SONGS IN SPANISH
SONGS ALL SPANISH STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW
Clichés? Some may be, but your students still need to know these songs. Why? Because these songs will be around long after most of the latest pop tunes are forgotten. In fact, these songs may be the only specific content your students will remember from your class in 15 years. They’ll also be able to sing along with mariachi bands to the amazement of friends and family, and feel like superstars.
CABEZA HOMBROS RODILLAS Y PIES (Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes) Introduce the body parts with classical TPR movements and then start signing this song with actions. The vocabulary really sticks that way.
EL JOQUI POQUI (The Hokey Pokey) Reinforce the body parts vocabulary from the previous song with this catchy tune. The fun movements are irresistible to most students.
LOS COLORES CANCION Reinforce the words for colors with these lyrics to a well-known tune.
SONGS–Dia de los Muertos & La Llorona Start teaching these songs a week or two before Día de los Muertos.
ONE PAGE “ADS” FOR THE CLASSROOM DOOR
You know those one page ads you see taped to posts and stapled to bulletin boards, especially on college campuses? The ones with the little tear-off strips? I have been experimenting with some funny ones and putting them in Spanish. The idea here is to use high frequency words (sheltering the vocabulary, but not the grammar) in a fun way to get students’ attention and to get them to read it over and over because it is so ridiculous, funny or stupid. They are also great conversation starters once students are in the classroom.
DERECHA Y IZQUIERDA POSTER
Check to see if students understand left & right, as well as their abstract thinking. Will this really avoid traffic jams at the classroom door? Not if they actually understand and follow the directions!
HAS VISTO ESTE GATO
Another cat poster. Could this be the continuation of the old “Cat Story” by Blaine Ray?
HELLO HOLA LIONEL RICHIE & WALDO
This one has Lionel Richie giving Waldo a dirty look.
Hello Hola Lionel Richie
This one is Lionel Richie alone (Lionel who?) with the lyrics to “Hello?” in Spanish for students to tear off.
SE BUSCA AYUDANTES
Every evil genius needs minions! Join up!
QUISIERAS TENER UN PAPELITO
Who doesn’t need a little tiny lift?
ES ESTO TU GATO
Mistaken identity cat.
If you can not read Spanish, you can find the translations to the posters here.
MORE FUN STUFF
Here is an activity sheet based on a classic Star Trek the Next Generation episode, that is dearly loved by language teachers. IN this episode, Captain Picard learns to communicate with an alien captain via storytelling and shared metaphors (or more precisely, analogies and strategies). Show the episode to your class when you have a sub, or just can’t…
This activity is referenced (of all places) on the German Wikipedia page about Star Trek!? Check it out here. The link for this activity is at the bottom of the page in the Einzelnachweise Bearbeiten section.
Eres Tu Valentine’s Day Activity
This is sort of an “Occupy Valentine’s Day” activity for the 99% of students that do not have a romantic partner and feel awkward and unwanted on Valentine’s Day. It includes the original song Eres Tú by the Spanish singing group Mocedades with guitar chords, 2 cloze activities for the original song, and lists of disagreeable words in Spanish to help students make up new, non-romantic lyrics.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES
Spice up your stories with these unusual places in the USA that actually exist.
Nicknames in Spanish
Enough with Paco and María already! Give students that want a nickname a meaningful and descriptive one.