Inside: Going Varsity in Mariachi documentary in Spanish class. Resources for teaching about the film Going Varsity in Mariachi in any class. Going Varsity in Mariachi movie guide for Spanish class.
Author – Allison Wienhold
Published on Mis Clases Locas 9.6.24
Good Movies to Watch in Spanish Class
I know you are always looking for good movies to watch in Spanish class. If you are a long-time reader, you know I love using Appropriate movies for Spanish class. But, many on that list of movies to watch in Spanish class are animated and fictional.
I know many high school students prefer live-action stories about real people. I have many movies and lesson plans for appropriate biopics. Some movies based on real people that have been great successes are A Million Miles Away, Selena & McFarland USA.
But, documentaries have been having a moment, especially those on streaming services. I have shared many Spanish Class Documentaries including my favorite Pelotero. Today I have a new appropriate documentary, perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month. Going Varsity in Mariachi.
Going Varsity in Mariachi (2023)
1 hour 44 minutes, Netflix, Documentary, TV-PG, English
In the competitive world of high school mariachi, the musicians from the South Texas borderlands reign supreme. Under the guidance of coach Abel Acuña, the teenage captains of Edinburg North High School’s acclaimed team try to turn a shoestring budget and diverse crew of inexperienced musicians into state champions. (from IMDB)
Going Varsity in Mariachi Movie Activities from my website store
Going Varsity in Mariachi Movie Activities from TPT
My Going Varsity in Mariachi review
My husband and I watch a lot of Netflix documentaries. I was excited when Going Varsity in Mariachi was suggested as a new movie to watch. My brain was instantly in Spanish teacher mode and I was taking notes on my phone of ways to use it in class. It is very rich in Mexican-American culture and super appropriate.
Going Varsity in Mariachi is probably the cleanest Netflix documentary we have seen in a while. It did not have the same dark true crime theme we typically watch. So due to the TV-PG rating and themes, my husband thought it was a little slow. He also did not spend 3/7 classes in the music wing of the high school like I did. So as a theater/ show choir/ band girly myself, I related to the film a lot more than him.
Is Going Varsity in Mariachi in Spanish?
Going Varsity in Mariachi is a 2023 documentary available on Netflix in English. Right now there are Spanish & English subtitles, but only the original English audio at this time. There is a lot of Spanish used in the film and it is very culture-rich with a predominantly Latino cast in South Texas. So, if you are hoping for a Spanish-language movie, this is not the best option. Check out Spanish Class Documentaries if you need Spanish audio.
What ages is the film Going Varsity in Mariachi for?
This new appropriate documentary, Going Varsity in Mariachi, is perfect for middle & high school. It is a real story, that is overall very clean and family-friendly. There are some more mature themes, such as relationships between the band members. One relationship in particular is female-female. They discuss coming out and wanting to leave conservative South Texas to go somewhere where their relationship is more accepted.
I would feel comfortable showing Going Varsity in Mariachi in middle school. But, I think older kids would relate more to the high schoolers in the movie.
When to Use the Movie Going Varsity in Mariachi
You could use the film Going Varsity in Mariachi as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the culmination of a textbook arts unit, textbook school unit, or to pair with a unit on Mexican-American identity, or with the book Tumba.
Going Varsity in Mariachi would be great for a Heritage Spanish class, music class, Latin American culture class, Exploratory Spanish, or any class at a school with a high Latino population. There is a lot of Mexican pride and positive representation of Latinx teachers, students, and leaders.
Going Varsity in Mariachi ties in with the AP themes of Beauty and Aesthetics, Personal and Public Identities, Contemporary Life & Families, and Communities.
Spanish Class Culture
Some cultural elements of the documentary Going Varsity in Mariachi for Spanish class include the following.
- Traditional instruments of a mariachi band
- Gritos & teaching how to do a grito
- Latino heritage of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
- Mexican pride & heritage
- Traditional songs in Spanish from Mexico
- Spanglish spoken in a professional setting – between Teachers & Administration
- Selling calaveras as a fundraiser
- Traditional mariachi clothing with large sombreros
Going Varsity in Mariachi Movie Guide
If you need a break and need ready-to-go movie activities for every level you teach, my Going Varsity in Mariachi movie worksheets are for you. I have 2 ways for you to get the same movie activities.
>>Going Varsity in Mariachi Movie Activities from my website store
>> Going Varsity in Mariachi Movie Activities from TPT
By request, since this movie only has English audio, these movie activities are different than my typical movie comprehension questions. It is a mix of more open-ended graphic organizers & writing activities. Pick a few activities that fit your goals to help students stay focused while watching. Free writes could be used as an assessment if you need one.
Going Varsity in Mariachi Worksheets – 6 pages all Google Editable
- ✅ Vocab Graphic Organizer – If you want to focus on Spanish vocab
- ✅ List the Events – can do in English or Spanish
- ✅ Graphic Organizer – ENGLISH version – Organize overall details. Instructions are in English, but you could have students complete them in English or Spanish.
- ✅ Graphic Organizer – SPANISH version – Most advanced
- ✅ Free Write – ENGLISH version – A focus on culture for students to reflect in English after the film
- ✅ Free Write – SPANISH version – Includes a rubric to give feedback on written language performance level.
- ✅ 3 Pages of Answer Keys – Vocab KEY, Events KEY & Graphic Organizer KEY
- ✅ Teacher instructions with optional extension ideas
Going Varsity in Mariachi Extension Ideas
- Guest Speaker. Invite local mariachi musicians or experts to speak or play music for your class or school. These guests can provide additional insights and answer students’ questions, further enriching their learning experience.
- Creative Projects. Inspire students to create projects based on the documentary. They could learn and play music, write reflections, create artwork inspired by mariachi music, interview mariachi players, reach out to those in the documentary, or research and present on different aspects of Latinx musical traditions.
- Collaborate with the Music Department. For a cross-curricular experience see if the music department would learn a mariachi or traditional Mexican song from the movie.
Other resources to teach about Going Varsity in Mariachi
Going Varsity in Mariachi Official Trailer – English
GOING VARSITY IN MARIACHI Clip – 2023 AFI Latin American Film Festival
El Mariachi Oro de la preparatoria de Edinburg llega a Netflix | TELEMUNDO 40
Great video in Spanish from Telemundo about the documentary.
Real People Movies for Spanish class
If you want something besides Going Varsity in Mariachi that is available with Spanish audio, here are some other options.
- Pelotero – documentary
- McFarland USA – based on a true story
- A Million Miles Away – based on a true story
- Selena – based on a true story
- Chupa – cute real people for a legends unit
- Tierra Incógnita – TV Program (30-40 min episodes)
- Editable Movie Guide Bundle for Spanish Class in my website shop.
- My Movie Guide Bundle on TPT for Spanish class
- My top appropriate movies for Spanish class Blog post
- Spanish Class Documentaries
More Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
- Hispanic Heritage Month Music Bracket – blog post
- Hispanic Heritage Month Spanish Music Bracket 2024 – new 1 song from each place bracket
- NEW Spanish Speaking Countries Videos 2024 – 1 video from each country
- Hispanic Heritage Month in Spanish class – blog post
- Hispanic Heritage Month Movies for Spanish Class – blog post
Activities for Any Documentary
Short on cash? If you want more activities besides my Going Varsity in Mariachi movie guide enter your email below to get sent free resources you can use with this or any documentary in Spanish class.
In conclusion, Going Varsity in Mariachi is a great choice for any class looking for an engaging way to teach their students about mariachi music & Mexican-American culture.
