A1 Spanish

Stories completed

22. ¿Valladolid o Tenerife?

(Valladolid or Tenerife?)

Luca has two job offers: Valladolid or Tenerife. He must decide today. But his family has opinions. Strong opinions.

Illustration of three people in a comic-style panel layout having conversations with speech bubbles

Spanish version

Luca entra en la cocina.

—Familia, tengo dos <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="offers" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ofertas de trabajo. Valladolid o Tenerife. Debo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to decide" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">decidir hoy.

—¿Hoy?

—Sí. Voy a salir una hora. Después decido.

Luca sale.

—Valladolid es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="better than" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mejor que Tenerife —dice la madre.

—Sí. Valladolid está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="closer to" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">más cerca de aquí —dice el padre—. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="it's only an hour away" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Está a solo una hora <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="by car" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">en coche. Tenerife está muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="far" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">lejos.

—Y Valladolid es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="calmer than" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">más tranquila que Tenerife.

El hermano <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="doesn't agree" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">no está de acuerdo.

—No, no. Tenerife es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="much better than" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mucho mejor que Valladolid.

—¿Por qué?

—El <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="climate" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">clima en Tenerife es mejor que el clima en Valladolid. Tenerife tiene más <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="sun" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sol que Valladolid. Y tiene playas. Valladolid no tiene playas.

—Valladolid no tiene playas, pero tiene buena comida —dice el padre.

—En Valladolid <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="it's colder" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">hace más frío que en Tenerife —dice el hermano.

—Pero el frío no es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="as bad as" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">tan malo como piensas —dice la madre.

—Y los pisos en Tenerife son <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="more expensive than" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">más caros que los pisos en Valladolid —añade el padre.

—Sí, pero <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the salary" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el salario también es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="higher" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">más alto —responde el hermano.

—La vida en Tenerife es más cara que la vida en Valladolid —dice el padre—. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="everything is more expensive" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Todo es más caro en una <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="island" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">isla.

—Y los vuelos a Tenerife son más caros que ir a Valladolid en coche.

—Pero Tenerife es más bonita, más divertida y tiene mejor clima que Valladolid —dice el hermano.

—Valladolid está más cerca de aquí, es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="safer" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">más segura y más barata —<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="summarizes" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">resume el padre.

Luca regresa.

—<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">¿Y? ¿Tienes una <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="decision" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">decisión?

—Sí. No quiero ir a Valladolid. No me gusta el trabajo y el salario no es bueno.

El hermano sonríe.

—¿Entonces vas a Tenerife?

—No. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="I'm not going to... either" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">No voy a Tenerife tampoco.

—¿Qué? —dicen todos.

—Tengo una nueva oferta: de Estados Unidos, en California.

—¿Estados Unidos?

—Sí. El salario es mejor. Mucho mejor.

—Pero... Tenerife es muy buena —dice la madre—. Tiene playas <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="better than" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">mejores que California.

—Y está muy cerca de aquí —añade el padre—. Los vuelos son muy baratos.

—Y California es muy cara —dice la madre—. La comida en Tenerife es mejor que la comida en Estados Unidos.

—California es más cara que Tenerife —<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="confirms" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">confirma el padre—. Tenerife es muy barata.

—Y tienes que <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to speak English" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">hablar inglés. Es muy difícil —dice la madre.

El hermano los mira.

—¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Now you like it?" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Ahora les gusta Tenerife?

El padre y la madre <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="nod" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">asienten.

—Sí. Tenerife es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the best place" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el mejor lugar para vivir en España.

Spanish story with English translation

Luca entra en la cocina.

Luca enters the kitchen.

—Familia, tengo dos ofertas de trabajo. Valladolid o Tenerife. Debo decidir hoy.

"Family, I have two job offers. Valladolid or Tenerife. I have to decide today."

—¿Hoy?

"Today?"

—Sí. Voy a salir una hora. Después decido.

"Yes. I'm going to go out for an hour. Then I'll decide."

Luca sale.

Luca leaves.

—Valladolid es mejor que Tenerife —dice la madre.

"Valladolid is better than Tenerife," says the mother.

—Sí. Valladolid está más cerca de aquí —dice el padre—. Está a solo una hora en coche. Tenerife está muy lejos.

