Exploring Spanish Greetings

Curriculum Alignment

Subject: Languages
Key Stage: 2 (Year 6)
Focus Area: Spanish – Listening, Speaking, and Cultural Understanding (Aligned to the UK National Curriculum: "Pupils should develop accurate pronunciation and intonation, and engage in conversations, ask and answer questions, and express opinions.")

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, students will:

1. Be able to confidently say and respond to basic Spanish greetings (e.g. "¡Hola!", "¿Cómo estás?").
2. Develop accurate pronunciation through guided practice and interactive activities.
3. Understand the cultural significance of greetings in Spanish-speaking countries.

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Resources Required

• Flashcards with written phrases in Spanish and images (e.g. "¡Buenos días!" with a picture of a sun).
• Props or accessories for role-playing (e.g. hats, scarves, name tags).
• Whiteboard and markers for brainstorming.
• Sticky notes (30 per group).
• A bell, tambourine or other signal tool to indicate transitions.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Hook – "Spanish Greetings Live!" (5 minutes)

• Greet the class in Spanish: "¡Hola, clase! ¿Cómo estáis?"
• Write “¡Hola!” on the board and ask students to guess its meaning.
• Give a quick cultural insight: Explain how greetings are often accompanied by friendliness and sometimes physical gestures (e.g. handshakes or cheek kisses in some countries) in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Outcome: Students feel immediately engaged and begin thinking about language in a cultural context.

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2. Key Phrases Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Listening Activity:

   • Introduce key greeting phrases with correct pronunciation. Start with:
     • "¡Hola!" (Hello!)
     • "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?)
     • "¡Buenos días!" (Good morning!)
     • "¡Buenas tardes!" (Good afternoon!)
     • "¡Adiós!" (Goodbye!)
   • Say each phrase aloud and have students repeat after you twice. Speak slowly and with expression to model intonation.

2. Matching Game (Interactive):

   • Use flashcards: Display each phrase alongside images.
   • Randomly point to images and ask the class to shout out the corresponding greeting as a group.

Outcome: Students begin to associate words with their meanings and practice speaking confidently.

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3. Pair Work – "The Greeting Challenge" (15 minutes)

1. Role Play Setup:

   • Split the class into pairs and hand out props (e.g. hats, scarves, name tags). Each student pretends to take on a persona (e.g. a tourist visiting Spain).

2. Partner Instructions:

   • Student A greets Student B using a phrase they’ve learnt.
   • Student B responds and then asks, "¿Cómo estás?", to which Student A replies (e.g. “Estoy bien” – I’m good).
   • After two turns, switch roles.

3. Teacher Monitoring:

   • Circulate around the room, listening for correct pronunciation and offering support as needed.

4. Timed Challenge:

   • After practising, introduce a game element: Each pair must exchange as many accurate greetings as possible in one minute. Keep a fun tally on the board!

Outcome: Students build confidence in applying the greetings conversationally while having fun.

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4. Cultural Exploration – "Sticky Note Wall" (8 minutes)

1. Fast Facts Sharing (Teacher-led):

   • Briefly explain how different Spanish-speaking countries have unique greeting customs (e.g. in Spain, two cheek kisses; in Mexico, a single cheek kiss or handshake).
   • Highlight that spoken greetings may differ regionally, making cultural context important.

2. Reflection Activity (Student-led):

   • Divide students into small groups and give each group some sticky notes.
   • Ask them to think of a unique British greeting or expression (e.g. "How are you?" or "Alright?"). Write each one on a sticky note.
   • Invite them to translate their chosen British greeting into Spanish using the phrases they’ve learned today. Stick their notes on a designated "Cultural Connections Wall" in the classroom.

Outcome: Students explore cultural differences and think critically about the relationship between language and culture.

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5. Consolidation – "Spanish Superstar!" (5 minutes)

• Pop Quiz: Ask rapid-fire questions such as:

  • "What’s the Spanish word for ‘Goodbye’?"
  • "How do you ask someone how they’re feeling in Spanish?"

• Reward correct answers with verbal praise or small stickers.

• Circle Practice: End the lesson in a circle, using the bell or tambourine to signal who has a turn. Each student must greet the person next to them in Spanish, using:

  • "¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?"
  • The next student responds (e.g. "¡Hola! Estoy bien") and continues the pattern until everyone has participated.

Outcome: Students reinforce their learning by speaking and hearing the language one final time, with peer-to-peer interaction.

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Assessment Criteria

• Observe students’ ability to pronounce the greeting phrases confidently.
• Monitor their participation in the pair work and circle activity.
• Review accuracy of responses during the pop quiz and group discussions.

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Differentiation Strategies

1. For Advanced Learners:

   • Encourage them to add more to their responses by including extra details (e.g. “Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú?”).
   • Provide them with additional, optional phrases like “¡Buenas noches!” (Good night).

2. For Less Confident Learners:

   • Pair them with supportive peers during practice.
   • Allow them to use the flashcards as visual aids while speaking.

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Homework Task

Ask students to greet someone at home in Spanish today and report back next lesson on what they said and how the person responded.

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Teacher's Reminder: Celebrate every small success – Spanish greetings are just the beginning of a lifelong adventure in language! ¡Buena suerte!