6 Engaging Activities in Spanish Class
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Sometimes class can feel a little bit stale. Both you and your students can feel the need to switch things up. Let’s talk about some engaging activities in Spanish class!
Ready for a fun fact about me? I used to coach gymnastics! My first experience organizing and directing groups of children was as a coach. I still love bringing movement into my activities..although there are usually less push-ups and sit-ups involved nowadays.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite movement-based activities that allow you to get your students up and out of their seats but remain focused on language learning. Lace up your sneakers and get ready!
Fresh and Fun Ways to Try Engaging Activities in Spanish Class
Let’s be honest, not every class period is a party and that is totally okay. But when you can turn it into something your students will actually talk about later (in a good way), that’s a win. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for new engaging activities in Spanish class that are low-prep but high-impact. Whether you’re deep into a unit or just need something that breaks up the mid-week slump, having a few new tricks up your sleeve makes all the difference.
Recently, I’ve added two super simple go-to ideas that my students have absolutely loved. First up, Gallery Chats. Hang a few prompts or images around the room, and let students rotate through stations responding to each one in Spanish. You can level it up by pairing them with a classmate and having them do mini conversations at each station. Movement plus language use? Double win.
Another favorite? Two Truths and a Lie, but in Spanish and topic-themed! After covering a certain vocab set or grammar point, have students write their own versions, then share in small groups. Their creativity (and sneaky trickery) always surprises me.
Engaging Activities in Spanish Class
Here are some of my favorite engaging options to use when I feel like I need to change things up:
- Brain breaks
- Quizlet Live & variations
- Stations
- Running Dictation
- ¡Corre en CÃrculos!
Brain Breaks
I love Brain Breaks! Sometimes we just need to get up and dance a little bit! If not dancing, sometimes it’s just a short game, speaking activity, or even a moment of quiet breathing. This isn’t a full lesson plan, but it’s easy to pull one out of the hat and add it when you feel energy lagging.
Quizlet Live Variations
Do you already love Quizlet Live in your classes? It’s definitely one of those super engaging activities in Spanish. But – as with any tech game – we have to keep in mind that these things can get old and students can get burnt out on them, especially if their other teachers are using them too.
These Quizlet Live Variations help keep the game new and fresh! The Relay variation is one of my all time faves – just make sure the backpacks are out of the way!
Stations
When we’re talking about engaging activities in Spanish, you can’t forget stations. I have a profound love of stations. They get students up and moving, with short, focused chunks of work. It makes class time just fly by!
Running Dictation
This is a great activity for teamwork in your classroom, plus the engagement is through the ROOF! The short of it is that students work in pairs or small groups to complete a dictation activity, but the material they need to record is in a different location. One person runs to get it, memorize it, and report back to their partner who is recording, then they switch jobs. It is so much fun!
¡Corre en CÃrculos!
Finally, my all time favorite is ¡Corre en CÃrculos! You can use the concept in so many different ways, and it’s so fun!
¡Corre en CÃrculos! is basically a scavenger hunt in Spanish. Students start at separate cards you’ve hung around the room and make their way from card to card as they follow the hints. Learn more about how to play these engaging activities in Spanish here.
Keep Students Hooked with More Engaging Activities in Spanish Class
Don’t underestimate the power of novelty. You don’t have to overhaul your entire week, just sprinkle in something new. Try letting students lead a warm-up game, or turn your vocab review into a friendly class competition. The more students feel like they’re playing rather than drilling, the better their engagement and retention.
When you keep rotating through these kinds of engaging activities in Spanish class, you’re not just reviewing content, you’re helping your students enjoy the process. And let’s be real, if you are having fun too, that energy totally rubs off on them.
Let me know which activities you try! I love hearing what’s working for your students.
Engaging Activities in Spanish Class
What are some of your favorite engaging activities in Spanish you use in your classroom? I’d love to hear your suggestions! Drop me a comment or a message on Instagram – and definitely tag me @srta_spanish if you try out any of the activities above! I love seeing when people try out ideas I’ve shared!
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