review & speak
You made the effort of going through the story — this is what makes it stick before the next one washes it out: engage with the words and patterns, then produce them out loud.
Beginner · en→es
1 · Vocabulary — the story's new words
The words this story used that are new at its level, sorted by meaning (Ctrl/Cmd+F to search). Save any of them to your word list — 23 new words here.
2 · Grammar — patterns from the story
copula — ser (permanent identity / description)Subj. + ser + noun/adj.
Ella «es» médica.
She is a doctor.
impersonal — se + verb (one / passive)se + verb (3rd person)
Aquí «se» habla español.
Spanish is spoken here.
reflexive — pronoun + verb (the action returns to the subject)me/te/se + verb
Ella «se» llama Ana.
Her name is Ana.
relative clause — que (that / which / who)noun + que + clause
Es la chica «que» vive aquí.
She's the girl who lives here.
obligation — tener que + infinitive (have to)tener (conjugated) + que + infinitive
«Tengo que» trabajar mañana.
I have to work tomorrow.
impersonal obligation — hay que + infinitive (one must)hay que + infinitive
«Hay que» pagar en la caja.
You have to pay at the register.
comparison (split) — más … que (more … than)más + adj. + que + B
Es «más» caro «que» el otro.
It's more expensive than the other one.
morphology — gerund (-ando / -iendo), the -ing formestar + [verb in -ando / -iendo]
Estoy «trabajando» ahora.
I'm working right now.
morphology — preterite (completed past) of regular verbsstem + [-é / -aste / -ó · -í / -iste / -ió]
Ayer «hablé» con María.
Yesterday I spoke with María.
morphology — present tense of regular -ar verbsstem + [-o / -as / -a / -amos / -an]
Yo «hablo» español.
I speak Spanish.
experiencer — encantar / doler (gustar-family: to love / to hurt)me/te/le + encanta/duele + noun
Me «encanta» la música latina.
I love Latin music.
desire — querer + infinitive (want to)querer (conjugated) + infinitive
«Quiero» comprar fruta.
I want to buy fruit.
3 · Practice A — build your own sentence
Use each pattern on your own life. Say it out loud, then peek at one valid version.
GOING TO
Say one festival you're going to go to.
YOU HAVE TO
Say one thing you have to do to take part.
I LOVE
Say what idea you love.
4 · Practice B — translate, then check
Your language → the language you're learning, using the story's words and patterns.
5 · The speech — say it out loud
A ~1-minute speech, not a monologue — the arc (open → explain → example → opinion → contrast → close) is what makes it sound human. Study the one help bank first; then pick an angle and say each line in the language you're learning, out loud — no cues next to the lines on purpose. ✨ = new for these speeches; everything else is review from the story.
help bank · key vocabulary
help bank · connectors — the glue, in talk order
help bank · grammar patterns
TO BE (who / what)Subj. + ser + noun/adj.
La Tomatina es un festival muy famoso de Buñol.— La Tomatina is a very famous festival in Buñol.
SE (general / passive)se + verb (3rd person)
Se celebra el último miércoles de agosto.— It is held on the last Wednesday of August.
GOING TO (near future)ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive
Miles de personas van a participar.— Thousands of people are going to take part.
YOU HAVE TOtener / hay que + infinitive
Tienes que comprar una entrada antes.— You have to buy a ticket beforehand.
I LOVE (it pleases me)me / te + encanta + noun
A mí me encanta la idea.— I love the idea.
now perform it — pick an angle · all 5 use the one bank above, no new words
Explain what La Tomatina is.
the speech — say each line in the language you're learning
① Open — say what your topic is
1.I want to talk about La Tomatina.
2.La Tomatina is a very famous festival in Buñol.
② Explain — when and what
3.It is held on the last Wednesday of August.
4.That day people throw tomatoes in the street.
③ Example — who comes
5.Thousands of people are going to take part.
6.You have to buy a ticket beforehand.
④ My opinion — why I like it
7.I love the idea.
8.For me, it is very fun.
⑤ But — the other side
9.But you have to wear old clothes.
10.Because you're going to get stained.
⑥ Close — a question + wrap-up
11.And you, do you want to go?
12.Thank you very much!
⚠ stuck? model answers — try first, peek last