A1 Spanish

Stories completed

19. Los consejos de los expertos

(The Experts' Advice)

Samuel finally asks out his coworker Rosario. His three single friends have plenty of advice for the date. Should he listen?

Illustration of four people with speech bubbles talking to each other in a minimalist black and white style

Spanish version

Samuel vive en Palma de Mallorca.

Llega a casa. Sus tres amigos están en el salón.

—Chicos, necesito ayuda.

—¿Qué pasa?

—Me gusta <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="a girl" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">una chica del trabajo.

—¿Hablas <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="with her" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">con ella?

—Sí, hablamos mucho. Somos amigos. Pero yo quiero más.

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="You should" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Debes invitarla a cenar.

—Pero...

—No te va a decir que no. Debes tener <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="courage" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">valor.

Al día siguiente, Samuel habla con Rosario.

—Rosario... ¿tienes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="plans" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">planes esta noche? ¿Quieres cenar conmigo?

—¿Una cita?

—Sí...

—¡Me gusta la idea! Sí.

—¡Perfecto! ¿A las ocho?

—Perfecto. Hasta luego.

Samuel llega a casa muy feliz.

—¡Chicos! ¡Tengo una cita hoy! Ahora necesito más <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="advice" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">consejos. ¿Qué debo hacer en la cita?

Los amigos se miran. Los tres están <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="single" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">solteros.

—Tranquilo. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="We know everything about" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Sabemos todo de citas.

—Primero: no debes llevar <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="flowers" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">flores.

—¿No debo llevar flores?

—No. Debes ser diferente.

—Segundo: no debes pagar toda la cena.

—Pero yo la invito...

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="It doesn't matter" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">No importa. Debes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to split" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">dividir la cuenta. Debes ser <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="modern" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">moderno.

—Tercero: debes ponerte ropa normal.

—Pero es una cita importante...

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="That's why" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Por eso. No debes mostrar mucho <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="interest" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">interés.

—Cuarto: debes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to talk a lot about yourself" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">hablar mucho de ti.

—¿No debo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to ask about her" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">preguntar sobre ella?

—No. Debes ser interesante.

—¿De verdad?

—Claro.

—Ah, y último consejo. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="The most important thing" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Lo más importante: debes llegar tarde.

—Pero...

—Tranquilo. Funciona.

Son las ocho. Rosario llega al restaurante.

Media hora después, Samuel llega. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="He wears" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Viste <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="jeans" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">jeans y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="hoodie" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sudadera.

Entran y se sientan.

—¿Qué tal el trabajo hoy?

—Bien... normal...

Samuel no pregunta sobre ella.

—Sabes, yo hago mucho deporte. Juego muy bien al fútbol.

—Ah... qué bien...

—Sí. Y hablo cuatro idiomas. Inglés, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="French" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">francés, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="German" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">alemán y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Portuguese" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">portugués.

—Yo también hablo—

—Ah, y como muy sano. Solo verduras y pescado.

El camarero trae la cuenta.

—Entonces... ¿dividimos la cuenta?

—¿Dividir? Pero <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="if" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">si tú me invitas...

—Sí, pero es más moderno dividir la cuenta, ¿no?

—Ah... claro... moderno...

Salen del restaurante.

—Bueno Samuel... gracias. Adiós.

—Espera. ¿Vamos a <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to have a drink" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tomar algo?

—No. Voy a casa. Tú estás muy raro esta noche.

—¿Raro?

—No eres <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the same" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el mismo Samuel del trabajo. No eres muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="pleasant" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">agradable. Solo hablas de ti. Llegas tarde. ¡Y quieres dividir la cuenta!

—Pero mis amigos dicen que debo—

—Debes <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to listen less" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">escuchar menos a tus amigos, Samuel.

—Rosario, espera—

—<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Good night" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Buenas noches.

Rosario se va.

Samuel se queda solo y piensa: "<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I should" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Debo buscar nuevos amigos."

Spanish story with English translation

Samuel vive en Palma de Mallorca.

Samuel lives in Palma de Mallorca.

Llega a casa. Sus tres amigos están en el salón.

He arrives home. His three friends are in the living room.

—Chicos, necesito ayuda.

"Guys, I need help."

—¿Qué pasa?

"What's wrong?"

—Me gusta una chica del trabajo.

"I like a girl from work."

—¿Hablas con ella?

"Do you talk to her?"

—Sí, hablamos mucho. Somos amigos. Pero yo quiero más.

