Learn Imperfecto and Indefinido using Poetry (A2/B1)
To help her students intuitively differentiate the Preterito Indefinido and Preterito Imperfecto tenses, Raquel designed a poetry exercise. The idea here was to use rhythm and rhyme to facilitate memorisation. Poetic form helped expand vocabulary while the task cemented the irregular conjugations of the two most confusing tenses.
What was the result?
Poems that are hilarious, abstract, entertaining yet still very grammatically useful!
I Learn Spanish! … Rosemary Kelly
When her daughter fell in love with a Costa Rican, Rosemary decided she wouldn't be left out of the conversation! She enrolled at El Patio. She would not have guessed then, that 7 years later (in one of the longest running courses, Advanced Extended 4), she would have found new love too - the Spanish language! Read about Rosemary's Spanish learning journey and how she maintains, grows and enjoys her new language.
La máquina de escribir (B2/C1)
Read a story about a spooky Spanish typewriter, forgotten for decades and passed down through generations. What mysteries does it keep leaving? And what secrets has it kept throughout its life? Ana Ruiz has created another gothic tale, this one for the B2/C1 level. It's great for vocabulary, verb tenses, adjectives you've never seen before, history, and of course, a bit of suspense.
Write like Cervantes! Thou hast seen nothing yet ... (B2-C1)
Miguel de Cervantes was known to capture the human condition like no other - perhaps personified most poignantly through his famous creation, Don Quijote. Cervantes died 400 years ago, on April 23, 1616, leaving behind a most influential literary legacy.
Well here we have tried something in class. To commemorate this day (which is UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day), some of our advanced students have written an autorretrato (self-portrait) in the style of Cervantes for a class exercise.
To get an idea - Imagine describing yourself in the language of William Shakespeare (Cervante's English counterpart), who happened to died in the same year. (Some say even the same day. But that depends which calendar you're looking at!) This task is aimed at the higher levels - those studying either B2 or C1.
I Learn Spanish! … Li Juen Chang
Li Juen Chang started Spanish at University on a whim. Now he's powering through the El Patio levels - having jumped from Lower Intermediate 2 to Upper Intermediate 4 in one go! (That's 7 levels!)
In this interview Li Juen reveals his secrets to success, from the apps he uses to how he manages to practice speaking Spanish outside of class.
12 Essential Tips For Exploring Cuba Like a Pro
The smell of cigars, the sounds of salsa, the taste of rum surrounded by the gorgeous, crumbling buildings and cars, brace yourself; Cuba is going to knock your socks off. Yet Cuba isn't the easiest place to be at times, the bureaucracy, the shortages, the hustle can really wear you down. Nothing can quite prepare you for Cuba, but hopefully this article will give you a few pointers to make the most of your time.
Penny's been working behind the scenes at both centres in El Patio since 2014. Recently returned from her Caribbean adventure she shares her tips and travel pics!
Receta de escalivada (B1/B2)
Escalivada is a very traditional Spanish dish prepared along the Mediterranean coast of Murcia, Valencia, Catalonia, as well as in Aragón. It consists of roasted red peppers, eggplant, onion, tomato, zucchini, and any other veggie on hand. The name comes from the Catalan verb "escalivar" meaning to cook in ashes.
This recipe is not only healthy and delicious - it will also help you understand the tú form of the Imperative! Enjoy!
I Teach Spanish! …Clara Cueva
Clara arrived in Melbourne from Perú in 2014, since then she's been inspiring students and pumping energy into the classroom at El Patio!
Read about Clara's helpful strategies for learning and memorisation. Stay tuned until the end for a fun and dramatic Soap Opera clip exercise!
I learn Spanish! ... Julian Rowe
Read about Julian, a student with a compelling motivation to learn Spanish - he has a Spanish speaking partner. This naturally assumes a fair amount of travel, both in the past and future. He has some hints about how to keep chipping away at the grand project of achieving Spanish fluency. Julian is now completing Lower Intermediate 2 - so is well on his way to realising his dream.
I Learn Spanish! ... Fiona Ernst
After hearing the passionate swearing of a Spanish tennis player, Fiona, impressed by such expression, quickly found herself enrolling in Spanish classes with El Patio! 9 years later Fiona has taken her Spanish around the world: to Cuba, Spain and Peru and beyond! Yet she shows no signs of slowing down her progress or her desire to travel further!
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El Patio Tote Bag
What's cooler than a tote bag? A tote bag filled with your Spanish books - duh! But seriously, these bags are strong, made from natural canvas and built to last. Perfect size for your textbooks…
