Spanish story with translation · A2 · 13 lines
¿Y en qué planta vives? So what floor do you live on?
Comic · 10 panels
Hoy he empezado a trabajar en una empresa pequeña de Valencia.
Today I started working at a small company in Valencia.
De momento voy a trabajar media jornada, de nueve a dos, pero para mí es una gran oportunidad.
For now I'm going to work part-time, from nine to two, but for me it's a great opportunity.
Antes de salir de casa me he puesto mi mejor chaqueta.
Before leaving home, I put on my best jacket.
Hoy he sido puntual, incluso demasiado: he llegado media hora antes.
Today I was punctual, even too punctual: I arrived half an hour early.
Mi jefa, Nuria, es simpática pero exigente: después de enseñarme la oficina, me ha dado un proyecto.
My boss, Nuria, is nice but demanding: after showing me the office, she gave me a project.
Mi compañero Hugo es muy joven: todavía no ha terminado la carrera y hace las prácticas aquí.
My coworker Hugo is very young: he hasn't finished his degree yet, and he's doing his internship here.
A las once todos han dicho: «¡Enhorabuena, Sonia!»
At eleven everyone said, "Congratulations, Sonia!"
«Ha conseguido un ascenso», me ha dicho Hugo. Yo he entendido «ascensor».
"She's gotten a promotion," Hugo told me. I understood "ascensor."
«¡Qué bien, Sonia! ¿Y en qué planta vives?», he preguntado.
"How nice, Sonia! So what floor do you live on?" I asked.
Todos se han reído, y yo me he puesto roja como un tomate.
Everyone laughed, and I turned as red as a tomato (woman speaking).
Sonia me ha explicado: un ascenso es un trabajo mejor en la misma empresa, con más responsabilidad y más sueldo.
Sonia explained to me: a promotion is a better job at the same company, with more responsibility and more pay.
A las dos me he ido a casa cansada, pero orgullosa: ¡mi primer día!
At two I went home tired but proud: my first day! (woman speaking)
Una cosa es segura: ya no voy a confundir «ascenso» con «ascensor».
One thing is for sure: I'm not going to mix up "ascenso" and "ascensor" anymore.
Grammar for this text
Talking about today uses the present perfect (he hecho): he empezado, he llegado, me ha dado. The day isn't over yet, so not hice. English often uses the simple past here: "I started", "I arrived".
Ponerse with two meanings. Me he puesto mi mejor chaqueta — "I put on my best jacket" (ponerse + clothes). Me he puesto roja — "I turned red" (ponerse + adjective: to become, to get). The pronoun goes before he. The same with irse: me he ido a casa — "I went home".
Empezar a + infinitive: he empezado a trabajar — "I started working".
Antes de / después de + infinitive: antes de salir de casa — "before leaving home"; después de enseñarme la oficina — "after showing me the office". The verb stays in the infinitive, and me attaches to it.
Carrera here is a university degree. todavía no ha terminado la carrera — "he hasn't finished his degree yet". hace las prácticas aquí — "he's doing his internship here": in Spanish you "do" (hacer) an internship.
Ascenso and ascensor. ascenso is a promotion, ascensor is an elevator. Ana thought Sonia's building had finally gotten an elevator: many old Spanish buildings don't have one.
Words and grammar of the unit: Talk about a new job and a move.
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