"Yes, we talk a lot. We're friends. But I want more."

—Debes invitarla a cenar.

"You should invite her to dinner."

—Pero...

"But..."

—No te va a decir que no. Debes tener valor.

"She's not going to say no. You should have courage."

Al día siguiente, Samuel habla con Rosario.

The next day, Samuel talks to Rosario.

—Rosario... ¿tienes planes esta noche? ¿Quieres cenar conmigo?

"Rosario... do you have plans tonight? Do you want to have dinner with me?"

—¿Una cita?

"A date?"

—Sí...

"Yes..."

—¡Me gusta la idea! Sí.

"I like the idea! Yes."

—¡Perfecto! ¿A las ocho?

"Perfect! At eight?"

—Perfecto. Hasta luego.

"Perfect. See you later."

Samuel llega a casa muy feliz.

Samuel arrives home very happy.

—¡Chicos! ¡Tengo una cita hoy! Ahora necesito más consejos. ¿Qué debo hacer en la cita?

"Guys! I have a date today! Now I need more advice. What should I do on the date?"

Los amigos se miran. Los tres están solteros.

The friends look at each other. All three are single.

—Tranquilo. Sabemos todo de citas.

"Relax. We know everything about dates."

—Primero: no debes llevar flores.

"First: you shouldn't bring flowers."

—¿No debo llevar flores?

"I shouldn't bring flowers?"

—No. Debes ser diferente.

"No. You should be different."

—Segundo: no debes pagar toda la cena.

"Second: you shouldn't pay for the whole dinner."

—Pero yo la invito...

"But I'm inviting her..."

—No importa. Debes dividir la cuenta. Debes ser moderno.

"It doesn't matter. You should split the bill. You should be modern."

—Tercero: debes ponerte ropa normal.

"Third: you should wear normal clothes."

—Pero es una cita importante...

"But it's an important date..."

—Por eso. No debes mostrar mucho interés.

"Exactly. You shouldn't show too much interest."

—Cuarto: debes hablar mucho de ti.

"Fourth: you should talk a lot about yourself."

—¿No debo preguntar sobre ella?

"I shouldn't ask about her?"

—No. Debes ser interesante.

"No. You should be interesting."

—¿De verdad?

"Really?"

—Claro.

"Of course."

—Ah, y último consejo. Lo más importante: debes llegar tarde.

"Oh, and last piece of advice. The most important: you should arrive late."

—Pero...

"But..."

—Tranquilo. Funciona.

"Relax. It works."

Son las ocho. Rosario llega al restaurante.

It is eight o'clock. Rosario arrives at the restaurant.

Media hora después, Samuel llega. Viste jeans y sudadera.

Half an hour later, Samuel arrives. He is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

Entran y se sientan.

They enter and sit down.

—¿Qué tal el trabajo hoy?

"How was work today?"

—Bien... normal...

"Good... normal..."

Samuel no pregunta sobre ella.

Samuel doesn't ask about her.

—Sabes, yo hago mucho deporte. Juego muy bien al fútbol.

"You know, I do a lot of sports. I play soccer very well."

—Ah... qué bien...

"Ah... how nice..."

—Sí. Y hablo cuatro idiomas. Inglés, francés, alemán y portugués.

"Yes. And I speak four languages. English, French, German, and Portuguese."

—Yo también hablo—

"I also speak—"

—Ah, y como muy sano. Solo verduras y pescado.

"Oh, and I eat very healthy. Only vegetables and fish."

El camarero trae la cuenta.

The waiter brings the bill.

—Entonces... ¿dividimos la cuenta?

"So... shall we split the bill?"

—¿Dividir? Pero si tú me invitas...

"Split? But you're inviting me..."

—Sí, pero es más moderno dividir la cuenta, ¿no?

"Yes, but it's more modern to split the bill, right?"

—Ah... claro... moderno...

"Ah... of course... modern..."

Salen del restaurante.

They leave the restaurant.

—Bueno Samuel... gracias. Adiós.

"Well Samuel... thank you. Goodbye."

—Espera. ¿Vamos a tomar algo?

"Wait. Shall we go get a drink?"

—No. Voy a casa. Tú estás muy raro esta noche.

"No. I'm going home. You're very strange tonight."

—¿Raro?

"Strange?"

—No eres el mismo Samuel del trabajo. No eres muy agradable. Solo hablas de ti. Llegas tarde. ¡Y quieres dividir la cuenta!