"Yes. Valladolid is closer to here," says the father. "It's only one hour by car. Tenerife is very far."

—Y Valladolid es más tranquila que Tenerife.

"And Valladolid is calmer than Tenerife."

El hermano no está de acuerdo.

The brother doesn't agree.

—No, no. Tenerife es mucho mejor que Valladolid.

"No, no. Tenerife is much better than Valladolid."

—¿Por qué?

"Why?"

—El clima en Tenerife es mejor que el clima en Valladolid. Tenerife tiene más sol que Valladolid. Y tiene playas. Valladolid no tiene playas.

"The climate in Tenerife is better than the climate in Valladolid. Tenerife has more sun than Valladolid. And it has beaches. Valladolid doesn't have beaches."

—Valladolid no tiene playas, pero tiene buena comida —dice el padre.

"Valladolid doesn't have beaches, but it has good food," says the father.

—En Valladolid hace más frío que en Tenerife —dice el hermano.

"In Valladolid it's colder than in Tenerife," says the brother.

—Pero el frío no es tan malo como piensas —dice la madre.

"But the cold is not as bad as you think," says the mother.

—Y los pisos en Tenerife son más caros que los pisos en Valladolid —añade el padre.

"And the apartments in Tenerife are more expensive than the apartments in Valladolid," adds the father.

—Sí, pero el salario también es más alto —responde el hermano.

"Yes, but the salary is also higher," responds the brother.

—La vida en Tenerife es más cara que la vida en Valladolid —dice el padre—. Todo es más caro en una isla.

"Life in Tenerife is more expensive than life in Valladolid," says the father. "Everything is more expensive on an island."

—Y los vuelos a Tenerife son más caros que ir a Valladolid en coche.

"And flights to Tenerife are more expensive than going to Valladolid by car."

—Pero Tenerife es más bonita, más divertida y tiene mejor clima que Valladolid —dice el hermano.

"But Tenerife is prettier, more fun, and has better weather than Valladolid," says the brother.

—Valladolid está más cerca de aquí, es más segura y más barata —resume el padre.

"Valladolid is closer to here, is safer, and cheaper," summarizes the father.

Luca regresa.

Luca returns.

—¿Y? ¿Tienes una decisión?

"So? Do you have a decision?"

—Sí. No quiero ir a Valladolid. No me gusta el trabajo y el salario no es bueno.

"Yes. I don't want to go to Valladolid. I don't like the job and the salary isn't good."

El hermano sonríe.

The brother smiles.

—¿Entonces vas a Tenerife?

"So you're going to Tenerife?"

—No. No voy a Tenerife tampoco.

"No. I'm not going to Tenerife either."

—¿Qué? —dicen todos.

"What?" everyone says.

—Tengo una nueva oferta: de Estados Unidos, en California.

"I have a new offer: from the United States, in California."

—¿Estados Unidos?

"The United States?"

—Sí. El salario es mejor. Mucho mejor.

"Yes. The salary is better. Much better."

—Pero... Tenerife es muy buena —dice la madre—. Tiene playas mejores que California.

"But... Tenerife is very good," says the mother. "It has better beaches than California."

—Y está muy cerca de aquí —añade el padre—. Los vuelos son muy baratos.

"And it's very close to here," adds the father. "The flights are very cheap."

—Y California es muy cara —dice la madre—. La comida en Tenerife es mejor que la comida en Estados Unidos.

"And California is very expensive," says the mother. "The food in Tenerife is better than the food in the United States."

—California es más cara que Tenerife —confirma el padre—. Tenerife es muy barata.

"California is more expensive than Tenerife," confirms the father. "Tenerife is very cheap."

—Y tienes que hablar inglés. Es muy difícil —dice la madre.

"And you have to speak English. It's very difficult," says the mother.

El hermano los mira.

The brother looks at them.

—¿Ahora les gusta Tenerife?

"Now you like Tenerife?"

El padre y la madre asienten.

The father and the mother nod.

—Sí. Tenerife es el mejor lugar para vivir en España.

"Yes. Tenerife is the best place to live in Spain."

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 colleague asks about the two cities. Reply in Spanish: Tenerife has more sun than Valladolid. Valladolid is cheaper than Tenerife.

