About the lesson
He exercised regularly. He also smoked almost two packets of cigarettes a day.
The narrator’s friend went running and visited the gym, but he was smoking more and more. His breath, clothes, and body smelled strongly of tobacco. His friends cared about him, although they sometimes kept their distance because of the smell.
One day, after a run, he became seriously unwell. He was taken to hospital, where he stayed for ten days after suffering a heart attack.
When he left, his outlook had changed.
He decided to stop smoking. Now, he helps other people who want to quit—and hopes they can find their motivation without going through the same experience.
Join Teacher Miguel from Spanish Super Tutor to explore a personal narrative about habits, decisions, and supporting others.
Designed for IGCSE Spanish and IB Spanish Ab Initio learners, this programme combines reading, vocabulary, grammar, and thoughtful discussion.
🔥 Warm-up
What can motivate someone to change a habit?
📖 Story
Follow the friend’s routine, hospital stay, decision, and new purpose.
🃏 Flashcards
Practise expressions such as a pesar de eso, sentirse mal, estar ingresado, and dejar de fumar.
🤔 Why Is It False?
Correct inaccurate statements and distinguish what the text says from what readers might assume.
🏋️ Grammar
Explore how different past tenses establish habits, introduce events, and connect earlier actions.
❓ Ask Me
Build questions about the friend’s life before and after the hospital stay.
🗣️ Debate
Discuss how people can find reasons to change without waiting for a crisis.
Describe the habit. Explain the turning point. Discuss the change—in Spanish.
This is a language-learning programme, not medical advice. Students can discuss the character without sharing personal or family health information.
Key Vocabulary
Fumar — To smoke.
Un paquete de tabaco — A packet of cigarettes.
El aliento — Breath.
Oler a tabaco — To smell of tobacco.
A pesar de eso — Despite that.
Sentirse mal — To feel unwell.
De urgencia — As an emergency.
Un infarto — A heart attack, in this context.
Estar ingresado — To be in hospital as a patient.
Dejar de fumar — To stop smoking.
Una nueva etapa — A new phase.
Pasar por lo mismo — To go through the same thing.
Grammar Focus
The imperfect: habits and background
“Fumaba muchísimo.”
“Hacía deporte.”
“Salía a correr.”
“Su ropa olía a tabaco.”
The preterite: events and decisions
“Empezó a sentirse muy mal.”
“Lo llevaron al hospital.”
“Estuvo ingresado diez días.”
“Decidió dejar el tabaco.”
Extension: the pluperfect
“Había sufrido un infarto.”
Students explore how había + participle places an event before another point in the past.
Useful structure: dejar de + infinitive
“Decidió dejar de fumar.”
Here, dejar de means to stop doing something.
Contrast and concession
“Aunque hacía deporte, fumaba muchísimo.”
“Sus amigos lo querían, pero a veces evitaban estar demasiado cerca.”
Students use these structures to express two ideas that coexist.
Reading Challenge: What Does the Story Establish?
Ask students to classify each statement as supported, contradicted, or not established:
The friend exercised regularly.
He stopped smoking before going to hospital.
The text explains exactly how he stopped smoking.
He now wants to help other people.
Every person needs a frightening experience before changing a habit.
Teacher key:
Supported.
Contradicted.
Not established.
Supported.
Not established.
Main Speaking Question
¿Qué puede motivar a una persona a cambiar un hábito sin esperar a una crisis?
Supported response
“Una persona puede querer cambiar porque…”
Extended response
“En la historia, el amigo decidió cambiar después de… Sin embargo, otras personas podrían…”
Follow-up
¿Cómo podemos apoyar a alguien sin juzgarlo?
Give an opinion, explain your reason, and add an example.
Learning Objectives
Students will practise how to:
Describe past habits and routines.
Sequence events in a personal narrative.
Compare the imperfect and preterite.
Recognise an example of the pluperfect.
Distinguish textual evidence from assumptions.
Discuss motivation and support respectfully.
Your Instructor
Teacher Miguel
