Winners of our Photo Competition revealed!
In Term 1 this year El Patio launched it's first annual photography competition - the results surpassed all expectations! Read on to see all of the participants' photos as well as the People's Choice Top 5.
I Teach Spanish! ... Isidro Martínez García
Isidro is one of El Patio's most sought after and revered teachers. Having been with us for almost 10 years, he's earnt the respect and admiration of hundreds - perhaps thousands - of students.
In this article we dive into what makes Isidro tick - his strategies, his inspiration and the challenges he faces as a teacher. You'll also get lots of advice and even some practical exercises!
Little Lon (B2, C1)
Ana's story for advanced students explores the history of Little Lonsdale Street (or Little Lon as it was once called), where El Patio's CBD centre is located today. After leaving class one day, Andrea Rumbold unsuspectingly opens a door to the past and stumbles out onto the street - as it was in the 19th century. A time-traveller story based on early Little Lonsdale - if the SPANISH is too difficult, it's a GOOD READ IN ENGLISH!
Get Creative: Make Paella [A1]
Craig gives the traditional paella a personal twist. He makes something that's possibly unconventional, but that is easy to prepare, very yummy and quite paella-like. Be inspired, go wild in the kitchen and have a crack at Craig's fill-in-the-gaps recipe exercise. The exercise practises the first person in the present tense, and is perfect for beginners - particularly if you're in Elementary 2 or 3.
Bienvenidas / bienvenidos, welcome to all our beginner students
If you've just started studying at El Patio right at the beginning, here are some ideas about how to get the most out of your course for your future success with speaking Spanish.
I Learn Spanish! ... Jenny Skewes
Upon retiring Jenny wanted to make sure she kept her mind sharp. And as we all now know, learning a language is one of the best ways one can do that, In the end Spanish turned out to be an obvious choice for Jenny as her son was already married to a Venezuelan.
Jenny is very unassuming about her progress - but we think she has plenty to brag about. She currently studying level C1 grammar in one of our highest classes - Superior 2. She's completed over 30 levels with us over 8 years, and honestly - we've lost count of the exact number of courses she's done! Jenny is a shining example that commitment and consitency does pay off.
Read on to find out all about Jenny and her journey, and stay until the end to read a magnificent short piece that she wrote.
I Learn Spanish! ... Zac Powell
Meet Zac! Zac's initial steps into the Spanish speaking world felt like a bit of a stumble. But fast-forward two years later, and Zac's zooming through the El Patio levels (Upper Intermediate 2 already?)! For someone who considers himself more of a maths nerd than a language aficionado - we think Zac's caught the language bug very quickly! In this interview, find out how Zac tackles common problems, finds motivation and what he does outside of class to keep his Spanish flowing.
Receta de gambas a la plancha (Grilled Prawns Recipe) [A1/A2]
Prawns! They're the perfect Summer treat. In Ana's latest recipe, read how simple it is to make one of the most popular raciones (share-plates) served in Spanish bars.
Put a shrimp on the barbie with us! We've included translations and - as a little extra - some common Spanish expressions about prawns
Myths and Legends Behind the Mojito
So light and simple, the mojito is a perfectly refreshing potion with an irresistible punchiness. This humble cocktail has many famous fanciers: Ernest Hemmingway, Brigitte Bardot and even James Bond (when he's not drinking martinis).
Some say the mojito is magic - that 'mojito' literally means 'to cast a little spell'. In this article, get bewitched by the marvellous Cuban brew and learn all the tricks to making the perfect one too!
El club del cuento [B2, C1, C2]
El club del cuento es un curso corto de conversación dirigido a estudiantes de nivel avanzado y superior (B2, C1, C2). Consiste en cinco sesiones de hora y media cada una.
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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…