Example: Tenerife tiene más sol que Valladolid. Valladolid es más barata que Tenerife.

Notes:

"Más + noun + que" for comparing quantities: más sol que. "Más + adjective + que" for comparing qualities: más barata que.
"Barata" not "barato" because Valladolid is a city → feminine. The adjective always matches what you're describing.

Question 2

The father says the flights to Tenerife are expensive. You respond in Spanish: The salary in Tenerife is higher than the salary in Valladolid. The weather is better. Tenerife is more fun.

Example: El salario en Tenerife es más alto que el salario en Valladolid. El clima es mejor. Tenerife es más divertida.

Notes:

"Mejor" = better. It already contains "más" inside it, so you never say "más mejor." Just "mejor" on its own.
"Más alto" (regular comparative) vs "mejor" (irregular). Most adjectives use "más + adjective + que." Only a few have their own word: mejor (better), peor (worse).
When comparing the same thing you don't need to repeat the noun. "El salario es más alto que en Valladolid" also works because it's obvious you mean the salary there too. There's less repetition and it sounds more natural.

Question 3

Luca asks about Salamanca. Reply in Spanish: I live in Salamanca. My city is smaller than Tenerife. The weather is better than in Valladolid.

Example: Vivo en Salamanca. Mi ciudad es más pequeña que Tenerife. El clima es mejor que en Valladolid.

Notes:

You can compare anything with the same formula: más grande que, más cara que, más bonita que. Just change the adjective and it works every time.
"Mejor que en Valladolid" → that "en" matters! You're comparing with the weather IN Valladolid and not with Valladolid itself.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: The beaches in Tenerife are better than the beaches in California. The flights to Tenerife are cheaper. And the food is better.

Example: Las playas en Tenerife son mejores que las playas en California. Los vuelos a Tenerife son más baratos. Y la comida es mejor.

Notes:

"Mejores" → plural of "mejor." One beach is mejor, many beaches are mejores. It's one of the few comparatives that changes for plural.
"Más baratos" not "más baratas" because "vuelos" is masculine. Even inside a comparative, the adjective still matches the noun's gender.

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: The brother likes Tenerife more. Tenerife has more sun. And it has beaches. Valladolid does not have beaches.

Example: Al hermano le gusta más Tenerife. Tenerife tiene más sol. Y tiene playas. Valladolid no tiene playas.

Notes:

"Al hermano le gusta más" → GUSTAR + más = likes more. Simple way to express preference without needing a new structure.
"Tenerife tiene más sol" → no "que" here because there's no explicit second thing after it. When the comparison is obvious from context you can drop the "que Valladolid" part.

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Tenerife is more expensive than Valladolid. The weather is better in Tenerife. California is not as cheap as Valladolid. The weather in Valladolid is worse than the weather in Tenerife.

Example: Tenerife es más cara que Valladolid. El clima es mejor en Tenerife. California no es tan barata como Valladolid. El clima en Valladolid es peor que el clima en Tenerife.

Notes:

Four comparative structures in four sentences: más...que, mejor, tan...como, peor. That's the complete toolkit.
"No es tan barata como" = is not as cheap as. "Tan...como" is for equal comparisons. Add "no" and it flips to "not as...as." It's different from "menos...que" but conveys a similar meaning.

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Luca cannot decide and everyone has a different opinion. Now it's your turn!

Compare your country with Spain (size, food, weather...)
If you can live in one other country for a year (not Spain, that's too easy!), which one? Compare it with your country.
What is more important for you: good weather, a good salary, or good food?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Luca's family can't agree on anything - Valladolid, Tenerife, California - and the debate is getting louder. Pull up a chair and have your say.

Luca Needs Your Help

Luca sits down next to you in a café. He has two job offers (Valladolid and Tenerife) and he needs a quick outside perspective.

