Get Them Talking with Conversation Cards
Getting students talking in the target language can be tricky. A lot of times they want to revert back to English to talk about what class they have next or they feel nervous getting started. Students need a lot of practice answering questions. I use conversation cards to get them up and moving around while talking in the target language.
Conversation cards are a version of quiz-quiz-trade cards, which are a Kagan cooperative learning strategy. Students get a card and find a partner. They ask their partner the question on their card and their partner answers. Students can check the answer on the back of the card. Then the second student asks their question. They change cards and find a new partner.
Watch this video to get more information about how conversation cards work:
I have cards that I use every unit to practice speaking with the topic that we are learning as well as review cards for the end of the year. This is a very communicative activity that allows students to speak in the target language and gives them support if they are struggling because they have a sample answer ready for them. It helps them stay in the target language (I tell them no English during this time) and give them confidence.
The activity can last as long as students are still using the target language. Because students are exchanging cards, they will keep getting new questions and they will most likely repeat questions to practice again and again.
Most times I will join the conversation, which is a great opportunity for me to listen to students talking, model answers of my own and help give advice to students individually. Today my classes used them to review for the speaking portion of the exam and they couldn't stop talking!
Check out our Ready-to-Print Conversation Cards Here:
Daily Routine Conversation Cards (with preterite and imperfect)
Daily Routine Conversation Cards (with present tense)
