Inside: Resources for Spanish class for the Netflix movie El camino de Xico or Xico’s journey. Teach a cultural unit centered around the authentic Mexican movie El camino de Xico. El medio ambiente using El camino de Xico.
Why El camino de Xico?
If you are a Spanish teacher mom who uses the Kids account on Netflix, you might have seen the new Netflix film El camino de Xico (Xico’s journey). This cute animated movie is everything Spanish teachers want: culture-rich and appropriate! It takes place in Mexico and was originally released in November 2020 in Spanish in Mexico. It follows the story of two young kids and a Xolo dog, with deep themes of the environment. You can see more in the trailer below.
Trailer – El camino de Xico
Spanish Language Film
The film was created in Spanish, so Spanish audio is the original. On Netflix, you can change the audio &/or subtitles to English if you want. I would keep Spanish audio with all classes, but have English subtitles for novices and Spanish subtitles for intermediates. Even for upper levels having Spanish subtitles offers support, and also the chance to get both reading and listening input.
Who would you use the film El camino de Xico for?
The film is rated TV-Y7, which means it would be appropriate for ages seven and up, and is very G rated. It is 84 minutes long. (This means it would be a great sub plan with this TPT guide or El camino de Xico guide from my website shop).
You can find more about level of appropriateness here, with mentions it does have some mild violence (between animals and humans, machines and mother nature), but is pro-nature. I think it would work with 2nd grade on up Spanish class or even an Exploratory class.
At the same time, there are themes of the environment, including fracking, which would make for great high school or college level discussion with units on El medio ambiente, global challenges, and climate change. It is an authentic Spanish movie from Mexico, that is very appropriate, yet could go as deep as you want with relevant themes.
I used this film with my Spanish 3/4 class as a part of a unit on El Medio Ambiente.
Themes to Explore in El camino de Xico
If you want to make a whole film unit, there are so many cultural themes for exploration including the following:
- The diverse Indigenous people of Mexico (Indigenous Peoples Blog post)
- Legends of Mexico
- Mining & oro
- The environment, climate change & fracking
- Mystical & real animals of the region – Tlacuache, Xoloitzcuintli
- This song > Paulina Rubio – Semilla de Paz
Resources to save you time
El camino de Xico Guide – Includes options for English comprehension or Spanish comprehension, character description, and post-viewing activities. The directions are in English, so it would be a great sub-plan. Update you now also have the choice to get El camino de Xico guide from my website shop.
Authentic Video Resources
Use these #authres videos to introduce the film. For novice students, you could movie talk muted trailer. You could then do a deeper study of the authentic song in the film.
- Trailer – longer
- Trailer 2 – shorter
- Paulina Rubio – Semilla de Paz – song
- Saludo especial
This last #authres video would be great for upper-level students as it is the voices of actors talking about films, going to the movies, and El camino de Xico. You could watch it before or after the film.
Authentic Reading Resources for Xico’s Journey
Use these #authres readings in Spanish after the film as reading assessments or just extra reading practice for upper levels.
If you are interested in MORE movie guide activities, check out this blog post with more information about all of my appropriate favorites.
Other guides relating to the environment
- Best Spanish Earth Day Movies
- Pachamama + Pachamama Blog post with intro slides
- Dora & the Lost City of Gold + Dora blog post
- + resources for Earth day & El medio ambiente
Finally, other movie guides for Spanish class
- A Million Miles Away
- Chupa
- Ferdinand + Ferdinand Blog Post
- Selena
- Encanto
- Coco
- Maya y los tres (show)
Please let me know if there are more resources for El Camino de Xico I should add!
