Music is powerful and available everywhere, it can make us feel excited, happy, or even a bit nostalgic. And to learn languages with music, emotions make the experience more memorable. So why not use music to make language learning easier and funnier?
As simple as it sounds, listening to songs in a foreign language trains your ear to pick up words, meanings and discover cultures. In this blog post, you’ll discover why music is perfect for learning, get some tips to use it in your studies, and find artist recommendations for our top destinations.
Why Learn a Language Through Music?
- Boosts Language Skills: Music helps you remember vocabulary, pronunciation, and phrases in a way that sticks.
- Sets a Relaxed Mood: Music helps you feel more at ease, boosting attention and reducing anxiety, which is ideal for effective learning.
- Provides Cultural Insight: Song lyrics reveal cultural aspects, slang, history, and traditions, giving you a deeper connection to the language.
- Keeps You Engaged: Music makes learning enjoyable and keeps you motivated to keep going.
- Builds Confidence: The more you listen to your favourite songs, the more confident you’ll feel to sing along and use the language. But no pressure on it, because improved pronunciation will come naturally.. (:
Music is a fantastic tool for learning a new language, offering many benefits. It’s fun, effective, and even boosts your mood and confidence. Here are some simple tips to help you get started with music on your language-learning adventure.
Tips for Learning a Language with Music:
- Start with Simple Songs: Pick songs with clear lyrics and slower tempos for easy understanding.
- Read Along with Lyrics: Use lyric websites to read along and understand the words as you listen.
- Create a Playlist by Theme: For example, a playlist of love songs, travel songs, or daily life songs to learn vocabulary for different situations.
- Sing Along: Practicing by singing along can really boost your pronunciation and fluency. Have you ever tried singing in the shower? I bet you have, lol! You can sing while cooking, showering, or even just walking around.
Using songs not only helps you learn the language but also lets you explore the culture. It’s a fun way to immerse yourself in a language without leaving home
Artists recommendations by target language:
Learning English
- The Beatles– Classic, clear lyrics and storytelling make their songs timeless for language learners.
- Ed Sheeran– Known for clear pronunciation and relatable lyrics, his songs are easy to follow.
- Adele- With her clear voice and emotional songs, Adele’s lyrics are easy to follow and connect with.
- Jason Mraz– Known for catchy tunes with clear, uplifting lyrics, ideal for vocabulary building
- Queen– A legendary rock band with powerful, genre-blending songs that mix rock, pop, and opera, capturing energy and emotion.
Learning Spanish
- Shakira – Her clear lyrics and mix of styles, from pop to folk, make her songs fun and easy to follow.
- Enrique Iglesias – Often blending Spanish and English, his catchy songs are full of common phrases that are easy to pick up.
- Ricky Martin – His lively, energetic songs capture the spirit of Spanish culture, with fun and memorable tunes.
Learning French
- Vianney: With heartfelt, catchy songs, Vianney is a current sensation, often considered the French Ed Sheeran. His music resonates with listeners through its relatable, authentic themes.
- Zaz – Blending jazz, soul, and French chanson, Zaz’s music is rich in cultural references and features poetic, easy-to-follow lyrics that are perfect for learning French.
- Francis Cabrel: A timeless classic, Cabrel’s music has a poetic, nostalgic feel that has touched generations. His songs often explore love and life’s deeper reflections, making him an enduring favorite.
- Orelsan: Known for his sharp social commentary, Orelsan’s music offers insight into modern French society. His work extends into visual storytelling, with a popular series on Prime that showcases his creativity beyond music.
Learning Dutch
- Marco Borsato – One of the Netherlands’ most popular singers, his songs are heartfelt and filled with clear, emotive lyrics, perfect for learning Dutch
- BLØF – This band creates melodic rock and pop songs with poetic lyrics that often reflect Dutch culture and landscapes.
- Guus Meeuwis – Famous for his catchy, singable songs, Guus Meeuwis’s music is great for beginners and captures Dutch traditions and humor.
Learning Greek
- Haris Alexiou – A Greek music legend, her folk and laïko ballads connect listeners to Greek culture.
- Dimitris Mitropanos – Known for laïko and rebetiko music, his soulful songs explore love, life, and Greek identity.
- Anna Vissi – With a long career, Anna combines pop and laïko, offering emotional songs and dance hits.
Learning Portuguese
- Xutos e Pontapés – Portugal’s iconic rock band known for their energetic songs, offering a mix of slang and cultural references.
- Mariza– A famous fado singer with powerful, emotional songs that reflect traditional Portuguese culture and language.
- Richie Campbell – A reggae and hip-hop artist with clear, catchy lyrics, great for learning contemporary Portuguese vocabulary.
Simply by listening to songs in your target language, you’ll discover tons of new words, phrases, and sounds. Plus, you’ll improve your listening skills effortlessly while keeping your brain active. Let the rhythm guide you to fluency and let Roast Jobs lead you through a fabulous, unique experience abroad. Let’s live, work and travel abroad!
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This blog post was written by Júlia Zapparolli. Thank you for reading! 😊