Your task - talk to Luca:

Say Tenerife has better weather than Valladolid (more sun)
Say apartments in Valladolid are cheaper than in Tenerife
Say Valladolid is closer (one hour by car)
Say Valladolid's food is better than Tenerife
Say you like Tenerife more because it has beaches and better weather

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

El clima en Tenerife es mejor que el clima en Valladolid. Tenerife tiene más sol.
1. The weather in Tenerife is better than the weather in Valladolid. Tenerife has more sun.
Los pisos en Valladolid son más baratos que en Tenerife.
1. The apartments in Valladolid are cheaper than in Tenerife.
Valladolid está más cerca. Está a una hora en coche.
1. Valladolid is closer. It's one hour by car.
La comida en Valladolid es mejor que en Tenerife.
1. The food in Valladolid is better than in Tenerife.
Me gusta más Tenerife porque tiene playas y mejor clima.
1. I like Tenerife more because it has beaches and better weather.

The California Surprise

You're the mother and Luca just dropped the California bomb. Five minutes ago you said Valladolid was better than Tenerife. Now you need to convince Luca that Tenerife is actually great.

Your task - convince Luca that Tenerife is better than California:

Say California is very far from the family and Tenerife is much closer
Say Tenerife is safer than California
Say the people in Tenerife are friendlier than in California
Say in California you have to speak English and English is very difficult
Say flights to Tenerife are much cheaper than flights to California
Say Tenerife is the best place for Luca

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

California está muy lejos de la familia. Tenerife está mucho más cerca.
1. California is very far from the family. Tenerife is much closer.
Tenerife es más segura que California.
1. Tenerife is safer than California.
La gente en Tenerife es más amigable que en California.
1. The people in Tenerife are friendlier than in California.
En California tienes que hablar inglés y el inglés es muy difícil.
1. In California you have to speak English and English is very difficult.
Los vuelos a Tenerife son mucho más baratos que los vuelos a California.
1. The flights to Tenerife are much cheaper than the flights to California.
Tenerife es el mejor lugar para ti.
1. Tenerife is the best place for you.

The Mother's Phone Call

It's thirty minutes after Luca's California announcement. You're the mother and you call your sister because you're worried.

Your task - talk to your sister:

Greet your sister and say you're very worried
Say Luca has two job offers (Valladolid and Tenerife)
Say he also has a new offer in California; say he wants to go
Say you don't like California; it's very far and life is very expensive
Say Luca should go to Tenerife; it's closer and safer
Say you and his father are going to talk to him tonight
Ask your sister: Tenerife or California - which is better for Luca?

Speak for 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Hola, hermana. Estoy muy preocupada.
1. Hi, sister. I'm very worried.
Luca tiene dos ofertas de trabajo: Valladolid y Tenerife.
1. Luca has two job offers: Valladolid and Tenerife.
También tiene una oferta nueva en California. Quiere ir.
1. He also has a new offer in California. He wants to go.
No me gusta California. Está muy lejos y la vida es muy cara.
1. I don't like California. It's very far and life is very expensive.
Luca debe ir a Tenerife. Está más cerca y es más segura.
1. Luca should go to Tenerife. It's closer and safer.
Su padre y yo vamos a hablar con él esta noche.
1. His father and I are going to talk to him tonight.
¿Qué es mejor para Luca, Tenerife o California?
1. What is better for Luca, Tenerife or California?

Your Country vs. a Dream Country

A friend asks: "If you could live in another country, where would you go?" Compare the country you live in to another country you like or want to visit.

Your task - compare the two countries:

Say which country you live in and name another country you like or want to visit
Compare the weather (which has better weather, more or less sun, more or less cold)
Compare the food (which country has better food)
Compare the cost of living (which is more expensive - apartments, food)
Compare the people (which country has friendlier people)
Say which country you like more for living and give one or two reasons

Speak for 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Yo vivo en [country]. Me gusta mucho [country]. / Quiero visitar [country].
1. I live in [country]. I like [country] a lot. / I want to visit [country].
[Country] tiene mejor clima que [country]. Tiene más sol y hace menos frío.
1. [Country] has better weather than [country]. It has more sun and it's less cold.
La comida en [country] es mejor que la comida en [country].
1. The food in [country] is better than the food in [country].
[Country] es más cara(o) que [country]. Los pisos son más caros y la comida también es más cara.
1. [Country] is more expensive than [country]. The apartments are more expensive and the food is also more expensive.
La gente en [country] es más amigable que en [country].
1. The people in [country] are friendlier than in [country].
Me gusta más [country] para vivir porque tiene mejor clima y la vida no es tan cara.
1. I like [country] more for living because it has better weather and life isn't as expensive.

