This study investigated how questioning strategies impact language learner performance. Specifically, it explored how questioning strategies influence (i) verb production and subject-verb agreement in the target language, and (ii) learner confidence in completing tasks without translation software. Sixty-eight novice language learners enrolled in a high school Spanish I course participated. The students were divided into two groups. After a pretest, one group completed an activity with divergent (open-ended) questions, while the other group did the same activity with contingent (either/or) questions. Participants then completed a posttest and rated their temptation to use translation software. Writing on the pre- and posttests was evaluated for verb production, verb conjugation, and subject-verb agreement. Results show that as compared with divergent questions, contingent questions (i) help students produce significantly more conjugated verbs and more accurate subject/verb agreement, and (ii) significantly reduce the temptation to rely on translation software.