Even though I have explained and repeated over and over why speaking is something I don’t expect, and will not grade, etc. my students still want to speak.
I know they are really, really bad at it, and I know it is wasted class time, as per the research when the conscious mind/monitor takes over. However, when I do give them a chance to speak, I can “feed the need” and give myself an easy break.
This is how I do it: as we do the Reveal, I write the story on the board. I speak in Spanish but write in English following the order of the story [ital. ed.]. So it is written in English as a guide to be followed….
Then at the end of that process, they pair up and I time 20-30 seconds per person to re-tell to each other following the English that is now on the board.
Maybe one or two sound somewhat coherent, but they are happy and I am easily checking a box and having my own brain break.