Mothering is interesting. So full of sweet moments!.. and also full of moments in which we would clearly choose teleportation of the entire family as our superpower.
Sometimes I think my kids save up those “special moments” for the grocery store, the playground, or the dinner table at somebody else’s house. We react and handle things as best we can, hoping it’s the right thing to do.
And sometimes, multilingualism saves the day. What can I say? Being bilingual– especially when you live in a fairly monolingual place– does give us some extra options.
You can’t assume who speaks what around you, but it’s confession time. Here are five things I’ve actually done as a bilingual mom. Dads probably do them too.
Bribery is universally frowned upon in the parenting world, even though I’m pretty sure everybody does it. The good thing is we can get away with it. Everybody around thinks we just repeated ourselves in a firm voice, and it magically worked. I’ll take it!
3. Redirect our kids in the majority language (for the benefit of other nearby parents).
Here’s a time to break out of the minority language: when your kids clearly need redirection, and you need all the other parents around to know you’re on it.
“Honey, let that little girl have a turn too,” exchange a smile with the mom across the playground, and you’re good to go.
4. Breathe a sigh of relief when our children say something rude(after realizing nobody understood it).
Children say what they think: it’s a fact of life. It can also be horribly embarrassing. When my son once remarked that a nearby man looked like a wolf, I just prayed that the gentleman was monolingual and took the chance to quietly explain why he has to be careful saying things like that. The fact that is was said in English (and hopefully not understood) helped me play it cool and make the most of that teachable moment.
My three-year-old speaks whatever language she wants, in the moment. Did she just say something polite and adorable? Well, allow me to translate that for you.
Kids too embarrassed to show affection in front of their friends? No problem if they’re bilingual. You can sneak in all the mushy-gushy things you want as you drop them off at school. And maybe you’ll get that “love you mom” back, even when they’re “too old” to say it.
I love being a Spanglish family. Of course, Spanish and English are widely spoken languages, and I should probably get going on a third, more obscure language, if I want to use of these “strategies” more effectively. #goals
Netflix, with its ever-expanding range of options, has a growing selection of made-in Spain movies and shows. I’ve got some great titles for you here, whether you’re a native speaker or looking to keep up your Spanish skills. See my Spanish movies and shows page for tons more suggestions for Spanish-language titles, and of course let me know if I missed one of your favorites.
Remember that Netflix regularly adds and pulls shows– just let me know if you catch something I should update!
A wealthy businessman is accused of murder and seeks the help of a famous lawyer to mount a defense as the last hours of his trial wind down. His storytelling of those events takes us down a darkening path of twists and turns, and unexpected revelations. I multitasked quite a bit while preparing this blog post and watched movies, but this movie had my full attention, and me on the edge of my seat. If you like suspense, this is a must-watch with incredible acting.
A light-hearted comedy about two Spaniards who can’t find a job in Spain (despite being over-qualified on paper). Fed up with Spanish life, they move to Berlin in hopes of finding work, only to end up in a café. Life in Berlin comes with new romance, but also a host of cultural differences to navigate.
Four Basque terrorists are trying to plan an attack on Spain. They wait for orders from “above,” in a Spanish apartment, and have to deal with everyday life and neighbors while unsure of the future. A dark comedy that was surprisingly compelling and funny.
“Cuando el sur y el norte chocan, el conflicto alcanza proporciones épicas.” Spanish culture collides when a Sevillian falls for a woman from Basque– even though he’s never before left his hometown. I didn’t love the chemistry between the main actors, but still enjoyable and cute.
The couple we met in the Spanish Affair (Rafa and Amaia) have broken up. Amaia is engaged to a Catalonian her father doesn’t like, so he enlists help from Rafa to win her back and break off the new engagement. I enjoyed this one more than the first and found it more convincing, especially the storylines between the supporting characters. If you like the Spanish Affair, definitely follow up with this one.
Based on a true story about a man with a young family who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Determined to resist the disease as long as he can, he commits to training for an Ironman– with the help of his father-in-law, who has troubles of his own. I sobbed by the end; keep tissues nearby for this heart-wrenching and inspiring story.
Info: Drama|Spanish Audio, Subtitles in English/Spanish| 2016
Starring Mario Casas, Bajo la piel de lobo tells the story of an isolated, gruff trapper who buys a wife. I am not sure how to describe the film: silent, spare, difficult, and yet compelling. You can’t go in expecting a neat, packaged conclusion, but it’s well done with good actors.
