enrique's keep bringing it up. The health research behind it is serious:

  • Lower cholesterol - olive oil and fish help reduce LDL (the bad kind)
  • Heart health - one major Spanish study found it reduced the risk of serious cardiovascular problems by 30%
  • UNESCO-protected - in 2010, it was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Spain was one of the original four countries in the nomination
  • Studied for over 70 years - an American scientist first noticed the pattern in the 1950s when he saw that people in Mediterranean countries had far less heart disease than Americans

So yes.. Enrique described it all perfectly to Isabela. He just forgot to actually eat any of it.

And what about Enrique's breakfast?

That tostada con tomate Enrique mentioned? That's the real deal.

It's THE classic Spanish breakfast… especially in Andalusia (the region in southern Spain where Jaén is).

Two slices of toasted bread topped with grated tomato and olive oil on a plate.
Tostada con tomate. Looks simple. Tastes like you've been eating breakfast wrong your whole life.

Here's what it is:

  • Toasted bread - usually a thick, crusty slice
  • Tomato - grated or rubbed directly on the bread
  • Olive oil - drizzled on top
  • Salt - a pinch
  • That's it

Now. Pair that with a café con leche… which is a strong shot of espresso topped with a lot of hot milk. Not a splash. A lot.

It's closer to a latte than a black coffee. And it's what most Spaniards drink in the morning.

OK I know what you're thinking. Oily tomato toast… and a big milky coffee? Those two things have no business being on the same table.

Try it anyway. Because somehow… it works.

2. Enrique Lives in the Olive Oil Capital of the World

Jaén is a small Andalusian city. About 112,000 people live there. It sits in the eastern part of Andalusia… and most tourists don't even know it exists.

Aerial view of Jaén showing the Renaissance cathedral surrounded by white buildings with olive groves in the background.
The city of Jaén with its cathedral and surrounding olive groves.

They drive right through on the way to Granada, which is only about an hour south.

Well… that's their loss.

Jaén isn't flashy. It's not on postcards

But it has a Renaissance cathedral that inspired churches across Latin America, a hilltop castle with views that go on forever and some of the largest preserved Arab baths (11th-century Islamic bathhouses) in all of Spain.

It's real, working-class Andalusia. The kind of place where nobody's performing for tourists… because there aren't any.

66 million olive trees

The province of Jaén is covered in olive trees. And when I say covered… I mean covered:

  • 66 million olive trees across 550,000 hectares
  • Produces roughly 20% of the world's olive oil
  • The province alone produces more olive oil than the entire country of Italy
  • The main variety is called Picual (strong, peppery and packed with antioxidants)
  • Jaén calls itself the "World Capital of Olive Oil" and nobody argues
Olive groves covering rolling hills at sunset in the province of Jaén, Andalusia.
The province of Jaén at sunset. Olive trees as far as you can see.

This is where Enrique lives. Surrounded by the healthiest fat on Earth in every direction.

He could eat like a Mediterranean diet poster boy without even trying. Instead he eats like a teenager on a road trip.

When you eventually visit Jaén

Remember the free tapas thing from Granada? Jaén does it too. Order a beer, get a plate of food. No charge. Same deal.

But here's where Jaén has something Granada doesn't.

No crowds. You can walk through this city and feel like you discovered it yourself.

You don't need long. Two days is perfect. One for the city, one for the day trip.

Day one: Jaén.

  • Castillo de Santa Catalina - hilltop castle with views of olive trees in every direction. Go late afternoon when the light turns gold
Castillo de Santa Catalina perched on a rocky hilltop above Jaén with mountains in the background.
Castillo de Santa Catalina. Part fortress, part Parador hotel. You can sleep up here if you want.
  • Arab baths - under the Palacio de Villardompardo. 11th century. Some of the largest preserved in Spain
  • Eat a tostada con aceite - toast with local olive oil. You're in the olive oil capital… anything less would be rude. Con tomate if you want the full breakfast. Either way... pair it with a café con leche. You already know the combo works.
  • Find a bar - order a beer, let the free tapas do the rest

Day two: Úbeda and Baeza.

  • Two tiny Renaissance towns - about 45 minutes from Jaén. UNESCO World Heritage since 2003
  • Gorgeous squares, golden stone - and almost nobody there
  • Do both in a day - be back in Jaén for dinner

Jaén is the kind of place that doesn't show up on Instagram. Nobody's posing in front of the cathedral. Nobody's fighting for a table.

You just… walk around. Eat well. Sit in a square and watch the afternoon slow down.

It's the Spain that existed before the tour buses arrived.

That's rare. That's worth something.

It's also the kind of place where the food is so good, so fresh and so everywhere… that you'd have to actively try to eat badly like Enrique.

Did You Know?

  • 🫒 Spain produces between 40 and 55% of the world's olive oil depending on the year. Roughly one out of every two litres on the planet is Spanish
  • 🏰 The province of Jaén has one of the highest concentrations of castles in the world outside the Middle East… thanks to its position on the front line during the Reconquista (the centuries-long campaign to take back the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule)
  • 🛁 Jaén's Arab baths are around 450 square metres. They were hidden under a palace for hundreds of years and only rediscovered in 1913
  • 🇬🇷 Greece leads the world in olive oil consumption per person… roughly 12 to 13 litres a year. Spain comes second at about 10 to 14. The average American? About 1 litre
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8. ¿Este es tu carrito?

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Learning guide

Table of Contents

1. Story:
¿Este es tu carrito?
2. Flashcards
3. Story challenge
4. Patterns
5. Listening
6. Writing
7. Speaking
8. Culture