¡Feliz Año Nuevo! The new year is perfect for focusing, goal setting, and easing students back into learning Spanish after winter break. One activity that does it all is writing New Year's Resolutions in Spanish—a fun lesson for teaching Spanish class students how to set goals for the year.
This printable Propósitos worksheet is adaptable for varying proficiency levels, easy to implement, and hits many teaching goals. Students write about meaningful topics (their own lives!), practice the future tense, and work on simple sentence structure using present tense verbs—all while setting goals and starting great conversations.
Why Use New Year's Resolutions in Spanish Class?
It is a great way to start the new year!
Practice the Future Tense in Spanish: students use ir + a + infinitive and the simple future tense (viajaré, estudiaré, no comeré) and the verb querer
Scaffolded for Various Levels: with or without sentence starters (Voy a..., Quiero...)
Learn About Students: Discover their goals, interests, and dreams.
Build Connections and Classroom Community
Build Fluency
Easy to Adapt and Reuse: updated every year and can be used any time of year
Fun and Engaging: Students love writing resolutions!
Use as an Informal Writing Assessment: gauge their writing abilities
Encourage Personal Growth: have students think about academic & personal goals
Makes a Beautiful Bulletin Board: showcase their work
Use as a Speaking Prompt: Pair students to share their goals by asking:
¿Cuál es tu meta favorita? and ¿A dónde viajarás?
How to Get Started
Warm-up and Review.
Discuss: ¿Qué es un propósito de Año Nuevo?
Write examples of resolutions on the board using the future tense:
Voy a estudiar más español.
No voy a pasar tanto tiempo en mi teléfono.
c. Viajaré a la playa
Share the Spanish New Year's Resolutions activity with students.
2: Students write 2 new goals
0: Write something you will not do
2: Write 2 places you'd like to visit
5: Write 5 different things you'd like to do (6 in 2026, 7 in 2027...)
Provide scaffolding
Beginners: use the sentence starters, provide a vocabulary list, or word bank
Intermediate: use complete sentences or give a reason
Advanced: challenge students to write a paragraph
Variations
Celebrity Resolutions: Write resolutions for a famous person or character.
Lionel Messi: Voy a ganar más campeonatos.
Pablo Picasso: Pintaré más obras de arte.
Class Goals: Brainstorm group goals.
Vamos a hablar más español.
Art Integration: Illustrate one of their goals.
Why You Need To Try It
The Spanish New Year's Resolutions activity is more than a grammar exercise—it helps build community, gives you insights into your students, and sets a positive tone for the semester. It
Practices key grammar.
Encourages personal reflection.
Sparks meaningful conversations.
Provides insight into your students' lives.
is FUN!Â
What Spanish Teachers Are Saying
"I have used this resource 3 years in a row with my level 3 Spanish class when
we get back from break in January, and it's always a hit!" -Creative Passions
"Such an easy-to-prepare and very engaging activity for my students.
They loved it and our work is proudly on display in our room." -Megan M.
"This was a perfect first day back to school activity!" -Senora Parkin
This activity is sure to become a class favorite. What better way to kick off the new year?
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
More New Year's Activities:
