Special person interviews, developed by renowned educator Bryce Hedstrom, are a fantastic way to engage students in speaking activities and build community in the Spanish classroom. Whether you call it persona especial or estrella del día or star of the day, this student-centered learning activity creates an interactive experience that allows each student to be the “star” for a day. The process is designed to encourage students to use the target language in an authentic way and gives them a chance to learn about one another while practicing their Spanish skills. This guide provides a detailed look into implementing special person interviews in your classroom, with five essential tips for success.
If you’re a teacher trying special person interviews for the first time, it’s natural to feel a bit nervous. With a few simple strategies, you can create a positive, productive, and enjoyable experience for both you and your students.
What Are Special Person Interviews?
At their core, special person interviews (also known as la estrella del día or la persona especial in Spanish classes) are structured conversations where the teacher or students ask one student—our “special person”—a series of interesting questions about themselves. This activity not only promotes language acquisition by encouraging students to use Spanish in an authentic context, but it also allows students to get to know one another on a personal level. This creates a supportive, respectful classroom culture where everyone feels valued.
Special person interviews are designed to be conducted primarily in the target language, making them an ideal activity for comprehensible input teaching methods. Typically, the student being interviewed sits in a special chair at the front of the class while their peers ask follow-up questions. This activity can be tailored to fit different levels, from middle school beginners to more advanced high school students, and can even be adapted for use in world languages beyond Spanish.
5 Essential Tips for Successfully Implementing Special Person Interviews
1. Start Small and Prepare
When introducing special person interviews for the first time, it’s best to start small. Begin with a structured format and prepared interview questions to ease both you and your students into the process. A solid starting point includes simple, predictable questions like “¿Cómo te llamas?” (What’s your name?) and “¿Cuántos años tienes?” (How old are you?). Sentence starters or versions of several questions can also be helpful, particularly for newer language learners. Using a structured approach is a great way to build students’ confidence in speaking.
Providing a presentation or simple visual support can give students a reliable reference, ensuring they’re not overwhelmed. This initial structure benefits the spanish teacher by making the activity easier to facilitate and allows students to focus on responding in the target language without worrying about complex grammar or vocabulary.
2. Model the Activity
Modeling is a crucial step in making special person interviews successful. Start by showing students exactly how the activity will unfold. You could ask a colleague to help demonstrate, or select a willing student to play the role of the “special person.” Use simple language and supportive body language to reinforce comprehension, ensuring that students understand the important thing is to try speaking, even if they make mistakes. Clear modeling reduces anxiety and gives students a framework to follow.
By presenting yourself as a calm and confident interviewer, you establish a positive tone for the activity, which in turn makes students feel more comfortable participating. This approach allows students to gradually build skills, and by watching you, they’ll learn to conduct interviews themselves in small groups or as next-day activities.
3. Create a Positive and Safe Environment
Creating a positive and safe classroom environment is critical to the success of special person interviews. Emphasize that mistakes are a natural part of language acquisition and that the very definition of student-centered learning is to give each student a voice. Let your students know that the goal of the activity is simply to practice speaking and enjoy learning about each other.
Celebrate every effort, even if responses aren’t perfect, which can encourage students to take risks. By reinforcing a positive atmosphere, you make it more likely that students will engage deeply with the activity. A great way to do this is by using positive feedback to normalize mistakes as stepping stones to improvement.
4. Use Visual Aids and Prompts
Visual aids and prompts are excellent tools for guiding students during special person interviews. You might use PowerPoint slides with sentence starters and interview questions displayed on the board, or pass out graphic organizers with key phrases. Having visual supports gives students a reliable resource to refer back to and helps alleviate the anxiety of speaking in front of peers.
For some teachers, using a small groups format works better, with students conducting estrella del día interviews with a peer instead of the whole class. This setup can reduce performance pressure and make students more comfortable practicing speaking skills. Visual aids and smaller group formats are great ways to create a supportive structure where students can focus on communicating.
5. Reflect and Adjust
After conducting the first few special person interviews, take a moment to reflect on the experience. Did your students enjoy the activity? Were there any parts that felt challenging? Ask for feedback and encourage students to share what they liked or found difficult. By getting direct input, you gain valuable insights that can help you fine-tune the activity.
Some teachers find it helpful to adapt based on the school year or the time available each day. Consider making lesson plans that incorporate target structures aligned with student interests. This flexibility will ensure that special person interviews continue to be a dynamic and engaging part of your class throughout the year.
By implementing these strategies, you’ll be ready to lead special person interviews with confidence. Remember that it’s okay to make adjustments to fit the needs of your students and spanish classes. This is an activity that can grow and evolve alongside your teaching.
If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start or don’t know how to support your students during special person interviews, check out my Special Person Entrevistas presentations. These ready-made resources provide a structured, engaging way to guide students through the process, with question prompts, visual aids, and built-in support to make each interview smooth and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Ready for More?
For additional resources, tips, and variations on conducting special person interviews, check out more blog posts here on ways to adapt and personalize this exciting activity. Whether you’re using it as an answer game or focusing on language acquisition with target structures, there’s always something new to explore. Check out Bryce Hedstrom’s blog on Special Person Interviews.
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- Transitioning to Teaching for Comprehensible Input: 5 Essential Tips for Nervous Teachers
- Introduce Vocabulary with Entrevistas for Persona Especial
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