It’s 1956, and an American film company is making a movie about Isabel and Ferdinand, at the request of Franco– and Macarena Granada, now a big name in Hollywood, returns to her native Spain after 20 years to star in it. I found it slow and forced overall, but there’s a deep undercurrent of complicated Spanish history and a cast of actors that many viewers will enjoy nonetheless.
A group of people are trapped in a bar in Madrid, after two people are shot and mysteriously disappear. As they try to figure out what is happening outside– terrorism? the end of the world?– tensions and suspicions rise inside the bar.
Info: Comedy, Horror, Thriller|Spanish Audio, Subtitles in Spanish/English | 2017
A couple who got together in a fairytale high school romance is getting married. The week of the wedding turns nightmare as everything goes wrong, quirky friends and family in tow.
Info: Comedy|Spanish Audio, Subtitles in Spanish/English | 2015
Different from the usual rom-com storyline, this romantic “dramady” follows a couple who meet in a coffeeshop and decide to maintain an out-the-box-friendship: no exchange of personal information, and no romance. Things go beautifully until their personal lives intersect with fantasy, and they must confront reality.
Four friends are in business together, and have committed tax fraud. If one of them volunteers to go to jail for seven years, the company came remain intact and the other friends can walk free. The question is which one? They hire a consultant to help decide who it should be.
Info: Drama|Spanish Audio, Subtitles in English/Spanish | 2016
A Spanish woman travels to Africa in hoping to unearth old family secrets, after finding a letter her dying father left behind. The story moves between her search and forbidden love in the time of colonialism.
Info: Drama|Spanish Audio, Subtitles in English/Spanish | 2015
A coming-of-age story about a troubled teenager figuring out life and getting into trouble with his best friend. Poignant at times, tough at others, A Cambio de Nada explores adolescence in the context of trouble at school, trouble at home, and finding friendship.
A young boy is kidnapped, and his suspected kidnapper gets off on a technicality. The boy’s mother, a respected attorney, takes matters into her own hands and events soon spiral out of control. (I didn’t actually watch this one– after becoming a mom I just can’t handle scary things involving kids!)
A young woman’s body is found in the woods, and female inspector Salazar is put on the case. As she investigates the murder and begins to follow the case of a serial killer, she must confront her own past. (I didn’t watch this one either, but if you like serial killer murder-mysteries, this one’s for you.)
My kids are really into bugs. Sometimes I’ll find them turning over rocks in the yard to see what treasures they’ll find underneath. I’ve had to study up to learn a lot of the names myself! Today I’ve collected my favorite books about bugs in Spanish, to read as a family. (Looking for more books? See my posts on 50 Bilingual Books in Spanish and English, and 50 Authentic Picture Books in Spanish.)
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Here’s a general guide and easy reader for bugs in Spanish. I like the DK readers for non-fiction, and this one will be helpful if you have a curious child or a learning the names together.
My kids really enjoy this book, which is a delightful introduction to how spiders spin webs. The spider and her web are raised, and little hands love to feel the growing web.
A funny fictional story about a colony of bees who discover an unknown bee has entered their hive. This is a fun look into the inner workings of a hive, the queen bee, and worker bees.
This is one of our very favorites, and a gentle introduction into the lifecycle of a caterpillar and butterfly. It’s hard to get better than Eric Carle!
Here’s a non-fiction look into the lifecycle of a butterfly, witch good photos and explanations. As a non-native Spanish speaker, it’s so helpful to have the technical terms for me to learn!
Butterflies are just the backstory to this touching book about a boy who doesn’t speak English in his new school, but it’s a beautiful story with beautiful pictures.
Another Eric Carle treasure that’s been translated into Spanish, this one follows a grouchy ladybug who meets lots of other insects and finally learns some manners. It’s also a good peek into a ladybug’s life.
This story is about a little firefly who learns to accept her own uniqueness and shine her light.
Non-fiction Guides to Specific Insects in Spanish
If you are looking for specific guides or want to have a collection about different insects, you may want to check out these titles!
If you’re looking for more activities to do with bugs in Spanish, I have a bilingual game pack, with picture cards to play Memory, Go Fish, Bingo, and a mini-book. Check it out for some extra bug fun!
Inside: Spanish Valentine’s Day bulletin boards and decor: inspiration for decorating your Spanish classroom in February.
I have a confession. Last year, I made my bulletins board in August. And there they sat, all year. I didn’t switch them out once.
The world did not end, and my students learned plenty of Spanish. But there’s still something feel-good about changing the scene, freshening up the room, and drawing attention to new language.
