Check our tips to learn Spanish more effectively with this story
This story was designed to help you learn Spanish in context, strengthen comprehension, and absorb vocabulary and grammar naturally through reading, listening, and interactive exercises. It includes a quizz, flashcards, and a writing practice to reinforce your skills. Here's how to maximize your learning:
- Listen and read the story
Play the audio while reading to follow the story naturally. Focus on understanding the main ideas and how the language sounds. The goal is to develop your Spanish listening skills and overall comprehension. - Read again with the translation
Turn on the translation and compare how ideas are expressed in Spanish and English. This builds awareness of Spanish sentence structure and grammar in real use. - Explore the key vocabulary
Below the story, you’ll find important words bolded and listed. This Spanish vocabulary list highlights key words and expressions in context and helps you understand what matters most in the story. - Take the comprehension quiz
Now test your understanding with the quiz. It reinforces the main ideas and helps improve your Spanish reading comprehension with instant feedback. - Review key vocabulary with flashcards
Use the flashcards to practice the vocabulary you just learned. This boosts memory through active recall and strengthens Spanish vocabulary retention. - Try the writing practice
Respond to the writing question related to the story. Use the new words and grammar to create your own sentences. This strengthens grammar and encourages you to think in Spanish. - Practice speaking out loud
Try saying full sentences out loud — or even read the whole story aloud if you feel ready. You can also speak along with the audio, matching the narrator’s voice as closely as possible. This is a great way to improve pronunciation and fluency while building your Spanish speaking confidence. - Review as needed
Come back to the story anytime to review vocabulary, grammar, or anything you found challenging. You can retake the quiz, replay the audio, or go through the flashcards again. Regular review helps reinforce what you’ve learned and build stronger Spanish skills over time.
Key Spanish concepts you'll encounter in this story
Grammar: Present tense, direct speech, definite and indefinite articles
Vocabulary: Food and drink, emotions, restaurant phrases
Skills: Ordering food, expressing preferences
Spanish version
Roberto está en un nuevo restaurante mexicano. Él mira el menú. Hay muchos platos: tacos, quesadillas y sopas. Todo es bueno. Pero algo llama su atención:
"¿Puedes comer nuestro chile? ¡Es gratis si terminas!"
—Disculpe, ¿qué es esto? —pregunta Roberto al camarero.
El camarero sonríe y dice: —Es un desafío. Si comes todo el plato, no pagas.
—¡Perfecto! Quiero probarlo —dice Roberto.
—Es muy rico, pero un poco picante, señor —dice el camarero.
Roberto responde: —No hay problema. Yo como comida picante. Me gusta la comida mexicana.
—¿Seguro? Muchas personas no pueden terminarlo. Puedo traer algo menos picante.
—Sí, estoy seguro. Quiero el chile, por favor.
El camarero trae el plato. Roberto come el primer bocado. Su cara está roja.
—Esto es muy picante —piensa Roberto.
Él come un segundo bocado. Ahora su cara está más roja y tiene sudor.
—¡Agua, por favor! ¡Rápido! —dice Roberto.
El camarero trae un vaso de leche. —La leche es mejor para el picante.
—Le dije que es un poco picante, señor...
Roberto bebe la leche y dice: —¿Esto es POCO picante?
El camarero sonríe: —Sí, en México, esto es muy poco picante.
Spanish story with English translation
Roberto está en un nuevo restaurante mexicano.
Roberto is in a new Mexican restaurant.
Él mira el menú.
He looks at the menu.
Hay muchos platos: tacos, quesadillas y sopas.
There are many dishes: tacos, quesadillas and soups.
Todo es bueno.
Everything is good.
Pero algo llama su atención:
But something catches his attention:
"¿Puedes comer nuestro chile? ¡Es gratis si terminas!"
"Can you eat our chili pepper? It's free if you finish it!"
—Disculpe, ¿qué es esto? —pregunta Roberto al camarero.
"Excuse me, what is this?" asks Roberto to the waiter.
El camarero sonríe y dice: —Es un desafío. Si comes todo el plato, no pagas.
The waiter smiles and says: "It's a challenge. If you eat the whole plate, you don't pay."
—¡Perfecto! Quiero probarlo —dice Roberto.
"Perfect! I want to try it," says Roberto.
—Es muy rico, pero un poco picante, señor —dice el camarero.
"It's very delicious, but a little spicy, sir," says the waiter.
Roberto responde: —No hay problema. Yo como comida picante. Me gusta la comida mexicana.
Roberto responds: "No problem. I eat spicy food. I like Mexican food."
—¿Seguro? Muchas personas no pueden terminarlo. Puedo traer algo menos picante.
"Are you sure? Many people cannot finish it. I can bring something less spicy."
—Sí, estoy seguro. Quiero el chile, por favor.
"Yes, I am sure. I want the chili, please."
El camarero trae el plato.
The waiter brings the plate.
Roberto come el primer bocado.
Roberto eats the first bite.
Su cara está roja.
His face is red.
—Esto es muy picante —piensa Roberto.
"This is very spicy," thinks Roberto.
Él come un segundo bocado.
He eats a second bite.
Ahora su cara está más roja y tiene sudor.
Now his face is redder and he has sweat.
—¡Agua, por favor! ¡Rápido! —dice Roberto.
"Water, please! Quick!" says Roberto.
El camarero trae un vaso de leche.
The waiter brings a glass of milk.
—La leche es mejor para el picante.
"Milk is better for spiciness."
—Le dije que es un poco picante, señor...
"I told you it's a little spicy, sir..."
Roberto bebe la leche y dice: —¿Esto es POCO picante?
Roberto drinks the milk and says: "This is A LITTLE spicy?"
El camarero sonríe: —Sí, en México, esto es muy poco picante.
The waiter smiles: "Yes, in Mexico, this is very slightly spicy."
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