Kelly is owner and head tutor at Adventures in Spanish. She has been creating and delivering fun and engaging Spanish lessons for learners of all ages and abilities since she returned to the UK in 2014 following an epic 20-year Adventure in South America. Check out how our Spanish courses can support you or the young learner in your life along your Spanish-learning journey here; www.adventuresinspanish.co.uk
When children learn a language, they’re not just memorising vocabulary or practising verbs — they’re stepping into a whole new world. And that world has music, food, festivals, family traditions, and ways of thinking that are often quite different from their own. That’s why cultural understanding is such a powerful part of language learning — especially for children.
Read More »Why Culture Makes Spanish Learning More Fun for Kids
Teaching Spanish to a 12-year-old comes with its own unique set of challenges—and joys. At this age, kids are in that curious in-between phase: not quite little children anymore, but not fully teenagers either. They’re developing opinions, growing more independent, and (let’s be honest) they can spot a boring worksheet from a mile away. They want learning to feel relevant, a bit fun, and maybe even cool. And when it doesn’t? Cue the eye-rolls and half-hearted sighs of “Do I really have to do this?” So how do we teach grammar and vocabulary in a way that actually engages them—and helps it stick?
Read More »3 Fun & Effective Ways tweens Can Learn Spanish
Have you ever been somewhere beautiful — a sunny plaza in Spain or a quiet café in Mexico — and wished you could go beyond pointing and smiling? If you’ve ever thought, “I just want to connect with people, not feel like a tourist,” then this is for you. Because even a little bit of Spanish can completely change the way you travel.
Read More »What Travel Looks Like When You Speak a Little Spanish (Hint: It’s Magic)
Living in Taganga, Colombia, in my early twenties was a transformative experience. Nestled along the Caribbean coast, this fishing village offered more than just picturesque sunsets and vibrant marine life; it became the backdrop for one of the most profound chapters of my life.
Read More »Guarding Life: My Time with Sea Turtles in Tayrona National Park
If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to practice your Spanish more authentically—but also hesitating because it feels weird or awkward—you’re not alone. It might seem disrespectful to use Spanish with bilingual people, especially when you know they can speak English better than you can speak Spanish. You want to practice, but they usually switch to English straight away and you don’t want to be that person who’s just using them for free language practice. If this sounds like you read on to learn how to engage respectfully with native speakers.
Read More »Am I Being Rude? The Truth About Speaking Spanish to Bilingual People
When I arrived in Argentina overland from Bolivia in January 2003, one of the first things that caught my eye were these mysterious little red shrines by the side of the road. At first, I had no idea what they were—just flashes of red whizzing past the bus window. It wasn’t until I later hitched a lift in the back of a truck with an Argentine family that I had the chance to ask. They explained, matter-of-factly, that these were shrines to Gauchito Gil—a legendary figure who, in the eyes of many Argentinians, was more important than the Church itself.
Read More »Gauchito Gil: Argentina’s Cowboy Saint of the People
If you’re in your 40s and thinking about learning Spanish—but that little voice in your head keeps whispering “what if I fail?”—this is for you. The idea of starting something new later in life can feel daunting, especially when that something is a whole new language. But here’s the good news: being 40 (or beyond) doesn’t put you at a disadvantage. In fact, it might just be your superpower.
Read More »Yes, You Can Learn Spanish in Your 40s: Why It’s the Perfect Time to Start
So… you’re learning Spanish. But no one around you is. Not your partner, not your friends, not even your dog (although you’ve definitely tried saying ¡siéntate! a few times just to see). It can feel like you’re on a solo mission to fluency while everyone else is off binge-watching Netflix in English. The good news? You’re not alone in being alone—and there are ways to stay motivated and actually enjoy the process (yes, even if your only Spanish conversation today was with Duolingo).
Read More »Feeling Alone in Your Spanish Journey? Here’s How to Stay Motivated
Let’s be honest—when you’re home-educating, everything has the potential to feel like either a beautifully child-led adventure or a slightly chaotic attempt to tick boxes while someone refuses to put trousers on. Spanish? That one often floats somewhere in between “We’ll do it later” and “Wait… does Duolingo count?”
Read More »Home-Educating? Here’s How to Make Spanish Feel Like a Real Subject (Without Killing the Fun)
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to combine travel, language learning, and unforgettable cultural experiences into one incredible adventure—this post is for you. I’m sharing my journey from running wine tours in the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina to now hosting immersive Spanish trips in the vibrant city of Málaga, Spain. Whether you’re a home-educating parent looking for enriching travel experiences for your child, or an adult Spanish learner with a love of food and culture, you’ll get a glimpse into the power of immersion and why specialist travel is not only more meaningful—but better for the planet too.
Read More »From the Andes to Andalucía: My Journey in Immersive Travel