Coffee Break Spanish: Listening Practice on Mexican Singer Jimena Sariñana

A Coffee Break with Anabel
Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Coffee Break Spanish focuses on listening comprehension using the example of Jimena Sariñana, a prominent Mexican singer and actress. The hosts guide learners through key vocabulary, contextual questions, and a comprehension text to develop listening skills. The episode is perfectly suited to intermediate Spanish learners seeking to expand their vocabulary and learn about contemporary Latin music.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Structure

1. Setting Up the Listening Practice (01:03 - 02:43)

• Anabel (Host) introduces the episode:

  • States the topic will be about music, particularly focusing on Spanish-language music and a favorite Mexican singer.
  • Shares that the careful structure is intended to support listening comprehension, especially by previewing key vocabulary and giving comprehension questions in advance.

  “Entiendo que las actividades de comprensión auditiva pueden ser difíciles, por eso organicé este episodio un poco diferente...”
  (D, 01:39)

• Key Educational Steps Explained:

  • Present key vocabulary from the forthcoming text.
  • Share three listening questions to keep in mind.
  • Listen to the text twice.
  • Review and answer the questions together.

2. Key Vocabulary for the Episode (02:52 - 04:59)

The hosts introduce essential Spanish terms that will appear in the listening text:

• Destacada: “important, prominent”.
• Leiba: a Spanish artist’s name.
• Ha lanzado: “has released”, relating to music releases.
• Éxitos como solista: “solo hits”.
• Le ha permitido: “it has allowed her”.
• Consolidándose: “consolidating herself/becoming established”.

Questions for the text:

1. ¿A qué se dedica Jimena? / What does Jimena do for a living?
2. Menciona al menos dos artistas con quienes ha colaborado / Name at least two artists she has collaborated with.
3. Nombra al menos uno de sus éxitos como solista / Name at least one of her solo hits.

“You can answer these questions in Spanish or English.”
(D, 04:59)

3. Listening Comprehension Text (05:07 - 07:26)

• The text is read out in clear, measured Spanish—twice—each time highlighting Jimena Sariñana’s professional background, collaborations, and solo achievements.

  Brief Summary of the Text (in English):

  • Jimena Sariñana is a prominent Mexican singer and actress.
  • She has collaborated with numerous international artists, including Jason Mraz (“Lucky”), Miguel Bosé (“Aire Soy”), and Leiva (“Godzilla” and “Histéricos de Felicidad”).
  • Her solo hits include “Mediocre”, “No todo lo puedes dar”, and “Cobarde”.
  • Jimena’s versatility has enabled her to explore various musical genres and become an established figure in Latin music.

  “...ha alcanzado varios éxitos como solista, entre los cuales están ‘Mediocre’, ‘No todo lo puedes dar’ y ‘Cobarde’...”
  (D, 06:54)

4. Reviewing and Answering the Listening Questions (07:26 - 09:11)

The hosts methodically review the three comprehension questions:

• What does Jimena do for a living?
  “Jimena es cantante y actriz.” / “Jimena is a singer and actress.”
  (D, 07:42)

• Name at least two artists she’s collaborated with:
  “Jimena ha colaborado con Jason Mraz, Miguel Bosé y Leiva.”
  (C, 08:12; D, 08:19)

• Name at least one of her solo hits:
  “‘Mediocre’, ‘No todo lo puedes dar’ y ‘Cobarde’.”
  (D, 08:52; C, 08:56)

“Her solo hits are three: ‘Mediocre’, ‘No todo lo puedes dar’ and ‘Cobarde’.”
(D, 08:52)

5. Encouragement for Continued Practice (09:11-09:38)

• The hosts encourage learners to keep practicing Spanish and suggest signing up for the Coffee Break Languages newsletter for more content.

  “Bueno, pues buen trabajo. Me imagino que no ha sido fácil, pues creo que es todo.”
  (C, 09:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Me gusta escuchar música en idiomas diferentes, pero hoy solo voy a hablar de música en español.”
  (D, 01:15) — The host’s personal touch starts the episode engagingly.
• “Si quieres seguir mejorando tu español, puedes recibir lecciones mini gratuitas directamente en tu correo...”
  (D, 09:20) — A supportive closing invite to learners.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (01:03): Episode topic and pedagogical approach explained
• (02:52): Key vocabulary introduced
• (04:55): Comprehension questions presented
• (05:09): First reading of the Jimena Sariñana text
• (06:20): Second reading of the text
• (07:26): Review of comprehension questions and answers
• (09:20): Encouragement and invitation for more practice

Overall Tone & Approach

Friendly, clear, and geared toward learners, the hosts break down language barriers, building confidence and fluency for their listeners. Their tone is encouraging and educational, making the process of listening comprehension approachable and rewarding.

Summary by Coffee Break Languages, Episode: “Listening practice on the topic of this Mexican singer | A Coffee Break with Anabel”.