Have a Spanish conversation
Whenyour agreed weekly conversation slot begins
Meet a willing partner for 30 minutes weekly; spend 15 minutes in Spanish. Take turns asking, listening and responding to the actual reply. Add a related question. Use the opening below, then switch topics.
- Steps
- Ask “¿Te gusta el café?” (Do you like coffee?). Answer “Sí, me gusta” (Yes, I like it) or “No, no me gusta” (No, I don’t like it).
- Return “¿Y a ti?” (And you?). Follow up “¿Y el té?” (And tea?) if it fits. If missed: “Otra vez, por favor” (Again, please).
Start tiny
Ask one printed question and respond to the real answer.
When it slips
Partner cancelled? Rehearse a printed answer aloud for up to five minutes; log solo rehearsal and rearrange the live exchange.
SafetyUse willing partners. Ask before recording; keep a first in-person meeting public.
Loewen, S. & Sato, M. (2018), Interaction and instructed second language acquisition. Language Teaching 51(3), 285–329. Read the source ↗ Council of Europe (2020), CEFR Companion Volume, oral interaction, clarification and compensation descriptors. Read the source ↗ Maricopa Community Colleges, Español 102, Capítulo 6, 6.3 Gustar and partner-speaking activity. Read the source ↗ Universitat Pompeu Fabra, How do language tandems work? Read the source ↗ — Repeated interaction findings support the underlying practice, principally for instructed language learning. Weekly timing and 15/15 minutes are starting choices, not an optimal dose or proficiency guarantee.; The Open University, Beginners’ Spanish: food and drink, Actividad 8. Read the source ↗ SpanishDictionary.com, Ask for Clarification in Spanish, original lesson and bilingual examples. Read the source ↗
Foundation: The load-bearing practices you return to. Build the base and keep it in play.
