I’m trying to get back in the swing with Foreign Language exposure again this year. We fell off the wagon last year. We lost our Spanish tutor due to scheduling conflicts and commute distance and we could not squeeze in Chinese with the soccer schedule. Grasshopper and Sensei took Chinese in Middle School again (year 2) and PickyKidPix did a few months of classes with a new Spanish tutor whom she really liked. Not optimal but it was the best we could do. PickyKidPix will be taking Spanish this fall in Middle School.
My 8-year-old son did nothing and, as a result, promptly forgot every word of Spanish and Chinese he ever knew. Seriously. I asked him to translate a few colors in Spanish — it came up but I don’t remember why — and he got 100% of them incorrect. Easy ones too, like verde (green) and azul (blue) which he used to know because they are his favorite colors.
Ah well. What can you do? It goes in and it goes, just as quickly as the moving tide, back out again.
When Little Seas emailed me with their Colita Rosita videos, I thought music to get my kids exposed to Spanish is not a bad idea. Ease them in gently. But then I had trouble translating the music so I asked for lyrics. And I also needed them in English. I don’t love animated computer graphics in picture books but I’m ok with them for Spanish language videos for kids.
Do you think kids can learn Spanish through songs (or other foreign languages)? What are your favorite videos or CDs? Please share!
Songs for Kids in Spanish: El Lobo
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Me estoy lavando la cara!
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Me estoy peinando el cabello!
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Me estoy poniendo los pantalones!
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Me estoy poniendo mi camisa!
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Me estoy poniendo las botas!
Todos juegan en el bosque
Cuando el lobo no esta
Lobo, lobo, donde estas?
Ahi voy!!!
El Lobo (English translation)
Everyone plays in the forest,
When the wolf is not around,
Wolf! Wolf! Where are you?
*I’m combing my hair!
*I’m putting on my pants!
*I’m putting on my shirt!
*I’m putting on my boots!
*On my way!
La Navidad (Songs for Kids in Spanish)
Viene Papa Noel
Bolsas llenas juguetes
Brinca del trineo y
Hacia sus puertas
Viaja siempre en el frio
Muy cansado y viejo
Pone la bolsa en el piso
Se sienta un momento
Viene Papa Noel
Bolsas llenas juguetes
Brinca del trineo y
Hacia sus puertas
Solo los niños buenos
Reciben sus regalos
Gracias Papa por todo
Hasta el próximo’
Viene Papa Noel
Bolsas llenas juguetes
Brinca del trineo y
Hacia sus puertas
Viaja siempre en el frio
Muy cansado y viejo
Pone la bolsa en el piso
Se sienta un momento
Solo los niños buenos
Reciben sus regalos
Gracias Papa por todo
Hasta el próximo’
La Navidad (English translation)
Here comes Santa Claus,
Carrying a bag of toys,
Jumps out of the sled,
Heads towards the door,
He always travels in the cold,
He’s very tired and old,
He puts the bag on the floor,
He sits for a moment.
Here comes Santa Claus,
Carrying a bag of toys,
Jumps out of the sled,
Heads towards the door.
Only good children
Will receive their gifts,
Thanks, Santa for everything,
Until next time.
(click on the image to view the CD at Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Twice as Many Friends // El doble de amigos! words and music by Brian Amador, illustrated by Vanina Starkoff, sung by Sol y Canto
This is part of the Barefoot Singalong series, picture books that are songs that you can sing along with. There is a QR code to access the audio and video animation of the story. With both Spanish and English lyrics, this is a really fun way to expose kids to Spanish words and phrases. The colorful illustrations make this feel like a journey to another sun-washed country, south of the Equator. The song is also featured in the back as sheet music with lyrics if you want to play along with an instrument. I love the message of the story that two languages are better than one! [picture book with audio and video animation, ages 3 and up]
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Music is pathway to the soul and also to the brain. I agree with you. It is so much easier to remember words that you learn In a song, whether it is your native language or a different one. If you don’t get every word, at least the remember the overall message.
Hi Barbara,
I know that I can remember a catchy song lyric (even when I don’t want to) much easier than a phrase not set to song. It worked for me when my kids were learning Chinese children’s songs too. And I thought these were fun and catchy. I had to ask for translations though because my Spanish isn’t good enough to comprehend!
Fen every once in a whole breaks out one of her songs she learned in Spanish class. I love how they’re just stuck on her brain- I think it’s a great start to foreign language learning to use songs. Now that I’m thinking about it, will you please send me the Skype info. For your Chinese tutor? Thanks!
Hi Archoo,
How wonderful that Fen gets Spanish in elementary school! I’ll email you my Chinese tutor’s info. Have to dig it up!
I share your desire for foreign language exposure and fear that it goes into one ear and out of the other without additional engagement through dance, music, play and interaction with native speakers. Every night I am singing Russian songs to my daughter in the hopes that at least her ears will stay “primed” for language rhythms when we both find both courage to commit to it. These Spanish songs look lovely, I wish there were Russian CDs like that 🙂
Hi Natalie,
It’s too bad there are not any Russian CDs of songs! Someone should record them on YouTube … you? I do think additional engagement like dance, music, play as you’ve mentioned are key to retention. We don’t do that enough which is why kids have very low retention sadly.
Yes this could be really good! I think I would like the videos with the words like karaoke. First in Spanish then the translation. Then maybe no works just listen. Very good idea for language exposure.
Hi Ann,
We’ll be trying this too! I am hoping songs will hold my kids interest and help them to retain a little of what they are learning! It worked in the past when their tutors would have them learn songs with just a few words from the song singled out for reinforcement. I remember the Green Light Red Light song was very effective since they played the game in Spanish and sang the song. You could run, jump or walk so there were 5 words to focus on.
Music is a fantastic way to learn a language!
Hi MaryAnne,
It works for me too! I can’t get the lyrics out of my head.