Learn Spanish through Spanish songs!

Spanish is not my native tongue, however learning to sing in Spanish really helped me to become less afraid of making mistakes, and be more confident when Speaking Spanish. Below are 3 steps that I used to learn each Spanish song that helped to improve my Spanish speaking skills.

1. Find a Spanish song you love or ask friends for suggestions. If that does not work out, search Google for popular Spanish songs.
2. Memorized the melody of the song that you picked out, make sure practice and sing the song in "La's" or "Do's" before you sing along with the lyrics.
3. Once you have memorized the melody of the song, find the lyrics online through Google search and ask a friend who's native tongue is Spanish to help you with the correct pronunciations of each word. In addition you must speak the lyrics of the song in rhythm, be sure to have the correct pronunciations before you start singing with the lyrics.

Once you have completed all three steps, you should be able to sing your favorite Spanish song, and remember, sing your heart out and have fun!

My name is Dat Nguyen, I was born in Vietnam and my family was sponsored by Chinese American relatives to stay in the USA in 1992. My family lived in Burbank,California for a few years and when we became citizens a few years later, we bought a house in Sun Valley. I would say that growing up in Sun Valley has played a major role in shaping and influencing my interest in Latin music. There are two main reasons how I am able to sing in Spanish, one, being acquainted with my best friend Abraham Hernandez (who is an amazing pianist that speaks Spanish fluently), two, having the exposure to Latin music and Spanish speaking people for over 14 years at the San Fernando Swap Meet while working with Lu's Bikes.

Los Bukis is a very popular Mexican band from the 1970s. I heard their music through regular visits to my best friend Abraham Hernandez's house during my middle school years. Songs such as "Navidad Sin Ti", "Quiéreme" and many more have always been a part of a nostalgic feeling I get when I think back to the long walks to Abraham's house after school.

At around twelve years old my parents ask me to help out my Uncle Lu with his bicycle business at the San Fernando Swap Meet every Saturday and Sunday. Weekends at the San Fernando Swap Meet is the second influence as to why I love/hate certain styles and genres of Latin Music. I would say that being there as long as I have has tremendously helped me to learn Spanish just by listening and speaking (just a little) for 14 years. As a result of working for Lu's Bikes, my taste in Latin music is quite diverse and developed. For example I have heard many styles ranging from Goridos, Cumbias, Nortenos, Rancheras, Mariachis, Bachata and Bandas.

There was a point when I did not work at the San Fernando Swap Meet with Lu's Bikes and was working at the 99cents only stores. I met some really friendly and caring people at the 99cent store in North Hollywood, working the graveyard shift with them, and listening to many styles of Latin music that inspired me to post my first Spanish singing YouTube video. There was one song in particular that really hit me and it was titled "Como Te Voy a Olvidar" by Angeles Azules. I must have heard this song over hundreds of times at the San Fernando Swap Meet since I was twelve but it never meant anything to me back then. There was something special that I learned working along my Hispanic co-workers, no matter if they are Guatemalan, Mexican, Salvadorian, Argentinian, and Spaniard etc.. they were all hard working people that enjoyed the simple things in life such as spending time with their families. As I moved my body to the rhythm of the cumbias from the graveyard shift into the early mornings, I felt a connection to the music and the wonderful people I worked alongside with.

I hope you enjoyed my hub on "Learn Spanish through Spanish songs". I am currently working on more YouTube videos of me singing Spanish songs. Please feel free to comment and if you have any requests, you can find me on Google by searching "Datzuya". Thanks again for reading!