What Do You Do in Spanish Class?

A typical Spanish class

No two classes are identical. A school course, a university class and an evening class for adults will each look a bit different, and the teacher’s approach matters a great deal. But most beginner classes share a similar pattern: a warm-up, some new language, controlled practice, and some freer speaking or reading. Knowing what to expect can make the first lessons less intimidating.

Common activities

• Greetings and warm-up. Many teachers start in Spanish: Buenos días, clase. ¿Cómo están? (Good morning, class. How are you?). You might answer Estoy bien, gracias (I’m fine, thanks) or say how you feel. Some teachers use a routine about the date and weather.
• New vocabulary. Topics often include greetings, numbers, family, school, food, time and daily routines. Teachers use pictures, flashcards, gestures and songs.
• Grammar. Common early topics are gender and plurals (el libro, la mesa), present tense, ser and estar, and question words.
• Pair and group speaking. Students ask and answer questions with a partner, role-play ordering at a restaurant, or interview each other.
• Listening. Short recordings, videos or songs, followed by questions.
• Reading and writing. Short texts, dialogues, and simple paragraphs about yourself.
• Games and activities. Bingo, matching, quizzes or storytelling. Some teachers use cognates (words similar in both languages) to show students how much Spanish they already recognize.
• Culture. Holidays, food, music and facts about Spanish-speaking countries.

The four skills

Most courses develop four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Teachers usually mix them in each lesson. If your class is light on speaking, supplement it; our guide on how to improve your Spanish speaking has ideas.

Phrases you will hear

Phrases you can use

Learning these early lets you stay in Spanish more of the time.

Homework and tests

Homework might include vocabulary lists, workbook exercises, short writing tasks, listening practice or a project. Tests usually check vocabulary, grammar, listening and sometimes a short speaking or writing task. If writing is assessed, review our Spanish writing tips on accents, punctuation and connectors.

How to do better in Spanish class

1. Attend regularly and arrive prepared. Language builds on earlier lessons.
2. Participate, even imperfectly. Speaking in class is practice you cannot get from a worksheet.
3. Review a little every day. Short, regular review tends to work better than cramming; see why consistency matters in learning.
4. Keep an organized notebook of vocabulary and grammar with example sentences.
5. Listen to Spanish outside class. Songs, podcasts and videos for learners.
6. Ask questions when something is unclear, and ask the teacher for extra resources.
7. Do the homework actively. Say answers aloud, not only in your head.
8. Use a book for extra practice. See our list of Spanish books for beginners.

What are some classes in Spanish?

If you are asking what school subjects are called, here are common ones:

Example: Mi clase favorita es la música. (My favorite class is music.)

The 80/20 rule and the “super 7”

In class you may hear that a small number of common words give you much of the language. Some teachers use a name like the “super 7” for a short list of very frequent verbs they want students to master. Lists differ from teacher to teacher, so there is no single official version. Ask your teacher what list they use. In most cases it will feature verbs like ser, estar, tener, ir and querer. These are good to practice until they feel automatic.

Going beyond class

A class gives structure and feedback, but progress also depends on practice between lessons. For a plan that combines class with self-study, see our guide on how to really learn Spanish.