Getting students to actually speak in Spanish class can feel intimidating at first. It is especially challenging with lower proficiency levels or shy students. Interpersonal communication does not have to mean standing in front of the whole class giving speeches. Some of the best interpersonal speaking activities happen in small groups, with new partners, and through simple questions that encourage meaningful communication.
Whether you teach middle school students, high school, higher education, or even adult education, these interpersonal speaking activities for Spanish class can help students build confidence, improve language acquisition, and develop stronger Spanish-speaking skills in the target language.
These ideas are flexible, low-prep, and easy to adapt for different proficiency levels.
Why Interpersonal Communication Matters in Spanish Class
According to the ACTFL standards, interpersonal communication focuses on two-way communication where students listen, respond, ask questions, negotiate meaning, and interact naturally.
In other words, students are not simply memorizing vocabulary lists. They are using the Spanish language to communicate ideas, opinions, preferences, and experiences.
The most important thing is creating numerous opportunities for students to interact in authentic scenarios in a low-pressure way.
1. Speed Dating Conversations
Speed dating is a classic game for interpersonal speaking practice.
Students rotate every 1–2 minutes and answer simple questions with a partner before moving to new partners.
Topics can include:
- favorite foods
- weekend plans
- tv show recommendations
- favorite things
- school subjects
- social media habits
This is a great way to increase repetition while keeping energy high.
For lower proficiency levels, provide:
- sentence starters
- chat mats
- conversation cards
- visual supports
Advanced students can discuss controversial topics or cultural awareness themes connected to spanish-speaking countries.
2. Weekend Chat
A weekend chat is one of the easiest interpersonal conversation practice routines to implement.
Every Monday, students answer questions like:
- ¿Qué hiciste este fin de semana?
- ¿Adónde fuiste?
- ¿Con quién hablaste?
- ¿Viste una película o un tv show?
Students can first practice with a partner before sharing with a group of students.
This activity builds routine speaking confidence over time.
Weekend chat can be done in many ways. Two ways I have done it with students are using fortune tellers and with a presentation as special person interviews.
3. Conversation Cards
Conversation cards are one of the best things you can keep on hand as a Spanish teacher.
You can organize question cards by:
- theme
- grammar structure
- proficiency level
- interpersonal writing extension
- cultural topics
Examples:
- food
- hobbies
- family
- music
- travel
- future plans
Large cards work especially well for stations or small groups.
4. Chat Mats
Chat mats provide vocabulary support, sentence starters, yo form prompt ideas, and visuals all in one place. Chat mats are themed speaking supports designed to help students feel more confident during interpersonal communication activities.
Unlike simple vocabulary lists, chat mats are intentionally created to support student interpersonal speaking by providing:
- questions
- sentence starters
- conversation stems
- vocabulary support
- visuals
- transition phrases
- opinion expressions
A chat mat usually focuses on one theme, such as:
- food
- hobbies
- school
- family
- weekend activities
- travel
- weather
- music
- sports
For example, a “Los Pasatiempos” chat mat might include:
- ¿Qué te gusta hacer?
- Me gusta…
- No me gusta…
- ¿Con quién juegas?
- A veces…
- todos los días
- los fines de semana
This type of support is especially helpful for:
- lower proficiency levels
- shy students
- middle school students
- new students
- students building confidence in the target language
Chat mats create a low-pressure way for students to participate in spanish conversation without feeling overwhelmed. A good chat mat lowers anxiety while encouraging meaningful communication.
They are also a great option for:
- speed dating activities
- conversation stations
- partner speaking
- small groups
- substitute lesson plans
- early finisher work
- interpersonal speaking assessments
As students become more comfortable, teachers can gradually remove supports to encourage more spontaneous communication and stronger language acquisition skills.
5. Find Someone Who – Busca a una persona que…
A Spanish find someone who activity gets students moving while speaking in the target language. This is a lower pressure way to get students speaking in the target language with the support they need.
Students ask classmates questions until they find someone who matches the prompt.
Examples:
- Busca a una persona que juega videojuegos.
- Busca a una persona que tiene dos mascotas.
- Busca a una persona que quiere viajar a México.
This type of activity works beautifully after winter break or during the first week back from vacation.
Check out more about Find Someone Who activities on this blog post here!
6. Socratic Seminar
For upper levels or advanced students, a socratic seminar encourages critical thinking and deeper spanish conversation.
Students discuss:
- controversial topic questions
- cultural traditions
- current events
- social media influence
- education systems in spanish-speaking countries
This is a perfect way to combine interpersonal communication with cultural awareness.
7. Would You Rather? (¿Prefieres?)
Students love preference-based speaking activities.
Examples:
- ¿Prefieres vivir en la playa o en la montaña?
- ¿Prefieres no usar redes sociales o no ver televisión?
- ¿Prefieres viajar o ahorrar dinero?
Students must answer partner’s questions and explain why.
The explanation portion is where the real language learning happens.
Here are a few blog posts about Would You Rather activities!
8. Picture Talk Conversations
Instead of simply describing a picture, students interact with each other about it.
