15-minute Spanish speaking routines for ages 7 to 13

1. Two minutes. Greet the learner and repeat yesterday's two words.
2. Four minutes. Model one sentence with three objects or pictures.
3. Six minutes. Turn the sentence into a pointing, finding, or guessing game.
4. Three minutes. Ask the learner to choose a favourite example and say one complete sentence.

Keep the sentence frame visible. If the target is Quiero la manzana roja, change only the object or colour at first. Too many new choices make the game an English memory test.

1. Two minutes. Recall three useful phrases without notes.
2. Four minutes. Expand one sentence with a place, time, or reason.
3. Six minutes. Use the sentence in a roleplay, comparison, or mini interview.
4. Three minutes. Record a short answer and choose one part to improve next time.

An older learner can handle a small communication problem. In a café roleplay, the item they want might be unavailable. They must ask for another option. The surprise should change the answer, not introduce a page of new vocabulary.

Choose five familiar objects. Hide or place them around the room.

For ages 7 to 9, use ¿Dónde está el libro? and El libro está en la mesa. If the learner needs help, offer two choices in Spanish and point.

For ages 10 to 13, add a clue: Busca algo que usamos para escribir. The learner finds it, names it, and explains where it was.

Draw or show four foods, hobbies, places, or animals. Ask ¿Cuál prefieres?

A younger learner can answer Prefiero el perro. An older learner adds porque es divertido or compares two choices. Accept a short answer first, then model the longer one.

Use cups, plates, or drawn menu items. One person is the customer and one is the server.

• Buenos días. Quiero un zumo, por favor.
• ¿De naranja o de manzana?
• De naranja. ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Cuesta tres euros.

Swap roles. For the older group, remove one menu item and let the customer choose again.

Choose a person, animal, place, or object. Give clues one at a time. A younger learner can use colour, size, and location. An older learner can add function or comparison.

Example: Es pequeño. Es amarillo. Está en la cocina. The other person guesses and then creates the next set of clues.

Draw four boxes for morning, midday, afternoon, and evening. The learner adds one action to each box.

For ages 7 to 9, practise one verb per box. For ages 10 to 13, connect the sequence with primero, después, luego, and por la noche.

Goal: ask for and give a preference.

Language: ¿Te gusta más X o Y? Me gusta más X porque...

Name two choices the learner knows, such as summer and winter, football and cricket, or cats and dogs. Ask the question. The learner answers, then asks you. Change one option and repeat. Finish with a 30-second recording in which the learner gives two preferences.

For a younger learner, the reason can be one adjective. For an older learner, ask one follow-up question. Do not correct every error during the recording. Choose one correction afterwards and repeat the sentence once.

If the sentence is understandable, let the learner finish. Then repeat the corrected form naturally and ask for one more attempt.

Learner: La perro es blanco.

Adult: Sí, el perro es blanco. ¿Y el gato?

This keeps the exchange moving while making the article audible. Stop the activity only when the error blocks meaning or the learner cannot continue.

• The adult speaks most of the Spanish.
• The learner waits for an English translation before every turn.
• The game needs more explanation than speaking.
• The learner can name words but cannot use the target sentence after several models.

Reduce the number of words, return to one sentence frame, or let the learner point before speaking. A smaller successful task gives you something to repeat tomorrow.