Art and Speaking Skills in a Foreign Language Classroom {Free Printable}

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As a language teacher, any time you can mix culture with language skills you up the amount of learning in your lessons. Last year with one of my most advanced students I started printing off interesting pictures for us to discuss in Spanish. It then occurred to me that we could do the same activity with the great works from various Spanish/Hispanic artists. Not only will my students get exposed to beautiful artwork, but they will also be able to practice their speaking skills.

In order to set up this activity you need a set of questions you can use with any painting and copies of the art itself.  Below you will find a free printable in Spanish of questions you can ask your students in order to get them talking about different paintings. As far as collecting the art you want to use here are several options:

• Art Postcards can be used in small groups or in private lessons. Here are some collections for Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Diego Velazquez, Picasso, and Salvador Dali . 

• You can also use art books to show pictures. 

• You can print them from the web. Here is my pinterest board on teaching art and Spanish. It contains lots of paintings, and I plan on adding more. 

Here is a list of artists/paintings I am planning on using:

• Diego Velázquez {Las Meninas/Tres Músicos}
• Fernando Botero {La Menina,/Terremoto en Popayan}
• Alejandro Xul Solar {Cuidá y Abismos,/Vuell Villa}
• Joan Miró {La Finca,/Caballo, Pipa y Flor Roja}
• Pablo Picasso {El Guitarrista Viejo/La Sopa}
• Diego Rivera {Cargador de Flores/Zapata}
• Oscar Tintaya {More modern Bolivian artist with typical scenes of that area}
• Salvador Dalí {La Persistencia de la Memoria}
• Raúl Soldi {Sarita}
• Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida 

Here is the free printable with questions you can use to discuss the paintings.

Questions for Artwork

Have fun using art to keep your students speaking in Spanish!

Spanish Books for Summer {for Kids}

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Summer is almost upon us. I am looking forward to the warm days filled with sunshine. If you teach Spanish in any capacity to kids, one of the best ways is through children's literature. I have a huge collection of Spanish children's books that I use all the time with my younger students. Reading is such a great way for them to acquire new vocabulary and to improve their listening skills. Here is a list of books for your summer reading...


Salta y Brinca-Dancing frogs at the end of summer!

Una Isla Bajo el Sol - A boy traveling in a boat spies many objects through his spyglass until he reaches an island.

Plumas para almorzar-Backyard birds outwit a cat who ends up with only feathers for lunch.

Arandanos Para Sal-Sal picks blueberries and runs into a bear!

Vamos Froggy-Froggy books are great fun! In this one Froggy goes on a picnic with his dad.

Froggy Aprende a Nadar  -Frogs are supposed to be great swimmers, but froggy doesn't know how! In this story he learns the steps to great swimming and endures an embarrassing moment.

Hello Ocean/Hola Mar- A day at the beach filled with memories.

Si Quieres Ver Una Ballena- I love this sweet book on how to see a whale! See this post with activity suggestions.

¡Un Día Una Señora se Tragó una Caracola!-There once was a lady who swallowed a shell {and other ocean-y things!}

Looking for other seasonal books?

Winter Books
Spring Books
Fall Books

Also, check out these units that would go well with summer...

Las Plantas
La Selva
Las Piratas