If you’ve read my blog or listened to Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast, you already know what I say again and again — the essential ingredient for language acquisition is input. That’s it. Mainly comprehensible language that students can read, see, or listen to.
But then comes the big question: what about output?
Output helps students access their internal linguistic system — and it’s also one of the most motivating parts of language learning. We love to see our students using target language to communicate, connect, and create. But… that’s easier said than done.
Because let’s be honest — the affective filter rises fast when students are asked to speak. They worry about making mistakes, getting laughed at, or not finding the right word.
That’s where games come in. Games lower the affective filter, create community, and make output feel fun and natural.
And that’s exactly what we’re talking about in this re-release of one of my favorite conversations on Growing With Proficiency, the Podcast: Episode 10 – “Games That Get Students Talking” with Christina Margiore (aka Super Señora)
Why Games Work for Output
In this episode, Christina Margiore — a high school Spanish teacher from Long Island, NY — shares how she uses games to turn speaking practice from something intimidating into something joyful and low-pressure.
She explains how games like Taboo, Heads Up, and Guess Who help students:
- Build confidence and take risks in Spanish.
- Develop circumlocution strategies — using words they already know to express new ideas.
- Engage even the most hesitant students.
- Give teachers a natural way to listen for spontaneous output without the stress of formal assessments.
Christina reminds us that when students are laughing, competing, and collaborating, they often forget they’re speaking Spanish. And that’s when true communication and acquisition happen.
Christina’s 4 Go-To Games for Output
Taboo.
Choose about 50 familiar words or expressions (never brand-new ones — students must already know them well). Each word goes on its own Google Slide.
Here’s how she plays:
- Split the class into two teams.
- One student stands at the front with their back to the board.
- Their teammates describe the word they see on the screen — in the target language only, no gestures, no English.
- The student in front guesses the word.
- Each correct guess = 1 point.
- If they’re stuck, they can pass — but if they overuse “pass,” the other team gets the point.
Why it works:
Students learn circumlocution — describing something when they don’t know the exact word.
It’s also a quick, informal way for teachers to assess spontaneous speaking without the pressure of a test.
Pro tip: Mix in pop-culture terms, foods, or funny objects (like “TikTok,” “apple,” or “pencil”). It keeps students engaged and gives even novice speakers a confidence boost.
Heads Up!
Once students are comfortable with Taboo, Christina moves to Heads Up, a variation that gets everyone speaking at the same time.
She prints a sheet of eight boxes (two columns × four rows) with vocabulary words or phrases, and gives each pair or small group a set of cards.
Here’s how it goes:
- Partners decide who will describe first.
- One partner holds the card up so they can’t see it; the other gives clues — again, in the target language only.
- They play for one minute and count how many words they guess.
Because everyone’s talking at once, no one feels judged. The volume and energy give students a sense of privacy, and the fear of being “on the spot” disappears.
Differentiation tip: Print different sets on colored paper — green for novice, yellow for intermediate, pink for advanced — without telling students which is which. It lets you challenge each group appropriately without creating hierarchies.
Guess Who — ¿Quién es quién?
Christina’s third game is a nostalgic favorite — Guess Who adapted for Spanish class.
She projects a digital board (around 30 faces with names and nationalities). Students must guess the mystery person by asking yes/no questions:
“¿Tiene el pelo largo?”
“¿Es de Puerto Rico?”
“¿Lleva gafas?”
At first, she models good questions and discusses what makes them effective. Then, one student silently chooses a person, and classmates take turns asking questions to figure it out.
Why it works:
It practices adjectives, descriptions, nationalities, and question formation — but feels like play.
After a few rounds, students often want to create their own boards:
- Teachers and staff in school
- Restaurants or local places
- Cultural icons from the country they’re studying
You can even connect it with Weekend Talk or Star Student Interviews by using students as the characters!
Collaborative Story Writing Challenge
Christina’s final idea combines writing, creativity, and a bit of chaos 😂.
She reuses the task cards from Heads Up. Students work in pairs and draw seven random cards. Then she announces:
“You have five minutes to write the most creative story you can — using all seven words!”
🎶 She sets the tone with fun background music — not calm coffee-shop jazz, but action-movie energy like Mission Impossible.
When time’s up, pairs swap their stories and must continue the new one using whatever words remain. Finally, they read aloud and vote for “most creative” or “funniest” story.
💬 Why it works:
Students write authentically, take risks, and use vocabulary in context. You get a snapshot of their written output without grading mountains of papers.
Pro Tips from Christina and Claudia
- Hype it up! If you’re excited, your students will be too.
- Give them language supports (chat mats, sentence frames, expression lists). Confidence grows when they have the words.
- Observe reluctant students. Sometimes they just need to watch a round before joining in — or they’re quietly asking for help in disguise.
- Repeat successful games. The first time might be messy, but mastery comes with repetition. When you and your students become experts at a few core activities, they get more comprehensible input and feel safer producing output.
Bonus Resource: Language Booster Tool
Christina and I created a free Language Booster Tool to help students keep using Spanish outside the classroom — perfect for long breaks or extra credit activities.
👉 Download it here https://growingwithproficiency.mykajabi.com/spanish-boosters
🎧 Listen & Connect
Listen to the full conversation here:
➡️ Episode 10: Games That Get Students Talking
Connect with Christina online for more output ideas and Spanish classroom resources:
📍 Instagram: @supersenora
🌐 Blog: Super Señora Blog
If you try any of these games, tag @claudiamelliott and @supersenora on Instagram or share in the Growing With Proficiency Facebook Community.
