Spanish classroom activities that combine language practice with study skills help students improve both their Spanish and their habits. Below you will find a short Spanish transcript of everyday study advice followed by clear English explanations, classroom activity ideas, and a follow-up task that asks students to use the present subjunctive to give advice.
Hola, hoy voy a hablarles sobre mis consejos para ser un buen estudiante. Primero, recomiendo que siempre asistas a tus clases. Recomiendo que los estudiantes anoten toda su tarea en una agenda. También recomiendo que los estudiantes escriban las fechas importantes en su agenda, como exámenes, vacaciones y cosas así. Recomiendo que los estudiantes tomen apuntes. Recomiendo que los estudiantes graben las clases cuando sea posible. Recomiendo que los estudiantes tengan un horario de estudio. Recomiendo que los estudiantes sean amables con los demás, pero al mismo tiempo recomiendo que los estudiantes sean honestos sobre sus opiniones y también cuando piensen que necesitan ayudar a otro estudiante cuando las cosas no van bien. No recomiendo que los estudiantes piensen demasiado sobre el equilibrio entre opiniones honestas y conflictos con otros estudiantes. Es posible vivir en paz con personas que no comparten nuestras opiniones. Recomiendo que los estudiantes también tengan una actitud positiva sobre sus estudios. ¿Y qué consejos tienes tú para ser un buen estudiante?
Key study tips explained (in English)
These short, practical recommendations are excellent material for Spanish classroom activities because they are everyday actions students can practise describing, advising on, and role-playing.
Attend classes
Showing up consistently is the foundation of learning. Encourage students to talk about routines in Spanish: for example, “Siempre asisto a clase los lunes.” Use simple present tense at first, then move to advice forms.
Use a planner for homework and dates
Writing homework and important dates down reduces stress. Practice phrases like “Anota la tarea” or “Escribe la fecha del examen.” This makes a natural link between organization and language practice.
Take notes and record lectures
Note-taking cultivates focus. Recording (with permission) helps review. Classroom task idea: listen to a short audio, take notes, and summarise aloud in Spanish.
Create a study schedule
Plan study sessions and stick to them. Have students create and present a weekly schedule using time expressions in Spanish.
Balance kindness and honesty
Students should be kind but honest when offering help. Practice role-play conversations where one student asks for help and the other responds kindly and clearly.
Activity: Give advice using the present subjunctive
This follow-up task asks learners to use the present subjunctive to give advice—perfect for practising recommendation structures in realistic contexts.
- Introduce the structure: recomendar/aconsejar + que + [present subjunctive].
- Provide model sentences:
- Recomiendo que estudies una hora cada día. (I recommend that you study one hour each day.)
- Aconsejo que grabes las clases cuando puedas. (I advise that you record lectures when you can.)
- Pair activity: Students exchange problems (e.g., “No tengo tiempo para estudiar”) and write three pieces of advice using the subjunctive.
- Share and justify: Each student reads their advice aloud and explains briefly why they chose it.
Suggestions for teachers
- Create mini-lessons that combine the advice vocabulary with grammar drills on the subjunctive.
- Turn planner creation into a project: students design a Spanish-language planner page and present it.
- Use peer feedback circles to practise kindness and honest opinions in Spanish.
These exercises make Spanish classroom activities meaningful: students practise grammar while building real study skills. Try the subjunctive advice activity next class and notice how quickly useful language becomes part of everyday habits.
Looking for more ideas?
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