In some parts of the world, a beautiful spring day in May usually means wistful and wriggly students, itching to look out the classroom window, longing for some time outdoors. One day in May, why not take your Spanish class outside for some outdoor learning to celebrate Outdoor Classroom Day? What is Outdoor Learning Anyway? […]
Relative Pronouns Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
Spanish relative pronouns are pronouns that are used to introduce a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. The most common relative pronouns in Spanish are: Que: used to refer to people, animals, and things. Example: “El libro que leí ayer” (The book that I read yesterday). Quien/quiénes: used to […]
Formal Commands and Negative Formal Commands Spanish Lesson Plans
Formal commands, also known as usted commands, are a way of giving polite commands or requests in Spanish. These commands are used when addressing someone in a formal setting or when showing respect to someone who is older or in a position of authority. In order to understand and use formal commands, a student should […]
Uses of POR Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
The word “por” in Spanish can have many different uses depending on the context. Here are some of the most common uses: Expressing cause or reason: “Lo hizo por amor” (He did it out of love). Expressing duration of time: “Estuve esperando por tres horas” (I was waiting for three hours). Expressing a means of […]
Spanish Language Day Class Activities for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Students
Don’t tilt at windmills, seize the day! Introduce your students to Cervantes and his most famous, most beloved creation, Don Quixote, on Spanish Language Day this April. The Significance of Spanish Language Day Spanish Language Day, also known as Día Mundial del Idioma Español, is a celebration of multilingualism held every year on April 23rd, […]
Past Subjunctive (Imperfect Subjunctive) Spanish Class Activities
The past subjunctive is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions or events in the past. Some examples of the past subjunctive in Spanish would be: “Si hubiera sabido que ibas a venir, te habría esperado en el aeropuerto” (If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you at the airport) […]
7 Things I Would Like to Have Known as a New Spanish Teacher
by Lynn Ramsson Before I started my teaching career, I had heard that Spanish teachers are a truly unique bunch. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but after a year or two in the Spanish classroom, I understood much better what I had heard. I felt proud, both of my own progress as a teacher and […]
Conditional Verbs Spanish Lesson Plans and Class Activities
Conditional verbs are forms of verbs used to express a variety of hypothetical conditions. Before learning conditional verbs, students should have a basic understanding of verb tenses and the ability to make conjugations with regular and irregular verbs. They should also be familiar with the structure of affirmative and negative sentences, as well as understand […]
Negative TU Commands Spanish Lesson Plan and Song Activities
Negative Tu Commands are direct commands used when addressing someone familiar to you, such as a close friend, family member or peer. They are typically preceded by the word “no” and followed by the verb. Examples of informal negative tu commands include “No hables” (Don’t speak), “No me mientas” (Don’t lie to me), “No discutas […]
Present and Past Subjunctive with Doubt Spanish Lesson Plans and Resource Sheet
The Spanish present and past subjunctive are used to express doubt, uncertainty, hypothetical situations, and feelings. In the present tense, the subjunctive is used when expressing doubt or uncertainty about the outcome of an action, as well as when making a suggestion or a recommendation. For example, “Espero que venga pronto” (I hope he/she comes […]
Preterite Stem-Changing -IR Verbs Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
In Spanish, stem-changing verbs are those that undergo a vowel change in their stem when conjugated. When these verbs are in the preterite tense, they maintain the same stem change in the past. For verbs ending in -IR, the stem-changing occurs in the third person singular and plural forms (él/ella/usted, ellos/ellas/ustedes). The stem vowel changes […]
How to Include Poetry in Your Spanish Lesson Plans
Expand your students’ cultural knowledge by introducing them to Spanish-speaking poets and their poetry (National Poetry Month in April is a great time to begin). You’ll find a few activities at the end of this article to capture your students’ imaginations and who knows… your students just might find poetry more interesting than they expected! It’s a […]
Future Perfect Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
The Future Perfect tense in Spanish, also known as “Futuro Perfecto,” is used to express actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future. This tense is formed by using the future tense of the auxiliary verb “haber” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “habré hablado” […]
Preterite of IR and SER Spanish Lesson Plan and Printable Poster
The preterite tense in Spanish is used to express past actions that are completed or finished. The verbs “IR” and “SER” have the same conjugation in the preterite, which can sometimes cause confusion. In the preterite, “IR” and “SER” are both conjugated as follows: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron. This means that the context […]
Possessive Pronouns Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
Possessive pronouns in Spanish are words that indicate possession or ownership of something. These pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to, and they replace the noun in the sentence. Some examples of possessive pronouns in Spanish are “mi” (my), “tu” (your), “su” (his/her/its/your – formal), “nuestro/nuestra” (our), and “suyo/suya” (theirs/yours […]
