Learn Spanish Story A1- My First Day at School / Mi Primer Día en la Escuela

Introduction / Introducción

The first day at school is always a memorable event. It’s filled with excitement, nerves, and new experiences. In this bilingual story, we’ll explore the journey of a student on their first day at a new school. The story is presented in both English and Spanish, making it ideal for B2 learners looking to improve their comprehension and expand their Spanish vocabulary. At the end of the story, we will highlight some useful grammatical structures and new vocabulary to help you understand the nuances of the language better.

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Part 1: The Night Before / Parte 1: La Noche Anterior

English:

The night before my first day at school, I could hardly sleep. I was both excited and nervous. My mind was filled with thoughts about what the new school would be like. Would I make new friends? Would the teachers be nice? I kept tossing and turning in bed, unable to relax. My mom came in to check on me. “Don’t worry,” she said, “everything will be fine.” Her words helped me feel a little better, but the butterflies in my stomach didn’t go away.

Spanish:

La noche anterior a mi primer día en la escuela, apenas pude dormir. Estaba emocionado y nervioso al mismo tiempo. Mi mente estaba llena de pensamientos sobre cómo sería la nueva escuela. ¿Haría nuevos amigos? ¿Serían amables los profesores? No dejaba de dar vueltas en la cama, incapaz de relajarme. Mi madre entró a verme. “No te preocupes,” dijo, “todo saldrá bien.” Sus palabras me ayudaron a sentirme un poco mejor, pero las mariposas en mi estómago no desaparecieron.

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Part 2: Getting Ready / Parte 2: Preparándose

English:

In the morning, I woke up early. I got dressed quickly, choosing my favorite outfit to make a good impression. I had already packed my school bag the night before, so I was ready to go. My mom made me breakfast—toast and orange juice—but I could barely eat because of my nerves. My dad drove me to school, and during the ride, he told me stories about his first day at school, which made me laugh and forget my worries for a moment.

Spanish:

Por la mañana, me desperté temprano. Me vestí rápidamente, eligiendo mi conjunto favorito para causar una buena impresión. Ya había preparado mi mochila la noche anterior, así que estaba listo para salir. Mi madre me preparó el desayuno—tostadas y jugo de naranja—pero apenas pude comer debido a los nervios. Mi papá me llevó a la escuela en coche y, durante el trayecto, me contó historias sobre su primer día en la escuela, lo cual me hizo reír y olvidarme de mis preocupaciones por un momento.

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Part 3: Arriving at School / Parte 3: Llegando a la Escuela

English:

When we arrived at the school, the building seemed much bigger than I had imagined. There were students everywhere, talking, laughing, and greeting each other. I felt a little lost, but I followed the signs to find my classroom. My heart raced as I walked through the crowded hallways. When I finally found the room, my teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez, greeted me with a smile. “Welcome to the class,” she said warmly. That simple greeting made me feel more at ease.

Spanish:

Cuando llegamos a la escuela, el edificio parecía mucho más grande de lo que había imaginado. Había estudiantes por todas partes, hablando, riendo y saludándose entre sí. Me sentí un poco perdido, pero seguí los letreros para encontrar mi aula. Mi corazón latía rápido mientras caminaba por los pasillos llenos de gente. Cuando finalmente encontré el salón, mi profesora, la señora Rodríguez, me recibió con una sonrisa. “Bienvenido a la clase,” dijo amablemente. Ese simple saludo me hizo sentir más tranquilo.

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Part 4: The First Lesson / Parte 4: La Primera Clase

English:

The first lesson of the day was math. I sat at a desk near the front of the room, trying to focus. Mrs. Rodriguez started explaining the lesson, but I was too distracted by everything going on around me. The sound of students whispering, the scribbling of pencils on paper, and the tapping of feet made it hard to concentrate. Despite my nerves, I managed to follow along with the lesson. By the end of the class, I felt a little more confident.

Spanish:

La primera clase del día fue matemáticas. Me senté en un escritorio cerca del frente de la sala, tratando de concentrarme. La señora Rodríguez comenzó a explicar la lección, pero yo estaba demasiado distraído por todo lo que sucedía a mi alrededor. El sonido de los estudiantes susurrando, el rasgueo de los lápices en el papel y el golpeteo de los pies hicieron que fuera difícil concentrarse. A pesar de mis nervios, logré seguir la lección. Al final de la clase, me sentí un poco más confiado.

