Can Listening to Music Help You Improve Your Foreign Language Skills?

Research on the therapeutic and developmental abilities of music has been conducted for centuries by philosophers, educators, psychologists, and doctors. The use of music in the study of a foreign language helps to better master the material since music is a powerful teaching tool.

The didactic combination of language with music is very effective, and this fact was repeatedly confirmed during various experiments. Language and music are two methods of human communication and self-expression.

For this reason, the methods of teaching music and language are very similar. In addition, according to scientists, people with good musical abilities can achieve great success in learning a language. Learning, supported by emotions, becomes more effective.

The very first concepts that need to be learned when learning a language are the intonation of speech and the ordering of sounds. Later we learn the musicality of the language, which is a necessary condition for successful communication.

If the English language is a foreign language for you and songs don’t help you in learning it better and getting prepared for your English classes, don’t worry. For example, if you need to write an essay, there are professional writers whom you can ask, “Will you write my essay for me?” You can find one of such at EssayShark in case you are struggling.

Why You Should Listen to the Music Lyrics

A good way to learn new words and expressions is to work on the lyrics of songs in a foreign language. If you study them in this way, this knowledge will long remain in the memory. After reading the lyrics of several favorite songs, select your favorite words and expressions, and then use them in other contexts.

If you occasionally listen to the same favorite song in a foreign language, you will hardly forget its lyrics. Understanding the text is more important, because without this it is impossible to create a complete impression of the song.

You can check your understanding by recording the text while listening to the song, and then compare it with the official version. By studying one song per week for a year, you will master the lyrics of 52 songs and will be able to expand your vocabulary.

Using music to learn a foreign language will be of great help if it is necessary to memorize a list of words. Put them on a melody, and you will not only remember more, but also make the learning process more fun.

With the help of songs in a foreign language to serve as an excellent model for pronunciation, you can get rid of your accent. By listening to foreign language songs, we imitate native speakers and, as a result, speak better. The rhythm of the music helps to improve the pronunciation, intonation, and smoothness of the language.

According to the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, music and lyrics help to concentrate and relax. In addition, music can eliminate or weaken other sounds that may distract you. Listening to classical music is especially useful while learning.

Easy Spanish Songs to Sing and Use for Vocabulary Enrichment

The most effective ways to learn a language are those that give pleasure. And what could be nicer than listening to your favorite songs and singing along?

You will not only improve your pronunciation but also remember a few new words. It is proven that positive emotions improve memory, and repetition is generally the main secret of memorization. Let’s pay attention to several songs that can help you to learn Spanish.

Will “Despacito” not help?

Spanish music is incredibly diverse. If you do not have several favorite songs in stock, you can simply type in the search engine “mejores canciones en español” and rely on the opinion of millions.

Listen to them and choose the ones that you would gladly listen to again. Analyze them according to the proposed algorithm, and then record yourself and listen while driving, during household chores, in the gym, or on a walk. Do not forget from time to time to glance at the parallel texts of the Spanish and English versions.

So, your list is compiled. Enjoy your time with Spanish melodies! If you find it difficult to choose, then here are three songs that are sure to please those who are interested in replenishing their vocabulary.

I’ll tell you right now, the super popular “Dança kuduro” and “Despacito” are not included in this list: several languages are mixed in the first composition, and there are few words, except the word “cintura” (“waist,” or “belt”), that are useful; in the second, the vocabulary is rather peculiar and is unsuitable in everyday life. Remember the diminutive suffix “-ito,” which is often found in the Hispanic, and especially Latin American, dialects: “despacito” means “slowly, little by little.”

Let’s dance, sing, and learn with pleasure

1. “La Camisa Negra” by Juanes. This song is the best way to remember that in Spanish “to have” is not “a haber,” but “a tener,” and most of the adjectives come after the noun. “Amargo” means “bitter,” and “la mentira” means “lie.” There are a lot of words that will be useful when listening to almost any song in Spanish. We should not forget about ready-made structures – for example, “por culpa de,” “por la tarde,” “ni siquiera,” etc. A plus here is the incendiary rhythm and the perfect pronunciation of a Colombian singer.
2. “No Sé Por Qué Te Quiero” by Ana Belén and Antonio Banderas. Bolero rhythm is not too fast, so the words are well perceived by ear. Well, how else would you even learn the verb “pellizcar,” which means “tweak,” or the noun “freno,” which means “brake”?
3. “Solamente Tú” by Pablo Alboran. You will never forget the phrase “solamente tú.” But here also “la garganta,” “los celos,” “las olas,” “el alma,” and “la luz”; and the verbs “navegar,” “despertarse,” and “enseñar”!

In Spanish, there is a great number of wonderful songs to sing, and everyone has different tastes, but perhaps these compositions will push you to a deeper acquaintance with the Spanish language.

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