Do you enjoy listening to music? It’s something you can do which doesn’t have to take any time out of your day – you can listen while you’re walking to work or washing the dishes. Wouldn’t it be great, then, if you could combine music and studying to help you with your language learning?
If you’ve already tried listening to songs in the language you’re learning, as good as the song may be, you may have found this a slightly demoralising experience if you’re struggling to understand what the song is about. However, understanding a language in song form can be more challenging because the pronunciation and phrasing are often altered to fit the music.
So don’t be disheartened! Remember that even when listening to songs in English, it isn’t always easy to pick out every word. This is why songs are a great test for your listening comprehension and good for your pronunciation.
How exactly, then, can you make the most out of a song to benefit your language skills? Read on to find out our top 8 tips!
1. Just listen, with no peeking!
To combine music and studying, try listening to the song a few times without looking at the lyrics. Even if you can only pick out the odd word at first, this is a great start, as getting used to the sounds you’re hearing is good practice for your listening skills.
2. Now add the lyrics!
Look up the lyrics online (in the original language, not the English translation!) and listen to the song again while reading through them. This will help you associate the sounds you’ve heard in the song with written words you may already be familiar with, making the most of the combination of music and studying.
This stage is usually quite reassuring, as you realise that you actually do know a lot of the words being sung, making learning a language through music much easier.
3. Compare with an English translation
For many songs, you can find an English translation of the lyrics by searching online. Compare this to the original lyrics and note down any new vocabulary.
The new words you are learning are within context and attached to a tune, often making them easier to remember! If you can’t find a translation of the lyrics, try running them through an online translator – just remember that this often can’t provide a perfect translation, but it should help to give you a rough understanding of the text.
4. Use the lyrics as a reading text
Now, to make the most of the experience of using music and studying, you can look through the original lyrics as if it were any other reading text, looking for examples of language points you have been learning about.
Try noting them down so you can remember examples of these grammar points being used in context!
5. Cultural knowledge
Look up the artist online to expand your cultural knowledge. When you get the chance to practise your language with native speakers, it is important to understand not only their language but also their culture.
Knowledge of other cultures helps to connect with people better and gives you something interesting to talk about too!
6. Singing along for pronunciation practice
Singing along to songs is one of the best ways to improve pronunciation. Since you’re mimicking a native speaker, you’ll naturally improve your intonation and rhythm.
Plus, music repetition helps engrain phrases into your memory.
7. Enjoy your listening!
Add the song to your regular listening playlist and enjoy combining music and studying. Over time, you’ll naturally remember the lyrics, reinforcing the words and phrases. And before you know it, you’ll have improved your vocabulary and pronunciation without even realising it!
Combining music and studying can make language learning more enjoyable and effective! It immerses you in the sounds and cultural nuances of the language, complementing traditional study techniques like grammar exercises and flashcards.
If you’re excited about expanding your language skills further, you should consider exploring idiomatic expressions from other cultures. These idioms often reveal unique insights into the way different languages convey ideas and emotions.
Would you like to get to know idioms from different languages? If so, check out our blog post that features a list of ten curious ones!
