Show Off Your Proficiency: An effective activity.

Hello, everyone! As the first quarter of the school year came to a close, I found myself reflecting on my Spanish class and the progress my students had made. While I was confident that they were acquiring the language and improving their Spanish proficiency, I wanted to create an activity that would not only demonstrate their progress but also boost their confidence. What ensued was an impromptu idea that turned into a fantastic learning experience for my students. I’d like to share it with you, albeit as if I had it all planned from the start (wink).

So, here’s what I did: I prepared a series of questions related to our current topic, vocabulary, and grammar structure. These questions were designed to challenge my students and allow them to showcase their Spanish language skills. I wasn’t entirely sure how I was going to use these questions until the very beginning of the class. But sometimes, the best ideas come spontaneously.

I started by creating a slideshow with at least 20 questions that focused on the subject matter we had covered in class (Imperfect tense) . It could also be adapted to work with readings and texts we had studied. Then, I divided the class into groups, each consisting of a maximum of four students.

The objective was simple: they had to answer each question as comprehensively as possible, ensuring their responses were rich in details and varied vocabulary.

The catch? It wasn’t just about answering the questions; it was about competing against the other groups to see who could present the most complete and detailed answer. The excitement began to brew as the students realized they were in for a healthy, competitive challenge.

During the activity, each group took turns responding to the questions. As their teacher, my role was to assess and determine which group provided the best answer. I evaluated their responses based on three criteria:

1- Use of the focus topic or grammar.
2- Supporting details.
3- Ease of understanding.

Depending on the quality of their answers, I assigned either 1 or 2 points to each group. This was a great way to encourage them to not only participate but also to strive for excellence in their answers.

Listen the activity in action HERE

(Thank you Ryan, Rafi and Alex)

What I found truly remarkable was how this activity motivated the students to collaborate within their groups. While one or two students might have been more confident in delivering the answers, everyone contributed by providing ideas for more detailed and comprehensive responses. It was inspiring to witness how much they could elaborate in their Spanish answers when presented with the opportunity and a bit of healthy competition.

The competitive aspect of the activity was not only fun but also boosted their self-esteem regarding their Spanish proficiency. Students were excited to showcase their language skills and surprise themselves with the depth of their responses. This activity can be easily adapted to any level, making it a versatile tool for teaching Spanish.

I would like to call this activity “Show Off Your Proficiency!” because that’s precisely what it allows students to do. It empowers them to display their progress and celebrate their achievements, all while having a great time in the classroom.

I hope you find this activity as enjoyable and educational as my students did. Happy teaching, and may your Spanish classes be filled with enthusiasm, growth, and lots of fun!

Please help me keeping the integrity of my work by always giving me credit for my ideas. I see more and more posts and resources replicating what I share without mentioning the source. Thank you!

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