We speak when we have something to say

This school year I am using Story Listening and Reading exclusively.  No grammar drills. No vocabulary practice. No writing. No speaking exercises. In fact not once did I ask them to speak in German. Cue concerned feedback: "But how will they know how to speak?" - "But will they ever speak?" - "How can you speak if you don't practice it?"
The answer is always the same. They will speak when they are ready to. I don't discourage speaking, I just let them choose the timing. It emerges naturally.

Don't think that's true? Meet two of my students. The following videos were recorded at home in response to a voluntary challenge. The challenge was to watch a video from class and take some toys and stuffed animals, rebuild a scene from the story they chose and then take a photo of it. Notice: Again I did not ask for any speaking.

Here is a short description of the two students:
Age: 8yo/ 9yo
Grade: 4th
German: total beginner at start of school year with no prior German experience
School: International School in Germany, language: English
Outside German: no other German classes, little input from life in Germany as they are mostly surrounded by English and native language. Not involved in German teams, clubs, etc.
Home country: India

Here are the videos they recorded:

These videos show what these kids are able to produce after 21 hours of instructions that included 28 stories (535min). The stories the children are retelling can be found here:

1. Ein Geräusch in der Nacht. (left)
2. Das kleine Blau und das kleine Gelb (right)*
   

Of course not every student in class is able to produce the same amount of language, which is always the case, but more and more output is emerging from all students in class during the stories. Students recognize content overlap to other stories and are able to recall the German for it, they predict or simply repeat. And asides from all that as one student said today "We all love coming to your German class!"-- the students have no anxiety about class and love being there.

*Das kleine Blau und das kleine Gelb continued for another 2 minutes that were sent separately and not shown here.