Spanish Language Practice - Arepas con queso Workshop

Speak, Connect, Listen, Discover

​Join fellow learners for a hands-on, delicious introduction to Spanish by tasting, observing, and learning about arepas! Presented by instructors Camilo Colorado, Omar Ramos, and Paula Bahamondes.

WHEN:

09/24/2026 (Thurs)

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

WHERE:

25 Melville Park Road (Suite 72)

Melville, NY 11747

PRICE:

$8.00 (Current students)

$18.00 (Non-students)

Payments can be made via zelle.com to: admission@jpli.org.

ITINERARY:

1. Welcome & Introductions: Explore one of the most exciting intersections of language and culture: food.
2. Culture Corner: Learn the history of the arepa and discover regional varieties from Colombia and Venezuela.
3. Cooking Demonstration: Watch step-by-step how classic arepas con queso are made from masa to plate using basic ingredients.
4. Language Foundations: Learn a step-by-step method to build sentences using essential verbs like querer (to want), comer (to eat), and beber (to drink).
5. Expressing Preferences: Learn how to express your food wants, likes, and dislikes in Spanish using "me gusta" and negation.
6. Speaking Practice: Work with a partner, taking turns asking and answering open-ended questions in relation to food and drink preferences.
7. Tasting Session: Taste authentic arepas prepared just for you and experience Colombian and Venezuelan flavors firsthand.
8. Closing & Networking: Celebrate your new Spanish foundation, receive updates about future events at the institute, and enjoy your arepas.

Complimentary refreshments will also be provided. ​

We will cover:

• The ancestral origin and cultural heritage of the arepa
• Types of arepas from across Colombia and Venezuela as well as their ingredients
• Basic nouns and articles related to common food and drink items.
• First- and second-person verb forms in the present tense.
• Forming questions, expressing likes with me gusta/te gusta, and utilizing infinitives

What to Expect:

• 🍽️ Taste authentic arepas and experience Colombian and Venezuelan flavors firsthand
• 👀 Watch how arepas are made, step by step, from masa to plate
• 🗣️ Learn to express food wants, likes, and dislikes in Spanish using a clear and simple step-by-step method
• 🤝 Practice real conversations with your classmates in Spanish
• 🎯 Build a real foundation in the Spanish language

All Are Welcome!

Regardless of skill level, what we have in common is that we're all here to learn. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced speaker, we encourage you to try practicing your Spanish with us in a relaxed, supportive, and engaging environment.

For more information or additional queries, please contact our main office at admission@jpli.org (email) and/or +1 (631) 888-3838 (telephone). We hope to see you there!