As a Spanish teacher, I like to look for opportunities to integrate culture into my curriculum. Sometimes this happens unintentionally, but I often have to look for opportunities to make it happen. I have found that music is a great way to bring some culture into my classes. This time I am sharing a song with you that is part of my music collection which is available on iTunes. Before you start dancing with your students you might want to share with them that cumbia is a traditional music that has its own dance and originated on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Cumbia itself has influenced other rhythms in Latin America. As a proud Colombian whose both parents were born on the Colombian Caribbean Coast, I grew up listening to cumbia and vallenato 24-7, so I have a special love for it.
What a great opportunity to pull out a map and locate Colombia. You can also show a clip of the Colombian cumbia dancers to your students. The song in the following clip is called “El Pescador” and is sung by Colombian singer “Totó la Momposina.”
Ready to try some cumbia in your class? This cumbia is perfect for teaching parts of the body.
En una de mis exploraciones por canciones en YouTube me encontré con esta joya. Es una canción divertida que enseña las partes del cuerpo a ritmo de Cumbia. Además de ser divertida, usa un ritmo tradicional, tiene mucha repetición, lo que hace que sea de uso fácil en una clase de ELE (español como lengua extranjera) para niños. No se diga más, los dejo con “El monstruo de la laguna”, interpretada por el grupo argentino “Canticuénticos”.
Al monstruo de la laguna….
le gusta bailar la cumbia….
Se empieza a mover seguro
de a poquito y sin apuro.
El monstruo de la laguna
empieza a mover la panza,
para un lado y para el otro,
parece una calabaza.
Mueve la panza…..
pero no le alcanza.
El monstruo de la laguna
empieza a mover las manos,
para un lado y para el otro
como si fueran gusanos.
Mueve las manos,
mueve la panza…..
pero no le alcanza.
El monstruo de la laguna
empieza a mover los hombros,
para un lado y para el otro
poniendo cara de asombro.
Mueve los hombros,
mueve las manos,
mueve la panza…
pero no le alcanza.
El monstruo de la laguna
empieza con la cadera.
Para un lado y para el otro
pesado se bambolea.
Mueve la cadera,
mueve los hombros,
mueve las manos,
mueve la panza…
pero no le alcanza.
El monstruo de la laguna
empieza a mover los pies,
para un lado y para el otro
del derecho y del revés.
Mueve los pies,
mueve la cadera,
mueve los hombros,
mueve las manos,
mueve la panza…
pero no le alcanza.
El monstruo de la laguna…
se para con la cabeza…
con las patas para arriba…
¡Mirá que broma traviesa!
Mueve la cabeza,
mueve los pies,
mueve la cadera,
mueve los hombros,
mueve las manos,
mueve la panza…
Hasta que se cansa.
ABOUT ME
¡Hola! I am Carolina, a Colombian elementary Spanish teacher based in Boston, MA. Fun for Spanish Teachers is the result of my passion for teaching Spanish to children and my desire to inspire collaboration and creativity in a vibrant teaching and learning community. It’s the perfect stop if you are looking for songs, games, teaching tips, stories, and fun for your classes.
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