Using Spanish Song Lyrics Efficiently As A Tool For Learning Language
If you want to learn a new language, one of your best choices will be learning Spanish. It's spoken by as many people in the world as there are English speakers. It will make traveling in Latin America a breeze and a more enriching experience. To help you practice, be sure to study some Spanish song lyrics.
Most language teachers have found that songs are an invaluable tool. The lyrics help students learn vocabulary and see grammatical rules in practice. Some songs also expose students to slang. Listening to the songs are a great way of getting used to the sounds of the language and to different regional accents as well.
If you're only starting out, it's a good idea to listen to Mexican songs. These can include the famous traditional ones such as 'Cielito Lindo' or 'La Cucuracha'. Singers whose songs to try as well include Chavela Vargas, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Lila Downs and Marco Antonio Solis. These numbers are in an easy-to-understand accent and are usually slow enough to follow as well.
The music of Cuba is another great choice for you if you're not very proficient in the language yet. One song you'll simply have to learn, since it's indelibly linked to Cuban identity, is 'Guantanamera' with its easy-to-remember words. Another good choice is to listen to the songs made famous in 'The Buena Vista Social Club'.
In Spain, people speak with a very different accent which at first can be a little hard to follow. If you want to listen to songs from this country, it's best to start with ones that have simply, straight-forward lyrics. The very popular Manu Chao is a good choice and his melodies are extremely catchy too.
Among the most difficult Spanish accents are those from Argentina and neighboring Chile. Some people who have been speaking the language as their mother tongue even have trouble understanding Argentinians and Chileans. However, these countries have produced some excellent songs and you may want to try those from the Nueva Cancion folk movement. Mercedes Sosa, who was from Argentina, was a superstar of this genre and for a great source of new words, try her hit 'Gracias A La Vida', which was composed by the Chilean poet and singer Violeta Parra.
You'll also want to try learning songs that you can really dance to. Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony all have recorded in Spanish. There are also artists who are superstars in Latin America even if the English-speaking world doesn't know much about them, such as Juanes from Colombia and Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala. You'll find a wide variety of musical styles as well, from reggae and hip hop to cumbia and merengue, that will have you shaking your hips in no time while singing the chorus.
Most good record stores will have music in Spanish but you'll find a wider variety online. For the words, you can consult the CD sleeve or go to lyrics websites. Some sites will even include a translation in English but it's best to try translating the words yourself first as a way of practicing your skills.
Most language teachers have found that songs are an invaluable tool. The lyrics help students learn vocabulary and see grammatical rules in practice. Some songs also expose students to slang. Listening to the songs are a great way of getting used to the sounds of the language and to different regional accents as well.
If you're only starting out, it's a good idea to listen to Mexican songs. These can include the famous traditional ones such as 'Cielito Lindo' or 'La Cucuracha'. Singers whose songs to try as well include Chavela Vargas, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Lila Downs and Marco Antonio Solis. These numbers are in an easy-to-understand accent and are usually slow enough to follow as well.
The music of Cuba is another great choice for you if you're not very proficient in the language yet. One song you'll simply have to learn, since it's indelibly linked to Cuban identity, is 'Guantanamera' with its easy-to-remember words. Another good choice is to listen to the songs made famous in 'The Buena Vista Social Club'.
In Spain, people speak with a very different accent which at first can be a little hard to follow. If you want to listen to songs from this country, it's best to start with ones that have simply, straight-forward lyrics. The very popular Manu Chao is a good choice and his melodies are extremely catchy too.
Among the most difficult Spanish accents are those from Argentina and neighboring Chile. Some people who have been speaking the language as their mother tongue even have trouble understanding Argentinians and Chileans. However, these countries have produced some excellent songs and you may want to try those from the Nueva Cancion folk movement. Mercedes Sosa, who was from Argentina, was a superstar of this genre and for a great source of new words, try her hit 'Gracias A La Vida', which was composed by the Chilean poet and singer Violeta Parra.
You'll also want to try learning songs that you can really dance to. Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony all have recorded in Spanish. There are also artists who are superstars in Latin America even if the English-speaking world doesn't know much about them, such as Juanes from Colombia and Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala. You'll find a wide variety of musical styles as well, from reggae and hip hop to cumbia and merengue, that will have you shaking your hips in no time while singing the chorus.
Most good record stores will have music in Spanish but you'll find a wider variety online. For the words, you can consult the CD sleeve or go to lyrics websites. Some sites will even include a translation in English but it's best to try translating the words yourself first as a way of practicing your skills.