Below are some tried-and-true speaking activities that foster students’ oral proficiency in a world language classroom for grades 9–12. These activities are designed to be interactive, engaging, and cognitively challenging—key for motivating adolescents and helping them progress to advanced levels of speaking.
1. Structured Debates
What it is:
- Students are divided into teams and assigned opposing sides of an issue relevant to the culture(s) of the target language or current events.
- They prepare arguments and take turns presenting their viewpoints in front of the class.
Why it’s effective:
- Encourages higher-order thinking and the use of persuasive language.
- Builds confidence speaking in front of peers.
- Exposes students to a variety of expressions and sentence structures.
2. Socratic Seminars or Fishbowl Discussions
What it is:
- Students are given a text (article, short story, or video) in the target language to study beforehand.
- In class, they form an “inner circle” of discussants and an “outer circle” of observers. The inner circle discusses the text while the outer circle takes notes.
- Roles are then switched, ensuring everyone has a turn to speak.
Why it’s effective:
- Promotes deep discussion and spontaneous use of the language.
- Students learn to listen attentively to peers and respond with thoughtful contributions.
- Develops skills in supporting opinions with evidence.
3. Role-Plays and Simulations
What it is:
- Students act out real-life scenarios (e.g., at a restaurant, job interview, traveling, etc.).
- Can be scripted initially and then move to more spontaneous interactions as students gain confidence.
Why it’s effective:
- Bridges the gap between classroom language and real-world communication.
- Incorporates functional language (e.g., how to make a reservation, ask for directions).
- Encourages creativity and improvisation in the target language.
4. “Speed Dating” Conversations
What it is:
- Desks are arranged in two rows or circles facing each other.
- Students are given a prompt or question. Each pair speaks for a set amount of time before one row/column rotates to a new partner.
- New partners continue with the same or a fresh prompt.
Why it’s effective:
- Maximizes student talk time by ensuring everyone speaks to multiple partners.
- Low-pressure way to practice conversation strategies and question/answer formats.
- Exposes students to a range of accents, speaking styles, and opinions.
5. Presentations & “Teach the Class”
What it is:
- Students prepare short oral presentations on cultural topics, personal interests, or research projects.
- They can use visuals or multimedia to support their spoken content.
- Alternatively, assign students to “teach” a mini-lesson on something they learned or a skill they possess.
Why it’s effective:
- Develops public speaking skills and the ability to organize ideas logically.
- Encourages use of a variety of vocabulary and complex sentence structures.
- Builds autonomy and confidence in self-expression.
6. Collaborative Storytelling
What it is:
- A student starts telling a story in the target language, and after a minute or two, the next student continues, and so on.
- Optionally, add unexpected prompts (images, words, or plot twists) that must be incorporated into the story.
Why it’s effective:
- Encourages active listening, creativity, and impromptu speaking.
- Reinforces use of sequencing words, transitions, and descriptive vocabulary.
- Appeals to students’ imagination, keeping them highly engaged.
7. Guided Conversations with “Question Cards”
What it is:
- Prepare a set of question cards (e.g., “What was your favorite vacation and why?” “If you had to choose one invention to live without, what would it be?”).
- Students draw a card, discuss with a partner or group, then rotate to a new group.
Why it’s effective:
- Provides structured yet open-ended speaking practice.
- Stimulates opinion-sharing and higher-level thinking in the target language.
- Keeps conversation fresh as new cards introduce different topics.
8. Authentic Interviews or “Talk Show” Format
What it is:
- Students take turns being the “host” and the “guest.” The host prepares and asks questions while the guest responds in character.
- Can focus on famous figures from history, pop culture icons, or fictional characters.
Why it’s effective:
- Simulates real-world interview situations.
- Sparks spontaneous question-and-answer practice.
- Encourages students to research cultural or historical context to enrich the conversation.
9. Interactive Group Projects (with an Oral Component)
What it is:
- Projects like creating a mock travel agency ad campaign, designing a cultural festival, or planning an international menu.
- Each group presents their final product and justifies their choices in the target language.
Why it’s effective:
- Necessitates frequent group discussion and decision-making in the target language.
- Integrates multiple language skills (reading, writing, speaking) around a creative task.
- Harnesses collaborative learning and peer support.
Tips for Effective Speaking Based Activities
-
Scaffold & Support
- Provide sentence starters, key vocabulary, and transitional phrases to help students feel more comfortable speaking.
- Give explicit instruction on pronunciation or specialized vocabulary as needed.
-
Encourage a Growth Mindset
- Emphasize that mistakes are a natural part of language acquisition.
- Offer constructive feedback and praise effort to build confidence.
-
Create a Safe Learning Environment
- Set clear expectations for respectful listening and active participation.
- Design rubrics that focus on communicative effectiveness (clarity, fluency, comprehensibility) rather than perfection.
-
Vary the Formats
- Alternate between small-group discussions, whole-class debates, individual presentations, and pair work.
- Variety keeps motivation high and meets different learning preferences.
Speaking proficiency develops when students are given frequent, meaningful opportunities to use the target language in authentic and semi-authentic contexts. By incorporating debates, role-plays, interactive discussions, interviews, and presentations—combined with careful scaffolding—teachers can transform the classroom into a dynamic space where learners practice and polish their oral communication skills.
Sanako is the global-leader in teacher-led language instruction technology. Our software supports language teachers to deliver inspiring and effective speaking-based lessons and activities. If you’d like to find out more about how Sanako’s dedicated language teaching software could transform your approach to language teaching, click here or the banner below to learn more!
