We know that spending 15 minutes a day learning a new language is easier said than done—sometimes, you’re just a little too busy. But if an award-winning artist can make the time for it… suddenly, our excuses don’t hold up! (Especially when that artist is offering two free months of Duolingo Plus…)
On a special episode of Relatos en inglés, our podcast dedicated to Spanish speakers learning English, we spoke with the legendary Colombian musician Juanes. Below are highlights from the episode, and his English-learning journey. Fans and learners should listen to the episode for the full story (note, the episode is fully in Spanish, which makes it a great study tool!).
Juanes first fell in love with English-language music
One of our favorite tricks for practicing a new language involves consuming culture (books movies, or music) in that language. Turns out, Juanes was doing that all along! Growing up in Medellin, Juanes studied English in school, but in a classroom of over 45 other students just a couple of hours a week, the lessons didn’t really stick. However, Juanes found other means: music. Through friends, he discovered the sounds of KISS, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, and others that provided the foundation for his musical education.
As a teenager, he and his friends formed a band, Ekhymosis, directly inspired by these musical groups. Though he often had no idea what they were singing, he tried his best to emulate their lyrics phonetically when performing with his friends.
Dictionaries and books were his English teachers
After moving to California at 25, Juanes experienced several years of what he called “living alone and living in silence,” because he didn’t have a grasp of English.
During this time, he did his best to learn through books. He spent a lot of his days frequenting a specific bookstore. He would head directly to the language learning section, where he would study and read children's books, trying to teach himself English. He didn’t have the money to buy them, so he would fold the page to mark his spot and then return the next day to continue studying.
Fame and English did not go hand-in-hand
In 2000, Juanes released his first solo album, “Fíjate Bien,” earning 6 Latin Grammy nominations and 2 wins, including “Best New Artist.” Suddenly, in the international spotlight, Juanes questioned his English skills.
With the Grammy nominations came interview requests—daily “phoners” conducted nearly all in English. He found it difficult to express himself and find the words he wanted to describe his music.
As his fame grew, Juanes began to meet other well-regarded musicians, but didn’t know how to express himself. On the podcast, he recalled meeting Paul Stanley, the singer from KISS—the same KISS that laid the foundation for his musical beginnings. But with his limited grasp of English, he could only utter, “I am from Colombia. I am a musician, too. I love your music.”
This interaction lit a fire within Juanes to continue learning.
To hear what happened next in his journey to learn English, fans and learners should listen to the latest episode of Relatos en inglés. You’ll hear more candid and inspiring anecdotes from the famous musician, and for a limited time listeners can get two months of Duolingo Plus for free by visiting duolingo.com/redeem and entering the promo code JUANES, or simply by clicking here. Terms & Conditions apply*.
This podcast was made in partnership with Yousician, the world's leading app to learn and play music, with courses from music's biggest artists.
*Account sign-up and credit card required. Redeemable by visiting duolingo.com/redeem in a browser or on mobile web only. After 2-month trial, Duolingo Plus subscription will automatically renew, unless cancelled. Offer is eligible to both New and Returning Duolingo Plus users (current Duolingo Plus subscribers are not eligible). FAQ can be found here.
