Boost interpersonal speaking skills with this speed conversations world language activity. Students rotate through short, timed dialogues to introduce themselves, discuss personal topics, and stay in character using the target language. Includes a teacher guide, student conversation mat, useful phrases, setup instructions, extensions, and a detailed speaking rubric—perfect for building fluency and real-world communication.

Teacher Guide

Objective

Students will engage in short, timed conversations using the target language to introduce themselves, discuss personal topics, and react naturally to their partner’s responses.

Setup

Materials
- Character cards (use your existing profiles or have students create their own)
- Speed Conversation Mat (below)
- Timer
Preparation
- Review or pre-teach key vocabulary and sentence frames.
- Decide whether students will be themselves or “in character.”
- Arrange chairs in two circles (inner and outer) or two rows facing each other.
Timing
- Each round lasts about 3 minutes.
- After each round, students rotate and begin a new conversation.
Extension Options
- After the activity, have students:
  - Write 5–6 new words or expressions they learned.
  - Write a short reflection about two “people” they met.
  - Record a short summary video or voice note introducing one of their new “friends.”
Make It Fun
- Encourage students to dress up, use name tags, or add props to stay in character.

Assessment Rubric (1–5 Scale)

Category	5 – Excellent	4 – Good	3 – Satisfactory	2 – Needs Improvement	1 – Incomplete
Participation	Actively speaks in every round; asks follow-up questions	Participates fully in most rounds	Participates but with limited effort	Rarely speaks or relies heavily on English	Does not participate
Language Use	Stays entirely in target language; natural flow	Mostly target language; a few lapses	Some English; basic sentence structure	Frequent English use	No attempt to use target language
Comprehension & Responses	Understands and responds meaningfully	Understands most questions	Understands with some difficulty	Struggles to understand or respond	Does not respond
Creativity / Engagement	Expressive, imaginative, and stays in character	Stays mostly in role; some creativity	Basic engagement	Minimal effort or role-play	No role-play attempt

Student Conversation Mat

Speed Conversations

Goal:
Use the target language to meet new people, talk about yourself or your character, and practice real conversation skills.

1. Introduction

Hi, my name is… What’s your name?
Where are you from?
What do you like to do in your free time?

2. Conversation Topics

A. Family and Friends

Do you have brothers or sisters? What are their names?
Do you have a pet? What is it like?

B. School or Work

What do you study or where do you work?
Do you like your school/job? Why or why not?

C. Hobbies

What kind of music do you like?
Do you play any sports or instruments?

D. Travel and Culture

Have you traveled to other countries? Where?
What is your favorite food from your country or culture?

3. Useful Phrases

I don’t understand. Can you repeat, please?
Interesting—tell me more!
That’s awesome!
What a coincidence! Me too.

4. Goodbye

It was nice to meet you!
I hope we can talk again soon.
Good luck with your next conversation!

Reflection (after all rounds)

Write three new words or phrases you learned:

Write about one interesting person you met:

Building Proficiency for World Language Learners: 100+ High-Interest ActivitiesDiscover over 100 dynamic activities to make world language learning interactive and fun. I wrote this book with some of my favorite activities for educators aiming to build proficiency with high-impact strategies.
Learn more and get your copy here.

5 Weeks of No and Low Prep Fun
Need quick, engaging activities for your class? This free guide includes 25 no-prep and low-prep ideas to save time while keeping students excited about learning.
Download your free copy now.