Looking for the Best Spanish Movies for Spanish Class?

The Best Spanish Language Movies for Spanish Class
The process of learning Spanish should not be relegated to the textbook and whiteboard. It is important to breathe live into the classroom by bringing in guest speakers and employing audiovisual resources that help round out Spanish lessons, and inspires cultural interest that can further your students' desire and motivation to learn Spanish through a variety of channels.

One of these channels is Spanish-language film.

Indeed, the most overlooked mediums for teaching Spanish is cinema from Spain and Latin America. There are a variety of excellent films coming out of countries ranging from Mexico to Argentina, that have one prizes throughout the world including the United States and Europe.

Spanish language cinema is an excellent way to peer into the culture of the countries of origin. The Spanish being spoken reflects local dialects, and challenges the viewer to listen closely, in order to more fully understand the plot and poetry of the words being spoken on tape. So, if you are a Spanish instructor looking for an effective and entertaining way to immerse your students in the Spanish language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries, then here is a list of just a few of the best Spanish movies for Spanish class:

1. Y Tu Mama Tambien

Featuring latin heartthrob Gael Garcia Marquez and a captivating story that won over North American viewers, Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother, Too) will win any Spanish teacher major points for showing this Spanish language film in the classroom, or assigning it on the class syllabus. But in addition to being popular and enduringly trendy, this Spanish language film is fit for the classroom because it is quite substantive, with an instructive illustration of upper class Mexican culture portrayed as two close friends, teenage boys from different social backgrounds, go on a road trip together through Mexico in pursuit of love and adventure. Accompanying them, of course, is a beautiful girl who sleeps with both of them, and ultimately causes so much tension in the relationship, that the friendship of the two boys is at stake.

A story well performed and told, Y Tu Mama Tambien is among the best Spanish language movies for Spanish class because it exposes to Spanish spoken for Spanish speakers. If your students simply watch the movie and cognitively reach for the humor, as well as the words that compose the fundamental story line, then this Spanish language film will help dramatically stretch their language ability, and encourage them to learn more. After all, anything not understood in a film this great will have your students hitting the books in no time flat, inspiring in them a hunger for the Spanish language so as to more fully enjoy a movie like Y Tu Mama Tambien the next time they watch it.

And watch it again they will. Click here to buy a copy of Y Tu Mama Tambien for the classroom.

2. The Holy Girl (La nina santa)

One of the most innovative and exciting films on the world stage, La Nina Santa is exemplary of the surging Argentinean New Wave cinema movement that began earlier in this decade. The story revolves around a couple of girls staying with their families during a strange summer vacation at a mysterious hotel in the verdant, misty region of sub-tropical Argentina. The girls are devoutly religious, but also discovering their teen sexuality. Enter a conference of ear, nose and throat surgeons that descend upon the hotel, and passions are awoken.

An amazing characteristic of the films of Lucrecia Martel, one of Argentina's foremost directors, is the fact that her movies explore potent themes of desire and yearning, yet seldom is anything actually realized. Not only does this create the necessary tension to drive a powerful story line, but it also provides a much more accurate reflection of life than does the typical foremulaic Hollywood screenplay.

So if you are looking for a Spanish language movie for Spanish class, remember that this requires a certain level of sophistication. At the same time, as a teacher you by now probably know not to underestimate the intelligence of your students. Pay special attention to sounds in this movie - not only the sounds of the words being spoken in Spanish, but the sounds of the hotel, the flies buzzing, the ghostly theramin and the moments charged with spiritual energy and anticipation.

To buy La Nina Santa or purchase the English-language version "The Holy Girl", by Lucrecia Martel, then you can find deals on Internet retailers such as Amazon. While the price of a new copy of this Spanish language movie might be what you would normally expect for a foreign language independent film, these online retailers often provide DVDs at clearance prices, which results in a great bargain for shoppers, especially Spanish teachers and professors who are on a budget, but looking for good learning resources, and the best Spanish movies for Spanish class. Click here now to buy a DVD of The Holy Girl.

3. The Official Story (La historia oficial)

What would you do if you found out that your adopted daughter's biological mother was tortured and killed by the government - the same government that ran the adoption center? A crisis of conscience drives the plot in Luis Puenzo's The Official Story, a wrenching tale of a mother's search to find her daughter's family while her husband is adamantly resistant to her finding out the truth. Universal themes of parenthood and adoption intertwine with the dark past of Argentina's Dirty War which saw tens of thousands of its citizens tortured, killed or disappeared.

The Official Story (La historia oficial) is a superb resource for students of Spanish, because it provides a human interest angle into the history of Argentina through a vehicle of excellent cinematic worth and merit. Not only is a fascinating and unbelievably tragic part of Argentina's past exposed - with all of its political, cultural, and emotional content handled extremely well and powerfully - but the narrative requires close attention to the words, and makes learning Spanish and paying attention to the film integral to understanding the full scope of the story.

This movie is recommended as one of the best teachers' resources for Spanish class because the plot is clear and straightforward, yet the words are not dumbed-down. This movie was made as much for an Argentinean audience as any other work of Argentinean cinema, which means it won't demean your students or leave them bored. While everyone in your Spanish class may not understand every last word, the story can be followed, and the way it is filmed makes it engaging. They will understand what they can, and likely be intrigued enough to come back and watch the movie again. And for that, they will have to learn more Spanish.

So what better teaching aid than one that inspires your students to learn more? Click here to buy The Official Story (La historia oficial) on DVD now.