Simple Stories in Spanish

Today’s legend comes from the Guaraní culture in the countryside of Paraguay. The Guaraní tell of a short, hairy man who comes out at night to cause a variety of problems. He is “El Pombero”. While the Pombero is not necessarily considered “peligroso”, or dangerous, he is “travieso”, or mischievous. You can get on the Pombero’s good side by leaving him “regalos” or gifts. But you can also get on his bad side by saying his name at night or copying his whistle. This legend is told in the present tense. Repeated words include “cree” (believes), “tiembla” (trembles), “silba” (whistles), and “tiene miedo” (fears/is scared). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/01/10/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-pombero/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. In Central America, large dogs roam the mountains. They are los Cadejos. Legend says God created white dogs to protect humans. Not to be outdone, the devil created black dogs to terrorize humans. In either case, cadejos appear when they are most needed, to either do good or harm depending on the person. This legend is told in both the present and past tenses. Repeated words include “protege” (protect), “aparece” (appear), “defiende” (defend), “atacar” (attack), and “cachorro” (puppy). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2021/01/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-los-cadejos/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. Today’s legend comes from Colombia. La Patasola is a deformed ghost creature. As her name indicates, she only (sola) has one leg (pata or pierna). What caused her demise? Why does she hop around on her leg tormenting others? The answers to those questions and more appear in this retelling of “La leyenda de la Patasola”. The legend is mostly told in the past tense. Repeated words include “infiel” (unfaithful), “enamorado” (in love), “celoso” (jealous), “patrón” (boss), “lavar la ropa” (wash clothing), and “mujer” (woman/wife). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/12/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-la-patasola/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. Alfonso XIII became king at birth. When he was about to lose his first tooth, the author Luis Coloma wrote him a story about a mouse (ratón) named Pérez. That mouse visits children all over the Spanish-speaking world when a child loses a tooth. The legend is mostly told in the past tense, with some present tense in the dialogue. Repeated words include “almohada” (pillow), “diente” (tooth), “rey” (king), “cayó” (fell), and “debajo” (under). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/12/13/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-ratoncito-perez/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. In the year 1531 the Virgen Mary appeared to humble Mexican peasant by the name of Juan Diego. She had a message for the bishop. Initially, he didn’t believe Juan Diego. He thought we has telling “mentiras” (lies), not “la verdad” (the truth). He asked for a “señal” (sign). Later, Juan Diego returned, and the Virgen’s image miraculously appeared on his tilma, or cloak. That image has become known as “La Virgen de Guadalupe” and is celebrated and honored every December. This religious legend repeats vocabulary such as “obispo” (bishop), “cura” (priest), “milagroso” (miraculous), and “iglesia” (church), The legend is mostly told in the past tense, with some present tense in the dialogue and at the end. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/12/07/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-juan-diego-y-la-virgen-de-guadalupe/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. Incan mythology tells of a mother of all living. She is la Pachamama, or Mother Earth. She controls fertility and the land and gives freely to those who give back to her and causes problems for those who take too much. This legend repeats vocabulary such as “mundo” (world), “tierra” (land/earth), “alimentar” (to feed), “dar” (to give), “tomar” (to take), “cuida” (care for), and “temblor” (earthquake). The second half ventures into the past tense with verbs such as “vio” (saw), “le gustaba” (he liked) “cazaba” (hunted) and “hablaron” (they spoke). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/11/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-la-pachamama/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. A tall young man strolls the plains in the Llanos region of Venezuela. He is the Silbón, or Whistler. You know he is near when his whistle (silbato) is faint, but you are safe when he whistles loudly. The origin of el Silbón is not for the faint of heart and explains why he also carries a sack of bones. Todays simple story embellishes the origin of el Silbón and his love of whistling (silbar). This legend repeats vocabulary such as “silba” (whistles), “venado” (deer), “cazar” (to hunt), “tripa” (tripe/intestines), and “cuerpo” (body). It even includes a few verbs in the past tense (cocinó = cooked, mataste = you killed). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/11/16/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-silbon/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. In the middle of the Guatemalan flag there is a beautiful green bird with a bright red chest and a long flowing tail. It is the quetzal, a symbol of liberty and a nahual, or spirit guide, of the Maya and Quiché people. Todays simple story explains one of the many legends surrounding this stunning bird. This legend repeats vocabulary such as “lucha” (fights), “cacique” (chieftain), “pecho” (chest), “guerreros” (warriors), and “va a” (is going to) to express the future. No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/11/08/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-quetzal/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. In the mountains of Nicaragua, a young woman roams the mountains inviting young men to come see her treasure. Those who follow la Mocuana visit a cave full of gold before disappearing forever. Is la Mocuana evil, or just the victim of a broken heart? This legend repeats vocabulary such as “tesoro” (treasure), “oro” (gold), “se enamora” (falls in love), “tiene miedo” (is scared), and “cueva” (cave). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/11/03/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-la-mocuana/

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This third season of Simple Stories in Spanish is focusing on legends. In southern Chile there is an island named Chiloé. The people of Chiloé are fishermen. Thus many of their legends focus on the sea. The most famous legend from Chiloé is about a ghost ship: the Caleuche. This ship is different from other stories of ghost ships because it is driven by a lovely mermaid who throws a party for her crew every night. But the way she gathers her crew, and their zombi-like state, is chilling.

This legend features  seafaring vocabulary such as “océano” (ocean), “barco” (boat), “pescador” (fisherman), “pez” (fish), and “sirena” (mermaid). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.

You can find a transcript of the story and read along at https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/10/25/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-del-caleuche/

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