Inside: Ferdinand movie in Spanish class. Resources for teaching about Bullfighting and Spain to use in Spanish class. Ferdinand movie guide, Ferdinand worksheet, Ferdinand Trailers, and more. Olé, El Viaje De Ferdinand en la clase de español.
Author: Allison Wienhold
Published: February 28, 2022 & most recently updated on March 20, 2026
Why use the movie, Ferdinand?
Since I studied in Spain for a semester, as well as lived there for a summer, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I have always enjoyed teaching about Spain through the novel Bianca Nieves and my Spain unit. That unit was typically saved for the 4th quarter of Spanish 2 in my Curriculum since it ended the year on a positive high note. I saved the perfect companion film for after the book as a fun way to end the year. It might be a children’s movie, but my high school students have overwhelmingly loved it.
Ferdinand in Spanish Class
The animated film Ferdinand is clean and rated PG, with a run time of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It is one of my personal favorite movies that I have shown the most in class on my list of appropriate movies for Spanish class. It’s a great film for World Languages with importance themes of animal rights, or los derechos de los animales, las corridas, bullfighting corrida del toros.
Ferdinand can be currently found on HBO Max or purchased or rented through Amazon, Youtube, or on DVD. It is likely at your public library to rent as well. *Make sure you check what languages are available before you purchase a DVD or digital version. Give yourself and your students a much-needed break this Spring and watch an enjoyable movie in Spanish class
Ferdinand movie guide
If you are in need of a break and looking for a ready-to-go movie guide centered on Spanish culture for every level you teach, my Ferdinand movie is for you. My Ferdinand film guide includes character identification, 20 comprehension questions in English OR Spanish in chronological order to use while watching, and post-viewing questions and character matching. It is the same format as many of my other popular movie guides.
Use my Ferdinand movie guide questions in all levels of Spanish for Spanish emergency sub plans for multiple days of lesson plans. The English questions & English guide is perfect for younger students or novice students of middle school or high school Spanish students. For sub plans optimal experience an answer key is provided as well.
Plus use Spanish versions for language learning, authentic target language for upper levels like 12th grade and higher education as well. Use discussion questions and analysis questions for Ferdinand movie Spanish class in upper levels.
Update – I now have 2 places you can get my guide Ferdinand Movie Guide in my website store or TPT Ferdinand guide.
What audio & subtitles to use for Ferdinand in Spanish class?
First, it all depends on your goals and the level of students and which video activities. *If you buy a DVD or rent it online, make sure that the option for Spanish audio and subtitles is included before you pay. As always, do what works best for your classes. Here is what I personally do:
- Spanish audio & Spanish subtitles – upper-level to challenge students
- Spanish audio & English subtitles – novice level students (what I used with my Spanish 2)
- English audio – exploratory Spanish or culture class
Below are other resources you can use to teach about Ferdinand
(In addition to my Ferdinand Movie Guide or TPT Ferdinand guide.).
*Ferdinand Character Introduction in novice Spanish
Introduce the characters in basic novice Spanish en español before watching the film to help aid comprehension at the start of a new film unit. Enter your email and the editable free resources of Google Slides will be sent to you.
Teaching Ferdinand in Spanish class? Grab editable character slides in novice Spanish. Plus get signed up for Mis Clases Locas weekly newsletter.
Ferdinand Movie Trailers in Spanish
Show trailers before watching the film. Predict what is going to happen & introduce characters.
Songs for Ferdinand in Spanish class
Any of these songs would be a fun complement to a Selena unit.
Song – Macarena
Song – Lay Your Head on Me (Spanglish from Juanes)
El Toro Ferdinando – book
If you have more time and want to dig deeper into the original children’s story Ferdinand, check out the resources shared by Kara Jacobs. You could then compare and contrast the two Ferdinands (or 3 if you are also reading Bianca Nieves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gpRYFmti14
Typically my full Spain/Bullfighting Unit went in this order
- Introduce Bullfighting with the unit from Elizabeth Dentlinger
- Introduce Ferdinand the Bull & review past tense with the classic Ferdinand story from Kara Jacobs.
- Read the novel Bianca Nieves
- Introduce the Characters using this Free Ferdinand Character Slideshow
- Watch the film Ferdinand
- Speaking & Writing Assessment comparing the 3 Ferdinands (classic, book & movie)
Other Film Resources
If you are not interested in Ferdinand, here are some other movie resources to save you time. My top appropriate movies for Spanish class Blog post
Movies for Spanish class that have a lot of music
Other Movies for Spanish class
- Pachamama
- The Casagrandes Movie
- A Million Miles Away
- Chupa
- Peloterro
- Puss in Boots
- Canela
- My TPT Movie Guide Bundle for Spanish class
Ferdinand has been one of my favorite, appropriate movies for Spanish class for years. It has a great message while incorporating the culture of Spain. Make sure to grab the Free Ferdinand Character Slideshow above and the Ferdinand movie guide to teach it. If you have more resources for Ferdinand in Spanish class, please share them in the comments and I will add them!
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