Exploring the Past
Tell your stories in Spanish, the way they actually happened. This B1 course gives you full command of the past tenses, preterite, imperfect, present perfect, and past perfect, so you can narrate memories, history, and experiences with confidence.
One of the four courses in your B1 Roadmap to Fluency.
Grab a seat
Here are the classes opening next. Pick the one that fits your schedule, or see the full year below.
Already started?
You can still join. Late enrollments are the full course rate.
Reserve your seatHow it works
Confirm this is your level
A B1 course. New students take the Level Placement Test, current students enter after passing the A2 Exit Exam.
Pick your class section
Choose the online or Falls Church section that fits your schedule.
Show up and practice
Add clubs and tutoring to keep speaking between classes and to make up missed lessons.
Every class section
Online Sections
Falls Church Sections
What we'll cover
Classes are taught almost entirely in Spanish, so you are speaking from day one. We use a flipped-classroom model, so you review short materials at home and spend class time on real conversation and practice.
The uses of the preterite, and conjugating regular preterite verbs
Irregular and stem-changing verbs in the preterite
The imperfect tense, imperfect progressive, and their key uses
Time expressions with "hacer" in the present, imperfect, and preterite
Verbs that change meaning in the preterite and imperfect
The present perfect tense in real-world contexts
Preterite vs. imperfect, and when to use each correctly
The past perfect tense, and narrating past events in depth
Ser and estar in past tenses, and their subtle distinctions
Final review and storytelling workshop
Take it solo, or go all in
Just this course
$599 à la carte
- Ten live sessions of Exploring the Past
- All course materials and textbook
- Weekly class notes and homework
- Conveniently located online or in Falls Church, VA
The B1 Roadmap to Fluency
$550 per course
- Everything from the à la carte enrollment
- $200 off your annual courses
- $330 in free conversational club credits
- Priority seating in each course
Common questions
How many students are in a class?
Group courses cap at 10, and Roadmap students can take seats 11 to 15. Session length scales with enrollment: 10 hours for one student, 15 for two to three, and 20 for four or more, all on a fixed schedule.
Are classes online or in person?
Both, and you choose the one that fits you. Some sections meet in person in Falls Church, VA, and others meet live online over Zoom. Each section is a single format, so you simply pick the time and setting that work best for your life.
What if I miss a class?
It happens to almost everyone, and it is no reason to hold off. There will never be a perfectly open semester, so do not wait for one. You will have all of your course materials to stay on track between sessions, and you can book a private tutoring lesson to review anything you missed one-on-one with your instructor.
Do I need the Level Placement Test?
New students take the free Level Placement Test so they start at exactly the right level, and Exploring the Past sits at B1. If you are already studying with us, you reach B1 by completing the earlier levels and passing the A2 Level Exit Exam. Either way, you arrive ready to build on what you know rather than repeat it.
What is your refund policy?
Withdraw at least 7 days before the start date for a full course credit, valid 365 days. We do not offer cash refunds for withdrawals. If WLS cancels a course, you receive an alternative or a full refund.
Practice between classes
Private Tutoring
From $42.50 · Online or Falls Church
One-on-one lessons tailored to your goals. Perfect for making up a missed class, filling gaps, or building extra confidence before you speak up in group.
Explore Private TutoringConversation Clubs
$27.50 per session · Free with the Roadmap
Real Spanish conversation in real community. Our clubs are built for A1 through B1 learners who want more time speaking out loud.
Join a Conversation ClubI've taken two classes so far, Exploring the Future and Exploring the Past. They're both terrific.Rhonda Lees · Google Review
Need help choosing?
Not sure which section fits, or which B1 course to take first? Reach out and we'll help you find the right fit.
Tell us what works
If none of these times or formats fit your life, let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Complete the Scheduling Survey