Francisco de Goya

Francisco de Goya

Author: Small Town Spanish Teacher September 21, 2026 Duration: 17:22
One of my favorite Spanish artists is Francisco de Goya. He created light hearted paintings of picnics and beautiful religious scenes, but also dark, sometimes disturbing, etchings of war and social injustice. Goya lived in a tumultuous time in Spain, and he witnessed many sad moments in history and in his own life. Like many artists, Goya captured these moments through painting, drawing, and etching. This story is in the third person and past tense. Important vocabulary in the story includ...

Hosted by the Small Town Spanish Teacher, Simple Stories in Spanish offers a gentle, story-driven path into the language. Each biweekly episode features an original, easy-to-follow narrative told entirely in Spanish, designed to be accessible whether you're just starting out or looking to maintain your hard-earned skills. The charm of this podcast lies in its simplicity-engaging tales about everyday life, curious characters, and relatable scenarios become your learning material, moving you beyond vocabulary lists into the natural flow of spoken language. You'll find yourself picking up common phrases, grammatical structures, and cultural nuances almost without noticing, simply by following the story. It’s a low-pressure, immersive experience that builds comprehension gradually and effectively. For those who want to dive deeper, full transcripts are available on the teacher's website to reinforce what you hear. More than just a lesson, this podcast feels like a quiet moment of connection, a chance to get lost in a tale while your ear adjusts to a new rhythm of speech. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by traditional language instruction, this approach provides a welcoming alternative. Tune in, let the story carry you, and feel your understanding grow with every episode. Your support for the continued creation of these stories is always appreciated.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Simple Stories in Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Srin y Anna [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:25
Srin is from India, Anna is from Spain. They met on the beach in Miami. Since that first meeting, they have become inseparable. Now they are ready for the next chapter in life’s adventure. This story is in the third pers…
Told Faster: Semana Santa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
This episode is a faster retell of La Semana Santa from season 4. Semana Santa, or “Holy Week” occurs the week before Easter. While it is a religious celebration all over the world, the most grand Semana Santa arguably i…
El gatito atrevido [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:18
Juan is a little cat. In a previous episode (El gatito valiente: https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2022/05/30/simple-stories-in-spanish-el-gatito-valiente/ ), Juan got separated from his family in a construction site.…
Told Faster: El gatito valiente [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:25
This episode is a faster retell of El gatito valiente from season. Juan is a little cat. He thought today would be like any other day exploring with his family, but instead he woke up to discover that is home became a co…
Panteras Negras [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:19
My son wrote a research story for his 5th grade class about black panthers. Through his writing I learned a lot about black panthers that I didn’t know before, like they are actually jaguars and leopards, not their own s…
Told Faster: Las Fallas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:51
This episode is a faster retell of the celebration of Las Fallas. One of my favorite fiestas occurs in March in the city of Valencia, España. San José (St. Joseph) is the patron saint of Valencia and in his honor, they b…
Greg, el perro cazador de pitones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:08
Every now and again I am sent a story by a listener. Today’s fascinating, true story comes from Sharon. The Florida Everglades is facing a big problem. Many of its native species are being killed off by Burmese pythons.…
Dave la chica [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:31
One of my favorite activities is to create stories with my students. Today’s was created by my Spanish 1 college class. You can see illustrations of our class story on my website through the link in the show notes. Dave…
Ramona la mona capuchina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:04
Today celebrates 5 years of Simple Stories in Spanish! In honor of its 5th anniversary, I have decided to retell one of my favorite stories from season 1. This story was inspired by the capuchin monkeys that I saw all ov…
Feliz Navidad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:24
Isabel wishes she were home for Christmas instead of all alone in a big city. She knows that other people in her apartment building are also alone, so when the electricity goes out, she decides to spread light and joy th…