Spanish Lessons in Bakersfield

La Casa de Papel - Netflix Series

One of the most popular Netflix shows of the last few years, this suspense series will have you at the edge of your seat. “La Casa de Papel” is about El Profesor, a man who planned the most daring crime in the history of Spain: to break into la Casa de Moneda y Timbre (the Royal Mint) and steal more than 1 billion euros. Will they make it? You will have to tune in to find out. And make sure to watch the series in its original language to improve your listening skills and get used to the European Spanish accent. Beginners can make use of English subtitles, but don’t cheat if you are already speaking the language at an advanced level! Click here to learn more about the series!

Cinco de Mayo Festival

Cinco de Mayo is an annual Mexican festival that remembers the army’s victory over the French in the 18th century. Today, it is celebrated all around the USA with fantastic parties that include live mariachi music, traditional food and drinks, and a parade with elaborate costumes. Why not attend this event to meet like-minded people while getting to know more about the culture of the language you are learning? As it is attended by many native speakers living in the country, you’ll surely pick up some vocabulary along the way, like cactus or maracas. Wear a sombrero, have some margaritas and impress the people you meet with your Spanish skills. Learn more about the festival here.

El Quijote - Play

An adaptation of the classic Miguel de Cervantes’ novel, this play follows the adventures of Don Quijote. Obsessed with becoming a chivalrous knight, Don Quijote decides to take his sword and, with the help of his trusty squire, Sancho Panza, embarks on an adventure to defend those in need and fight against evil. The play is performed in Spanish with English supertitles at NYC Theater, so you’ll be able to enjoy the experience even if you are just starting out with your Spanish course at Listen & Learn. Learn more about the play here.

Macarena - Los del Río

Have you ever danced to the rhythm of Macarena? This was a massive hit in the 1990s and it’s still heard today in many bars and nightclubs across Latin America. The song is very simple: it talks about Macarena and her moves on the dancefloor. The song is extremely catchy and will surely get stuck in your head, which you can use in your favor to improve your language skills. Research shows that music activates the auditory cortex part of our brains, helping us repeat the song over and over while learning new vocabulary and structures. Dance to the rhythm of this catchy song!

Livin La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

It can be very useful to listen to familiar songs dubbed in the language you want to learn. Luckily for language students, there are many singers who sing both in English and their native language, like Ricky Martin. So, why not try and listen to “Living la Vida Loca” in Spanish? Released in 1999, the song topped the charts and is still very popular today. It talks about the “crazy life” lived in Puerto Rico and there is a lot of vocabulary repetition and very few tenses, so it’s very easy to understand, even for beginner-level students. Click here to listen to the song!

La Tortura - Shakira

“The Torture” is a song that follows the story of a man who cheats on his partner and wants to win her back. Shakira describes her tortured feelings and how hard it is for her to say no to him, knowing he will never change. Apart from being really catchy, the song tells an interesting story, so it’s worth the effort to understand it. Plus, it’s a very powerful way to get some Colombian words and expressions like “no te rajes” or “yo se que no he sido un santo” to stay in your mind long-term. Click here to listen to the song!

Fisher-Price Videos

Are your kids learning Spanish? Do you find it difficult to have them sit down and do the homework? Then Fisher-Price videos for toddlers and children of early school age can help! The site has a huge selection of videos that range from teaching the names of animals and colors to everyday vocabulary related to school and other environments and scenarios. Each new word is displayed on screen, so these videos are great resources to teach children spelling. They’re super fun too, so you can be sure your child will be thoroughly entertained while practicing their Spanish! Click here to start playing with your kids!

Spanish Kid Stuff

Textbooks and flashcards are highly recommended to learn and retain vocabulary, especially when it comes to children, as using visual reinforcement is a great way to commit terms to memory (and avoid boredom). And while these elements are certainly expensive, you can also find great resources online for free, such as at Spanish Kid Stuff. The website promotes language learning by offering hundreds of resources for children to learn Spanish. You’ll find all the materials conveniently divided into categories, like “Animals,” “Clothing,” “Time,” and so on, so it will be easy for you to find the materials you want your child to practice! Click here to start playing with your kids!

Pandora

Do you remember the songs your family used to sing to you when you were a baby? Lullabies are one of the most natural and memorable ways to learn a language. So, if your child is learning Spanish, it’s a great idea to enter Pandora and listen to some lullabies (canciones de cuna) together. You’ll find a lot of options on the site, like “Estrellita donde estás.” In most cases, you can find an English counterpart (like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”), which is even better because your child will already be familiar with the soothing tune. Listen to these songs here!

Univision

Univision is an American Spanish-language television network where you can watch the daily news, telenovelas (Spanish-speaking soap operas), and more. It also has a free-access website where you can read articles written in Spanish about Mexico, Latin America in general, and American politics. This is the country's largest provider of Spanish-language content, so you’ll find a lot of diverse information about Mexican celebrities, news and politics which impact the Spanish-speaking community, and updates about your favorite Spanish shows, for example. The website is recommended for intermediate to advanced students as the language can be quite complex. Get started with news in Spanish here!

Estrella TV

Estrella TV is an American television network that broadcasts programs and news in European Spanish. You can tune into one of their shows and learn more about local and international news, current reality shows, and sports. The vocabulary they use is a bit formal, which will come in handy if you plan to use your Spanish skills at work or to apply for a new job. Also, you can visit Estrella TV’s website to read the news instead of just listening. The articles are very short and use simple words and sentences, which is perfect for beginner-level students who want to start reading in Spanish. Get started with news in Spanish here!

Telemundo

Telemundo is the second-largest provider of Spanish content in the USA and is owned by Comcast. This television network broadcasts programs (telenovelas, sports, reality shows, etc.) and news either imported or Spanish dubbed. And if you want to improve your reading skills while learning more about what’s going on in Latin America, you can access Telemundo Digital Media’s website, where you can find articles about celebrities, politics, the economy, and sports. They are usually quite short and written using simple language, so beginner and intermediate-level students can read these real-life materials and take their Spanish to the next level. Get started with news in Spanish here!

Sunday Football - Argentina

Argentina is known as the country of tango, asado (barbecue), and, of course, football, one of the most important traditions for men (and women, too!). The passion people hold for this sport extends to all corners of the country. Those who live in Buenos Aires have the privilege of going to “la cancha” (football stadiums) to watch the most exciting matches live, while those who live elsewhere frequently get together with their friends and family on the weekends to watch their favorite teams, like River Plate, Boca, San Lorenzo, and more! Learn more about Argentinian football here!

Take a Siesta - Spain

Have you ever listened to “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna? Then, you’ll probably know that, after lunch, Spanish people take their siestas. Throughout the country, almost every shop closes during the hottest part of the day so people can rest and take naps. The period traditionally occurs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., but it can be longer or shorter, depending on the region of Spain. Spanish people take this habit very seriously, even holding sleeping competitions, so don’t be surprised if you ever go to Spain and find all the shops closed in the afternoon! Click here to know more about the "siesta"!

Go for Beer at Tapas Bars - Spain

A tapa is an appetizer in Spanish cuisine that is eaten before dinner. From chips (papas fritas) to chicken fingers or croquettes (croquetas de papa o acelga). And though they are served in small portions, you’ll soon discover they are more than enough to be a complete meal on their own. Combine a few tapas with some beers with friends and taste the best Spanish cuisine on offer. You’ll even find that most regions have their own specialties! For example, Madrid bars use a lot of potato in their tapas, while Barcelona bars use more fish. Want to know more about tapas? Click here!