Benefits of catchy songs for language learning
Are catchy songs only annoying?
Catchy songs can be quite annoying sometimes, can’t they? Almost all day you hear the song over and over again.
However, you can use that characteristic as a benefit concerning language learning. Surely you have heard that one possibility to learn a language is learning with songs that are in the language you want to learn.
Learning with fun and being effective
The best thing: it is fun. Who said language learning has to be a serious matter? Or a complicated one?
It is easy and effective: You find a song you enjoy listening to, you listen to it – not because you have to but because you enjoy it – and you learn the lyrics off by heart.
Learning with songs like learning with a textbook
If you have learned the lyrics you automatically have learned new vocabulary in a specific context.
Remember: Always learn vocabulary in a context.
Each song has a specific theme so it is quite probable that the new vocabulary you learn will have something in common.
Let me illustrate this with an example: If it is a love song there will be words like love, beautiful, heart, miss, kiss, forever, pain, tears etc.
It’s like a chapter in a textbook for language learners.
Watch out your language!
When you choose a song you should first check out what type of language use there is. If you are not sure you can ask a native speaker.
Here’s the deal: Some songs use full words and correct grammar, but others use abbreviations and slang – some more, some less.
If you are a beginner you should rather focus on songs without any or with just a little slang. Later, when you are a bit more advanced, you can explore the world of slang in your target language.
When you translate the lyrics you can use the Birkenbihl method. It is a brain-friendly language learning method that I have described in another article.
After translating you can begin to listen to the song and look at your translated lyrics at the same time. Do it several times until you can already sing along with it a bit.
In time, by repeating this you will be able to know the song by heart as well as many new words in your target language.
Learning with songs will rock your body
By learning with fun it is much more likely to memorize the new information. That’s why the songs we like are such a help because they trigger positive emotions. So what do emotions do? “They have quite an effect on your body”.
How? They literally rock your body! This can be seen when you tap your fingers to the song’s rhythm or nod along. You use another additional-sense out of our five physical senses. Because: the more senses are included in the learning processes the better!
Music and language are good teammates
But wait, there’s more to come! Music and language are like cousins. They share melody, tone, rhythm, pauses and pitch. So combined they are a really good team for mastering another language.
Songs represent the culture
Another interesting thing that songs share with language learning is that a lot of songs may have a connection to the culture the song comes from. You can not only hear the language itself but you can also hear its typical melody or rhythm.
Look:
Take the Spanish song Bailando by Enrique Iglesias for example. A piece of Spain surrounds you just by listening to this song. And are you not at least a bit more motivated when you immerse yourself in the culture your target language comes from?
In the following I have chosen some songs that seem nice to learn with:
Spanisch
If there is a song I would recommend to a person who has just started learning Spanish, I would name this one. Manu Chao will bring you with his reggae beats step by step to the next Spanish level.
This song’s heart beats for Latin America! Check out its great video as well.
Hot, hotter, latino…this passionate song will not only make you want to move but to learn Spanish even more than before.
Portuguese
Let’s begin with lots of love: this really beautiful melody is accompanied by really nice lyrics that are quite well to understand.
It continues emotionally…but this time with some Brazilian reggae feeling.
Sun, beautiful beaches, people dancing to exotic rhythms – this classic will surround you with Brazilian’s finest flair.
English
Let’s go back to the late 90’s and learn with this vivid song full with
Also this song seems good to learn English with. If your English level is not on a basic level anymore you still can recommend this song to a friend who is.
Now, what about you? Have you already been learning with songs?
Feel free to leave us a comment about your experiences regarding learning with songs 🙂
Alston Gray
After reading and re-reading your lesson on songs and the benefits to learning a language, I am impressed. One of the main points you mentioned is the fact that learning a language can be fun and non-complicated. In addition, grammar and culture can be learned seamlessly through the lyrics of songs simultaneously.
Along with the links you provided, your readers owe it to themselves to digest this lesson by reading it multiple times and act upon it.
The reward will be an effective method to implement to be successful in learning any language. Thanks for taking your time to share this valuable information.
Sarah Noras
Thank you very much for your time to read the post and to give constructive feedback! I’m happy I could provide some information language learners can benefit from.