| By :
Ken Ingraham
When you learn Spanish in Chile, you want to make sure that your trip isn't all academia. It is important to take part in all the fun that the country of Chile offers. One event that is truly not to be missed is The Viña del Mar International Song Festival, which in Spanish is called "Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar." This event has been taking place for the past 51 years and lasts for 5 nights. Genres of music that are played at the festival include salsa, meringue, reggae, pop and rock. You will hear local residents in Chile just referring to this popular musical event as "the festival." In fact, those that can't attend tend to watch the entire event on television. However, if you attend Spanish schools in Vina de Mar or Santiago (only 90 minutes away), you really should put attending this festival high on your list. You might even want to consider traveling to this festival if you are staying in Lima or even Buenos Aires! It really is that kind of "once in a lifetime experience." This is not only a chance to listen to some amazing live music, but it is also a way to experience the thrills of being at one of South America's most popular events. This world-renowned festival is held every February in Vina del Mar, which is a city on Chile's Pacific coast. It is held in Quinta Vergara in an amphitheatre that holds over 15,000 people. Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar is considered to be the most important festival in all of Latin America. Music celebrities from all around the world travel to Chile to perform and compete. Unlike many other music festivals, The Viña del Mar International Song Festival includes a competition in International pop music as well as one in folk music. While before 1968, the contest was closed to music not by Chileans; it is now open to those originating from a variety of countries. In fact, at recent 2011 event, the prize was won by Canadian composers. There is also a unique trend at this festival called El Monstruo or The Monster. This phenomenon takes place when the audience expresses its approval or disapproval of various acts performing. If artists can earn approval from El Monstruo, it can greatly boost their careers in Latin America. In this case, the audience demands encore performances and barely allows the artist to leave the stage. On the other hand, some artists have actually been booed off of the stage if the audience doesn't like them! Studying a foreign language isn't strictly about the language, its also about enrichment and learning about other types of people. Of course, the art, literature and music of a society displays a great deal about its culture. Through attending Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar, you will greatly add to your overall learning experience as you study abroad in Chile.
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