"You're not the same Samuel from work. You're not very nice. You only talk about yourself. You arrive late. And you want to split the bill!"

—Pero mis amigos dicen que debo—

"But my friends say I should—"

—Debes escuchar menos a tus amigos, Samuel.

"You should listen less to your friends, Samuel."

—Rosario, espera—

"Rosario, wait—"

—Buenas noches.

"Good night."

Rosario se va.

Rosario leaves.

Samuel se queda solo y piensa: "Debo buscar nuevos amigos."

Samuel stays alone and thinks: "I should find new friends."

Part 2

Vocabulary Flashcards

Part 3

Story Challenge

Part 4

Patterns Challenge

Part 5

Listening Challenge

Part 6

Writing Challenge

This is some text inside of a div block.

Elena entered the chat.

Message text

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Send

á ‍é ‍í ‍ó ‍ú ñ ü ¡¿

Question 1

You are single and a friend asks you for dating advice. Reply in Spanish: You should arrive late. You should not bring flowers.

Example: Debes llegar tarde. No debes llevar flores.

Notes:

DEBER + infinitive: same structure as QUERER, PODER, TENER QUE. Conjugate DEBER and the infinitive stays the same.
"Llevar flores" = bring flowers. "Llevar" does double duty in Spanish: it means both "to bring" and "to wear." The context tells you which one.

Question 2

Samuel has doubts before the date. He asks you in Spanish: Should I divide the bill? Should I wear normal clothes? Should I show interest?

Example: ¿Debo dividir la cuenta? ¿Debo llevar ropa normal? ¿Debo mostrar interés?

Notes:

"Debo" = should I. Samuel is questioning his friends' advice. Same structure as the other modals: ¿Puedo...? ¿Quiero...? ¿Debo...?

Question 3

Samuel asks what he did wrong. Reply in Spanish: You should not talk only about yourself. You should listen more. You should not divide the bill.

Example: No debes hablar solo de ti. Debes escuchar más. No debes dividir la cuenta.

Notes:

"De ti" = about yourself. When talking about the other person directly: de ti (you), de mí (me), de él (him).

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: I should listen more. You should bring flowers. He should arrive early. We should give good advice. They should divide the bill.

Example: (Yo) debo escuchar más. (Tú) debes llevar flores. (Él) debe llegar temprano. (Nosotros) debemos dar buenos consejos. (Ellos) deben dividir la cuenta.

Notes:

Full set: debo, debes, debe, debemos, deben. Regular ER verb, no stem change and no surprises! The easiest modal verb to conjugate so far.
"Buenos consejos" → adjective matches the noun: buenos (masculine plural). One piece of advice: buen consejo.

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: Samuel's friends are single. Their advice is bad. He should arrive late. He should not bring flowers. He should not show much interest.

Example: Los amigos de Samuel son/están solteros. Sus consejos son malos. Debe llegar tarde. No debe llevar flores. No debe mostrar mucho interés.

Notes:

"Son solteros" or "están solteros" both work. SER treats it like an identity (like profession), ESTAR treats it as a current state. You'll hear both in real life.
"Malos consejos" → we have the adjective before the noun this time. Bueno/malo, grande/pequeño sometimes go before the noun for emphasis. "Malos consejos" sounds more dramatic than "consejos malos."

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Samuel arrives late to the restaurant. He wears jeans and a sweatshirt. Rosario is not happy. He should not listen to his friends.

Example: Samuel llega tarde al restaurante. Lleva jeans y sudadera. Rosario no está contenta. No debe escuchar a sus amigos.

Notes:

"Escuchar a sus amigos" → when you listen to a person, you need that "a" before them. "Escucho a Rosario," "Escucho a mis amigos." Without the "a" it sounds like you're listening to a thing and not to a person.

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Samuel listens to his friends' advice and the date is a disaster!

Imagine your friend has a date tonight. What is your advice?
On a date, should you talk about yourself like Samuel or should you listen more?
Do you listen to your friends' advice or do you decide alone?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Samuel needs better friends. This time, you're the one giving advice, asking Rosario out, confessing mistakes… and making sure nobody wears a sudadera on a first date ever again.

The Invitation

You're Samuel and you're at work. It's the end of the day and you've decided to ask Rosario to dinner.