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Part 5: Making Friends / Parte 5: Haciendo Amigos

English:

During the lunch break, I felt nervous again. I didn’t know anyone, and I wasn’t sure where to sit. As I looked around the cafeteria, a boy named Javier invited me to sit with him and his friends. “You’re new, right?” he asked. We started talking, and I found out that Javier liked soccer just like me. We chatted about our favorite teams, and before I knew it, I was laughing and joking with my new friends. Suddenly, the school didn’t seem so big or scary anymore.

Spanish:

Durante el recreo, me sentí nervioso de nuevo. No conocía a nadie y no estaba seguro de dónde sentarme. Mientras miraba alrededor de la cafetería, un chico llamado Javier me invitó a sentarme con él y sus amigos. “Eres nuevo, ¿verdad?” preguntó. Comenzamos a hablar, y descubrí que a Javier le gustaba el fútbol, igual que a mí. Charlamos sobre nuestros equipos favoritos, y antes de darme cuenta, ya estaba riendo y bromeando con mis nuevos amigos. De repente, la escuela no me parecía tan grande ni aterradora.

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Part 6: The End of the Day / Parte 6: El Final del Día

English:

The rest of the day went by quickly. I started to feel more comfortable in my new surroundings, and I even answered a few questions in class. When the final bell rang, I felt proud of myself for getting through the day. As I left the school, I saw my parents waiting for me. “How was your day?” my mom asked eagerly. “It was good,” I said with a smile. And it was true—I had survived my first day at school, and it had been better than I expected.

Spanish:

El resto del día pasó rápidamente. Empecé a sentirme más cómodo en mi nuevo entorno, e incluso respondí a algunas preguntas en clase. Cuando sonó la última campana, me sentí orgulloso de haber superado el día. Al salir de la escuela, vi a mis padres esperándome. “¿Cómo te fue?” preguntó mi madre con entusiasmo. “Me fue bien,” dije con una sonrisa. Y era verdad: había sobrevivido a mi primer día en la escuela, y había sido mejor de lo que esperaba.

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Vocabulary and Grammar Highlights / Puntos Destacados de Vocabulario y Gramática

1. Reflexive Verbs / Verbos Reflexivos:

In Spanish, reflexive verbs are used to describe actions that one does to oneself. In the story, we have the verb sentirse (to feel) used reflexively:

• Me sentí orgulloso.
  (I felt proud.)

Other common reflexive verbs include:

• Vestirse (to get dressed)
• Relajarse (to relax)
• Prepararse (to get ready)

2. Preterite vs. Imperfect Tense / Pretérito vs. Imperfecto:

Both the preterite and imperfect tenses are used to describe past events, but they serve different purposes.

• Preterite: Used to describe completed actions with a clear beginning and end.
  Example: Mi papá me llevó a la escuela. (My dad drove me to school.)
• Imperfect: Used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the scene.
  Example: Había estudiantes por todas partes. (There were students everywhere.)

3. Expressions of Nervousness and Confidence / Expresiones de Nerviosismo y Confianza:

In the story, several expressions convey emotions such as nervousness and growing confidence:

• Sentirse nervioso: To feel nervous.
  Example: Me sentí nervioso cuando llegué a la escuela.
  (I felt nervous when I arrived at school.)
• Sentirse más confiado: To feel more confident.
  Example: Al final de la clase, me sentí más confiado.
  (At the end of the class, I felt more confident.)

4. Questions with “¿Cómo?” / Preguntas con “¿Cómo?”:

Asking “How was…?” is common in both English and Spanish. In the story, we see:

• ¿Cómo te fue?
  (How was it for you?)

This structure is

useful for asking about someone’s day or experience.

5. Describing Actions and Reactions / Describir Acciones y Reacciones:

Throughout the story, there are many examples of actions and reactions:

• Mi corazón latía rápido.
  (My heart raced.)
• Comenzamos a hablar.
  (We started talking.)

These phrases help add depth to the narrative and are useful for learners at the B2 level.

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Conclusion

“My First Day at School” is a story that combines simple narrative elements with useful vocabulary and Spanish grammar for learners at the B2 level. Through this story, students can practice essential past tense forms, reflexive verbs, and useful expressions for describing feelings and actions. By immersing themselves in this bilingual text, learners will develop greater confidence in both understanding and using Spanish in real-life situations. ¡Buena suerte en tu aprendizaje! (Good luck with your learning!)

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