"Los posesivos" and their place in the Spanish Language!

My, yours, his, hers... the posesivo (possessive) in Spanish will allow you to describe ownership and ask others questions about whether something belongs to them! Take a look at our quick grammar guide to get your posesivo skills ship-shape.

El caballo en América

How did horses get to the Americas? When did they arrive, and from where? With this blog, we open an exciting, new category entitled 'Things you didn't learn in history books'. This opens up a range of possibilities, so El Patio would like to invite both teachers and students to contribute. Read the blog and then find out how to participate - there will be cash rewards!

5 películas de Almodóvar para conversar

¿Te gusta el cine de Pedro Almodóvar? Ahora tienes la oportunidad de aprender más sobre sus películas mientras practicas la conversación. Cinco semanas, una hora a la semana para profundizar y disfrutar del cine de este maestro.

What is "el gerundio" and when do we use it in Spanish?

Gerundio is the "gerund", commonly known in English as the -ING form. It basically means to put -ING at the end of the stem of a verb. In Spanish it is used similarly as it is in English (with one good exception) - to express actions that are happening in the moment or to talk about temporary situations.
In Spanish, we add -ANDO at the end of the verbs that end in -AR, and -IENDO to the verbs that end in -ER and -IR. Read on ...

Nicaragua, Land of Poets

On of our admin team, Sasha, takes a look at how the tiny nation of Nicaragua has made itself known around the world for its poetry - famous figures, fascinating history and beautiful prose abound!

Patagonia, 1994

Need some distraction? Here Nick Tapp (a long-term El Patio student) tells the story of his amazing mountain climbing adventure in Patagonia in 1994. It makes us want to start planning the next trip!
(PS: if you need a very good editor, check Nick's site: www.detail-ed.com.au)

Champeta - What's the hype? / Champeta - ¿Por qué tanto bombo?

One of the most rewarding aspects about studying Spanish is the opportunity it offers to engage with Hispanic cultures from across the world.

Let Naira, one of our staff from Colombia, tell you all about 'Champeta' - a dance style that burst onto the world stage in February this year. As you find yourself spending more time inside and in need of new exercise ideas, why not try the Champeta ​Challenge at home!

Know your Empanada

The empanada is a hand-sized savoury pie or turnover that can have many different fillings and be cooked in different ways. You can find them all over Latin America and Spain, and they are a good representation of the each region's culture and taste.

With the Strength of the Sun Andean Carnival - Carnaval Andino con la Fuerza del Sol

The annual International Andean Carnival called, 'With the Strength of the Sun', is one of the most important in Latin America. Learn more about this unique celebration of the Andean culture of northern Chile, Peru and Bolivia.

I Teach Spanish ... Martina Zuccaro!

Meet Martina from Argentina!


Martina's career started in Barcelona, after moving there from Buenos Aires with her family. It was her love for books and languages that lead her to teaching.

Read on to find out what's her favourite thing about Australian students and her advice to them.

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