Use images connected to:
- visual arts
- graphic arts
- daily life
- celebrations
- native americans
- famous landmarks in spanish-speaking countries
Students ask and answer questions based on the image.
This supports interpersonal communication while helping students stay in the target language.
Read more about picture talk here.
9. Question Ball Toss
Write simple questions on a beach ball or use digital resources with random question generators.
When students catch the ball, they answer the question closest to their thumb.
This is an easy way to:
- review vocabulary
- encourage extra practice
- build confidence
- increase spontaneous speaking
10. Role Play Scenarios
Role plays create authentic scenarios students may encounter in real life.
Examples:
- ordering food
- checking into a hotel
- asking for directions
- shopping
- introducing yourself
- interviewing for a job
This activity is excellent test prep for interpersonal speaking assessments.
11. Fortune Tellers (Comecocos)
A fortune teller activity—also called comecocos—is a fun and interactive spanish speaking activity that students love.
Students fold paper fortune tellers with:
- simple questions
- vocabulary prompts
- conversation starters
- yo form prompt ideas
- silly scenarios
- cultural questions
Examples:
- ¿Qué haces los fines de semana?
- ¿Cuál es tu comida favorita?
- ¿Prefieres verano o invierno?
- Describe tu clase ideal.
- ¿Qué país hispanohablante quieres visitar?
Students choose numbers, colors, or categories while practicing interpersonal communication with a partner.
This is a great option for:
- middle school students
- high school classes
- brain breaks
- extra practice
- early finishers
- small groups
For lower proficiency levels, include sentence starters or vocabulary lists inside the fortune teller.
Advanced students can use more open-ended prompts, controversial topic discussions, or cultural awareness questions related to spanish-speaking countries.
The best part? Students often focus so much on the game element that they forget they are actively building interpersonal speaking practice skills in the target language.
12. Four Corners Discussions
Label corners of the room with different opinions or answer choices.
Students move to a corner and discuss their choice with peers.
Topics can include:
- favorite music
- school uniforms
- homework
- technology
- sports
- free time
This is one of the best ways to combine movement and interpersonal speaking activities.
Grab this four corners freebie here!
13. Information Gap Activities
In an information gap activity, one student has information the other student needs.
Students must communicate in Spanish to complete the task.
Examples:
- missing schedule information
- map directions
- finding differences between pictures
- solving a mystery
This naturally encourages interpersonal communication because students truly need each other’s information.
14. Partner Interviews
Students interview each other and then present information to the class.
This works well for:
- beginning of the year activities
- community building
- substitute plans
- review days
Provide a list of questions and sentence starters for support.
You can even turn this into interpersonal writing afterward by having students summarize their partner’s responses.
15. Conversation Stations
Set up stations around the room with different themes.
Examples:
- food
- travel
- music
- sports
- dreams and goals
- favorite classes
- weekend plans
Students rotate every few minutes and practice spanish conversation with different classmates.
This gives students numerous opportunities to hear varied responses and interact with many speaking partners.
16. Classroom Password (Inspired by Bryce Hedstrom)
The “Classroom Password” activity is a simple but powerful interpersonal communication routine where students must use the target language to enter the classroom or participate in an activity.
The teacher posts:
- a question
- image
- prompt
- opinion statement
- quick conversation starter
Students respond before entering or beginning class.
Examples:
- ¿Cómo estás hoy?
- ¿Qué quieres comer hoy?
- ¿Qué hiciste ayer?
- ¿Qué música escuchas?
- Describe tu fin de semana en tres palabras.
You can also turn this into partner interaction by having students ask and answer the classroom password question with classmates after entering.
This is a perfect low-pressure way to:
- increase target language use
- create daily interpersonal speaking practice
- build confidence
- establish routines
The best part is that it requires almost no prep time while still creating meaningful communication opportunities every single day. Here is a list of passwords for Level 1 on Bryce Hedstrom’s blog.
Tips for Successful Interpersonal Speaking Activities
Here are a few best ways to make speaking activities more successful:
- Keep Input Comprehensible – Students cannot speak confidently if they do not understand the language first.
- Use Sentence Starters – Sentence starters help students participate without feeling overwhelmed.
- Allow Prep Time – Even 30–60 seconds of prep time can improve student confidence dramatically.
- Focus on Communication Over Perfection – The goal is communication—not perfect grammar.
- Rotate Partners Frequently – New partners keep activities fresh and increase engagement.
- Use Familiar Vocabulary – Students speak more when they feel successful.
Interpersonal communication activities do not have to be complicated to be effective. Some of the strongest Spanish-speaking skills develop through simple, consistent interaction in the target language.
Whether you use speed dating, conversation cards, socratic seminar discussions, or chat mats, the key is giving students regular opportunities to communicate in meaningful ways.
When students feel comfortable speaking, language acquisition becomes more natural, engaging, and enjoyable for everyone involved in Spanish class.
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- 12 No Prep to Low Prep Games for Spanish Class
- Weekend Chat Activities for Spanish Class
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