Here are the sentences in simple present tense: I am a teacher. You are a student. He is an assistant. She is a classmate. It is a book. We are students. They are Colombian people. I play the guitar. You play the bass. He dances music. She sings songs. It records music. We play Bambuco. They dance Joropo. I can play the harp. You can play the Maracas. He can dance Joropo. She can play the tambora. It can record music. We can dance Bambuco. They

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2. 2
This document is a small compilation of Colombian native music and culture focusing on the Andean and the
Eastern Plains regions. As this document focuses on two regions from Colombia and their culture regarding
music traditions, the content will be managed by following a multicultural approach. The suggested language
level required to develop the activities is A2 in accordance to the Common European Framework.
Required level in accordance to the European common framework: A2
1. Grammar topics to be worked in this unit:
a. Simple present.
b. Can – Can’t.
c. Adjectives.
d. Vocabulary.
2. Culture topics:
a. Generalities of Colombian native music.
b. Description of the presented Colombian music.
c. Music genres and music festivities.
d. Music instruments.
e. Cultural identity.
3. Extra notes:
a. Regions of Colombia
b. Music instruments and the color they add to music
c. The cultural identity it generates on people.

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Aims:
Students will:
- Talk about generalities.
- Describe in a basic level.
- Use verbs in simple present.
- Ask and talk about abilities.
Topics and Vocabulary
- Colombian Music
- Llanos Orientales
- Region Andina
- Music instruments
- Adjectives
- Simple present
- Can/can’t
- Festivals

4. 4
Say hi to the world by following the example:
(Draw yourself or your country here)
Name: ___________________
Country: _________________
Continent: ________________
Colombia can be divided into distinct regions: Amazon, Orinoco (or Eastern Plains), Atlantic coast,
Pacific coast, and the Andean region. The most influencing traditional Colombian music can be
found in the Atlantic, Pacific, Andean, and Eastern Plains.
Photocopy the next page. Cut and paste the regions to complete the map:

5. 5
Complete the following sentences:
- The Andean is to the center of Colombia.
- The Pacific coast is to the ________ of Colombia.
- The Eastern Plains is to the ___________________
- The Amazon is to the ________________________
- The __________ coast is to the ________________

6. 6
Match the images to the sentences:
Complete the following sentences:
- Juan is a harp player. He plays the harp.
- Isabella __ a San Juanero dancer. ____ San Juanero.
- Daniel and Laura ___ professional Joropo dancers. _____ Joropo.
- Elizabeth is not a harp player.
- Carlos ____ a professional Joropo dancer.

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Complete the following sentences:

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Ibagué Folk Festival is celebrated in the days just before the feasts of Saint John and Saint Peter. The city
decks itself up for a party, and plazas and parks become the amazing musical stages where people dance to
the beat of traditional Andean rhythms: sanjuaneros, bambucos, and pasillos.
Bambuco National Folk Festival and Beauty Pageant is the largest and most important celebration in Huila
Department and one of the most important celebrations in southern Colombia. It is celebrated annually in the
city of Neiva during the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul and attracts a considerable number of Colombian and
foreign tourists. The festival was declared National Cultural heritage by the Congress of Colombia in 2006
BAMBUCO: Listen and read (Track #1).
It is performed by duos or trios that play the guitar, the tiple, the mandolin and on some occasions, the flute,
but more often the guitar and the tiple are used, accompanied by singing. It is danced by couples.

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The Joropo International Tournament is one of the biggest events of the tournament, the Joropodromo, an
open air dance performance, will bring together 2,700 joropo dancers from both Colombia and Venezuela.
Dancers are divided into three categories – children, youth, adults, and professional – and have the
opportunity to win one of three monetary awards.
The Mono Nuñez Festival is an Andean music competition that brings together some of the best Colombian
artists in Ginebra (Valle del Cauca). This event, which began in 1974 as part of the Immaculate Conception
School’s cultural week, has become a platform for various artists to launch their careers. The Festival is named
after the musician Benigno Núñez Moya.
JOROPO: Listen and read (Track #2)
Joropo is music with a fast rhythm that predominates on the Eastern plains. It is a waltz-like dance and in Colombia and
Venezuela it represents the version of cowboys from these countries. The joropo is performed with cuatro, harp and
capachos (small maracas).

10. 10
Complete the following chart:
REGION INFORMATION
ABOUT THE REGION
INSTRUMENTS
USED
ADJECTIVES
FOUND IN
THE READING
Eastern
Plains
Andean
Region
ARPA LLANERA The harp of the "Los llanos Orientales" is a typical
musical Instrument from the eastern plains region of
Colombia and Venezuela. Joropos, pasajeses,
danzas, galerones and tonadas are the unmistakable
rhythms of the area. The harp is at the heart of this
music.
MARACAS Maracas are percussion instruments made from a
dry gourds or tightly stretched leather. Inside, there
are dry seeds which produce an unmistakable sound
when the instrument is shaken.
TAMBORA
A drum from the Pacific seaboard, whose cylindrical
body is made from a balsa tree trunk.

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Write about yourself: Your occupation, or job; what can you do? What instruments can you
play? Here is an example.
Hi I’m Brandon and I’m a University student. I don’t
have a Job, but I can teach English and Music to
people. I can play the guitar, bass guitar, Tambora and
soprano flute, but I can’t play the Maracas, Tiple, and
Eastern Harp
Insert paragraph here.
Write about a classmate: His/her occupation, or job; what can he/she do? What instruments
can he/she play?
Insert paragraph here.

12. 12
In groups of two people exchange information about the instruments each one can or
can’t play, the music each one can or can’t play, and the music of the region each one of the
members is from.
Complete the chart below with information from the other person.
Track #3
Guitar
Drums
Pop
Bambuco
No answer
Student A: What instruments can you
play?
Student B: I can play the guitar and
drums.
Student A: What kind of music you play
with the guitar?
Student B: I can play pop and bambuco.
Student A: And the music of you region?
What is the name of it?
Student B: Hmm I don’t know.

13. 13
Follow the instruction to do the project.
A name
Colombian music (one genre)
Another music genre
Instruments: 3 from Colombia, 2 from anywhere
Place where it is celebrated
Artists: It can be musicians or dancers.

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I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
We are
They are
I am a teacher
You are a student
He is an assistant
She is a classmate
It is a book
We are students
They are Colombian people
To play  I play the guitar
To play  You play a bass
To dance  He dances music
To sing  She sings songs
To record  It records music
To play  We play Bambuco
To dance  They dance Joropo
I can play the harp
You can play the Maracas
He can dance Joropo
She can play the tambora
It can record music
We can dance Bambuco
They can watch us dance
I can’t / cannot play the harp
You can’t / cannot play the Maracas
He can’t / cannot dance Joropo
She can’t / cannot play the tambora
It can’t / cannot record music
We can’t / cannot dance Bambuco
They can’t / cannot watch us dance