When it's hot and motivation is low, take learning outside! My students use sidewalk chalk to draw giant regional maps of the Spanish-speaking world—then compete in fast-paced games that bring geography to life. It’s active, memorable, and the perfect end-of-year refresh.

Not always—and that’s okay. While we aim to maximize TL use, deep cultural reflection often requires the clarity of a student’s first language. I use a hybrid approach: Spanish for products and practices, English for perspectives. The result? More meaningful connections, better empathy, and stronger intercultural skills.

Want to Start Storytelling with CI—But Have a Required Curriculum?
Good news: you can do both! This post offers five easy strategies for weaving compelling, vocabulary-rich stories into your existing units. From anchor charts and cliffhangers to re-reading games and animated slides, these ideas keep students engaged while reinforcing key grammar and vocab naturally—no major overhaul needed.

Write and Discuss is our favorite low-prep CI strategy—it’s quick, effective, and easy to implement in Spanish or French classes. Students help create 3–5 sentences using target language structures, then read and analyze them together. Want to boost engagement? Try our Write and Discuss Bingo twist to make it fun and keep kids engaged.

Learn how you can create class community and build connections to the target culture by giving your classes class names

Spanish sub plans, Scholastic magazine graphic organizer

Teach about Las Posadas with a slideshow story, a scavenger hunt, and a bingo game - all in comprehensible language even level 1 students can find successful!

Sharing French food with my students is one of my favorite ways to have them connect with the culture. Learn how my students made SUPER EASY Bûches de Noël for Christmas.

Do you want to be able to teach your students about history and culture without sacrificing use of the Target Language? Here is how I was able to do that in my Level 1 8th grade class. Students were able to learn about and compare three historical events IN FRENCH.

What sounds better for Day of the Dead than a scavenger hunt, sugar skull reading project, and a bingo game - all in comprehensible language even level 1 students can find successful!

These spooky French culture lesson about the Catacombes and famous Francophones are perfect for October!

Since I started teaching Spanish, the focus each October was the Día de los Muertos celebrations and traditions from Mexico, but often the beautiful variations in traditions from other countries take a back seat. I wanted to draw light and attention to other cultural events, and chose to begin with Guatemala’s Barriletes Gigantes. I found an incredible authentic resource to help me teach my 8th graders to create their own Barriletes Gigantes, which we then hung up in the classroom.

Using food to teach culture and bring in new experiences to my students