In this Spanish for Educators lesson, you will learn 10 Spanish conversation starters to uncover the personal and educational backgrounds of your Spanish Speaking students.
This beginning of the school year topic was suggested by an amazing ESL teacher Lauren. She realized 5 weeks into the school year she needed to discover her student’s educational and personal background in order to better understand them and adjust her instructional plans. If understanding where your students are coming from outside the classroom is a priority for you, watch this mini lesson now!
Here is the Conversation Starters in Spanish that I taught to the Facebook group:
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Objetivo de la lección – Lesson Goal
Educators will learn 10 Spanish questions to help determine the personal and educational background of their students.
10 Preguntas para conocer a sus estudiantes – 10 Questions to Get to Know Your Students
- Welcome – name.
- Where are you from?
- Who lives in your home? How many brothers / sisters do you have?
- What school do you come from? What type of school?
- What do like about school?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- What are you proud of?
- What is something that is challenging for you?
- What do you wish I knew?
- What are your educational goals? What would you like to learn … ?
La importancia de los saludos
OJO – ¡Cultural Note!
Greetings in the Spanish Speaking culture is SÚPER IMPORTANTE!
- En el mundo de hispano hablantes a greeting at the beginning of a conversation is the norm and expected.
- Use a saludo regardless of whether you know them or not.
- Spanish speakers often greet people on the street whereas in North America we often do not make eye contact unless we know the person.
Ejemplo de los saludos – estudiantes
Mirarles a los ojos y decir sus nombres – Look them in the eye and say their names
| Spanish | English |
¡Buenos días, Eliana!  | Good Morning, Eliana |
| Buenos días, Eliana ¿Cómo estás? | Goog Morning, Eliana, how are you? |
| ¡Buenos días, Eliana! ¿Un cinco o un abrazo? | Good morning, Eliana! A high five or a hug? |
| Saludos de animales | Animal greetings |
Bienvenidos – los nombres / Welcome – Names
After the saludos, you will need to get to know the names of the parents and the students. So here are two ways of speaking in Spanish, the formal way and the informal way (Usted Vs. Tú).
Formal Spanish
Use Usted when talking to:
- Padres, madres, familiares – Parents, relatives.
- Acquaintances or unknown people.
- Professional relationship.
- ¿Cómo se llama? Me llamo… – What is your name? My name is…
- ¿Cuál es su nombre? Soy __________ – What is your name? I am…
- ¿Quién es usted? Soy __________ Who are you? I am…
- ¿De donde es usted? Soy de __________ – Where are you from? I am from…
Informal Spanish
Use Tú when talking to:
- Estudiantes.
- Amigos, amigas – Friends
- Parents that are good friends & use tú with you.
- ¿Cómo te llamas? Me llamo…
- ¿Cuál es tu nombre? Soy __________
- ¿Quién eres? Soy __________
- ¿De dónde eres tú? Soy de __________
¿Quién vive en tu casa? – Who Lives at Home?
If you want to get more information about who lives at home, ask these questions. Another option is asking: ¿Con quién vives? (Who do you live with?)
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Quién vive en tu casa? | Who lives in your house? |
| Mis padres | My parents. |
| Mi padre, mi madre | My father, my mother |
| Mis Abuelos | My grandparents |
| Primos, primas | Cousins |
| Tíos, tías | Uncles, aunts |
| ¿Cuántos hermanos / hermanas tienes? | How many brothers/sisters do you have? |
| 1 Hermano | 1 brother |
| 2 Hermanos. | 2 brothers or 2 siblings |
| Hermanastros, hermanastras. | Stepbrothers, stepsisters. |
¿Cómo fue tu escuela anterior? – What Was Your School Like Before You Came to This School?
This question will help you figure out your student’s expectations regarding the school because they will be able to describe the last school they attended and compared with the new one.
| Spanish | English |
| Pública vs Privada | Public vs. Private |
| Grande vs Pequeña | Big vs small |
| Buena vs Mala | Good vs. Bad |
¿Qué te gusta sobre la escuela? – What Do You Like About the School?
| Spanish | English |
| A mi me gusta(n)… | I like … |
| Leer | To read |
| Hacer las matemáticas | Do math |
| La educación física | Physical education |
| Arte | Art |
| Amigos | Friends |
¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? – What Are Your Hobbies?
| Spanish | English |
| Jugar fútbol | Play soccer |
| Jugar con amigos | Play with friends |
| Jugar videojuegos | Play video games |
| Mirar películas | Watch movies |
| Pasar tiempo con amigos | Spend time with friends |
¿De qué estás orgulloso / a? – What Are You Proud About?
| Spanish | English |
| Estoy orgulloso /a de… | I am proud of … |
| Mi familia | My family |
| Mi casa | My house |
| Puedo jugar fútbol muy bueno. | I can play very good football. |
| Me encantan las ciencias. | I love the sciences. |
| Puedo bailar. | I can dance. |
¿Cuáles son algunos de sus desafíos? – What Are Some of Your Challenges?
| Spanish | English |
| Los desafíos: | The challenges: |
| Es difícil leer. | It is hard to read. |
| Las matemáticas. | Math |
| Hacer amigos. | Make friends. |
| Portarse bien en la clase. | Be good in class. |
¿Qué quieres que yo sepa? – What do you wish I knew?
| Spanish | English |
| Quiero que ud. sepa que… | I want you to know that … |
| No tengo tiempo para hacer la tarea. | I don’t have time to do homework. |
| No se leer. | I do not know how to read. |
| No tengo muchos amigos. | I don’t have many friends. |
¿Cuáles son tus metas en la escuela? – What Are Your Goals at School?
Su reto profesional – Your Professional Challenge
- ¿Cómo van a aplicar este vocabulario en su aula?
- ¡Arriésguense, abran la boca y cometan errores!
- ¡Hasta la próxima vez!
