About the La cena story
Tonight’s tale unfolds at dinner time, where Kitty, Bob, Ali, Tom, and Studycat find themselves tangled in a delicious dilemma of what to eat. This story serves up a hearty helping of vocabulary related to food preferences, decision-making, and the universal experience of hunger. It’s a perfect recipe for young learners to practice Spanish while exploring the themes of compromise and friendship.
Let’s dig into the savory story of how these friends come together to solve the dinner puzzle!
La cena
Narrator: Es hora de cenar.
Kitty, Bob, Ali, Tom: Tengo hambre.
Kitty: Yo quiero comer pollo.
Bob: ¡Yo también!
Ali: Yo no quiero comer carne.
Ali: Yo quiero comer pizza.
Bob: ¡Yo también!
Tom: Yo no quiero pizza. No es saludable.
Tom: Yo quiero comer pescado.
Bob: ¡Yo también!
Kitty: Yo no quiero pescado.
Kitty: Yo quiero una hamburguesa.
Bob: ¡Yo también!
Ali: Yo no quiero comer carne.
Studycat: ¿Qué tal una ensalada?
Ali, Bob, Kitty, Tom: ¡Bueno!
Narrator: Todos van al restaurante.
Kitty: Está muy oscuro.
Narrator: El restaurante está cerrado.
Studycat: Está cerrado.
Bob: ¡Oh, no!
Narrator: Todos vuelven a casa.
Bob: ¡Yo tengo mucha hambre!
Kitty, Tom: ¡Comida!
Narrator: El papá de Tom preparó la cena.
Tom: Gracias, papá.
Bob: ¿A qué hora desayunamos?
Spanish practice exercises
After a whirlwind of dinner dilemmas, let’s tuck into some exercises designed to help young learners chew over the story, savor the Spanish language, and muse on the mealtime musings of our characters.
Vocabulary match-up
Match the food items with their descriptions: a. pollo b. pizza c. pescado d. hamburguesa e. ensalada
- A flat round base of dough topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings
- A type of poultry eaten as food
- A dish often made of leafy greens and other raw or cooked ingredients, dressed with a sauce
- A patty of ground meat, usually beef, served in a split bun
- A cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water and is usually covered with scales
Comprehension questions
- Why can’t the friends agree on what to eat for dinner?
- a) They all want the same thing.
- b) They have different food preferences.
- c) The restaurant is closed.
- What is the final decision for dinner?
- a) Salad
- b) Fish
- c) Pizza
- What happens when they reach the restaurant?
- a) It’s too crowded.
- b) It’s closed.
- c) They change their minds.
Answers:
Vocabulary Match-Up: a. 2, b. 1, c. 5, d. 4, e. 3 Comprehension Questions: 1. b, 2. a, 3. b
This flavorful journey through the trials of deciding on dinner highlights the beauty of compromise and the warmth of coming together to share a meal. Whether it’s salad or the surprise of a home-cooked dinner, the real treat is the company we share it with.
Until we plate up our next story, keep feasting on the rich language and lessons that come with each new adventure!