Tell Luca's Story

It's bedtime. You're looking after your friend's kid and they want a story. You don't have any kids' stories ready... but you DO have Luca's story. The kid is staring at you... waiting.

Your task - tell the story in your own words:

What does Luca tell his family? (two job offers, name both cities, has to decide today)
What does the mother think about Valladolid?
Does the brother agree? Explain why not
What does the father say about apartments and the cost of living in Tenerife?
What does the brother say about the salary?
Describe the father's summary of Valladolid (three things)
Luca comes back - does he want Valladolid? Why not?
Does he want Tenerife? What's his surprise?
Describe how the parents react - what do they say about Tenerife NOW? (at least three things)
What does the brother ask the parents at the end?
Now as yourself - what do you think about the story? Why? (Esta historia es... porque...)
Who do you agree with more - the parents or the brother? Why?
Is it important for you to live close to your family? Why or why not?
Do you like the beach more or the city more? Why?

Speak for 2.5-3 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Luca entra en la cocina y dice que tiene dos ofertas de trabajo. Una en Valladolid y otra en Tenerife. Tiene que decidir hoy.
1. Luca walks into the kitchen and says that he has two job offers. One in Valladolid and another in Tenerife. He has to decide today.
La madre dice que Valladolid es mejor que Tenerife. Dice que está más cerca, a solo una hora en coche.
1. The mother says that Valladolid is better than Tenerife. She says that it's closer, only one hour by car.
El hermano no está de acuerdo. Dice que Tenerife tiene mejor clima, más sol y playas. Valladolid no tiene playas.
1. The brother doesn't agree. He says that Tenerife has better weather, more sun, and beaches. Valladolid doesn't have beaches.
El padre dice que los pisos en Tenerife son más caros que en Valladolid. La vida en Tenerife es más cara. Todo es más caro en una isla.
1. The father says that the apartments in Tenerife are more expensive than in Valladolid. Life in Tenerife is more expensive. Everything is more expensive on an island.
El hermano dice que el salario en Tenerife también es más alto.
1. The brother says that the salary in Tenerife is also higher.
El padre dice que Valladolid está más cerca, es más segura y más barata.
1. The father says that Valladolid is closer, safer, and cheaper.
Luca no quiere ir a Valladolid. No le gusta el trabajo y el salario no es bueno.
1. Luca doesn't want to go to Valladolid. He doesn't like the job and the salary isn't good.
No quiere ir a Tenerife tampoco. Tiene una oferta nueva de California. El salario es mucho mejor.
1. He doesn't want to go to Tenerife either. He has a new offer from California. The salary is much better.
Ahora los padres dicen que Tenerife es muy buena. Dicen que tiene mejores playas que California. Dicen que los vuelos son muy baratos. Y dicen que la comida en Tenerife es mejor que en Estados Unidos.
1. Now the parents say that Tenerife is very good. They say that it has better beaches than California. They say that the flights are very cheap. And they say that the food in Tenerife is better than in the United States.
El hermano mira a los padres y dice: "¿Ahora les gusta Tenerife?"
1. The brother looks at the parents and says: "Now you like Tenerife?"
Esta historia es muy divertida porque los padres primero dicen que Valladolid es mejor, pero después dicen que Tenerife es el mejor lugar. / Esta historia es graciosa porque los padres cambian de opinión.
1. This story is very funny because the parents first say that Valladolid is better, but then they say that Tenerife is the best place. / This story is funny because the parents change their mind.
Estoy más de acuerdo con el hermano porque Tenerife tiene mejor clima y playas. / Estoy más de acuerdo con los padres porque la familia es importante.
1. I agree more with the brother because Tenerife has better weather and beaches. / I agree more with the parents because family is important.
Sí, para mí es importante vivir cerca de mi familia porque [reason]. / No, para mí no es tan importante porque [reason].
1. Yes, for me it's important to live close to my family because [reason]. / No, for me it's not so important because [reason].
Me gusta más la playa porque [reason]. / Me gusta más la ciudad porque [reason].
1. I like the beach more because [reason]. / I like the city more because [reason].