Your task - invite Rosario to dinner and make plans:

Greet Rosario and ask if she has plans tonight
Rosario says: "No, no tengo planes. ¿Por qué?" - Invite her to have dinner with you
Rosario asks: "¿Una cita?" - Say yes and say how you feel (happy, nervous)
Rosario says: "¡Perfecto! ¿A qué hora?" - Say the time (8:00)
Rosario asks: "¿Dónde?" - Say the restaurant name (Gato Negro), say where it is (near the plaza), and say goodbye

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Hola, Rosario. ¿Qué tal? ¿Tienes planes esta noche?
1. Hi, Rosario. How are you? Do you have plans tonight?
¿Quieres cenar conmigo?
1. Do you want to have dinner with me?
Sí. Estoy muy contento. Estoy un poco nervioso también.
1. Yes. I'm very happy. I'm a little nervous too.
A las ocho.
1. At eight.
En el restaurante Gato Negro. Está cerca de la plaza. ¡Hasta luego!
1. At the Gato Negro restaurant. It's near the plaza. See you later!

The Second Chance

Rosario has accepted a second date with Samuel. He can't believe it. He arrives at your place looking stressed. "Necesito tu ayuda. ¿Qué debo hacer?"

Your task - give Samuel advice for his second date with Rosario:

React to the good news and say what you think about Rosario (nice, interesting, smart)
Give advice about when to arrive and what to wear (on time, nice clothes - not jeans and a sweatshirt)
Give advice about conversation - what to ask Rosario about (her work, her family, what she likes to do)
Give advice about what NOT to do at dinner (don't talk only about himself, don't divide the bill)
Give advice about after dinner - where to go and what to do (go for a walk with her and have a drink at a bar)
Tell Samuel to be happy and calm - he doesn't need to be nervous, Rosario likes him
Give final encouragement - tell Samuel to be the same Samuel from work, not the Samuel from the first date

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

¡Muy bien, Samuel! Rosario es muy simpática, interesante e inteligente.
1. Very good, Samuel! Rosario is very nice, interesting, and smart.
Debes llegar a la hora. No debes llegar tarde. Y debes llevar ropa bonita, no debes llevar jeans y sudadera.
1. You should arrive on time. You shouldn't arrive late. And you should wear nice clothes, you shouldn't wear jeans and a sweatshirt.
Debes preguntar a Rosario sobre su trabajo, su familia y qué le gusta hacer.
1. You should ask Rosario about her work, her family, and what she likes to do.
No debes hablar solo de ti. Y no debes dividir la cuenta. Debes pagar tú.
1. You shouldn't only talk about yourself. And you shouldn't split the bill. You should pay.
Después de cenar debes pasear con ella y tomar algo en un bar.
1. After dinner you should go for a walk with her and have a drink at a bar.
Debes estar tranquilo y contento. No debes estar nervioso. A Rosario le gustas.
1. You should be calm and happy. You shouldn't be nervous. Rosario likes you.
Debes ser el Samuel del trabajo, no el Samuel de la primera cita.
1. You should be the Samuel from work, not the Samuel from the first date.

The Morning After

It's the morning after Samuel's disaster date. You're one of his three roommates. Samuel is in his room… he doesn't want to talk. The other two are sitting on the sofa looking miserable.

Your task - tell the others what you all need to do:

Describe how you feel this morning (bad, worried)
Say that the advice from the three of you is terrible and now Rosario is angry at Samuel
Say you all need to talk to Samuel and ask for forgiveness
Say that you all should stop talking about dates and that your advice is very bad
Say you need to talk to Rosario too, that you are all single and the bad advice is from you three
Rosario answered your call - tell her about the real Samuel (kind, funny, interesting and very good guy)

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Chicos, me siento muy mal. Estoy muy preocupado.
1. Guys, I feel very bad. I'm very worried.
Nuestros consejos son muy malos. Rosario está muy enfadada con Samuel.
1. Our advice is very bad. Rosario is very angry at Samuel.
Debemos hablar con Samuel y pedir perdón.
1. We should talk to Samuel and ask for forgiveness.
Y no debemos hablar más de citas. Nuestros consejos son muy malos.
1. And we shouldn't talk more about dates. Our advice is very bad.
Debemos hablar con Rosario también. Los tres estamos solteros. Los malos consejos son nuestros.
1. We should talk to Rosario too. All three of us are single. The bad advice is ours.
Rosario, Samuel es simpático, divertido e interesante. Es un chico muy bueno.
1. Rosario, Samuel is nice, fun, and interesting. He's a very good guy.

