Music Movement

Music: Learning Spanish In Costa Rica Via Rythms And Dance

Scientists claim that the best way to learn new things is through a multisensory approach, and it appears that Spanish-speaking nations are taking this approach quite seriously. Recognizing the fact that music and dance are tied rather firmly to their cultural heritage, Costa Rica takes a novel approach to learning the Spanish language. Going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish not only allows you to speak Spanish but to sing it as well.

Costa Rica’s music offers a picture of the wealth of culture that Costa Rica exhibits. The sounds of Costa Rica is characterized by the musical tradition of Spain merged with rhythmic complexities often found in the music of Africa. However, living side by side with the timbres from Marimbas and Latin percussion is the influence of other cultures with guitars and accordions to the point that the sometimes overtake more traditional instruments like the ocarina in importance. Nevertheless, music remains to be an important part of the culture of Costa Rica that it is tied down to the language that it speaks.

A trip to Costa Rica opens the door to experiencing an abundance of musical expression. Music lovers will be delighted to hear things such as a symphony being conducted by Chosei Komatsu, San Jose’s jazz scene, Costa Rican folk music and Calypso, and a mish-mash of traditional and modern sounds from a band known as Malpais. Listening always comes first before speaking, and in Costa Rica music offers a great way to kick off learning how to speak Spanish.

The exotic melodies and the rhythmic flare prevalent in Spanish music have helped language teachers to create things such as vocabulary drills that make learning much more exciting. Music, as some people claim, is the universal language or the carrier of culture. Songwriters often use what is called a hook to make a song stick to memory. Being able to recognize the hook that music has in the lives of people, teachers of the Spanish language in places such as Alajuela have made use of songs to develop the building blocks for speaking Spanish into the minds and hearts of particpants studying Spanish in Alajuela. Posing questions of the importance of music and dancing to people of Heredia easily leads one to affirm their usefulness.

There are Costa Ricans that hold the opinion that dancing is essential to understanding their culture along with the Spanish language. It is not surprising as a majority of Costa Rican music have been written as kinds of dance. Listening to the intricate rhythms and melodies of Salsa, Calypso, and other genres and styles of music that exist in Costa Rica encourages movement. {As dancing and music form a significant part of life in Costa Rica, such art forms engage the use of the Spanish language in a practical and conversational context.}

Indigenous and foreign influences have yielded wondrous musical experiences that adventurous learners may find in the pursuit of learning Spanish in Costa Rica. Learning the Spanish language through song and dance makes a journey to Costa Rica a worthwhile experience for the adventurous learner.

Costa Rica Snapshot
Having abolished its army in 1949, Costa Rica has a peaceful reputation as nicely as a reputation for having a peaceful effect on those who journey there. Its diverse landscape includes sprawling beaches, tropical rainforests, mountains, volcanoes and the lowlands. Poas Volcano is one of the primary attractions, but visitors soon discover how numerous other adventures they can have although there. Exploring the canopy via sky bridges, whitewater rafting, taking a plunge in the refreshing springs and rejoicing in the sun at the beach are some examples of what travelers can appreciate. The country provides more water per square mile than every other country on the planet . In addition , it features several of the most well protected forests in Latin America.

To study Spanish in Costa Rica and to feel the rhythm, go to: Spanish Immersion programs.

Malcolm and Martin – Movement Music (Prod. Marco Polo)