English Teacher Translates Mexican Folk Song ‘La Chona’ To Help Her Students Learn Faster

After watching this delightful video, we kind of want to forget how to speak English just so we can live the joy of having to learn it the same way as Tania Selene Félix’s students. Mario Quintero Lara is probably one of the best songwriters Norteño music has ever produced and his legendary band ‘Los Tucanes de Tijuana’ have many chart-topping hits to back up that statement.

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One of those songs is, of course, “La Chona,” that talks about this woman who hits the club every night to get bottle service and light up the dance floor with her moves – much to everyone’s astonishment.

(Lyrics)

I’ll tell you the story of a famous city girl
Everybody knows her and La Chona is her name(X2)
Her husband is crying, he doesn’t know what to do
Daily, she is dancing and spending on her booze

The band has started, they’re playing the first song
La Chona is ready, ready looking for a boy (X2)
People are watching and they’re all singing aloud
Bravo, bravo. Chona, about dancing, you’re the one

And La Chona is moving, and the people are yelling
No one is like La Chona, dancing la quebradita
And La Chona is dancing, whatever they’re playing
Music of any kind never loses her jumping

The marvelous song has become a staple at Mexican weddings, quinceañeras, and almost every other get together. It’s only fair that students trying to learn English can do it in a way that is familiar to them and that’s where this English teacher got the idea to do this with her students.
(Lyrics)
Contare la historia de una famosa persona
Todos la conocen con el apodo de chona
Todos la conocen con el apodo de chona
Su marido dice ya no se que hacer con ella
Diario va los bailes y se compra una botella
Diario va los bailes y se compra una botella
Se arranca la banda con la primera cancion

Y la chona luego luego busca bailador
Y la chona luego luego busca bailador
La gente la mira y le empieza grita
Bravo bravo chona nadie te puede igualar
Bravo bravo chona nadie te puede igualar
Y la chona se mueve, y la gente le grita
No hay mejor que la chona, para la quebradita
Y la chona se mueve, al ritmo que le tocen

Ella baila de todo, nunca pierde su trote
“Ritmo y sabor los tucanes de tijuana”
Y la chona se mueve, y la gente le grita
No hay mejor que la chona, para la quebradita
Y la chona se mueve, al ritmo que le tocen
Ella baila de todo, nunca pierde su trote

“I always put on music in English so [my students] can get used to the language,” Félix told Spanish journal El País. “One of my students asked me to put on ‘La Chona,’ but I said no because it was in Spanish.” But the Sonora, Mexico teacher had a better idea. Instead of rejecting the student’s request, she took it upon herself to translate this magical Mexican gem into English so her students could learn the language in a way that is a lot more fun and creative.

The song might not follow all grammar rules ideally, but in reality, who cares? If you’re not dancing to this video, then you must not be a dancer. This will hopefully start a trend and soon we will be hearing ‘La Chona’ in French.

Article inspired by Remezcla // This Mexican Teacher Translated the Lyrics to “La Chona” to Help Her Students Learn English