APRIL - easy, flexible payment for your next course!
Read on for information about our new partnership with APRIL, giving you the option of secure instalment payments at El Patio!
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 ...
El Patio Photography Competition 2020
Calling out to all Instagram fanatics, travel photography whizz-kids and landscape framing afficionados - here's your chance to get more than just 'likes' on Instagram for your efforts! Enter into our photography competition and we will display your beautiful piece for an entire month in both of our centres AND you could win a whole 15 hour course!
To make it both more fun and fair - the winner will be selected by popular vote: a people's choice award!
Read how to enter here! (It's super easy)
The Free 'El Patio ESSENTIALS' language sheets
As a supplement to your study materials, El Patio is producing a serious series of useful language sheets, covering key grammar topics and tenses in clear and straightforward language to help you as you learn.
The Most Glamorous Beginner Spanish Hack - Pronunciation
Have you just started studying Spanish? Is it an out-of-body experience? Are you feeling a little tentative? An essential hack that will give IMMEDIATE JOY is to get confident with Spanish pronunciation. Toni talks about the benefits of having Spanish move easily around your mouth - and how this can effect a change in the Spanish-speaking you!
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.
Scheme of Beginner Courses
Have a look at this diagramme of all of our beginner courses - you can see that there are plenty of options for study.
La maestra - a story for beginners! A1
Ana's latest story describes the daily grind of a high school History teacher. Pushed to the limit by the boredom of the curriculum and rebellious students, she decides to turn the tables, and invites the students to enact their versions of the past. Using Spanish idioms that involve the body, such as "cuesta un ojo de la cara" and "no tiene pelos en la lengua", and written entirely in the present tense, this story is perfect for students in the Elementary levels.
The Surprising Benefits of Being a Beginner
What is it to be a beginner? Is it something we get to leave behind? And if not, then how might the attitude of being a beginner help us as we learn?
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Gift Voucher $200
Easy! Surprise your Spanish-learning friends, family or colleagues with a Gift Voucher. This voucher could be used toward a course fee or even texts. Once you have purchased your voucher, please El Patio of the…