Part 8

Culture

1. Valladolid: Where Luca Would Speak the "Best" Spanish in the Country

The family spent the whole conversation arguing about weather and rent.

But for you… Valladolid has something no one in that kitchen thought to mention.

The accent you're already learning

Valladolid is famous across Spain for something that has nothing to do with climate or rent prices.

People there speak what many consider the clearest, most neutral Castilian Spanish in the country.

No strong regional accent. No unusual pronunciations. Just clean, textbook Spanish… the kind news anchors use, the kind dictionaries are based on and the kind the Real Academia Española (Spain's official language authority) treats as its reference point.

Is it objectively the "best" Spanish? Linguists will argue about that forever.

But language schools across the region agree on this much: the Spanish spoken in Valladolid and the surrounding region of Castile and León (Spain's largest region, up in the north) is about as close to standard Spanish as it gets.

And it's the exact kind of Spanish you're learning right now.

It used to be the capital of the entire country

Valladolid has about 300,000 people. It's the capital of Castile and León.

Aerial view of Valladolid's old town showing red-tiled rooftops and the Plaza Mayor in the centre.

Valladolid from above. Red rooftops and the Plaza Mayor right in the centre

It was at the centre of Spanish history for centuries:

Former capital of Spain - the royal court was based here on and off, then officially from 1601 to 1606 before moving to Madrid for good
Cervantes lived here - Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote (the most famous novel in the Spanish language), wrote part of it while living in Valladolid. His house is now a museum
Columbus died here - Christopher Columbus spent his final years in the city and died there in 1506
One of Spain's oldest universities - founded in 1241

The family didn't bring any of this up. But then again… they were trying to help Luca pick a job, not a history lesson.

The food the father was thinking of

When the father said Valladolid has "buena comida"… that was the understatement of the conversation.

The signature dish of the region is lechazo asado (roast suckling lamb). Cooked in a wood-fired oven with nothing but water and salt.

Roast lamb leg on a wooden cutting board, top view against a dark background.

Lechazo asado. Exhibit A for the parents' side

The meat falls apart. The skin is golden and crispy.

People drive hours across Castile just to eat this at a traditional mesón (a Castilian tavern with a wood oven).

And then there's the wine.

Valladolid sits in the heart of Ribera del Duero… one of the most respected wine regions in the world:

300+ wineries along the Duero River
Some of Spain's most expensive wines come from this region

Roast lamb with a glass of Ribera del Duero red. That's a good Sunday in Valladolid if you ask me.

And now you know the father knew exactly what he was talking about.

If you ever find yourself in Valladolid

You don't need long. A weekend is enough.

Plaza Mayor - built in 1562 and one of the models for main squares across Spain and Latin America. Cafés on every side
Cervantes House Museum - the actual house where the author of Don Quixote lived. Free entry
National Sculpture Museum - inside a stunning Gothic building, San Gregorio. One of the best collections in the country
A mesón for lechazo - find one with a wood oven. Order a quarter lamb and a bottle of Ribera del Duero. You won't need dinner
Day trip to Peñafiel - a hilltop castle that now houses a wine museum, about 45 minutes from the city. Wine tastings everywhere

2. Tenerife: The Island the Whole Family Agreed On (Eventually)

The brother fought hard for Tenerife. Beaches. Sun. Better climate.

He was right about all of it. He just left out the most impressive parts.

An island closer to Africa than to Madrid

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands… a group of Spanish islands out in the Atlantic Ocean. About 970,000 people live there.

Tenerife is only about 100 km from the coast of Africa… but roughly 1,300 km from mainland Spain.

The father said "Tenerife está muy lejos." He wasn't exaggerating.

You're flying over open ocean for almost three hours from Madrid. The islands even sit in a different time zone… one hour behind the mainland.

But that distance comes with something. The brother's "more sun" argument? Completely valid.

While Valladolid shivers through winter… Tenerife is sitting at a comfortable 20°C (68°F).

And the beaches the brother kept going on about?

Tenerife has black volcanic sand beaches in the south, quieter coves in the north and over 400 km of coastline. Some people go in November and swim in the ocean. In November."

If you go… find Playa de Las Teresitas.