First Day at Work

Your younger brother starts a new job next week. He's nervous and comes to you for advice. You want to help him make a good first impression.

Your task - give your brother advice for his first day:

Say this is very good news and you are happy
Give advice about when to arrive (early, not late)
Give advice about what to wear (nice clothes, not jeans)
Give advice about meeting new coworkers - say his name, be friendly, ask about their names
Give advice about the first day - listen a lot, ask questions, don't use his phone
Tell him not to be nervous

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

¡Muy bien! Es muy buena noticia. Estoy muy contento.
1. Very good! It's very good news. I'm very happy.
Debes llegar temprano. No debes llegar tarde.
1. You should arrive early. You shouldn't arrive late.
Debes llevar ropa bonita. No debes llevar jeans.
1. You should wear nice clothes. You shouldn't wear jeans.
Debes decir: "Hola, me llamo [nombre]." Debes ser amable. Y debes preguntar a tus compañeros sus nombres.
1. You should say: "Hi, my name is [name]." You should be friendly. And you should ask your coworkers their names.
El primer día, debes escuchar mucho y hacer muchas preguntas. No debes usar el móvil.
1. The first day, you should listen a lot and ask a lot. You shouldn't use your phone.
No debes estar nervioso.
1. You shouldn't be nervous.

The Sudadera Emergency

You work in a clothing store in Palma de Mallorca. A nervous young man walks in and asks for a hoodie because he has a date tonight.

Your task - tell him why a hoodie is a terrible idea:

Tell the customer a sudadera is NOT a good idea for a date
Start by telling him who Samuel is (name, city, where does he live?)
What happens at home? (who is in the living room? what does Samuel tell them? what do the friends say?)
What happens the next day at work? (who does Samuel talk to? what does he ask? what does she say?)
Describe the five bad rules from the friends (arrive late, no flowers, divide the bill, normal clothes, talk about himself)
What happens at the restaurant? (who arrives first? Samuel gets there on time? what does he wear?)
What does Samuel do at dinner? (what does he talk about? does he ask about Rosario?)
What happens when the bill comes?
How does the date end? (what does Rosario say to Samuel? how does she feel? what does she do?)
What does Samuel think at the end?
Say what the customer needs to wear instead (elegant clothes and shoes)
What do you think about Samuel's friends? Is their advice good?
Imagine you are Rosario - do you want a second date with Samuel?

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

¡No, no, no! Una sudadera no es una buena idea para una cita. Tengo una historia para ti.
1. No, no, no! A hoodie is not a good idea for a date. I have a story for you.
Samuel es un chico de Palma de Mallorca. Vive en un piso con tres amigos.
1. Samuel is a guy from Palma de Mallorca. He lives in an apartment with three friends.
Un día, Samuel llega a casa. Sus tres amigos están en el salón. Samuel dice que le gusta una chica del trabajo. Los amigos dicen que debe invitarla a cenar. Debe tener valor.
1. One day, Samuel arrives home. His three friends are in the living room. Samuel says that he likes a girl from work. The friends say that he should invite her to dinner. He should be brave.
Al día siguiente, Samuel habla con Rosario. Samuel pregunta a Rosario si ella quiere cenar con él. ¡Y Rosario dice que sí! Samuel está muy contento.
1. The next day, Samuel talks to Rosario. Samuel asks Rosario if she wants to have dinner with him. And Rosario says yes! Samuel is very happy.
Pero hay un problema. Los amigos de Samuel están solteros, pero tienen cinco consejos para la cita. Primero: debe llegar tarde. Segundo: no debe llevar flores. Tercero: debe dividir la cuenta. Cuarto: debe llevar ropa normal. Y quinto: debe hablar mucho de él y no preguntar sobre ella.
1. But there is a problem. Samuel's friends are single, but they have five pieces of advice for the date. First: he should arrive late. Second: he shouldn't bring flowers. Third: he should split the bill. Fourth: he should wear normal clothes. And fifth: he should talk a lot about himself and not ask about her.
Rosario llega al restaurante a las ocho. Samuel llega media hora después. Lleva jeans y una sudadera.
1. Rosario arrives at the restaurant at eight. Samuel arrives half an hour later. He's wearing jeans and a hoodie.
Samuel solo habla de él. Habla de deporte, de idiomas y de comida. No pregunta nada sobre Rosario.
1. Samuel only talks about himself. He talks about sports, languages, and food. He doesn't ask anything about Rosario.
Llega la cuenta y Samuel quiere dividir. Rosario no está nada contenta.
1. The bill arrives and Samuel wants to split it. Rosario is not happy at all.
Rosario está enfadada. Dice que Samuel está muy raro esta noche. No es agradable. Solo habla de él. Y Rosario se va.
1. Rosario is upset. She says that Samuel is very strange tonight. He's not nice. He only talks about himself. And Rosario leaves.
Samuel se queda solo y piensa: "Debo buscar nuevos amigos."
1. Samuel is left alone and thinks: "I should find new friends."
Necesitas llevar ropa elegante. Una camisa bonita, unos pantalones buenos y unos zapatos bonitos. Nada de sudaderas.
1. You need to wear elegant clothes. A nice shirt, good pants, and nice shoes. No hoodies.
Los amigos de Samuel son simpáticos, pero sus consejos de citas son terribles. Los tres están solteros.
1. Samuel's friends are nice, but their dating advice is terrible. All three are single.
Sí, quiero una segunda cita con Samuel. El Samuel del trabajo es simpático y divertido. Pero Samuel debe escuchar menos a sus amigos. / No, no quiero...
1. Yes, I want a second date with Samuel. The Samuel from work is nice and fun. But Samuel should listen less to his friends. / No, I don't want to...

