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.
Music from Mexico is perfect when you're still a beginner. This is because the Mexican accent is generally easy to understand and you'll find plenty of songs that are slow enough so you can follow the words. The ranchera songs of Jose Alfredo Jimenez and Chavela Vargas are good choices, as are traditional songs such as 'La Cucuracha' and 'Cielito Lindo'. You can also try popular contemporary singers like Lila Downs or Marco Antonio Solis.
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.
If your language skills have started to improve, you may want to try accents that are more challenging. Argentinians and Chileans have distinctive accents that can be difficult even for native speakers from other parts of Latin America. Therefore, it's best to listen to songs from the folk movement known as the Nueva Cancion. Its most famous singer was the brilliant Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa, whose greatest hit, 'Gracias A La Vida', was written by the Chilean Violeta Parra.
As you become more proficient, it's time to challenge yourself with faster songs. You'll soon be belting out the words while dancing to cumbia, reggae, merengue or rock. Some good rock musicians to try are Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala, Perrozompopo from Nicaragua and Juanes from Colombia. You can also look for the Spanish-language work of Marc Anthony, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin.
CDs of Spanish music are available at good record stores, most notably where there is a large Hispanic community. The CD sleeves often contain the lyrics to the songs. Another option is to find songs online and go to a lyrics website for the words. Some sites will also provide translations of the words.
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.
Music from Mexico is perfect when you're still a beginner. This is because the Mexican accent is generally easy to understand and you'll find plenty of songs that are slow enough so you can follow the words. The ranchera songs of Jose Alfredo Jimenez and Chavela Vargas are good choices, as are traditional songs such as 'La Cucuracha' and 'Cielito Lindo'. You can also try popular contemporary singers like Lila Downs or Marco Antonio Solis.
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.
If your language skills have started to improve, you may want to try accents that are more challenging. Argentinians and Chileans have distinctive accents that can be difficult even for native speakers from other parts of Latin America. Therefore, it's best to listen to songs from the folk movement known as the Nueva Cancion. Its most famous singer was the brilliant Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa, whose greatest hit, 'Gracias A La Vida', was written by the Chilean Violeta Parra.
As you become more proficient, it's time to challenge yourself with faster songs. You'll soon be belting out the words while dancing to cumbia, reggae, merengue or rock. Some good rock musicians to try are Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala, Perrozompopo from Nicaragua and Juanes from Colombia. You can also look for the Spanish-language work of Marc Anthony, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin.
CDs of Spanish music are available at good record stores, most notably where there is a large Hispanic community. The CD sleeves often contain the lyrics to the songs. Another option is to find songs online and go to a lyrics website for the words. Some sites will also provide translations of the words.