Manu Chao's song about the human rights crisis in Arizona

Descubriendo otros mundos - a few changes

I started this blog as an easy way to organize the material I used in my university classes. My focus has changed a bit now, and I am teaching Spanish to children. You can find my collection of resources for kids at Spanish Playground.

I do run across materials that are useful for high school and university classes. I'll continue to put them here, but without as much support or detail. Feel free to contact me if you have questions on how to use an authentic language resource you find here.

Caperucita Roja

This is a great version of Caperucita Roja from an I Love Lucy episode filmed in 1953. Ricky is telling the story to little Ricky, and there are a few English words thrown in, but not many. It's clear, and fun. Enjoy!

Spanish Proficiency Exercises! Great videos

This is one of my favorite sites for videos for Spanish language learners. Check out the drop-down menus. There are options to see the text in Spanish, in English or hide the text. A great resource!

Spanish Proficiency Exercises. University of Texas at Austin.

Himno a la alegría - Great song for Spanish language learners

Escucha, hermano, canción, alegre, nuevo, día, ven, canta, sol, vive, estrellas: these words could come from any picture book or a basic vocabulary list, but they are the key words in a classic Spanish song.

Miguel Ríos recorded the song Himno a la alegría in 1969. It became popular all over the Spanish-speaking world and has since been recorded by many artists. Choirs of all ages still sing this song at many different kinds of events, and it is one that most Spanish-speakers know. Amado Regueiro Rodríguez wrote the song and based it on the last movement of Beethoven’s 9th symphony. The familiar tune and common vocabulary make it a good song for Spanish-language learners. The song is considered a general call for peace, although the words can be interpreted to fit with Christian beliefs that are a part of the culture of Spain and Latin America.

The link is to a video of Miguel Rios, Ana Belén, Victor Manuel, and Joan Manuel Serrat singing Himno a la alegría. These are four of the most famous artists in Spain. There are performances by many others, and many children’s choirs available online, too.

Himno a la alegría

These are the lyrics and a translation. The translation is word-for-word, with no attempt to conserve the rhythm or rhyme of the song. I provided it for meaning only, because it is helpful if you are learning Spanish.

Escucha hermano / Listen brother
la canción de la alegría, / to the song of joy
el canto alegre del que espera / the joyful song of one who waits for
un nuevo día. / a new day.
Ven, canta, sueña cantando, / come, sing, dream singing,
vive soñando el nuevo sol / live dreaming the new sun
en que los hombres / in which men
volverán a ser hermanos. / will be brothers again.

Ven, canta, sueña cantando, / come, sing, dream singing,
vive soñando el nuevo sol / live dreaming the new sun
en que los hombres / in which men
volverán a ser hermanos. / will be brothers again

Si en tu camino solo existe la tristeza / If in your path there is only sadness
y el llanto amargo / and the bitter cry
de la soledad completa / of complete loneliness

Ven, canta, sueña cantando, / come, sing, dream singing,
vive soñando el nuevo sol / live dreaming the new sun
en que los hombres / in which men
volverán a ser hermanos. / will be brothers again

Si es que no encuentras / If you don’t find
la alegría en esta tierra / happiness on this earth
búscala hermano más allá / look for it brother beyond
de las estrellas / the stars

Ven, canta, sueña cantando, / come, sing, dream singing,
vive soñando el nuevo sol / live dreaming the new sun
en que los hombres / in which men
volverán a ser hermanos. / will be brothers again