Re-released Episode 22: Making Interpersonal Communication Work: 5 Repeatable Activities That Build Real Conversation with Bethanie Drew

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Interpersonal communication is what our students want most… and what many of us struggle to make happen without it turning into their common language in 10 seconds 😅

In this re-released episode, I’m joined by a friend and outstanding educator and curriculum designer Bethanie Drew to break down five repeatable, low-prep interpersonal activities that build community and keep students supported enough to stay in the target language.

We talk about:

• Fast Five interviews (quick, structured, high-yield)
• Roster interviews that push students beyond their usual partners
• A small-group discussion format that actually works—even in big classes
• A write-first → speak-later scaffold (especially powerful for AP/IB tasks)
• 20-/45-second talk cards to build confidence and fluency over time

This conversation is all about finding the balance between structure and spontaneity, so students can connect, communicate, and grow—sin estrés.

If you want conversations that feel more real, more doable, and more sustainable… hit play 🎧

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Bethanie Drew’s blog – Aventuras Nuevas
Ideas, lesson reflections, and interpersonal strategies for world language teachers
👉 https://aventurasnuevas.wordpress.com/

Growing With Proficiency: The Spanish Teacher Academy
Ongoing support, units, training, and planning for acquisition-driven instruction
👉 https://growingwithproficiency.com/academy