Day 30: Survival Rules for the Toughest Professor
In a university cafeteria in Saltillo, Adrián (A), a first-year student, asks Alexis (B), a senior student, about Zertuche, the notoriously strict professor who will teach him calculus.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Spanish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Spanish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
-
A
Me tocó con Zertuche en Cálculo y todo mi salón ya me dio el pésame. ¿Tan duro es?
I've got Zertuche for calculus and my whole class has already offered me their condolences. Is he that tough?
-
B
Siéntate, novato. Artículo primero: quien llegare tarde, así sea un minuto, será considerado ausente hasta el fin de los tiempos.
Sit down, freshman. Article one: whosoever arrives late, even by a minute, shall be deemed absent until the end of time.
-
A
¿Ni un minuto? Pero yo vengo en camión desde Ramos Arizpe, y a veces tarda una hora.
Not even a minute? But I come in by bus from Ramos Arizpe, and sometimes it takes an hour.
-
B
Artículo segundo: el camión no es excusa, a menos que Zertuche venga en él.
Article two: the bus is no excuse, unless Zertuche is on it.
-
A
Espérame, que lo estoy anotando. ¿Y con la tarea cómo le hago para no reprobar?
Hang on, I'm writing it down. And what do I do about homework so I don't fail?
-
B
Artículo tercero: la tarea se recibe en letra de molde, siempre y cuando la tinta sea azul y la conciencia esté limpia.
Article three: homework shall be accepted in block letters, provided that the ink is blue and the conscience is clear.
-
A
¿Azul? Nomás compré plumas negras, ¿crees que me la acepte si le explico?
Blue? I only bought black pens, do you think he'll accept it if I explain?
-
B
Lo dudo. Quien usare tinta negra, sea cual fuere su excusa, reprobará, y su nombre quedará grabado en la puerta como escarmiento.
I doubt it. Whosoever uses black ink, whatever his excuse may be, shall fail, and his name shall be carved on the door as a warning.
-
A
¿Grabado en la puerta? Ya te caché: me estás vacilando desde el artículo primero, ¿verdad?
Carved on the door? I'm onto you: you've been pulling my leg since article one, haven't you?
-
B
El primero es neta. Artículo cuarto: quien cayere en el vacilón pagará los cafés, a menos que traiga pan de pulque.
The first one's for real. Article four: whosoever falls for the joke shall pay for the coffees, unless he brings pulque bread.
Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 31: Twelve Months Without Interest, Supposedly
If this free course has helped you in your Spanish journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.