Celebrating Culture in Year 7 Spanish: A Taste of Tradition

As part of Unit 4 – The Hispanic World in the Year 7 Spanish curriculum, students have been diving into the vibrant cultures, traditions, and festivals of Spanish-speaking countries. To make this learning experience truly memorable, on Monday, 24th November, students participated in a hands-on cultural activity: a burrito tasting session.

During the event, students sampled authentic burritos prepared with traditional ingredients and spices, bringing the flavours of Hispanic cuisine to life. Despite the inclement weather, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and curiosity as students enjoyed the delicious food provided by their Spanish teachers.

This experience not only delighted their taste buds but also deepened their understanding of culinary traditions across Spanish-speaking countries. It was a wonderful way to connect classroom learning with real-world culture, creating a fun, interactive, and unforgettable moment for all.

• “I really loved the burrito lunch incursion. It was a new and exciting experience to learn about the food culture of Hispanic countries, and I enjoyed it a lot”. - Chanuga
• “My Favorite part of Monday was being able to eat my burrito with my friends around me watching the storm roll past”. - Adelyn
• “The burritos were a really good experience and could help us really have a Spanish experience. It was a good addition to our year of learning Spanish and really highlighted the Spanish food and culture”. - Eilidh, Isobelle, Chloe, Larni, Summer and Maggie
• “The Burritos we had on Monday were so good I completely forgot about the hailstorm that hit us. It gave us something to look forward to on Monday and completely satisfied us and tasted better than I imagined”. - Mitchell
  

Salsa in the Spotlight: Year 8 & 9 Spanish Students Dance into Culture

As part of their Term 3 and 4 units—Me gusta divertirme (“I like to have fun” – Year 8) and ¡Vive bien! (“Live well!” – Years 8 & 9)—our Year 8 and 9 Spanish students have been exploring the Spanish language and culture in exciting and meaningful ways.

To enrich this learning, students took part in an unforgettable incursion: a salsa dancing workshop led by a professional instructor from a prestigious Salsa School on the Gold Coast. This authentic experience gave students the chance to connect with the cultural roots of salsa, discovering its rich history and heritage.

During the workshop, students learned the fundamentals of salsa, including posture, turns, and coordinated foot and arm movements—all while engaging with the Spanish language in a lively, interactive setting. The energy in the room was contagious, and it was clear that everyone was having a fantastic time!

This hands-on experience not only strengthened their language skills but also brought Hispanic culture to life, creating memories that will last well beyond the classroom.

“I enjoyed learning the basic salsa steps because it challenged my coordination and helped me understand how rhythm connects with movement. Working with different partners made the activity more fun and helped me build confidence communicating non-verbally through timing and body language. The incursion showed me how dance can express culture, and it made me appreciate how much skill and teamwork go into performing something that looks so simple”. - Zion

Year 10 & Year 11 Spanish: A Journey Through Time and Art

This term, our Year 10 Spanish students have been immersed in the captivating unit “Viajeros del Tiempo” (Time Travellers). Through this theme, they embarked on an imaginative time-travel adventure, mastering the nuances of the preterite and imperfect past tenses while delving into significant moments in Hispanic history.
To bring language learning to life, students crafted time-travel diary entries from the perspective of iconic cultural figures such as Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso. These creative writings allowed them to explore historical contexts while refining their Spanish writing skills in an authentic and meaningful way.

To conclude the term with a culturally rich experience, students turned their attention to the visual arts. They studied the masterpieces of these renowned figures, analysing style, symbolism, and historical significance. Inspired by their discoveries, students then created their own original artworks, producing stunning pieces that reflected both creativity and cultural appreciation.

Moreover, Year 11 Spanish students have been learning the topic of Lifestyles & Leisure. In this topic, students explored how hobbies and creative activities are widely enjoyed across the Spanish-speaking world. While painting, they communicated in Spanish, shared ideas, and later reflected on their artwork using key vocabulary from the unit.

This fusion of language, history, and art has not only strengthened their linguistic abilities but also deepened their understanding of Hispanic culture, leaving us truly impressed by their talent and enthusiasm.

"This term in Spanish we learnt about Spanish historical figures including Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo. As an end of term activity, we created some paintings inspired by these artists and other Hispanic creators. We have learnt a lot about Spanish culture and art this term and this was a fun activity to wrap up a year of learning." - Teresa Cheung

“I really enjoyed using some of Picasso’s techniques to convey meaning in my artwork. This experience was sensational and enlightening.” – Aran Silva

Ursula Lindeberg, Michelle Barriga & Jamie Leden | Spanish Teachers