What to do with a song in Spanish class

Inside: What to do with Spanish songs for class. Ideas for what to do with a Spanish class song. Ideas for música en la clase de español.

If you have been reading Mis Clases Locas for any length of time you know I love to use authentic music in my Spanish classes. I love using music so much that I have weekly routines built in to make sure to incorporate what many students have told me is their favorite part of Spanish class, music. But, what if you want to mix it up? Here are some ideas of what to do with a song in Spanish class. 

Video – Music in Spanish Class – Why Use Music & How to Find It

Use a Spanish Class Song as a small part of your day

Música miércoles (class starter with song in Spanish)

In my classes, we typically start class on Wednesday with music. I do this by having a projected slide with the artist, title, and task, with an embedded music video playing as all classes enter. We watch the video, discuss it a little, and usually move on with our day. This may include rating the song, telling if they like it, or being a critic. 

If you would like ideas for songs, here is my newest slide show with 22 new videos. Also my growing music bundle, 1 song from each Spanish speaking country, or music bracket. Some days we spend the entire class period doing talks with the song, but usually, it is just a para empezar class starter. On Friday we dance, or baile viernes, or dance Friday. These are usually easy Zumba or Just Dance in Spanish that are played during passing time and once again at the start of class.

Cantaninja (brain break with Spanish Song for Class)

My friend Emily Huff reminded me of something I had been meaning to try for a while from Martina Bex, Cantaninja. You can get the full info here, but basically, a student gets to yell “cantaninja” at some point during the class. (We decide in advance who will be the cantaninja for that week or day & they also get to wear my headband I got while in Japan). At that time everyone stops what they are doing and watches or dances to a music video in Spanish. This is just for pure enjoyment and a brain break. Students just pick from my huge list of songs or dance play list. 

Time Filler (end of the class song in Spanish)

Do you ever have five to ten minutes left at the end of class that you want to fill with something worthwhile? You can always show an appropriate music video to expose students to new music or let them request a class favorite as a reward.

Getting students hooked on authentic music is always worthwhile. My favorite is when they come back to class telling me they added music from class to their Spotify playlist. If you have a lot of time left, watch a video & pull out music question cards, and let students chat.

Use Song in Spanish as your lesson 

Movie talk a Spanish video

Use the Movie talk or Chip Chat technique with a music video as a short film. This can be done by muting the audio, and describing what is happening using comprehensible Spanish while pausing many times. You will want to warn students in advance that you will be pausing, so they are prepared for the interruptions.

It is also helpful to first do a reading using what you will be saying, as well as describing using screenshots from the video. In Spanish, you can then discuss student predictions of what they will see and hear during the song. Finally, watch the music video with sound, and see if the class predictions were true. 

Chat about the Spanish Class Song!

Use music question cards to help support students chatting about music. I have a ready-to-go resource that includes 56 different questions related to music. You could use them in a variety of ways to extend your music activities with more speaking. The music task cards include the following types of questions.

• General personalized questions chatting about music.
• Basic and intermediate questions to discuss any 1 song in Spanish. (great to extend Música miércoles)
• Questions to compare songs for a music bracket. 

Or chat about music using the NEW Music Find Someone Who!

Dig Deep with a Song in Spanish

There are so many ways that you can use a song as the basis for an entire class period, or even longer. For example, Kara Jacobs has an entire awesome unit using the song “Soy Yo” as well as many other upper-level units that have a large basis on authentic music. Here are a few ways you can go deep with a song:

Ideas BEFORE watching a music video in Spanish Class

Ideas AFTER watching a Spanish Song music video

• Have “judges” who critique the video and song 
• Have students write a review
• Rank videos you have seen in order of how much they like them 
• Have students do more investigation on the artist, genre, or song
• Individually students can play the song on lyricstraining.com 
• Have students suggest future songs from their research
• Use music question cards to chat about the song & video

More ways to mix it up with music in Spanish class

• Hispanic Heritage Month Music Bracket in Spanish class
• mania musical de marzo –  March Music Madness in Spanish class
• Grab this music sample freebie for lots of ideas. 

**If you want the best deal possible on all of Mis Clases Locas music resources altogether, check out the Mega Music Bundle. 

How do you use songs in Spanish class?

“What to do with a song in Spanish class” was originally posted on Mis Clases Locas on 6.14.17 & most recently updated 9.14..22 by Allison Wienhold