Learning about Spanish food, tapas, traditions and all of the other amazing culinary aspects of Spanish life is part of most standard Spanish courses around the world, so how can we, as teachers, bring it to life for the students?

​Well to begin with, we need a TPRS story of course! In our 'Foods and Culinary Traditions' unit I first started with a story about a man who wanted to eat 27 different tapas so he could become the 'Best Tapas eater in the World'. We circled the verb 'pedir' in various forms in the past as this can be a tough one, whilst also bringing in lots of new food and drink vocabulary.

Start with a story

Well to begin with, we need a TPRS story of course! In our 'Foods and Culinary Traditions' unit I first started with a story about a man who wanted to eat 27 different tapas so he could become the 'Best Tapas eater in the World'. We circled the verb 'pedir' in various forms in the past as this can be a tough one, whilst also bringing in lots of new food and drink vocabulary.

​After the storytelling aspect students then spent a class coming up with a role play where 6 different people or groups had to use 'pedir'... for example, most groups chose a restaurant scene and had things like "Yo pedí gambas"... "No hermano! Tu pediste churros, mis padres pidieron gambas!"... "Qué ridículo!" etc. The students really loved this part and it was a lot of fun.

'Pinchos' making cook-off competition

​The last day of term was arguably the best though... we had a 'Pinchos Competition'. Pinchos or Pintxos (In Basque) are smaller portions than tapas, and traditionally can be eaten in 2-3 mouthfuls. After a presentation and discussion on the the pinchos tradition, students had to invent their own pinchos and enter them in our 'Españoland Annual Pinchos Extravaganza'! I supplied the bread and the sticks and the students had to bring 3-4 ingredients to make the pinchos. They had 20 minutes to complete them and they also had to write a little sign explaining the ingredients and why they chose them. They were encouraged to link it to their own culture somehow. 

​We had some incredible creations and students then voted for their two favourites after tasting them and reading the signs. I also treated it a little like 'masterchef' and went around speaking to them and asking questions as they made their creations. They loved the idea of making something very cultural themselves and they were really immersed in the Spanish idea of sharing little mouthfuls of food together as a group. 

It was even more 'authentic' thanks to another Spanish teacher and mother of one of the students in the school, coming in and giving us a demonstration of her own pincho using Spanish tortilla de patatas. Definitely something I am going to do again next year and of course I also had the benefit of tasting all the wonderful