Part 8

Culture

1. Samuel Lives on an Island That Invented Half of California

Samuel lives in Palma de Mallorca.

One of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.

An island so beautiful it practically does the work for you on a first date. Samuel still found a way to mess it up.

Mallorca is the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands.

Romans founded Palma, Vandals raided it, Byzantines held it, the Moors took it in 902 and King James I of Aragon conquered it back in 1229.

Everyone wanted this island

The history is complicated (Indigenous people were forced to convert and many were mistreated) but some of California's biggest cities started with a man from Mallorca.

Aerial view of Palma de Mallorca showing the port, historic centre and the Bay of Palma.

Palma de Mallorca from above. Port, old town and the bay.

What the island actually feels like

Most people hear "Mallorca" and think beach holidays.

Palma de Mallorca is not just a beach destination.

There's a whole other island underneath that.

960,000 people on the island. Nearly half in Palma
Palma's old town is one of the best-preserved Gothic quarters in Spain. Narrow streets, hidden courtyards, sandstone buildings
Santa Catalina - the old fishing neighbourhood, now full of wine bars and restaurants. Where locals actually eat
Serra de Tramuntana - a UNESCO-listed mountain range running along the northwest coast. Some of the best hiking and cycling in Europe
28 million passengers a year through Palma's airport. One of the busiest in Spain
Over 300 days of sunshine a year. Average temperature around 21°C (70°F)
Two official languages: Castilian Spanish and Catalan (locals switch between them mid-sentence)

2. Two Foods Mallorca Won't Share With Anyone

Mallorca has two foods with EU-protected names. You can't sell either one unless it was made on the island.

The ensaimada

The ensaimada (en-sigh-MAH-da) is Mallorca's signature pastry. A big golden spiral, dusted with powdered sugar.

Two ensaimadas dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate.

The ensaimada. Yes, it's as good as it looks. Probably better.

It looks like a flaky snail the size of your face. Crispy outside, soft and airy inside, with thin layers that flake everywhere.

The ingredients are absurdly simple: flour, water, eggs, sugar, a starter dough and pork lard. The name comes from saïm, the Catalan word for lard.

Possible Jewish origins - likely descends from bulemas, a pastry that originally used olive oil. During the Inquisition, lard replaced oil to prove Christian faith… and the ensaimada was born
EU protected since 2003 - only pastries made on Mallorca can legally use the name
The dough ferments for 12 to 18 hours. You can't rush an ensaimada

Locals eat them for breakfast dunked into café con leche. Some say they don't rise properly outside of Mallorca. That the island's sea air is part of the recipe.

The sobrasada

Sobrasada (so-bra-SAH-da) is a soft, spreadable cured sausage.

Cured sobrasada sausages in a wicker basket, one cut open showing the bright orange-red interior.

Sobrasada. Pork, paprika and salt. That colour is all natural.

Bright orange-red. You spread it on warm toast with honey and it makes immediate sense.

First written reference: 1403. The paprika that gives it the colour wasn't added until the 1700s. Also EU protected.

3. A City With a Cathedral That Faces the Wrong Way

La Seu is Palma's cathedral. King James I ordered it built in 1229 after conquering the island from the Moors.

