3 speaking activities based on the topic of fashion and clothing. The instructions for each activity are included as notes on the PowerPoint (Menu>View>Notes).

This is the latest Christmas activity I designed for a Spanish B2 lesson. It consists of an article about a gigantic nativity scene that has been built in Alicante not only as part of the Christmas decorations but also as a way to brake a record Guinness and as a touristic attraction. It is a topic perfect for a debate since there are divided opinions about the money spent on this masterpiece. In such difficult time is it a good idea to spend so much money on it or is it a clever touristic strategy that will generate consumption in the area? This is the way I proceed with the activity but this is just a guide so please feel free to use this resource in the best way it fits your students. First, we read the article and then we work on the vocab they find trickier. There is only one tiny thing I do not explain or translate which is the expression of the headline since is part of activity one. After they get the gist of this piece of news, we move on to activity one. The students look for the meaning of this expression on the Internet so they do a bit of independent learning. Here you will find more info on its meaning: Armarse el belén: This expression is used to say that, in a certain situation, there is a mess, chaos, confusion… Source. We can also add as teachers that this expression is not limited to the festive period and it can be commonly heard all year long. Then, you can proceed with the rest of the questions either by doing some speaking or writing with them. The last ones are especially great to practice the conditional tense and you can even add some subjunctive forms if they feel brave enough. Lastly, you can divide the class in groups and organise a debate on the pros and cons of the massive nativity figures. It could be a great opportunity to teach them some expression in order to express their arguments: Me parece que… ¿Cómo es que…? Si fuera tú… Creo que sería Bueno que… Tienes razón, pero… No digo que no, pero…

This project is one of my favourite creations. Over the last year, I have been gathering several pieces of news on Spain’s current affairs that were connected to the topics my students have to prepare for their A2 Spanish exam. Once I had read each article I did redact a short text (150 words approx.) in my own words with the most relevant info. The result: 36 colourful texts (one for each subtopic) that can be used in many ways. These gap-fill exercises are primarily used as reading material but the students can also practice their speaking skills by debating each piece of news. Most of them are quite controversial and students tend to have strong opinions about these issues which is great! Furthermore, the exercises can also be sent as homework (if you have students who ask for some extra prep to practice at home these are really convenient). I particularly like how easy these are to set as cover material. The cover teachers can easily identify the task and see what it is to be achieved by the students. You can even ask them to translate specific sentences or paragraphs from the texts. The amount of time it took me to prepare this resource is going to be worth it since it can be used for various purposes. All in all great to review grammar and vocabulary. Files included: • Colourful PowerPoint presentation (Keys included) with an interactive menu • Printable Student’s handout • Printable Teacher’s copy with answers All the topics included (see the menu’s image) are those required for AQA’s Spanish (7692). More info: https://mflandbeyond.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/🇪🇸-fill-in-the-gaps-✍🏼/

I have created in this collage a photographic composition that covers all the main topics for the GCSE SPANISH Speaking exam by AQA (8698). You can use this not only the typical speaking exercise for the exam. A fun way to take this as a listening activity would be to give them their mini whiteboards. They are giving their backs to the image projected and only one student that can see the picture would describe to the others this crazy creation. The one that is able to reflect more details in their drawings wins. All the main topics were covered and the student’s reaction was very positive.

Postcards still exist and these are one of those things I would not like to see as a thing of the past any time soon. It was always lovely to receive one from your friends and family while they were abroad or also when you were the one away from your loved ones. It could be a great activity to write some words and decorate this printable as a way to revise the topic of holidays for example or perhaps these could be handy if you want to create an exchange with another school or already have one. This is just the base. Some other options are: Imagine you have been on holiday in Spain and you are writing to a friend about it. Imagine you have won a prize and you are spending an all-included trip in Spain. Imagine you are a local Spaniard who is writing a friend (who soon will be visiting you) to inform him/her about all the amazing plans you have made for him/her. Imagine you are going to slip into a bottle a message written in this postcard and then you will toss the bottle into the ocean. You can also present other messages that have been found in other bottles and make them translate them into the target language. Use it to decorate your classroom, etc. Feel free to add any more ideas in the reviews section! I hope you find this resource useful.

4 pages with questions on the topic of Healthy living and lifestyle (Health and well-being). • Alcohol, tobacco, other drugs • Diet, including eating disorders • The ‘work/life balance’ • Risks to health through accidents

4 pages with over 100 questions on the topic of Media (Television). • TV viewing habits • Range of programmes, eg their appeal and popularity • Range of channels including satellite and internet • Benefits and dangers of watching TV

4 pages with questions on the topic of Media (Communication Technology). • Popularity of mobile phones, MP3 players, etc • Benefits and dangers of mobile phones, MP3 players, etc • Internet - its current and potential usage • Benefits and dangers of the internet

4 pages with questions on the topic of Media (Advertising). • Purposes of advertising • Advertising techniques • Curbs on advertising, eg tobacco, alcohol • Benefits and drawbacks of advertising

4 pages with questions on the topic of Popular culture (Cinema). • Types of film, changing trends • The place of cinema in popular culture • A good film I have seen • Cinema versus alternative ways of viewing films

4 pages with questions on the topic of Popular culture (Fashion/trends). • How we can alter our image • Does how we look define who we are? • Lifestyle and leisure activities • The cult of the celebrity

4 pages with questions on the topic of Popular culture (Music) + 4 PowerPoint presentations (1 for each section). • Types of music, changing trends • The place of music in popular culture • Music I like • How music defines personal identity

A quick revision exercise on comparatives. Each slide has a question and two options. Students must answer using a comparative. Ex. -¿Quién es más alta? -Creo que Kim es más alta que Cheryl. Contents: 10 PowerPoint slides but you can add as many as you like.

4 pages with questions on the topic of Family/Relationships (Marriage/partnerships) • Changing attitudes towards marriage or cohabitation • Separation and divorce • Staying single: benefits and drawbacks • Changing roles within the home

A printable match up activity on the topic of holiday.

A simple set of speaking cards on the topic of the environment. Just print and play! To be honest I love these cards simply because they are so easy to store (can easily fit into the palm of your hand) and the students can take them with them as either homework or practice. Somehow students are keener to work on a small card rather than the normal A4 format for some reason. I guess it looks like less hard work when it's really the same :) .

An activity to work on the vocab of business in Spanish based on an article about another article published in Forbes magazine about the celeb Kim Kardashian and her role as a business woman.

A set of 20 sentences (English-Spanish) for the purpose of practising translation with the year 13.

I was lucky enough to find a story I can relate to most of the topics covered in the AQA A2 exam. It is some info about a place called Auroville (in India) and the idea seems fascinating to me and fortunately my students liked it too so feel free to have a look and use it in your lessons if you find it useful. There is a bit of everything: Short intro, Reading, Listening (+transcription), Speaking, Writing + some activities. Topics that can be included: ENVIRONMENT, THE MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY, CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES. And for that reason I think it is perfect for a quick revision. Comments always welcomed!

This is a very clear article that I used with my year 12 to work on the topic of AIDS. There is also some activities about the text and the answers.