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.
You may also want to consider the infectious rhythms of Cuban music. The slow styles such as 'son' are great and the songs from 'The Buena Vista Social Club' are indispensable. One Cuban classic that is simple and will have you singing along in no time is the ever popular 'Guantanamera'.
The Spanish spoken in Spain is a little more complicated to understand. However, as you progress, you may want to try songs from the country where the language originated. A good choice is the music of Manu Chao, since his songs are generally very simple.
Other countries with challenging accents include Chile and Argentina. Even native speakers can have trouble understanding people from these nations. To get used to the sounds, you'll want to start with slower folk ballads such as those from the Nueva Cancion movement. The foremost singer of this movement was Mercedes Sosa from Argentina and one song not to miss is the poignant 'Gracias A La Vida', her biggest hit, which was written by Violeta Parra from Chile. It's a great song for picking up new vocabulary.
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.
You may also want to consider the infectious rhythms of Cuban music. The slow styles such as 'son' are great and the songs from 'The Buena Vista Social Club' are indispensable. One Cuban classic that is simple and will have you singing along in no time is the ever popular 'Guantanamera'.
The Spanish spoken in Spain is a little more complicated to understand. However, as you progress, you may want to try songs from the country where the language originated. A good choice is the music of Manu Chao, since his songs are generally very simple.
Other countries with challenging accents include Chile and Argentina. Even native speakers can have trouble understanding people from these nations. To get used to the sounds, you'll want to start with slower folk ballads such as those from the Nueva Cancion movement. The foremost singer of this movement was Mercedes Sosa from Argentina and one song not to miss is the poignant 'Gracias A La Vida', her biggest hit, which was written by Violeta Parra from Chile. It's a great song for picking up new vocabulary.
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.
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