Do you feel like you (or your learners, if you teach) are just on the cusp of that point where you can start creating with language? Maybe you just need to check in and invest a bit of hard work to get there? If so, check out this collection of review activities and tasks to record, write and check in on language proficiency.
The prompts at the end are for learners of Spanish, but can easily be adapted to any language.
Proficiency Awareness, Recording Strategies, and Communicative Confidence
ACTFL World-Readiness Standards Addressed
- Communication
- Interpersonal: Engage in conversations about familiar topics.
- Interpretive: Understand questions and prompts.
- Presentational: Speak or write on familiar topics without rehearsal.
- Connections
- Relate prior learning to real-world communicative tasks.
- Comparisons
- Reflect on personal strengths and growth in language proficiency.
- Communities
- Use language for meaningful tasks inside and outside the classroom.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to demonstrate language proficiency?
- How can I apply my Spanish to communicate in real-world tasks?
- How can I overcome the challenge of recording my speaking or writing?
- How do I recognize my progress and areas for growth in Spanish?
Can-Do Statements
Interpersonal Communication
- I can participate in simple conversations on familiar topics.
- I can ask and answer questions about my daily life.
Presentational Communication
- I can record myself speaking for at least one minute about a familiar topic.
- I can write simple sentences and short paragraphs on familiar topics.
Interpretive Communication
- I can understand common questions and prompts about myself, my daily life, and my interests.
Reflection
- I can self-evaluate my recordings using a proficiency rubric.
5-Day Unit Sequence
Day 1 – What is Proficiency? Awareness & Recycling Practice
- Objectives:
- Define proficiency and understand Novice High/Intermediate Low targets.
- Review and recycle familiar topics like daily routines, weather, school, weekend plans, and clothing.
- Activities:
- Discuss what proficiency is (focus on what they/you can do, not what they/you can’t).
- Do oral warm-ups recycling common novice topics.
- Provide chat mats or review slides for structured practice.
- Practice table chats or guided small-group speaking.
Day 2 – Building Recording Confidence (Round 1)
- Objectives:
- Practice preparing and recording short presentations.
- Activities:
- Review recording strategies (bullet points first, practice in their head, then record).
- Use chat mats and a picture prompt to help prepare.
- Record 1-minute speaking samples (4–6 sentences minimum) on one slide.
- Self-assess using the proficiency rubric.
Day 3 – Writing to an Unknown Prompt (Round 1)
- Objectives:
- Write short, unrehearsed responses to a prompt.
- Activities:
- Present an unknown writing prompt.
- Students write 4–6 sentences in a timed setting.
- Provide self-assessment checklist based on the rubric.
- Collect writing samples for teacher feedback.
Day 4 – Recording Confidence (Round 2)
- Objectives:
- Apply feedback and improve speaking fluency.
- Activities:
- Present a new speaking prompt.
- Review chat mats and strategies again.
- Record Round 2 speaking samples on the slide.
- Students self-evaluate again and compare to Round 1.
Day 5 – Final Writing or Speaking Task (Student Choice)
- Objectives:
- Demonstrate improvement and reflect on growth.
- Activities:
- Students choose to do either writing or speaking.
- Provide a new prompt.
- Students complete the task and self-assess.
- End with class reflection on what they learned about proficiency, recording, and their personal progress.
10 Spanish Proficiency Prompts
(For Writing or Speaking Practice)
1. Your Daily Routine
Describe your typical day. Include at least three activities you do, what time you do them, and how you feel.
Example Start: Cada día me despierto a las seis de la mañana. Luego…
2. Your Last Vacation or Weekend
Talk about where you went and what you did. Use the preterite tense to describe your activities.
Example Start: El fin de semana pasado fui a… Hice…
3. Describe a Friend or Family Member
Describe their personality, physical appearance, and what they like to do.
Example Start: Mi mejor amigo/a se llama… Es… Le gusta…
4. Your Favorite Food or Meal
Describe your favorite food or meal. Include what you like about it, when you eat it, and where.
Example Start: Mi comida favorita es… Me gusta porque…
5. Talking About the Weather
Describe the weather today and talk about what you do when it’s sunny, rainy, or cold.
Example Start: Hoy hace… Cuando hace calor, me gusta…
6. Places in Your Community
Describe two or three places you visit often in your community and what you do there.
Example Start: En mi comunidad hay… Yo voy a… para…
7. Making Plans with a Friend
Invite a friend to do something this weekend. Include the time, place, and activity.
Example Start: ¿Quieres ir conmigo a… el sábado? Podemos…
8. Describe a Celebration
Describe a party, birthday, or holiday you celebrated. Mention who was there, what you did, and what you ate.
Example Start: El año pasado celebré… Fuimos a… Comimos…
9. Your Health and Wellness
Describe how you feel today. Mention any symptoms you have or advice you would give to someone who is sick.
Example Start: Hoy me siento… Si estás enfermo/a, debes…
10. Your Future Plans
Talk about something you are going to do next weekend or next month using ir + a + infinitive.
Example Start: El próximo fin de semana voy a… También voy a…
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