Why It Matters: ¿Qué clases tomas?

In the first module, we learned vocabulary about the classroom. In this module we’ll extend out a level and work on themes related to the university: classes, majors, and locations in higher education.

As you’ve no doubt noticed, one of the most important concerns of university life is time management. This module will give you the tools to talk about schedules — seasons, months, days, and dates — in Spanish.

As always, here are some songs to set the mood for the module— scroll through the titles and see if you can guess what they have in common. If any of the songs grab your attention, click play to listen.

Maía — Fiesta de verano (ft. Maluma)
Mónica Andrea Vives Orozco, more commonly known as Maía (born 1982 in Barranquilla, Colombia) is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Juan Luis Londoño Arias (born 28 January 1994), known professionally as Maluma, is a Colombian singer, rapper and songwriter.

You can view the transcript for “Fiesta de verano” here (opens in new window).

Kanaku y el Tigre — Tu verano mi invierno
Kanaku y El Tigre are an indie folk duo based in Lima, Peru. Multi-instrumentalists Nico Saba and Bruno Bellatin’s work reflects both the urban and rural landscapes of modern-day Peru through earnest, heartfelt songs that feature acoustic guitars, ukuleles, electronics, and various psychedelic elements. (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kanaku-y-el-tigre-mn0003389644/biography)

You can view the transcript for “Tu verano mi invierno” here (opens in new window).

Shakira — Dia de enero
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

You can view the transcript for “Dia de Enero” here (opens in new window).

La Bien Querida — De momento abril
La Bien Querida (The Well Liked) is the stage name Ana Fernández-Villaverde (born in Bilbao, November 6, 1972) used to develop her musical career. A painter by trade, she decided to initiate in 2007 her trajectory into the music world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bien_Querida

You can view the transcript for “De Momento Abril” here (opens in new window).

Totó la Momposina — Aguacero de mayo
Sonia Bazanta Vides, also known as Totó la Momposina, is a Colombian singer of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous descent. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tot%C3%B3_la_Momposina) “Totó La Momposina’s entire life has been dedicated to representing the music of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline. As a singer, dancer and teacher she embodies that fertile place where Colombia’s African, Indigenous Indian and Spanish cultures mingle to create a unique musical tradition. Totó is not only its greatest interpreter, but also a restless innovator.” (http://www.totolamomposina.com/about/)

Sebastián Yatra, Reik — Un año
Sebastián Obando Giraldo known professionally as Sebastián Yatra (born October 15, 1994) is a Colombian singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in Latin America in 2016 when he released the hit “Traicionera”. In January 2019 Sebastián Yatra and Reik (an award-winning, Latin pop trio from from Mexicali, Baja California) launched a collaborative work titled “Un Año” (one year). The single was received by many Venezuelan migrants who identify the song lyrics with separations from families, friends and even pets.

Buena Vista Social Club — Veinte años
Buena Vista Social Club is an ensemble of Cuban musicians established in 1996 to revive the music of pre-revolutionary Cuba. The group is named after the homonymous members’ club in the Buenavista quarter of Havana, a popular music venue in the 1940s. To showcase the popular styles of the time, such as son, bolero and danzón, the group’s organizers recruited a dozen veteran musicians, many of whom had been retired for many years.

You can view the transcript for “Veinte años” here (opens in new window).

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