If you finish this short story and enjoy it, Alba Learning has more of Aesop’s fables for you to peruse, some of which have a companion audio file and many of which come with comprehension exercises. They feature all the entertainment of a longer work in a smaller package, with the added bonus of Spanish language learning. Or what if you’d like to compare a modern dialect to one that was spoken a century ago? You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Don’t deny yourself this little pleasure. If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos. Following each story are a few discussion questions. Classified in the genre of magical realism, this story is not only surprising and entertaining, but also symbolic and aims to teach a lesson. A collection of stories (and one letter) about everyday life in Spanish. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on. To peer out a telling window into the traditional role of women in Mexico and wider Latin America, this story is a great tool. The Bird and the Whale. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on. Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine writer best known for his short stories, though his poetry, essays and translations also help solidify his reputation as arguably the preeminent Spanish language writer of the first half of the 20th century. Once you’ve read the story, understand it and have pulled it apart for linguistic lessons, take 15-20 minutes the following day to do a bit of research about both the author and the historical/cultural significance of the story. Augusto Monterroso, a Honduran writer and member of what would eventually be called the Latin American “Boom” generation, was renowned primarily for his short stories, which were often quite humorous and nearly always heavy on the irony.
I have to admit: I own this book and I absolutely love it. Make Spanish short stories part of your language program and reap the benefits of this tiny treat option. Compared to the first two stories on our list, “Continuidad de los parques” (“Continuity of Parks”) is quite an easy read. Finally, it’s time to close out our list with an entry by the revered, mysterious and mythologized Chilean author Roberto Bolaño. If this is your very first time dipping your toes into the world of Spanish short stories, feel free to take advantage of English translations. Or was it Rosa?
Depending on how much you had to study, this process could take a day, a week or maybe even a month. Please check your email for further instructions. It’s about a woman, who in a second of madness from her husband’s abandonment, drowns their children. The story captures many of Bolaño’s defining characteristics in one place—writers and artists as protagonists, travel as an escape route and a defense mechanism, an obsession with violence and brief moments of humor and light injected into an otherwise hopelessly pessimistic depiction of the world. Using authentic material like short stories is an excellent way to see the language in use the way it’s actually spoken. Well, we’re going to discuss the how-tos in a minute. Capture your surprise, laughs, disgust, confusion—whatever emotions arise! FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time.
If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos. Ricardo Palma was a Peruvian author who wrote in the 19th century. FluentU brings Spanish to life with real-world videos. Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the App from iTunes or the Google Play store and bring FluentU’s innovative language-learning experience to your iOS and Android device.
As a wealthy widow and the aunt of three nieces, the doctor she had kept for years begins to take advantage of the sickly woman. Expect to be shaken up a bit by this one, but also to emerge on the other side with a new-found appreciation for literature as a vehicle to escape from even the harshest of realities. To put it briefly, things don’t go too well, and she resents the fact that this is the role her society has forced her into based solely on her gender. 9 Signs That Your Spanish Learning Websites Are Giving You an Effective Workout, 8 Useful Tips for Learning Spanish with Movies, 11 Awesome Channels to Learn Spanish on YouTube, 9 Great Resources to Learn Spanish Through the News, How to Immerse Yourself in Spanish When You Don’t Live Abroad, 15 Common Spanish Idioms for Sounding Like a Native.
However, side-by-side translations make these stories accessible to even beginning learners—so if you’re not at an intermediate or advanced level, don’t despair! FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. Not so with reading. Beginner Spanish Short Stories. Full of dark humor and not-so-subtle irony, “Míster Taylor” is a highly recommended read. They feature all the entertainment of a longer work in a smaller package, with the added bonus of Spanish language learning. Translating to “ugly woman” in the indigenous languages of Central America, there are many different versions of the tale, but they all share the character La Sihunaba (who is also sometimes referred to as “Siguanaba,” “Cigua” or “Cegua”). Short stories are a great way to begin introducing yourself to Spanish-language literature without making such an intense commitment. In the same way, FluentU is your visual entry point into authentic Spanish movies and shows. The story starts with a woman who is originally referred to as La Sihuehuet, which translates to “beautiful woman” in the language of origin. So aside from basic tips—like trying to figure out words from context rather than looking them up right away in a dictionary and writing down new, important words/phrases—here are a few more ways you can use these stories to improve your Spanish level. Each short story has accompanying audio, and the narrator has a clear voice and speaks at … When he’s not working or blogging at Spanish Learner Central, he might be found strumming a guitar, climbing a small mountain or exploring his newly adopted hometown of Buffalo, New York.