When the students do Interpersonal Speaking assessments with me, I found that they struggled to keep the conversation going because they didn’t know phrases like “Repeat,” “Slow down,” “I agree,” etc. I tried putting those phrases in some activities in class, but they were not remembering them long term. I later tried the “Phrase of the Week” and I finally saw some confident speakers! Here’s what we do: On Monday, I give them a phrase of the week. This past week we did “Estoy de acuerdo” (I agree). I put it on my cart and on the wall in my classrooms. I encourage the students to make a list and write it down. Some do, some don’t. 
To practice at the beginning of class, we pass around a ball. One person says any statement like “El substituto es muy guapo, no?” Then passes the ball to a student of their choice for them to say, “Estoy de acuerdo!” or “No estoy de acuerdo.” I carry a bunch of blank tickets in my pocket. Every time a students uses the phrase correctly in context, they get a ticket. I’ve found that they listen to me more because they are listening for their chance to say it! 
They put their name on the back and put it in a little bucket hanging on my cart. I got my little bucket at Hobby Lobby for like $2 and the magnetic hook from Staples. 
On Fridays, I draw one ticket from the bucket and that student gets a little prize (try to use cultural prizes… Chili lime chips, the little bananas from South America, a woven bracelet, etc). I rarely stick with this for the entire semester, but it’s fun while we do it! I also let the students make these, especially when there’s a field trip and my classes are mostly gone. They come up with the best phrases!
A bulletin board for the current and past phrases:
Here’s a list of phrases I’ve used in the past:
¿Cómo?
¿Qué pasa, calabaza?
No sé
Por supuesto
Basta
Diviértete
Olvídalo
No te preocupes
Mira…
Estoy bromeando
Relájate
Vale la pena
By Units:
movies: hay que verla, qué desastre, de acuerdo
music: dime cantando, cántamelo, genial, Qué pegosa
food: basta, qué rico, pruébalo
family: no me digas
activities: yo también,
making plans: claro, vale
I got most of the supplies at Office Depot, but if you like to shop from home…
Love love love this!! I knew you did the phrase of the week but I think the reward system with the drawing on Friday is sooo clever! 🙂 I’m starting on Monday!
The “Phrase of the Week” idea could also be a great way to teach kids idiomatic phrases or expressions that they might not learn in textbooks. Como “vale la pena” o “entre la espada y la pared”.
Exactly!!
Exactly!!
On another note, you made me think of these posters that are sold on Teacher’s Discovery: http://www.teachersdiscovery.com/Item–i-01-050-Y00237
Easy to make in class too.
I had a Spanish 1 student say “Estoy de acuerdo” to me last week and I was so impressed. I asked her how she had already learned that expression after just one week of class and she told me that it was the Phrase of the Week. I had never heard of this idea before, so I headed right to the classroom the next morning to congratulate my fellow teacher and find out how she was using this great idea in her classes.
I just wanted to let you know that your good ideas are contagious. Students here in small-town North Carolina are using Spanish to communicate and it’s a wonderful thing!
–Anne
How awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Reblogged this on Spanish Tutoring in Asheville, NC and commented:
Frase de la semana!
I love this idea! I started it in my classroom after reading it here with a slight difference– I write it on a small whiteboard that leans against my regular whiteboard. (all the frases that I may use for the year are taped on the back) I write each class name at the bottom of the whiteboard. I teach the frase on Monday, and each time it’s used correctly, the student will put a point next to their class. Once all the classes get a number I determine (like 75), they have a class party. That means music, video activities, games all in the TL. The classes will compete against each other.
Thank you for all you do to help language teachers. I am so very grateful!
Nice twist!
Have been looking for a comprehensive list of phrases of the week by level for some time now. Anyone out there have any suggestions on where to look?
In the comments above, someone put a link to a list. Although I find that they “pop up” based on what we are learning. These just make their conversations more natural sounding.
movies: hay que verla, qué desastre, de acuerdo
music: dime cantando, cántamelo
food: basta, qué rico
family: no me digas
activities: yo también,
making plans: claro, vale
Hi Kara & Megan, Thank you for your great presentation at FLENJ17 this past weekend! You mentioned that there may be a list of all of the “frases de la semana” that you had used with students, would you be able to share that? Thank you for your help!!
Welcome Noemi! The list is up in the post. I looked, but can’t find the original ones that I made. If I run accross them, I’ll add them.