Find the best movies for Spanish class–and more!
As a Spanish teacher, you’ve probably relied on videos in Spanish to bring authentic language into your classroom. From MovieTalk to full-length films, audiovisual resources are invaluable tools for immersing your students in different accents and cultures. But after countless showings of Coco and Encanto—and perhaps a few too many dance parties to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”—you might be looking for fresh options.
The challenge lies in finding new, school-appropriate videos. Vetting them can be time-consuming, but don't worry—we've got you covered. We've curated a list of diverse Spanish videos perfect for the classroom. To make things easier, we've categorized them by length so you can quickly find the ideal video to fit your lesson plans.
Selection criteria for videos in Spanish
To ensure the videos are suitable for your classroom, we've carefully selected options based on the following criteria:
School-appropriateness: All videos are rated PG-13 or lower to align with school guidelines. However, make sure that the content you show is appropriate to your own grade level. What works for 4th grade may not work for 10th grade and vice versa.
Accessibility: We've prioritized videos available on popular streaming platforms, including free options like Tubi and Kanopy, and social media for easy access.
Cultural relevance: We've chosen videos that offer authentic glimpses into Hispanic and Latin American cultures.
Language level: The videos cater to a range of language proficiencies, from beginner to advanced learners.
Why use videos in Spanish in your class?
Your students might think videos in class are just for fun, but they're actually a super helpful way to learn Spanish! Here’s why:
Dive into the culture: Videos provide a window into the Spanish-speaking world, allowing your students to immerse themselves and connect with real people and places.
Sharpen listening skills: Different accents and speaking speeds will help your students become better listeners.
Boost vocabulary and grammar: Videos expose students to new words and structures in context, making learning stick.
Keep students engaged with more than just words: Exciting videos can turn learning into an adventure.
Best movies for Spanish class
Synopsis: Vivo, a music-loving kinkajou, sets off on a grand adventure from Cuba to Miami to deliver a love song for his late owner. Along the way, he forms an unlikely bond with a free-spirited young girl, learning about friendship, loss, and the power of music.
Educational value: The film showcases Cuban culture, music, and landscapes, providing a rich context for language learning.
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Zipi and Zape, two mischievous twins, discover a secret club centered around a magical marble. Intrigued and eager for adventure, they join the club and embark on a thrilling quest, facing challenges and uncovering hidden secrets along the way.
Educational value: The movie showcases Spanish humor, youth culture, and creative problem-solving. This is suitable for intermediate learners.
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: A seemingly perfect family is thrown into disarray when mom takes a much-needed break. As they navigate life without her, each member undergoes personal growth and discovers the true meaning of family.
Educational value: The movie can be used to introduce or reinforce vocabulary related to family, home, emotions, and daily routines.
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime
Synopsis: A shy foosball champion must lead his tiny team of players to life-sized glory when a ruthless soccer star threatens his hometown and the love of his life.
Educational value: The movie offers insights into Argentine culture, values, and social dynamics. Students can also learn new vocabulary related to sports, emotions, and interpersonal relationships.
Streaming platform: Kanopy
Synopsis: A boy embarks on a farewell voyage with his native father to the gorgeous Mexican coast for an epic adventure.
Educational value: The film introduces vocabulary related to the ocean, fishing, and family life. The stunning visuals can be used to teach descriptive language and enhance vocabulary acquisition.
Streaming platform: Tubi
Best TV shows for Spanish class
Synopsis: The show follows the life of Luna, a cheerful teenager with a passion for roller skating. She moves to a new city and navigates the ups and downs of making new friends, finding love, and discovering her true identity. As she becomes involved in the world of competitive skating, Luna uncovers hidden talents and secrets from her past that shape her future.
Educational value: The show features natural dialogue and colloquialisms, helping students understand authentic Spanish as it is spoken in real-life situations. Plus, it features competition-related vocabulary.
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: Julie, a talented musician, discovers a secret: the ghosts of a rock band are haunting her family's old music studio. After overcoming her initial fear, Julie forms an unlikely bond with the spectral trio. Together, they navigate challenges and explore life, love, and music.
Educational value: The show features contemporary language, musical elements, and relatable teenage experiences, making it great for middle and high school students.