He tore down the main mosque and built a Gothic cathedral on its foundations.

Which means the altar faces Mecca, not Jerusalem. Nobody corrected it. It's been like that for almost 800 years.

The rose window - one of the largest Gothic stained-glass windows in the world. About 13 metres across, over 1,200 pieces of glass
Antoni Gaudí spent 10 years redesigning the interior. His only major project outside Catalonia
Twice a year (February 2 and November 11), the sun passes through the main rose window and projects a figure of eight on the opposite wall. Thousands show up to watch

Aerial view of Palma Cathedral next to the Mediterranean Sea.

La Seu. Built on a mosque. Facing Mecca. Right on the sea.

From outside it sits right on the waterfront. Golden sandstone against blue sea. At sunset the whole thing glows... it's beautiful.

The only circular castle in Spain

Up on a pine-covered hill sits Bellver Castle. Built around 1300. Completely circular. The only one of its kind in Spain.

Royal palace, military prison for 200 years, briefly a currency factory in 1821 and now a city museum. The views from the rooftop are some of the best in the Mediterranean.

The water

The buildings are impressive. But let's be honest… the reason most people come to Mallorca is the sea.

And the sea here is almost unfair. Turquoise, clear enough to see the bottom from metres away and warm from June through October.

The famous beaches are packed. But the calas (small coves) are where it gets special:

Cala Mondragó - a natural park with two coves side by side. Pine trees down to the sand

Aerial view of Cala Mondragó showing turquoise water, white sand and pine-covered cliffs with sailboats anchored in the cove.

Aerial view of Cala Mondragó. The water really is that colour.

Caló des Moro - tiny, turquoise, squeezed between cliffs. Looks fake in photos. It's not
Cala Varques - no road access. You walk 15 minutes through scrubland to get there. That's the filter

Some of the best spots on the island don't have a car park or a beach bar. You walk, you swim, you leave. That's it.

The east coast has the coves.

The north has the drama… cliffs dropping straight into deep blue water around Cap de Formentor.

Panoramic view of Cap de Formentor showing steep rocky cliffs dropping into deep blue Mediterranean water.

Cap de Formentor. The north coast of Mallorca doesn't do subtle.

And the west coast has the mountains meeting the sea in ways that don't look real.

Your Actual Guide to Samuel's Island

If you only do one thing on the island… get on the Tren de Sóller.

It's a wooden train that's been running since 1912. Same old carriages. Same everything.

You go through 13 tunnels in the mountains for about an hour and come out the other side in Sóller… a little town in a valley full of orange trees.

From there, a vintage tram from 1913 takes you down to the port. The whole thing feels like you accidentally went back in time.

And you're not far from Valldemossa, the mountain village where Chopin spent a winter composing some of his most famous preludes in 1838.

Or Deià, a village on a cliff above the sea where the poet Robert Graves lived for decades. Both are tiny.

Both are gorgeous. Both feel like a different century.

On the east coast there's the Coves del Drach… enormous underground caves with a lake inside. A string quartet plays classical music from a boat on the water. Seriously.

Four to five days is what I'd recommend. Three if you're focused. A week if you want to mix in beaches and slow mornings.

Most people who go to Mallorca come back with a tan and nothing else.

Now when you go… you'll eat an ensaimada and know why it's made with lard. You'll see the cathedral and know it faces Mecca. You'll ride a train that's been running with the same carriages for over a hundred years.

For me that's the difference between visiting a place and actually experience it.

Did You Know?

🪨 The word "Balearic" likely comes from an ancient word meaning "masters of throwing." Mallorca's ancient warriors were so deadly with slings that Hannibal used 2,000 of them in his army against Rome
⛪ A Franciscan friar from the tiny Mallorcan town of Petra sailed to the Americas in 1749. His name was Junípero Serra. He built nine churches and settlements along the California coast… in places now called San Diego, San Francisco and Carmel
🏠 Over 50% of Mallorca's bakeries have been operating for more than 150 years. Many are run by fifth-generation bakers
🌊 On peak summer days, Mallorca's population nearly doubles to around 1.5 million as tourists flood the island
⛪ Palma Cathedral's rose window forms a perfect Star of David pattern from inside. Nobody is entirely sure whether that was intentional
🎾 Rafael Nadal is from Mallorca. Born and raised in Manacor, about an hour from Palma

Back to the top