Free Spanish audio course (Latin America)
Learn by copying everyday conversations.
Hear a short scene, understand the useful phrases, copy them out loud, then try your own answers in the pauses.
Episode 3
Where is the metro?
Spanish (Latin America) · A1 beginner · 11 minutes · No signup
Free to play, download, and read, with no account or email needed.
Voices are AI-generated. Mateo, the teacher, and Sam, the learner, are fictional characters.
All episodes
Take them in order: each episode builds on the phrases before it. Every one is free to play, download, and read.
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Episode 1
A1 beginner · 9 minutes
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Episode 2
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 3
Where is the metro?
A1 beginner · 11 minutes · Playing on this page
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Episode 4
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 5
A1 beginner · 12 minutes
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Spanish (Latin America)
Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
How the lesson works
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1
Hear the scene
Sam's phone is almost dead on a street corner in Mexico City, so she asks a local where the metro is. First, you just listen for how many blocks.
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2
Understand the useful phrases
Mateo explains each phrase in English, only as much as helps your next try.
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3
Copy them out loud
Say each phrase in the pause after you hear it. Copy the sound and rhythm before worrying about grammar.
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4
Try your answers
Tell straight from right, ask for a taquería instead of the metro, then play the visitor twice, with new directions the second time. A spoken answer follows every pause, so you can compare.
Missed an answer? Keep listening. The words come back, and you don’t need to touch the screen once the episode is playing.
After this episode
You can stop someone politely, ask where the metro or another place is, ask right or left, tell straight from a right turn in the answer, and thank them.
Level A1. Written for adult English speakers starting Spanish. The Spanish is Mexican and understood across Latin America. You don’t need any Spanish to begin.
Phrases you’ll say
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Disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro?
Excuse me, where is the metro?
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¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda?
Do I go right or left?
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¿Dos cuadras? ¿Y después?
Two blocks? And after that?
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¿Es fácil ver la entrada?
Is it easy to see the entrance?
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Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable!
Thank you so much. You're very kind!
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Disculpe, ¿dónde está la taquería?
Excuse me, where is the taco shop?
Phrases you’ll recognize
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¿El metro? Está cerca.
The metro? It's nearby.
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Siga derecho dos cuadras.
Go straight for two blocks.
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Después, a la derecha. La entrada está ahí.
After that, to the right. The entrance is right there.
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Hay un letrero grande.
There's a big sign.
Listening with your screen off
The download is the most reliable way. Save the MP3 and play it offline in any audio app. Your browser puts it with your other downloads (on iPhone, in the Files app).
Playing from this page can keep going when you lock your phone, depending on your phone and browser. Some pause when you switch apps or close the tab. If yours does, use the download.
The speaking pauses are optional. If you’re driving, keep your attention on the road: just listen, or skip the speaking parts. The episode says the same.
Transcript
Every word of Episode 3. Choose a time to play from there. “Your turn” marks a pause for you to speak; Spanish is in bold.
Welcome
Sam: I'm on a street corner in Mexico City, and my phone is at two percent.
Mateo: Then you'll have to ask a person. Welcome to Copycat Cafe. I'm Mateo.
Sam: And I'm Sam.
Mateo: Sam and I are AI-generated voices. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to stop a stranger politely, ask where the metro is, ask right or left, understand straight ahead and turn right, and say thank you. Listen first. Copy the sound. Then try the words for yourself.
Mateo: If you miss an answer, let it go. You'll hear the words again, and you don't need a screen. If you're driving, keep your attention on the road and skip the speaking exercises.
Warm up
Mateo: First, one from last time. If you're new, just listen. You've just met someone. Say: nice to meet you.
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
On the corner
Mateo: Mucho gusto. Today, though, you need directions from a stranger. Sam is the visitor. I'm someone who lives nearby. Listen for one thing: how many blocks?
Sam: Disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro?
Mateo: ¿El metro? Está cerca.
Sam: ¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda?
Mateo: Siga derecho dos cuadras.
Sam: ¿Dos cuadras? ¿Y después?
Mateo: Después, a la derecha. La entrada está ahí.
Sam: ¿Es fácil ver la entrada?
Mateo: Sí, es fácil ver la entrada. Hay un letrero grande.
Sam: Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable!
Mateo: How many blocks? Dos cuadras. Two blocks.
Sam: Two blocks. Even with two percent battery, I can do two blocks.
Excuse me
Mateo: Sam starts with: disculpe. Excuse me. It's the polite way to stop someone you don't know. Copy it: disculpe.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Then: ¿dónde está el metro? Where is the metro? Copy it: ¿dónde está el metro?
Your turn · 5-second pause
Mateo: Now together: disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro?
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: The answer: ¿el metro? Está cerca. The metro? It's nearby. Está cerca. It's close. You don't need to say that one. Just recognise it.
Right or left?
Mateo: Next, Sam asks: right or left? A la derecha means to the right. Copy it: a la derecha.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: A la izquierda means to the left. Copy it: a la izquierda.
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: Now the whole question: ¿voy a la derecha o a la izquierda? Do I go right or left? Voy means I go. Copy it.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: Once more: ¿voy a la derecha o a la izquierda?
Your turn · 7-second pause
Straight or right?
