¡Hola, estudiantes! ¡Bienvenidos a mi sitio web!

Welcome to my Spanish Ab Initio Support Site!

From lessons and practice papers to worksheets, scaffolds, text-type models, audio and reading texts, exam tips, and more, this Support Site is full of resources to help you succeed in Spanish Ab Initio. This short guide will help you find your way around the site and make the most of your learning.

To get full access to all the resources, you must first purchase a subscription and log in with your email address and password. Schools that subscribe to this site receive free licenses for their students, so your teacher should be able to provide you with your login details. Please note that these details are personal and should not be shared.

The site cannot be used by two people at the same time with the same login details. If you share your access credentials, you may be logged out while using the site.

There are different options to navigate this site, through menus, tiles, tags, and links.

  • The main menu (course index) is on the left-hand side of the screen. Use the list icon to open it and the grey arrow in a circle icon to close it. You can also access the same content using the tiles on the main screen.
  • Topics are generally organised into three levels: Section (e.g. Identidades), Book (e.g. Atributos personales), and Chapter (e.g. Me presento). You can expand or collapse each level.
  • When you open a chapter, a table of contents appears on the right. All items are clickable, so you can jump straight to the lesson you need. You can also move through the pages using the burgundy arrows on the main screen.
  • If you are looking for materials focused on a specific skill (e.g. Listening) or concept (e.g. pretéritos), use Tags. To access the Tags menu, go to the Home page and use the grey circular arrow icon on the left-hand side of the screen to open or close it.
  • There is also a “Search in course…” field on every page. However, at the moment, it has a limited functionality, as it only recognises exact titles of sections or subsections within the page you are currently viewing.
  • Finally, you’ll find links within the pages that let you quickly jump to related content. These links open in a new tab, so you can easily return to the original page.

Learning a new language is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. At times, you may feel like you are drowning in an ocean of new words, grappling with unfamiliar grammar structures, while also trying to make sense of different exam papers and their requirements. First and foremost, don’t let yourself get discouraged. The journey of learning a foreign language has many ups and downs, but it is a rewarding adventure. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of this site:

  • Vocabulary is best learned in context. Most pages on this site have been written using a bilingual approach. You should first read the Spanish paragraph and try to understand its meaning before reading the translation.
  • Always keep a notebook handy where you can physically write down useful words and sentences as you come across them. Handwriting helps your brain process and remember information. Think of your notebook as a travel diary—you’ll be glad to have all your notes collected in one place when you do your final exam review.
  • Print the word banks for each subtopic and familiarize yourself with the vocabulary. Highlight the most useful words and memorize them. Use them right away in sentences, paying attention to common word combinations. You can ask ChatGPT to check, correct, and improve your sentences.
  • If grammar is not your cup of tea, don’t panic. Memorize full sentences and try to reuse them in different contexts by changing key words while keeping the same structure. Remember that being able to communicate your ideas effectively is more important than perfect grammar accuracy.
  • Read the success criteria and strategies for each paper carefully to understand the expectations and develop your skills accordingly. You may not be able to tackle past papers until your second year of the course, so rely on your teacher’s advice to complete practice activities that are suited to your current level.
  • Print samples and cheatsheets to use as scaffolds when preparing for the productive papers (writing and speaking).
  • Please note that most worksheets and assessments on this site include solutions, as you are encouraged to learn autonomously.

It may also be helpful to recognize the color patterns used on this site to present information:

Grey boxes are used to explain grammar —they are generally written in English only to make the content more straightforward and accessible.

Orange boxes are calls to action—they include individual or group activities, with instructions written in both Spanish and English. They may also invite you to reflect, for example through TOK-style questions.

Light-green boxes highlight cultural links —remember than demonstrating cultural knowledge of the target culture(s) is essential for achieving a high score in the IOA.

Dark-green are sometimes used to provide links to related pages —however, if the heading reads “De profe a profe,” they contain tips and suggestions for teachers only. For this reason, the content is written in Spanish only. You should not read these sections, as they may contain spoilers for your class activities.

If your school does not have a subscription to this site, please let your teacher know about this useful resource.

Burgundy boxes are used sparingly and contain warnings (for example, don’ts). The burgundy color is also used for clickable elements, such as accordion menus (like this FAQ), links, or buttons to download worksheets and other documents.
White boxes are used to draw your attention—either to invite you to reflect on a specific question or example, or to highlight an important exam tip. They are generally written in English only.

This site is updated weekly and, at present, some units are still being developed to complete the subtopics within each of the five themes. You can expect a new unit to be published every month until all the themes are fully covered.

A monthly newsletter is sent to all subscribers to keep you informed about what’s new on the site.

Once the important milestone of completing all five themes has been reached, I would love to create a Students’ Corner. This section will include content designed to help you develop specific skills, such as grammar and vocabulary. I am also considering creating a playlist to help you strengthen your Spanish through music.

I am very keen to hear your suggestions, so I have created an Ideas & Wishes box where you can send me your feedback. I may not always be able to reply, but I will read your messages carefully and take note of your ideas.

Philpot Education does not offer tutoring services. However, the author of this site provides individual academic support and specializes in the IBDP Spanish Ab Initio course. Availability may be limited, but you may contact me by email at torres_spanishtutor@yahoo.com if you would like to enquire about regular lessons or a one-off support session. Please note that response times may vary and that this email is for tutoring enquiries only.

As an alternative, you may also wish to explore Top IB Tutors, a platform that connects students with experienced online tutors, including qualified professionals and former IB students who achieved a 7 in Spanish Ab Initio.

Last modified: Thursday, 8 January 2026, 8:19 AM