El Patio Spanish Language School

El maremoto (The Seaquake) Using Pretérito Perfecto! (A2)

Have you ever had a doomsday scenario play out in your head? Perhaps you've been daydreaming about what to do in a zombie apocalypse, or a nuclear fallout? How prepared would you be? Where would you go?

It's something that has fascinated many people over the years, inspiring countless films, books ... and nightmares.

Here Ana paints her version of Armageddon - a wall of water created by un maremoto (a seaquake). This story is not only designed to get your heart racing, it will also help you learn the uses and conjugations of the Present Perfect past tense (Haber + Past Participle).

El adiós de Anisa (B2-C2)

Ana's latest story takes place during the final moments of Moorish Spain - in 1492 - a time when the world was changing fast. Written for students at advanced levels, it follows the exile of a young woman named Anisa, her hopes for her family of birth, but also the love she has found with her new kin.

Ana has crafted the story to reflect the time in which it is set, using words and expressions that trace the origins of Spanish we use today (if you look closely you'll see where of the terms ustedes and ojalá come from).

A beautiful story for anyone with an interest in the history of the Spanish language and in this pivotal point in the history of Spain.

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.

La acompañante del tren (C1)

Not everything is as it appears with a lost little girl on a train! This cuento by Ana Ruiz is designed not only to thrill... but to help C1 (Advanced) students with their tenses: pretérito indefinido, pretérito imperfecto, pretérito pluscuamperfecto, condicional y pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo. This tale also comes with some helpful exercises and a translation at the end!

Cenicienta - una versión feminista (Cinderella - a feminist version) (B1-C1)

What if Cinderella never needed Prince Charming after all?

Lynne Ellis, a long-term, advanced student of El Patio entered her twist on a traditional fairytale for our Short Story Competition. Cinderella is re-imagined as a strong, independent, educated woman who escapes the clutches of slavery!

El Encuentro - The Encounter (B1/B2)

Ever met someones eyes in a bar and thought "Where do I know you from?" Perhaps you've never met at all... Sometimes people just have one of those faces... Or perhaps you've known this person all along.

A short story for levels Upper Intermediate and Advanced (B1/B2) with help in the uses of "se" in all its forms.

La Colmena (B1)

A short tale (cuento) by Ana Ruiz designed for students at the B1 level (Upper Intermediate and above). Explore a hive of busy bees as they happily go about their daily business. From the queen to the humble worker, bees live fascinating lives. Yet there is a serious message to be taken from their tiny lives, as the gentle and fragile balance of nature is being disrupted ...

El renegado (B1/B2)

Take a trip back in time to Asturica during the VIII century AD through the eyes of a 15 year old child and meet the military might of Terik! A short cuento by Ana Ruiz, designed for Intermediate students who want to better their understanding of the past tenses pretérito imperfecto and pretérito indefinido.

El templo perdido - a short story for beginners (A1)

Learn while you practise reading! Ana Ruiz has written another short story which not only functions to practise directions, descriptions and new vocabulary, but takes you right into the streets of Barcelona's Barrio Gótico (Barri Gòtic), and the literary treasures that might be found there. A micro literary thriller! Good for an A1 level.

La casa australiana - a short story (and lesson) for beginners! (A1)

Read the first of our stories in Spanish - graded for specific levels. This one is for beginners, or A1 in progress (A1 complete is when you've done Upper Elementary 3). It not only contains a glossary of nouns, and a list of conjugated verbs, but - wait for it - lesson on SER & ESTAR - hurrah!

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