Meeting Manu Chao

Barcelona, fresh out of college and eager to learn React.

I enrolled in Ironhack's intensive coding camp, soaking in the sun-drenched streets and vibrant culture of the city, all while immersing myself in the world of React Native.

An unexpected encounter significantly influenced my journey. One day, while leaving Ironhack, engrossed in a song with earphones in, I bumped into Manu Chao. Yes, the Manu Chao - the French singer and activist with Spanish roots, who had unknowingly taught me most of my Spanish through his music.

It's probably the happiest I've ever been, and probably ever will be, when this photo was taken:

Manu's songs, a mix of Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese, had been a constant companion in my language learning journey. His ability to weave multiple languages into his music was not just impressive; it was inspiring. This serendipitous meeting fanned the flames of my love for languages and etymology, and the seed for what would eventually become i·CANTO - originally 'cantar' - was planted.

Permanece a la escucha 🎧

i·CANTO is an AI-fueled language learning platform that transforms your favorite tunes into a vibrant classroom, perfect for the music-lover and modern learner eager to groove their way to fluency.

Where Music and Language Come Together

The idea for i·CANTO was also influenced by my experience teaching high school students in a bilingual institute. These students already had a solid grasp of English, and I was constantly searching for innovative ways to help them continue their language learning journey.

One day, I realized that the one thing my students loved was listening to contemporary English music and translating the lyrics. This simple yet effective method of language learning was the key that unlocked the concept for my application.

Cantar, which means 'to sing' in Spanish, is where music and language come together. It's an interactive platform that transforms your favorite tunes into an immersive language learning experience. Using music as a learning tool presents numerous benefits. It allows learners to hear colloquial language, key phrases, and words in context, all while enjoying the rhythm and melody of a song.

And so, amid the cobblestone streets of Barcelona, to the tunes of Manu Chao and the hum of coding keystrokes, cantar - now i·CANTO - was born. A testament to the power of music, the beauty of languages, and the serendipity of a chance encounter.