This beginner English short story follows Ava, a 13-year-old girl from Texas, on her first trip to Mexico. It’s written for A2–B1 learners using some of the 2,000 most common words in English. Read along with Camille in the video, learn the key vocabulary and a grammar tip, then test yourself with the quiz.

Level: A2–B1 (high beginner)
Reading time: About 3 minutes
Topic: Travel, family, food
From the book: 60 Beginner English Short Stories, page 72

How to use this lesson

First, watch the video and listen to Camille read the full story. Next, read the story below on your own and check any words you don’t know in the vocabulary list. Finally, answer the quiz questions to see how much you understood. For extra practice, read the story out loud.

The story: Ava in Mexico

Ava was 13 years old and lived in Dallas, Texas. She had never been out of the United States before. Her parents said they were going to take a family trip to Mexico.

She was glad about the trip, but she didn’t know what to expect. It was a short flight, but it felt like a big adventure. Her younger brother, Kai, who was 11, couldn’t stop talking about it.

Ava knew some basic Spanish from school. Her best friend, Maria, was from Mexico. Maria loved teaching Ava new words. When a woman at the airport said, “¡Bienvenidos!” Ava smiled proudly. She understood the meaning. It meant “welcome.”

On their first day, they visited old Mayan ruins. The stone steps were tall and uneven. Kai wanted to climb on everything. “Stay close,” their dad warned him.

A guide talked about the ancient buildings and the people who lived there long ago. Some of the buildings were many centuries old. Ava listened carefully. She couldn’t believe people had built these huge structures by hand. Kai whispered, “It feels like we’re inside a history book.”

The next day, they went snorkeling. Ava put on her mask and swam in the clear water. She saw colorful fish swimming in groups. A bright yellow one came very close to her face. She laughed into her snorkel. Kai shouted something and pointed. Ava looked and saw a sea turtle. It moved slowly and gently through the water. She felt so happy.

They also tried local foods. Ava ordered chicken tacos and said “Gracias” with confidence. Kai tried fresh mango on a stick. Juice ran down his chin. “This is so good,” he said with a grin.

One evening, they watched the sunset at the beach. The sky turned a perfect blend of orange, pink, and purple. They saw many boats in the water. Ava sat in the soft sand and whispered, “Mexico is even better than I imagined.”

Kai nodded. “We have to come back.”

Ava agreed. Her first trip abroad was amazing. She definitely wanted to travel again.

Key vocabulary from the story

A fun fact from Camille

“I love Mexico. I lived there, and that’s where I learned Spanish. My son’s name is Kairo, and we call him Kai! I often take things from my real life when I write these stories.”

Grammar tip: it + adjective + to + verb

We use this pattern to share feelings, opinions, and impressions about an activity.

it + adjective + to + verb

• It was amazing to see the ruins.
• It is fun to swim with fish.
• It feels strange to eat alone.
• It was exciting to try new food.

Notice that “it” doesn’t mean a specific thing here. It’s a way to start the sentence, and the real subject is the activity after “to.”

Try it: Write a sentence about a trip you took using this pattern. For example: “It was relaxing to sit on the beach.”

Check your understanding with the quiz:

1. Where is Ava from?
   a) Miami, Florida b) Dallas, Texas c) San Diego, California
2. Who teaches Ava Spanish?
   a) Her teacher b) Her cousin c) Her best friend, Maria
3. What animal do Ava and Kai see while snorkeling?
   a) A dolphin b) A sea turtle c) A shark
4. How old is Kai?
   a) 11 b) 13 c) 15
5. What does Ava order to eat?
   a) Fish tacos b) Chicken tacos c) Fresh mango