This module will take us out of the house and into the streets, as we learn the vocabulary of places in the community. To do that, we’ll need a new verb: ir, “to go.”

Once we have the ability to go to the restaurant, café, or supermarket, we’ll need some food vocabulary— otherwise we’ll be stuck eating cognates like pizza, chocolate, and dónuts. We’ll also learn to use the verb gustar with nouns, which will let us talk about things we like and don’t like.

Here are some songs to whet your appetite. What do they have in common?

El Gran Combo — Arroz con habichuela
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, it is often considered Puerto Rico’s most successful musical group, and is considered “the most popular Salsa group that has ever existed”.

You can view the transcript for “Arroz con Habichuela” here (opens in new window).

Grupo Fantasma — Arroz con frijoles
Grupo Fantasma is a nine-piece, Grammy Award-winning Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas.

You can view the transcript for “Arroz con Frijoles” here (opens in new window).

Juan Luis Guerra – Ojalá que llueva café
Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born June 7, 1957), is a Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer. His popular style of merengue and Afro-Latin fusion has garnered him considerable success throughout Latin America.

You can view the transcript for “Ojalá que llueva café” here (opens in new window).

The Joe Cuba Sextet — La tortilla
Joe Cuba (April 22, 1931 – February 15, 2009), was an American conga drummer of Puerto Rican descent widely regarded as the “Father of Latin Boogaloo”.

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

Casi Creativo — Come vegetales
This one speaks for itself.

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

Ondatrópica – Tiene sabor, tiene sazon
Ondatrópica is a multi-generational Colombian supergroup.

You can view the transcript for “Tiene sabor, tiene sazon” here (opens in new window).

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