If you are low on time, no worries! I’ve got some easy ideas for decorations as Valentine’s day rolls around this year. And just in February– when winter is dragging on– some red and pink really brightens thing up.
How eye-catching is this one? And Allison made sure to laminate everything, so it can be re-used from year to year. Especially with the banners that hang on a string, bringing this out every February would be a snap.
I saw Gloria’s post in a Spanish teacher’s group and fell in love with it. How could you not? I think she used the hearts below from Living Mi Vida Loca, which are free printables.
This is so sweet and simple enough that you could have one of your classes do the hears themselves! It also doubles as a handy vocabulary reference throughout the month.
This is about as low-prep as they come! Just print onto whatever paper color you like, mix and match, and done! Tomorrow I will be linking to the files to make this– there are a bunch of options to choose from!
We all know terms of endearment are huge in Latino culture, right? Bust them out in February with this list I made. If you go to the post, the download also includes an ink-friendly version with a lighter background.
I love this idea because it works for people like me– who aren’t switching out our bulletin boards every month! She suggest simply buying a dollar store frame, and switching out the posters as needed. So nice, because you can save everything from year to year.
Here are some darling decorations that provide comprehensible language too. In four different languages, terms of endearment are presented in the shape they refer to (media naranja, for example). I love anything watercolor, and these are so pretty!
3. Poems from The Engaged Spanish Classroom
These adorable poems are easy enough for even novice learners to do. When they are done, you could put them up as a decoration, too, to display student work and add a splash of Valentine’s color to the room.
Do you have a bulletin board or decor that you’d like to add? Leave your idea or link in the comments below!
Inside: A list of Spanish Valentine’s Day songs to use in the Spanish classroom.
When it comes to Latin love songs, the possibilities are basically endless. And I mean that quite literally. So Spanish songs are an obvious choice when creating Valentine’s Day plans!
However, when it comes to working with teenagers in the Spanish classroom, it can’t just be any song. We want clean songs, with catchy music and comprehensible lyrics.
Another catch is that Valentine’s Day can be tricky in the classroom. We don’t want to send the message that life is all about being in a couple, or that romantic love is everything. I’ve tried to gather a balanced list here so you can get awesome ideas for whatever angle you choose to use.
Not sure what to do with a song? Read how to teach Spanish with authentic songs, or save yourself some serious planning time and grab my growing activity sheets bundle.
Whether you’re looking for catchy, cheesy, or friendship-based songs, there’s something for everyone here. Let’s get started!
Catchy and Current Romantic Songs
Here’s the music that tends to appeal to all ages and groups. Some of these songs have really nice videos as well, perfect for a MovieTalk or class story. You could also story-tell, before watching anything, as a way to set up the song. Then, show the video clip and let them see the story “come alive”!
1. Chocolate – Jesse and Joy
Chocolate + amor = perfect Valetine’s Day vocabulary. Yes please!
2. Robarte un beso
Good video, good music, and fairly comprehensible lyrics. You could spend a whole class period telling the story of the people in the video. I love that it captures love in all walks of life, not just the typical hot guy + hot girl you find in so many songs. I’ve got a great lesson for this song with reading and letter-writing if you love it as much as I do!
3. Cuando te veo (ChocQuibTown)
The lyrics here are so, so good– super romantic and sentimental, but clean. And the video is beautiful and totally appropriate.
4. Eres – Café Tacuba
A teensy bit old compared to the other songs, but so perfect for Valentine’s Day-themed lyrics (and features a high school-level relationship). You could follow up with “Lo que más quiero en este mundo…” activities or brainstorming. The video would be perfect for storytelling too.
5. Querido Tommy – Tommy Torres
The song tells the story of a fan who writes the singer (Tommy Torres) asking for help to write a song to the girl he loves. There’s good comprehensible language even for lower-level classes, and the phrases are perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Platonic Songs or Friendship Songs
Sometimes you want something outside the usual romantic-love box, especially when working with middle or high school. These songs are either platonic or can be applied to a variety of situations.
1. Yo Contigo, Tú Conmigo
Totally upbeat (and featuring minions), this song could applicable to almost any relationship– friends, family, even pets!
2. Aprender a quererte – Morat
The music and video are amazing, with vivid scenes of everyday life in parts of Latin America. The lyrics sound like a love song, but the video expresses friendship and compassion, and people coming together from all walks of life. (It was created to fight against child labor.)
