Future Tense Spanish Lessons To (Hopefully) Spark Joy
Of all the verb tenses we teach in Spanish class, the future tense is one of many a teacher’s absolute favorite—and it tends to be a fan favorite for students, too. By the time they reach this point, they’ve usually survived the roller coaster of present, preterite, imperfect, and maybe even subjunctive. After all that chaos, the simplicity and predictability of the future tense feels like a breath of fresh air.
Why Students Love the Future Tense
Let’s be honest: Spanish has a lot of tricky tenses. But the future tense is refreshingly regular—for the most part. Once students learn that all they need to do is attach endings to the full infinitive, they realize it’s actually manageable. Even the nine irregular verbs don’t overwhelm them.
Kick Off With Fun: El Futuro Fortune-Telling Game
Introduce the future tense with a little drama and a lot of fun. Call it “El futuro” and it sets the stage for comprehensible input (CI) and student buy-in.
What it looks like:
- Put on a scarf and pull out a glowing ball (a novelty toy, but a flashlight and plastic bowl will do the trick!).
- Go into “fortune teller” mode and give each student a mini prediction about their future—all in Spanish.
This context gets them hearing future tense structures without pressure. It’s funny, meaningful, and full of repeated input.
Teach the Structure in Context
Once they’ve had some input, explain how the tense works. Start by telling them what you think will happen in your future, emphasizing the “yo” form (e.g., viajaré, tendré, comeré). Then write some of these sentences on the board.
If you have a budding linguist in the room, invite them to guess the pattern. If not, iintroduce the endings chart directly. Sometimes, you might turn it into a quick puzzle or matching activity to spark curiosity.
Predict Your Own Future
Next, students shift the focus to themselves. They make predictions about their own futures using the future tense. They can:
- Record videos
- Submit Google Docs
- Write on old-fashioned paper
Then move on to the “tú” form, with students predicting their classmates’ futures. (“Tendrás cinco hijos.” / “Viajarás por el mundo.”) You can collect these in a Google Doc and share out, or have a live class session for laughs and feedback.
Bring in the Magic 8 Ball
Add a twist with this fun, Spanish-language Magic 8 Ball tool:
https://spinthewheel.io/es/magic-8-ball-online
Let students ask their own questions about the future and react to the ball’s answers using the future tense. It’s a creative, interactive break that reinforces input.
Explicit Instruction Still Matters
After plenty of CI and play, bring it back to explicit grammar instruction. Students fill in a future tense verb chart, starting with “yo” forms and eventually moving through all subjects. The structure and repetition help students develop early mastery.
Yes, it’s a little old-school—but it works.
Practice with Purpose
Use the completed charts during lessons to:
- Conjugate new verbs
- Fill in practice exercises (from the text or teacher-created)
- Do group activities like fortune-teller skits or cootie catcher predictions
A popular review game involves students creating fortune readings for each other or for historical figures, celebrities, or fictional characters. It’s a fun way to apply the tense in varied contexts.
Wrap-Up Writing & Quiz
To end the unit, assign a short writing task:
“Write your predictions about the future of the world.”
This could include climate, technology, careers, or anything they’re curious about.
Follow up with a quiz that mirrors the same chart they filled out for notes. It’s familiar, scaffolded, and supports success. Students walk away feeling confident with their understanding and use of the future tense.
Here’s a chat-style activity on Canva that your students will love:
Final Thoughts
Teaching the future tense doesn’t have to be dry or textbook-driven. With a mix of storytelling, role play, charts, tech tools, and personalization, you can turn this unit into one of the most enjoyable—and effective—moments of your year.
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.
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