Personal A Spanish Lesson Plan and Resource Sheet
In Spanish, the Personal A is a preposition that is used before a direct object that refers to a person or an animal with a certain level of personal significance. It is not translatable into English and is a unique feature of the Spanish language. The Personal A is used to indicate that the direct […]
Verb DOLER Spanish Lesson Plan for Beginner Students
The Spanish verb “doler” is used to express physical pain or discomfort. In order to use “doler,” you need to know two things: the subject experiencing the pain, and the body part that is causing the pain. The verb is constructed as follows: “doler” + [body part] + “a” + [subject]. For example, “Me duele […]
Health & Body Parts Vocabulary Spanish Lesson Plans and Class Activities
When teaching Spanish as a second language, the introduction of body parts vocabulary typically occurs in the early stages of learning, usually in beginner or elementary-level classes. This is because the vocabulary related to body parts is relatively simple and frequently used, making it an essential part of basic Spanish language acquisition. Generally, students are […]
Foreign Language Week: 5 Activity Ideas from Monday to Friday
Want to bring the world and all of its languages closer to your classroom? Inspire your students to excite your school community and get everyone involved in National Foreign Language Week this March. What is National Foreign Language Week? Every March, schools around America celebrate National Foreign Language Week or World Language Week to discuss […]
7 Read Across America Day Spanish Class Activities (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss Day)
Remember those READ posters of movie stars and other celebrities? Though the appeal of posters is their retro look, the message is still very relevant today. So engage your students and talk about literacy with some fun activities on March 2nd for National Read Across America Day! What is National Read Across America Day? National […]
Preposition “A” Spanish Lesson Plan for Beginner Students
The preposition “a” is used to indicate direction or movement towards a person or a specific location. It is also used to mark the direct object of a sentence when it refers to a person, as in: “Voy a ver a mi amigo” (I am going to see my friend). It is also commonly used […]
School Subjects and After-School Themed Spanish Lesson Plans
As a Spanish teacher, it’s essential to equip your students with vocabulary they can use outside the classroom, especially when it comes to after-school activities and school-related topics. Here you will find suggested Spanish lesson plans and resources, with engaging activities and materials to help your students learn and practice vocabulary related to sports, hobbies, […]
4 Names in Spanish for SANTA CLAUS: Infographic
The legendary figure of Santa Claus is well recognized all over the world. The story around this character was inspired by the Christian Bishop Saint Nicholas from the 4th century that lived in Lycia (Turkey today). Legends said that he was recognized for his generosity as a secret gift-giver, putting coins in the shoes or […]
12 Popular English Songs in Spanish (Part 1)
There are many songs that become popular and then make a crossover to other languages. Some turn out to be good, but others are a complete disaster. I assume that translating a hit song to a different language is difficult. Think about the challenge of keeping the essence of the original lyrics yet finding the […]
6 Spanish Language Words for TURKEY: Infographic
Soon we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, one of my favorites holidays. The special thing about Thanksgiving is the true meaning of being grateful for what you have. This is not a holiday about Christians or any religion; you can be thankful to God, life, destiny or whatever you want. Even though this holiday is not […]
VIDEO: List of Spanish Slang Expressions About Money Used in Puerto Rico
Before you even step into a new country, money is one of the first topics you will become involved in. How much does my trip cost? How much money should I take? Will my ATM (otherwise known as ATH in Puerto Rico) card work? This video will have you prepped and ready to go for […]
Ser vs Estar (Meaning changes in Preterite and Imperfect) Spanish Class Activities
Lesson Plan – SER vs ESTAR Meaning Changes in Preterite and Imperfect – The Arts – Students learn about the differences of Ser vs. Estar with a biography text from a famous singer. They use authentic biographical information in Spanish of important personalities from different art fields to do role plays using Ser and Estar.
Telling Time Spanish Class Activities
Telling Time Lesson Plan for Spanish 1 – Objectives By the end of this activity, the students will have learned and used the vocabulary and phrases to tell time in Spanish. Students can say the time in Spanish. Students can create an infographic using telling time vocabulary in Spanish. Students can create a daily routine […]
Verb SER Spanish Class Activities
Printable Poster and Handout – Verb SER in the Present – Decorate your classroom with this colorful poster of the verb SER in the Present tense. Then, print copies of the black and white handout for your students. The poster and handout version include the verb conjugation in singular and plural. Plus examples on […]
City Vocabulary Spanish Class Activities
Lesson Plan – Preterite IR, SER, TENER, ESTAR, and PODER – City Vocabulary – Students learn the city vocabulary with an authentic travel video about Mexico City. They will also be able to give directions to go from one place to another and use the verbs ir, ser, tener, estar and poder in the preterite. Lesson […]