3. Recuérdame – Coco (Carlos Rivera)
Hop the Coco-craze train and listen to this song in class. It’s an amazing mix of current culture + classic Latin/Mexican style. In the context of the movie, it was directed to the love within family.
Or possibly this one:
4. Nuqui (Te Quiero Para Mi) – ChocQuib Town
If you want to go in a totally different direction (love for a place), use this one. It has all the vocab to talk about love, but in the sense of loving one’s home. It’s so beautiful, understandable, and vivid I had to include it.
Totally Cheesy Songs
And sometimes the best way to deal with love-obsessed culture, raging hormones, and mixed feelings about dating/ relationships is just to cheese it up. High schoolers are old to enough to enjoy the irony of over-the-top lyrics.
1. El amor – Tito “El Bambino”
This is the essence of cheesy Latin music, and let’s be honest: I love it. The video is actually quite sweet too.
2. Mi princesa – Victor Muñoz
Sentimental lyrics + fairy tale references + vintage movie clips + amor eterno = cheesy love song, check!
3. Cuando me enamoro – Enrique Iglesias & Juan Luis Guerra
Did someone say romantic lyrics? Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra in the house, obviously. Features school-age romances in the video, but in a sweet and appropriate way.
4. Limón y sal – Julieta Venegas
It’s harder to find songs with female leads, but this is cheesy + comprehensible. The video is confusing to me, hah, but maybe you can make more sense of it! I love her music and voice
5. El poeta – Chino & Nacho
Review the video, but this is a lively and sentiment-packed song about love.
6. Amor con hielo – Morat
If you’re looking to go a completely different route, this is your anti-love song.
What other songs to you love for Valentine’s Day in Spanish? Let me know in the comments below!
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Inside: A list of Spanish Valentine’s Day songs to use in the Spanish classroom.
When it comes to Latin love songs, the possibilities are basically endless. And I mean that quite literally. So Spanish songs are an obvious choice when creating Valentine’s Day plans!
However, when it comes to working with teenagers in the Spanish classroom, it can’t just be any song. We want clean songs, with catchy music and comprehensible lyrics.
Another catch is that Valentine’s Day can be tricky in the classroom. We don’t want to send the message that life is all about being in a couple, or that romantic love is everything. I’ve tried to gather a balanced list here so you can get awesome ideas for whatever angle you choose to use.
Not sure what to do with a song? Read how to teach Spanish with authentic songs, or save yourself some serious planning time and grab my growing activity sheets bundle.
Click to see my outline of Preschool Spanish Lessons for Los pollitos dicen. (Each lesson provides enough material for multiple classes.)
Review: Sings the songs learned so far, ¿Cómo te llamas? ball chant.
Movement/brain breaks: Stretch with our movement words: levántate, siéntate, manos arriba, and manos abajo,corre and salta, Duck, Duck, Goose in Spanish, or ¡Salta, salta!
Lesson 5 Numbers in Spanish Activities
Activity 1
Introduce numbers 1-5 with the song Cinco monitos.
Activity 2
Act out the song Cinco monitos with props or finger puppets. You could choose someone for mamá, and someone for el doctor. Use props like a phone or stethoscope if you have them. Sing or play the song, and let them act out. To make it super-visual, lay down a sheet for la cama, and they act out saltando and se cae.
Once numbers 1-5 are down, choose a song for the numbers 1-10, or 1-20. There are many to choose from on YouTube (linked below!) You could also sing to the tune of One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians as Uno, dos, trespollitos (or monitos!). Finger puppets are provided in the activity pack for either way. You can line up the students, and they lift their puppet finger as part of the song.
Activity 4
Play an alternative to”Musical Chairs.” Hand out enough number cards for everyone (it’s fine if some students have the same numbers). Play music and the students can dance or walk around. When the music stops, call out a number. Whoever has that number sits down. The last ones standing win.
Supplemental Numbers in Spanish Resources:
Another cama song like Cinco monitos, with numbers 1-10 this time:
Song for learning numbers 1-20:
Authentic children’s song in Spanish (Chocolate) that repeats 1, 2, and 3:
Another classic children’s song in Spanish with counting:
And one more authentic song in Spanish with numbers!:
Want More?
Click to purchase the whole unit. You’ll get games, printables, mini-books, and more!
With Unit 4, you’ll get a class set of game cards and Bingo for numbers 0-15. You can also make mini-books, on the Cinco monitos, and with farm animals.
Spanglish Living
Teaching Spanish
Spanish Resources
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