Teaching the Present Progressive in Spanish
Teaching the present progressive is one of my favorite topics for Spanish lessons. The context allows for fun, interactive activities and plenty of student engagement. Below is a structured plan to teach the present progressive using a variety of activities:
Day One: Introduction and Practice
- PowerPoint Presentation
Begin with a PowerPoint presentation introducing the present progressive, its formation, and common uses. - Immersive Quiz (Set 1)
Conduct the first set of immersive quizzes to reinforce the material covered in the presentation. - Puzzles
Work on puzzles designed to practice the present progressive. Go over the answers together to clarify any doubts. - Verb Chart Handout
Distribute the verb chart (with answers) and explain how to use it as a reference. - Homework
Assign students to prepare an oral presentation or “show and tell” for the next class.
Day Two: Oral Presentations and Charades
- Immersive Quiz (Set 2)
Begin the class with the second set of immersive quizzes to review the material. - Oral Presentations
Students present their prepared “show and tell” assignments, describing something using the present progressive. - Charades Activity
- Distribute small slips of paper and have students write a verb in the present progressive (e.g., tú estás corriendo). Ensure students write in the tú form and submit their slips for corrections.
- Depending on class size, assign each student 2–8 verbs to write. Duplicate entries are fine.
- Mix up the slips, then distribute them for the charades game. One student acts out the verb while classmates guess using the correct form (e.g., él está corriendo).
- Preparation for Quiz
Remind students to prepare for the next day’s verb chart quiz.
Day Three: Interviews and Collaborative Activities
- Immersive Quiz (Set 3)
Start the class with another round of immersive quizzes to solidify understanding. - Pair/Group Interviews
- Students create a short list of questions using the present progressive, such as ¿Qué está haciendo Julia ahora?
- Conduct the activity in pairs or small groups, where students practice asking and answering questions.
- Class Review: Writing Activity
- Bring the class together to review their answers.
- Write all students’ names on the board (or use a Google Doc/table). Beside each name, note what they’re doing in the present progressive.
- Display the correct forms as students share their sentences for peer review.
- Concentration Game
- Use the verbs from the review to play a matching game. Students turn over cards to find pairs of present progressive forms.
- Preparation for Final Assessment
Assign students to prepare for the final assessment by practicing how to describe actions in the present progressive.
Day Four: Final Assessment
- Writing Assignment
- Students write a paragraph describing three things they are doing at the moment they take the quiz.
- In a second paragraph, they describe at least five things one or more classmates are doing at that moment.
This structured approach combines visual, oral, written, and interactive methods, ensuring students gain a strong grasp of the present progressive in Spanish. Let me know if you’d like further refinements!
Present Progressive in Spanish Lessons
Teaching the present progressive is one of my favorite topics for Spanish lessons. The context allows for a lot of fun activities and engagement.
I have created a bundle of activities. Below are some ideas for teaching the present progressive in Spanish in your class:
Day One. Start with the PowerPoint presentation.
After you’ve introduced the PowerPoint presentation, do your first set of Immersive Quizzes.
After you’ve completed your first immersive quiz, go to the puzzles, and go over the answers together. The last thing for day one is to hand out the verb chart (with answers). The homework is to prepare the oral presentation/show and tell for the next class.
Day Two. Start with your second set of immersive quizzes.
The next activity is to have them do their oral presentations.
When they’ve completed their oral presentations, have them do charades. You’re going to tear up scrap paper into tiny slips where they can write down a verb in the present progressive. For example, tú estás corriendo. Whatever they’re going to write, they’re going to write it in the tú form. They should give it to you so you can make corrections. After everyone’s completed, they’re writing down their verbs. Again, depending on the size of your class, you might want to have them each do four, or two, or six, or eight- this completely depends on the size of your class. You’ll get lots of duplicates, and so don’t worry about that. At this point it’s really practice and learning the form, that’s your focus. Students will then act these out, so you will hand them a slip (you may need to be corrections). The students will guess what that person is doing, using the right form. They might say él está corriendo. It’s very fun.
Students should be prepared to take the quiz the next day on the chart (blank).
Day Three. Do another set of immersive quizzes.
After the immersive quizzes are over, have the students do an interview. They’re going to create a short list of questions. For example, they might write ¿Qué está haciendo Julia ahora?. I like to do this in pairs or small groups.
When they’re done, I like to bring everyone together. I write down all the students names on the board. You can even take a Google doc and do a table with a space for each student’s name. You can write it as you talk about that student (as in Language Experience Approach), in another column with a blank space to write what they’re doing. Anything where they can see. Technology works, but old-fashioned works just fine too. You’re going to write down the correct forms of the things they say.
After they’ve completed this, play Concentration. Students are going to turn them all over and they’re going to be looking for pairs.
For the next class, students should be prepared for the final assessment on this unit, which is going to be writing one paragraph about three things that they are doing in that moment they are taking quiz, and then another paragraph where they are required to write at least five things that one or more people are doing in class at that moment.