If languages aren’t really your thing, you might not find the idea of studying French – or any other language – very appealing. It’s true that travelling abroad and immersing in the culture is the most efficient way to learn a language, but there are other very accessible options available.
One of them is music. This is nothing new. Probably, back when you were in school, one of your language teachers – the cool one – played songs that you and your classmates had to sing along to. You quite likely sung them a cappella and completely off key… but, hey, it worked!
If you’ve decided that you want to learn a new language or brush up on your skills, here are 5 good reasons why you should turn to music:
- Music stimulates memory.
Like Homer told Lisa on The Simpsons: “You know, Lisa, music helps daddy think”. Joking aside, the songs you listened to in your childhood helped you memorize things that you still remember today. If you listen to a song in a foreign language over and over again, you will end up learning it by heart.
- Singing in a foreign language improves pronunciation.
When we sing, we tend to mimic the sounds and the tone. This makes our accent less obvious than when we speak a foreign language. But it takes some effort at the beginning!
- It increases your vocabulary and your idiom knowledge.
Most songs use colloquial words and expressions that one usually doesn’t learn when studying a language. If you’re curious enough, you can download the lyrics of a song and their translation. Get ready to be surprised!
- Practice anytime, anywhere.
Nowadays, you can carry music around. Listen to your favourite tunes while you take shower, while you exercise or even… in the rain.
- It’s a window to other cultures.
Music connects cultures and breaks barriers: Andalusian (Spanish) flamenco, Argentinian tango, Jamaican reggae, British punk, American jazz… the list goes on.
In case you’re not convinced, how about a language course abroad that you can combine with music and dance lessons? If you’re interested, find all the information here.
Let us know in the comment section below if you use music to learn languages. You can also list a few songs that you would recommend to people who are studying a foreign language.
What do you think?