My kids and I have been dancing to Spanish this summer! Whistlefritz has just released a new CD–Cha, Cha, Cha! The folksongs and original songs are recorded and arranged by award-winning singer/songwriter Jorge Anaya. What I really love is the feeling of the music. Culture is infused into every beat . . . be it samba, merengue, reggae, or more. It truly “sets the mood” for language learning.
I’m a HUGE believer in using music to aid language acquisition and memory. As a French teacher myself, I can’t imagine even one class session without traditional songs, melodies for memory, or cultural music. Whistlefritz’s Cha, Cha, Cha! has it all. And while the music stands on its own as something great to listen to and enjoy, the inherent language lessons introduce kids to numbers, months of the year, days of the week, and more . . . in an immersion setting! As a novice-level Spanish learner myself, I was grateful for the lyrics/translations included with the CD.
You can listen to some clips here. My favorite is the first track, El Barco Chiquito. The kids love La Cucaracha. And singing days and numbers has never been more fun. The vocabulary is clear, comprehensible, and catchy!
Cha, Cha, Cha! is perfect for Spanish teachers to use in their classrooms, and for moms to use at home or in the car. Gracias Whistlefritz 