Mateo: The answer: siga derecho dos cuadras. Go straight for two blocks. Siga means keep going. It's the polite form, because they're talking to a stranger. And a cuadra is a city block. Now, careful. Derecho means straight. A la derecha means to the right. They sound alike. In these directions, a la derecha is the turn, and plain derecho is straight on. Quick check: answer in English, straight or right? Siga derecho.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Straight. Next one: a la derecha.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Right. That's the turn.
And after that?
Mateo: Sam checks the number: ¿dos cuadras? Two blocks? Saying the number back is a good way to check you heard it. Copy it: ¿dos cuadras?
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: Then: ¿y después? And after that? Copy it: ¿y después?
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Together: ¿dos cuadras? ¿Y después?
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: The answer: después, a la derecha. La entrada está ahí. After that, to the right. The entrance is right there. Straight or right? Después, a la derecha.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Right. A la derecha is the turn.
The entrance
Mateo: Sam's last question: ¿es fácil ver la entrada? Is it easy to see the entrance? La entrada, the entrance. Copy it: ¿es fácil ver la entrada?
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: The answer: sí, es fácil ver la entrada. Hay un letrero grande. Yes, it's easy to see the entrance. There's a big sign. Hay means there is. Un letrero grande, a big sign.
Sam: A big sign. My favourite kind of directions.
Thank you
Mateo: To finish: muchas gracias. Thank you so much. Copy it: muchas gracias.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: And: ¡muy amable! You're very kind. Copy it: ¡muy amable!
Your turn · 4-second pause
Mateo: Together: muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable!
Your turn · 5.5-second pause
Ask for the metro
Mateo: Let's put it together. You're the visitor, and I live nearby. Stop me politely, and ask where the metro is.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: ¿El metro? Está cerca.
Mateo: Ask me: do I go right or left?
Your turn · 7.5-second pause
Mateo: Siga derecho dos cuadras.
Mateo: Check the number, and ask what comes after that.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Después, a la derecha. La entrada está ahí.
Mateo: Ask if it's easy to see the entrance.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Sí, es fácil ver la entrada. Hay un letrero grande.
Mateo: Thank me, and tell me I'm very kind.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: Here's one version of your part. Disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro? ¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda? ¿Dos cuadras? ¿Y después? ¿Es fácil ver la entrada? Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable! If you missed a step, that's fine. These gaps are for practice, not a test.
Listen again
Mateo: Here's the original scene again, with no explanations. Notice which bits you recognise.
Sam: Disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro?
Mateo: ¿El metro? Está cerca.
Sam: ¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda?
Mateo: Siga derecho dos cuadras.
Sam: ¿Dos cuadras? ¿Y después?
Mateo: Después, a la derecha. La entrada está ahí.
Sam: ¿Es fácil ver la entrada?
Mateo: Sí, es fácil ver la entrada. Hay un letrero grande.
Sam: Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable!
A new place
Sam: Two blocks, a big sign, the metro. Great. But I'm hungry again.
Mateo: Then let's change the place. A taquería is a taco shop. It's la taquería. Copy it: la taquería.
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Mateo: Disculpe, ¿dónde está la taquería? Same question, new place. Copy it.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: One more change. Tres means three. Tres cuadras, three blocks. Copy the check: ¿tres cuadras?
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Your turn
Mateo: Now you're the visitor again, and you're looking for the taquería. Sam will stay quiet. This time the directions are a little different, so listen for the number and the turn. Stop me politely, and ask where the taquería is.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: ¿La taquería? Está cerca.
Mateo: Ask: right or left?
Your turn · 7.5-second pause
Mateo: Siga derecho tres cuadras.
Mateo: Check the number, and ask what comes after that.
Your turn · 6.5-second pause
Mateo: Después, a la izquierda. La entrada está ahí.
Mateo: Thank me, and tell me I'm very kind.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Mateo: Here's one version of your part. Disculpe, ¿dónde está la taquería? ¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda? ¿Tres cuadras? ¿Y después? Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable! And the directions: siga derecho tres cuadras, go straight for three blocks. Then a la izquierda, to the left.
Sam: Three blocks and a left turn. For tacos, I'd walk ten.
Keep it
Mateo: One last one from memory. Ask: do I go right or left?
Your turn · 7-second pause
Mateo: ¿Voy a la derecha o a la izquierda? Keep that, and disculpe, ¿dónde está el metro? Once you know the name of a place, you can ask for it the same way. And remember: derecho is straight on, and a la derecha is a turn to the right. You don't need every word from the scene today. Come back and try the gaps again. This is the free Copycat Cafe audio course. The optional paid app adds pronunciation feedback and conversations that respond to you. Today's matching lesson is Where is the metro? Next in the course, you'll ask a friend how it's going.
Sam: Muchas gracias. ¡Muy amable! And now, la taquería.
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About this episode
Episode 3 of the free Copycat Cafe Spanish audio course. It’s adapted from “Where is the metro?”, lesson 3 of our Spanish (Latin America) course.
Mateo and Sam are fictional characters with AI-generated voices. The music is original.
Want feedback on your pronunciation?
The free course gives you the phrases, the pauses, and an answer to compare with. It can’t hear you. The Copycat Cafe app is a paid app that adds a pronunciation score on every word you say, and conversations with Copy, your AI conversation partner, that respond to what you actually say. In the app, “Where is the metro?” uses the same scene.
See how Copycat works