Inside: Save time & energy finding authentic songs for your Spanish class with SpanishPlaylistParty.com. Authentic songs in Spanish sorted by theme.
Authentic Music in Spanish Class
Using authentic songs in your Spanish class is always a great way to complement your lessons and get students excited about learning. When you find just the right catch song to bring into class, students will be practicing Spanish in their heads for days.
You know that I have been posting about using authentic music in Spanish class for over a decade. Below are many ways I have posted about using music in Spanish class. Mis Clases Locas has become a go-to place for current Spanish music. I have it covered for music to use for weekly music routines and current Spanish class music brackets.
- Spanish Class Music Ideas
- Música miércoles
- Baile viernes!
- Hispanic Heritage Month Music Bracket
- mania musical – March Music Madness
Finding Authentic Songs in Spanish That Fit a Theme
I usually share about general music in Spanish for routines and music brackets.
But, if you are looking for a perfect song in Spanish to complement a specific lesson theme, it can be very time-consuming. Usually, this involves digging around for hours to find the right blog post or playlist on Spotify or YouTube with songs related to your class’s current topic. When you finally find a song, then you need specific activities for using that song with your students.
The founder of SpanishPlaylistParty.com approached me to check out his new website that aims to solve this Spanish teacher challenge. While I may be compensated, as always, all opinions are my own.
Finally, the new website SpanishPlaylistParty.com solves both of these challenges. It makes it much easier to find authentic songs in Spanish for a specific theme and use them in your classroom. Here are some fun, free ways you can use SpanishPlaylistParty.com with your students.
What is SpanishPlaylistParty.com?
SpanishPlaylistParty.com is a website to help Spanish teachers find and use authentic songs to complement their lessons. The site is built around playlists and currently has a variety of teacher-curated playlists which each have their unique theme.
For example, there’s a playlist just for learning clothing and shopping vocabulary called “La Ropa.” There is another for learning about family vocabulary called “La Familia.” This site would be especially helpful if you are tied to a textbook or specific traditional themes.
The best part is that clicking a song in the playlist will take you to a page where you can watch the music video. Here you can follow along with the lyrics and translations, which you can turn on or off.
Many of the songs even come up with their ready-made quizzes. You can use these quizzes to learn new vocab and grammar from the song.
Activity Ideas using SpanishPlaylistParty.com
Using Songs as a Fun Bell Ringer Activity
You know I love using music as a Bell Ringer or Routine. Songs are a great way to get students’ attention when they first come into class and to introduce them to the topic of the day.
With SpanishPlaylistParty, you can find the playlist corresponding to your current topic. Then you can pick your favorite song and play it at the start of class or for Música miércoles.
The site has a fun feature called “Song of the Day.” This does the searching for you and features a new song every day. Students could check out the song of the day for a Brain Break or fast finisher.
Longer Class Spanish Song Activity
Another possible variation of this idea is to use scaffolding techniques to slowly introduce new vocab and grammar for the song. This works well if you are using a song to teach or reinforce a specific theme you need to cover.
For example, play the song without translations as students come in. Then, the next time through, have them follow along with the lyrics and their translations as they watch the music video. Finally, students can see what they learned by doing the accompanying quiz. The quizzes end in a fun confetti firework explosion.
Song Safari Activity – Create a Playlist
SpanishPlaylistParty can also help students find songs they love and that get them excited about learning Spanish. That’s why the site has a neat feature where teachers can collaborate on a playlist with their students.
All teachers need to do is create an account. Then press the “Create a New Playlist” button. Teachers can share the link to the playlist with their students.
A choice homework assignment could be for students to find a song they enjoy in Spanish and add it to the classroom’s new playlist. This would also work out well for a fast finisher extension at the end of class or after a quiz.
My Review
To be honest, when I was approached about SpanishPlaylistParty I was skeptical. I pride myself on finding excellent appropriate & authentic songs in Spanish.
Tons of playlists exist for songs in Spanish on Spotify and YouTube. I have curated many of my own YouTube playlists for years.
The value that I see in these playlists is the organization by theme. SpanishPlaylistParty would be especially helpful for those tied to a curriculum and looking to spice up a textbook or traditional theme. It could also work well to review for vocab in the AAPPL test. It gives ideas for songs based on nature, free time, health, university, etc.
The downside is the free version is quite limited. You only get about five songs per topic. Only one song per topic has additional lesson activities. Also, there are not that many playlists yet. I know there are plans to add more.
I know that when I pick songs to use in my music resources, I spend hours vetting their appropriateness. Even then teachers in certain school cultures find things they would not want to use with their students in songs. I do not know what kind of vetting process these lyrics, songs, and videos go through to be included. So, as always, please preview and song and video before playing them for students. You are the expert on your exact situation, classes, and school.
Finally, I enjoy the random song of the day activity. It brings up songs students and teachers might not normally think of. I like that as an option for an extension any day.
SpanishPlaylistParty FAQS
Is SpanishPlaylistParty.com FREE?
Yes, SpanishPlaylistParty.com is free to use and everything you need for the activities mentioned here can be found for free on the site.
There is a Premium subscription option ($5.99/mo). This gives access to all songs in each playlist and all lessons on the site. New playlists and lessons are added constantly.
Just for you! Use the code CLASESLOCAS at checkout to get the first month free of the premium subscription.
Which Authentic Songs Have Lesson Activities?
Songs with lessons available are always at the top of playlists and are clearly labeled. SpanishPlaylistParty is adding new lessons all the time. If you want to request that they add a new lesson for that song you can email them.
Can I Create Authentic Song Lessons?
No, currently quizzes on the site can only be created by the SpanishPlaylistParty team. But, there are plans to introduce an AI-assisted quiz builder.
Try out SpanishPlaylistParty
Check out SpanishPlaylistParty.com and let me know what you think in the comments! Use the code CLASESLOCAS at checkout to get the first month of the premium subscription free. Comment & let me know how you use it in class.
Mis Clases Locas Authentic Songs Playlists in Spanish
Over the past few years, I have curated multiple posts with authentic songs in Spanish for specific themes.
- Afro-Latino Music in Spanish Class
- 10 Spanish Class Love Songs
- Día de Muertos Songs for Spanish class
- Spanish Class Christmas Songs
- Spanish Songs for Hanukkah
- Happy Birthday Songs Spanish Class
- Days of the Week songs
Get Free Music Slides for Spanish Class
Grab this freebie for ready-to-go slides to try out a variety of my music resources.
Want bell ringers for every day of the year including lots of authentic songs?
>> NEW Spanish Bell Ringers Para Empezar 2024
While I may be compensated for my review of this website, all opinions are my own. Thank you for reading and supporting Mis Clases Locas. Affiliates & Disclaimer