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: The show follows the story of Mia, a talented teenager who earns a scholarship to an elite performing arts school. There, she faces challenges from popular students while pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. Along the way, Mia discovers new friendships, hidden talents, and secrets that could change her life.
Educational value: The show features modern slang, Argentinian culture, and themes of friendship and self-expression, making it great for teens.
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: This is a competitive cooking reality show based on the U.S. franchise of the same name. Amateur chefs from across Mexico showcase their culinary skills for a panel of expert judges. Contestants face a series of challenging tasks, from cooking under time pressure to creating gourmet dishes with unexpected ingredients, all in the hopes of being crowned Mexico's next MasterChef.
Educational value: The show features food language, making it great for food-themed units.
Streaming platform: Tubi
Best short-form videos for Spanish learning
All your students watch it, and you probably do, too. So why fight it? TikTok and Instagram Reels can be incredible tools for showcasing authentic Spanish used by native speakers, giving you a peek into their daily lives and the latest trends. Plus, many of these short-form videos include subtitles, so there is always visual backup even if your students can’t keep up with all the words they’re listening to.
Want to discover some amazing Spanish-speaking content creators? Check out these accounts:
Eliú Ramos and Shakti Maal are a hilarious Venezuelan couple who've taken TikTok by storm with their skits. Their videos are full of laughter and love. Check out their skit “Lo que tu quieras” on TikTok or “El aguacate” Instagram.
El Cuartico is a podcast hosted by three comedians who discuss pop culture and personal stories. You'll definitely want to watch their skit “Córtate la pollina” on TikTok or “El tiempo pasa volando” on Instagram.
Angelo Colina is a comedian making waves in the U.S. Latino community with his relatable and authentic humor. Check out his skit “El amigo de Venmo” on TikTok or his parody video “POV: Cuando tu amigo visita Nueva York por primera vez” on Instagram.
Chef Schwarz is a talented chef and cooking content creator who shares his delicious—and sometimes crazy—recipes on social media. Watch him make chocolate completely from scratch.
Paulettee is a Colombian content creator who loves talking about pop culture, true crime, and more. She's got something for everyone, like this tour of her gaming setup!
Educational value: TikTok and Instagram reels provide real-life language exposure outside of class. They are also a great way to showcase what native speakers are watching on social media.
¡Qué chévere!’s third edition kicks off each unit with student-focused objectives and engaging cultural videos. These videos, seamlessly integrated into the eBook, showcase native speakers sharing personal anecdotes and posing thought-provoking questions related to the unit’s theme.
Educational value: The videos showcase comprehensible input by native speakers tailored to each unit's theme.
Activity ideas you can do in class while showing videos in Spanish
Vocabulary lists: Provide students with keywords and phrases relevant to the video content.
Cultural background: Offer context about traditions, customs, or historical details that might appear in the video.
Discussion questions: Spark students' curiosity by posing questions they should pay attention to while watching.
Comprehension questions: Check for understanding during and after the video with simple questions about the plot, characters, or setting.
Note-taking: Encourage students to jot down important information or unfamiliar vocabulary.
Identifying key phrases: Challenge students to pinpoint specific sentences or expressions used in the video.
Group discussions: Facilitate discussions about the video's content, encouraging students to express their opinions and interpretations.
Writing assignments: Have students write emails, diary entries, or short stories inspired by the video's content.
Creative projects: Encourage students to express their understanding through artistic endeavors like drawing comics, creating presentations, or even filming their own videos!
Embrace the power of storytelling
Learning a language is about more than memorizing grammar rules. It's about connecting with a culture and understanding its stories–and movies, TV shows, and short-form videos are great tools for that. Through the power of storytelling, videos in Spanish make language acquisition not just a task but a journey of discovery.
For more resources to help you incorporate videos into your Spanish lessons, explore the rich cultural resources in ¡Qué chévere! now in its 3rd edition. This comprehensive program provides a variety of Spanish videos, including My Language Town videos, to inspire your students and achieve outstanding results.
A former Spanish teacher who is currently based in the Washington DC metropolitan area. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from la Universidad del Zulia and a Master's degree in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her interests include SEL education in the world language classroom, theater, and finding ways to make the world a less scary place.
Explore more related to this authorThrough the power of storytelling, videos in Spanish make language acquisition not just a task but a journey of discovery.
Natalia Álvarez, Former Spanish Teacher
