FAQ
Why are there so many levels?
Our pacing and levels are designed for students living in a non-Spanish-speaking country. Any new structures and vocabulary need to be accompanied by oral practice, hence each level is quite detailed. Therefore we suggest that with a contact time of 1.5 hours per week, you need around one year to master the present tense and another year to learn the past tenses. The third year is spent with the subjunctive whilst still reviewing previous material.
Students who are able to study hard and/or have people with whom they can practise regularly are an exception, and are welcome to move more quickly through El Patio’s levels.
Any school which states that a language can be learnt faster is unrealistic, as this is usually only possible in a Spanish-speaking country.
How do I work out which level I’m in?
Normally we are able to assess fairly accurately which level may suit a student through an informal chat, preferably in person. Factors which help decide this include:
Any prior study completed
Any time spent in a Spanish-speaking country
The amount you wish to review and correct – filling grammatical gaps
The amount you wish to be challenged – you may want to do extra work to catch up
Which night of the week you can attend
If I enrol in a course and find it’s too easy or difficult, can I change levels?
Yes, you can move up or down, as ultimately your Spanish study is for you.
If I miss a class, how can I make it up?
You are welcome to drop into an alternative class (even if it is a different level)
If you can’t make another class, contact us and we’ll email or advise by phone of the work covered and the homework.
If I enrol and have a change of circumstances, can I defer my studies?
You may transfer your course to a later Term if you arrange this in the first 2 weeks of Term, with an administrative fee of 15% of the full undiscounted fee. See Terms and conditions.
How long does it take till I can speak Spanish?
Normally we say that if you were living in a Spanish-speaking country as well as studying the language, you could achieve a certain level in 6 months. However, living in Australia and attending a 1.5-hour class per week, we suggest that it takes at least a year to get to be able to conduct a basic conversation using some past tenses. This varies between individuals and according to his/her amount of practice and memorization. Obviously if you are studying 3 hours per week and keeping up with it, fluency will come twice as fast. (See “Why are there so many levels at El Patio?”)
What are the DELE exams?
Diploma de Español Lengua Extranjera – these are internationally-recognised Spanish proficiency qualifications offered by the Cervantes Institute in Spain. There are 3 levels – Inicial, Intermedio and Superior – and the exams are held in Melbourne each November. The DELE levels correspond to the following levels at El Patio:
Inicial – Upper-Intermediate levels at El Patio
Intermedio – Advanced levels at El Patio
Superior – Superior levels at El Patio
All of the texts used at El Patio are directed towards these exams, although prospective DELE students normally need to do supplementary study for their preparation.
Do you have classes in conversation?
You have to know how to speak before having a conversation! All of El Patio’s courses are conversational, where learning to talk is emphasised in the four skills – talking, listening, reading and writing. Writing and reading are used as a way of helping students learn to speak, and here, some students wish to develop their written skills while others have no interest. Conversation is encouraged in all classes, and this generally depends on the group itself, however, from Elementary 3 onwards, talking in Spanish is encouraged.
I’ve just returned from travels where I picked up some Spanish. I want to continue learning, but don’t want to start from the beginning…
Two of the main skills involved in language-learning are accuracy and fluency. Normally students who have learnt a language from their experiences, without formally studying, have a high level of fluency, whereas students who have learnt solely through study have a higher level of accuracy than fluency. Sometimes students who have a degree of fluency without grammatical accuracy find it a bit boring coming into a class where more emphasis is placed upon accuracy. A prospective student decides between:
The amount you wish to review and correct – filling grammatical gaps
The amount you wish to talk but also be challenged – you may want to do extra work to catch up
Prospective students at post-Elementary levels, who are serious about improving their Spanish, often have to adapt to the classroom situation by realising that it is not the same as a conversation session, it is a learning environment (that is also fun!).