Elevated view of Playa de Las Teresitas in Tenerife showing the curved golden sand beach with the Anaga Mountains behind it.

Playa de Las Teresitas. Yeah… team brother has a point too.

Golden sand, palm trees, calm water and the Anaga Mountains right behind you.

On Sundays the locals show up and salsa music starts playing in the afternoon. It doesn't feel like Spain. It doesn't feel like Africa. It feels like its own thing.

The highest point in Spain is on this island

The highest mountain in all of Spain is not in the Pyrenees (the mountain range between Spain and France). Not on the mainland at all.

It's on Tenerife.

Mount Teide is a volcano that rises 3,718 metres above sea level. It sits in a national park that is the most visited in Spain and in all of Europe:

Mount Teide volcano with snow on its peak, seen from the national park with volcanic landscape in the foreground.

Mount Teide. The brother forgot to mention this part.

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007
Over 5 million visitors in 2024 alone
The landscape is so similar to Mars that NASA tested rovers there
At night… one of the best stargazing spots on Earth

You can take a cable car near the summit. On a clear day you see the other Canary Islands in the Atlantic below you.

The second biggest carnival on the planet

Every February, the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife throws a carnival that is considered the second largest in the world. Right after Rio de Janeiro.

In 2019, an estimated 400,000 people filled the streets for the daytime carnival. This isn't a tourist show. It's the island's biggest cultural event. People spend months preparing.

Potatoes boiled in the sea

Canarian food has its own personality. The most famous dish is papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes)… small potatoes boiled in very salty water until the skin wrinkles and a white salt crust forms on the outside.

Originally Canarians boiled them in actual seawater. Inside: soft and creamy. Outside: salty and slightly crunchy.

You eat them with mojo… a sauce that comes in two versions:

Papas arrugadas in a clay bowl with small dishes of red and green mojo sauce on a white plate.

Papas arrugadas. Potatoes, salt and two sauces. Tenerife keeps it simple.

Mojo rojo - red, made with peppers and garlic. A little kick
Mojo verde - green, made with herbs and garlic. Fresh and light

You'll notice the Canary Islands say "papas" for potatoes instead of "patatas" like on the mainland.

Canarian Spanish has a lot in common with Latin American Spanish… which makes sense when you learn that for centuries, thousands of Canarians left the islands and emigrated to Venezuela and Cuba.

The cultural exchange went both ways. Nearly 6% of Tenerife's current population was born in Venezuela.

It's a different flavour of Spanish. Still Spanish. And the Castilian you're learning works perfectly there.

If you ever make it to Tenerife

You could spend a week and still not see everything. But here's where to start:

Teide National Park - cable car to near the summit. Book the free permit in advance if you want to reach the very top
Santa Cruz de Tenerife - the capital. Great food, the Auditorio (a striking concert hall on the waterfront) and the carnival if you time it right
La Laguna - the old capital, a UNESCO World Heritage town with narrow streets and colonial architecture. A short tram ride from Santa Cruz
Papas arrugadas and mojo - order them everywhere. Every restaurant has them. Every version is a little different
The north coast - greener, quieter, less touristy. Towns like Puerto de la Cruz feel like a different island from the sunny south

3. Two Cities, One Family, Zero Agreement

If you want the clearest Spanish accent in the country, a city that was once the capital of an empire, world-class wine and Madrid an hour away by train… Valladolid.

If you want beaches, year-round sun, a volcano taller than anything on the mainland, a carnival that rivals Rio and an island so close to Africa you can almost see it… Tenerife.

The parents made a solid case. The brother made a solid case.

And now you know enough to pick a side.

Did You Know?

💒 Valladolid is where Isabella and Ferdinand (the monarchs who unified Spain and funded Columbus's voyage) got married in 1469
🎬 Valladolid was named a UNESCO City of Film in 2019. It hosts Seminci, one of the oldest film festivals in Spain, running every year since 1956
🏔️ Before Europeans could accurately measure mountain heights, sailors crossing the Atlantic believed Mount Teide was the tallest mountain in the world
🎉 In 1987, 250,000 people packed a single plaza in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for a Celia Cruz concert during carnival. It was registered as a Guinness World Record for the largest outdoor concert gathering

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