Day 63: A Former Bracero's Advice
In a village in Guerrero, Cipriano (A), who worked in the United States as a bracero (a contract farm laborer) in the 1960s, gives advice to his grandson Tomás (B), who has signed up to pick fruit in Canada for a season.
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
Así que te vas a Canadá. Tu mamá me contó que ya habías firmado el contrato.
So you're off to Canada. Your mom told me you'd already signed the contract.
-
B
Sí, abuelo, ocho meses cosechando manzanas. Por eso quería su consejo: usted fue bracero.
Yes, Grandpa, eight months picking apples. That's why I wanted your advice: you were a bracero.
-
A
En el sesenta y dos nos prometieron que volveríamos ricos. Regresé con botas nuevas y la espalda molida.
In sixty-two they promised us we'd come back rich. I came back with new boots and a wrecked back.
-
B
¿Y el dinero? Mi papá decía que a usted casi no le quedaba nada.
And the money? Dad used to say you were left with hardly anything.
-
A
Nos descontaban la comida y el catre, mijo, y pagaban por caja, no por hora.
They docked our pay for food and a cot, my boy, and they paid by the crate, not by the hour.
-
B
Ahora es distinto, abuelo: todo está por escrito y el consulado ve por nosotros.
It's different now, Grandpa: everything's in writing and the consulate looks out for us.
-
A
También nos daban contrato, pero en inglés. En caso de que el patrón te pida el pasaporte, no se lo des.
We got contracts too, but in English. Should the boss ask for your passport, don't give it to him.
-
B
Se lo prometo. Y a no ser que me cobren hasta el catre, le traigo unas botas mejores.
I promise. And unless they charge me for the cot as well, I'll bring you back a better pair of boots.
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 64: Tacos Cost Twelve Pesos Back Then
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.