¡Hablemos!...or in English, “Let’s talk!” One of my favorite parts about teaching Spanish is hearing students begin to use the language through authentic conversation. This semester in Spanish 4, I have integrated a daily routine that sharpens interpersonal communication skills.
Each day, students are prompted with a question that targets a specific grammar structure. Students have thirty seconds to look up unfamiliar vocabulary words and brainstorm the verb tenses they may use when answering the question. Next, learners find a small group, greet one another in Spanish, and engage in conversation about the prompt. When the conversation ends, students bid farewell to their partners in Spanish and sit down.
After practicing, volunteers must then engage in conversation with me at least once weekly. The class listens and takes notes about the grammar used. Finally, students are given a graded rubric with detailed notes on the positive things I heard and some tips for improving next time. Through this daily routine, I have seen much improvement in students’ ability to speak about topics they are interested in.