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A1 SpanishBilingual ReaderDaily Life

Una llamada a mamá

Marcos steps out of the subway, exhausted, and the fresh air gives him a bit of energy. Before dinner, he dials his mom’s number.

Illustration for the A1 story "Una llamada a mamá": After work, Marcos calls home for two minutes—and still learns three useful everyday phrases.

What you'll learn

  • Bilingual graded story
  • Native narration
  • 5 useful words
  • 3 comprehension questions

Then shadow

Borrow the narrator’s rhythm

Pause after this line and repeat it aloud without translating. Aim for three clean repetitions.

1Listen first

Hear the whole story

Native Spanish narration of this exact text. Keep the transcript visible on the first pass.

0:00–:––
Playback speed: Natural

2Then shadow

Marcos sale del metro, agotado, y el aire fresco le da un poco de energía.

Your speaking goal

Handle a short family phone call and talk about dinner and tomorrow.

  • “¿Ya cenaste, hijo?”
  • “necesita descansar”
  • “llamarme mañana”

Your Spanish story

Tap highlighted words when you need help

Story + translation + quiz

Marcos sale del metro, agotado, y el aire fresco le da un poco de energía. Antes de cenar, marca el número de su mamá. Ella contesta rápido porque en la cocina hay una olla con agua . «¿Ya cenaste, hijo?», pregunta con cariño. Marcos responde que no y que necesita descansar unos minutos antes de cocinar. Su madre le recuerda cerca del balcón y cerrar bien la puerta del . «Y no olvides llamarme mañana», añade ella, a ponerse seria. Marcos sonríe: la conversación es corta, pero el cariño de su madre hace mejor un día .

Show full English translation

Marcos steps out of the subway, exhausted, and the fresh air gives him a bit of energy. Before dinner, he dials his mom’s number. She answers quickly because a pot of water is boiling in the kitchen. “Have you eaten dinner yet, son?” she asks warmly. Marcos says he has not and needs to rest for a few minutes before cooking. His mother reminds him to hang his coat near the balcony and close the refrigerator door properly. “And don't forget to call me tomorrow,” she adds, pretending to sound serious. Marcos smiles: the conversation is short, but his mother's affection makes an ordinary day better.

Reading Comprehension Exercise

A1 Spanish Reading Comprehension Exercises

1. What does Marcos do when he comes out of the subway?

2. What does his mother remind him about home?

3. Why does Marcos smile at the end?

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