There are SO many great resources out there related to Winter holiday traditions in Spanish-speaking countries. I know there has been some debate about if holiday celebrations belong in the classroom, but for Spanish teachers, it is the perfect time to dig into intercultural competence, practices, perspectives, and comparisons of the Spanish-speaking world and our own. Read more below...

https://misclaseslocas.com/winter-holidays-spanish-class/

Need fun activities to keep your Spanish 2 students engaged and learning right up until Winter Break? You NEED this bundle! This Spanish 2 holiday activities bundle includes all THREE of my festive Spanish 2 review resources at a savings of 20%! That's 48 task cards, 48 conversation cards, and the super fun Jeopardy-style trivia game! These review activities were thoughtfully designed to give students a well-rounded review of topics covered in Spanish 2 (see list below), all with a festive, wintery theme that students will love. They are perfect for reviewing Spanish 2 concepts with Spanish 2 students before they leave for Winter Break!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spanish-Christmas-Activities-Spanish-2-Holiday-Activities-Bundle-5067143

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/697846904754531993/

Do you have a world‐language student who stands out—someone who’s passionate, curious, and eager to explore new cultures? Nominate them for the California Language Student of the Year Award! This scholarship gives one student a $5,000 award to study abroad next summer through CIEE, with two more runners‐up receiving $1,000 each. It’s a chance for students in grades 9-11 to share their love of language, grow through international experience, and be recognized statewide. Teachers, you can make a real difference—submit your nominee by December 10 and help open the door to a life-changing opportunity.

Join us for this exciting monthly professional learning series designed for world language educators! Each session free for members of CLTA and/or SWCOLT and it's packed with practical strategies and fresh ideas to elevate your teaching.  These webinars (as well as the members from previous years) are recorded and they're available to all members.

📅 Upcoming topics include:

Dec. 10: Streamlining with Smart & Interactive Tools (Nancy Pérez – CA)

More dates and topics through April 2026!  

Register here:

https://clta.net/webinars/

Registration will open soon for SWCOLT 2026: Denver Omni Interlocken on February 19-21 2026, Broomfield, CO! Secure your spot early and take advantage of the Early Bird Rate of $255 through November 30, which includes access to 70+ sessions, the Member Reception, and your SWCOLT 2026 Membership. 

Regular and late registration rates apply after November 30. Students can register for just $125, but space is limited. Don’t forget to add on Thursday’s pre-conference workshops for hands-on learning opportunities. Visit SWCOLT’s website to explore all options and register today! 

Register today here: https://www.swcolt.org/ 

Flangoo is a subscription-based service for digital World Language readers available in Spanish, French, and German!! A sister company of Teacher’s Discovery®, Flangoo creates an affordable solution for World Language teachers who want to offer students a wide range of readers. One Flangoo account gives you and up to 150 students access to an entire virtual Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) library. Try it out! 

How about some quick, fun activities to do with your students in the target language! Let’s start with...

Who's telling the truth?

Have them fill out a survey telling something strange they did as a child. Choose several of those answers and display them on your board or presentation.

This can be played online. Call on 4 people in the class, including the person who wrote the sentence, to read the sentence as if they wrote it.

You ask each person two questions, and they answer, acting as if they wrote it. Then the students type in the chat who they think is telling the truth, but the students wait to send until you say, "Send".

After they send, you ask each actor if they wrote the sentence to reveal the truth-teller. The actor with the most votes gets extra credit. The students who got it right get extra credit.

This is a great game to play with your upper levels, especially now with the fun Among Us game, students have to try to figure out who the imposter is! Here’s an example:

Example: When I was little, I used to hide in the kitchen cupboards.
Questions: Why did you hide in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)
or How old were you when you hid in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)

Who knows you best?

Choose a volunteer and have them select a question to answer (#1-12).

The teacher asks the question, then all of the other students guess what the interviewee's answer is.

They type it in the chat but don't send it. When the teacher says "send", they send it.

The teacher then asks the interviewee to send their answer. Everyone who gets it right gets a point.

Here are some sample questions. You can adapt them to any level, any unit:

• What are you afraid of?

• Where do you like to go on vacation?

• What is it that makes you angry?

• What are you laughing at?

• Do you prefer to cycle, ride a horse, or drive?

• What do you prefer: doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, cleaning the bathroom, or vacuuming?

• At night, do you prefer to play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?

• Who would you like to be lost with on a desert island?

• Approximately how many pairs of shoes do you have?

• Which public transport do you prefer (plane, boat, train, bus, metro, etc.)?

• What is your favorite zoo animal?

• What is your favorite holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, July 4th

Scavenger Hunt:

If you're online, ask students to find something that makes people happy/sad/frustrated etc and show it to the camera. Ask students to find something hard/soft/wet/round/square etc and show it to the camera. Great for all levels and another great way to start some fun, personalized discussions!