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 Arepa

The Arepa is a traditional flat corn cake that you can eat for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, making it an essential food for many. It can be fried, baked, fried and baked, grilled or steamed. It can be a side or a main, have fillings or toppings, making it without a doubt one of the most versatile Latin-American dishes.

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.

Elephants and light bulbs - why we fear grammar and how to learn to love it

Leaping out at us from the pages of our textbooks, grammar is often feared and is often the 'elephant in the room'. But grammar isn't meant to be scary. In fact, it's something we're naturally good at. Grammar is part of our daily lives and is part of what makes us human.

¡Bienvenidas y bienvenidos! Welcome to all our beginner students

If you've just started studying at El Patio right at the beginning, here are some tips for how to get the most out of your course, as well is ideas for your future success in learning Spanish.

400 millones de hablantes de español

Students of El Patio made a video answering some questions about their connection with the Spanish-speaking world and their experience of learning Spanish.

Have a look, be inspired and join 400 million speakers of Spanish!

Typing Tildes & Spanish Punctuation - é ñ ü ¿ ¡

Ever wondered how to master typing those little squiggles, dots and quirky punctuation marks? You may have thought it involved some sort of program, toolbar or application - you'd be wrong!

It's super easy to write Spanish punctuation on an English keyboard. Find out how in this article.

The El Patio guide to dreams, visions and goals

Whether you're just starting your studies or have been studying for a while, the dream of speaking Spanish can sometimes feel a little distant.

Here we look at dreams, visions and goals, and how breaking things down into smaller parts can help you get where you want to go, little by little.

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?

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.

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