How to Choose Clean and Appropriate Songs for Language Learning
Learn how to find classroom-appropriate songs for language learning, with tips for checking lyrics, videos, and meanings. Includes a curated list of clean Spanish songs!
If you are a language teacher who already knows that music is a great tool to learn languages, you most likely wonder: how do I find appropriate, clean songs for my students?
Here are some tips to save your time with Roxxem and ensure the music your students learn from is both enjoyable and appropriate.
In the end of this blog post, you can find our selection of clean Spanish songs, suitable for middle school students!
1. Use the Right Keywords When Searching
When looking for songs online, you can use specific keywords like “clean version,” “radio edit,” or “school-appropriate” in your search. Many streaming platforms and YouTube have explicit content filters that help you find versions without inappropriate language.
Roxxem makes it way easier with ratings that we assign to songs. We take a conservative approach—if there's any doubt, we give it a higher rating—to ensure you only get truly appropriate songs.
For middle and high school students, selecting G or PG-rated songs (there are hundreds of clean Spanish songs available on Roxxem) is the best option.
2. Check the Music Videos for Hidden Inappropriate Content
Even if a song's lyrics are clean, its music video might not be suitable for a classroom setting. Before playing a song in class, preview the video to check for any suggestive visuals, violent imagery, or distracting content.
If the official video isn't appropriate, consider using a lyric video or an instrumental version to keep the focus on language learning.
With Roxxem there's no need to worry—our ratings already factor in the appropriateness of the music video!
3. Research the Song's Background & Meaning
Some songs have hidden cultural references, double meanings, or slang that might not be obvious at first.
Before incorporating a song into your lesson, take a few minutes to research its background. Reading artist interviews, reviews, or song explanations can be helpful, but the quickest way to check is by skimming the translation.
With Roxxem's built-in translation feature, you can instantly see what a song is really saying. For example, here's the translation of "Despacito" —definitely not appropriate for middle schoolers!
4. Clean Spanish Songs for Your Classroom
Here are five clean Spanish songs you can find on Roxxem that meet the criteria:
1. "Mejor Que Ayer" - Diego Torres
Useful for: Teaching comparatives, positive expressions, and self-improvement vocabulary.
Why? The lyrics focus on personal growth and improvement, making it great for learning phrases like "mejor que ayer" (better than yesterday) and verbs in the present tense.
2. "Nunca Es Suficiente" - Los Ángeles Azules ft. Natalia Lafourcade
Useful for: Teaching negation, emotion-related vocabulary, and expressions of quantity.
Why? The title itself teaches the phrase "nunca es suficiente" (it's never enough), and the lyrics include many negative structures and expressions of longing.
Useful for: Teaching expressions of likes and dislikes, basic present tense verbs, and travel-related vocabulary.
Why? The repeated phrase "Me gusta..." is perfect for reinforcing gustar-construction sentences, and it includes references to places, activities, and desires.
4. "Ojos Marrones" - Lasso, Sebastián Yatra
Useful for: Teaching descriptive adjectives, comparisons, and past vs. present tenses.
Why? The song describes a past relationship and compares it to a present one, making it useful for discussing preterite vs. present tense
5. "Rosas" - La Oreja de Van Gogh
Useful for: Teaching past tenses (preterite & imperfect), romantic vocabulary, and narrating past events.
Why? The lyrics tell a nostalgic love story, using a mix of imperfect (to describe feelings) and preterite (to narrate events).
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Learn how to find classroom-appropriate songs for language learning, tips for checking lyrics, videos, and meanings. Curated list of clean songs!