These days, we have no excuse not to learn English with songs, because free music is available, making English more accessible to everyone.
It might be a Latin song in Spanish like Shakira's Bicicleta, but it's also likely that your favorite playlist includes several songs in English.
Not all songs are equally effective for learning English, as they need to have lyrics in the language, and slower songs are preferable.
- The problem with rhythmic songs is that they often have a repetitive chorus and few lyrics, so they can lead to learning very basic English.
- These types of commercial and easy songs, like those about summer, are positive for getting motivated and overcoming fears of English, but they should only serve as an initial springboard, as they don't guarantee much level gains.
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However, it's not enough to just listen to the music; you also need to pay attention to the lyrics, and you'll learn even more if you use certain techniques and tools to learn English.
✅ Shadowing
✅ Spaced Repetition
✅ Writing Unfamiliar Words
This will help you sing your English songs with more confidence.
Establish a learning plan
It's not enough to just listen to songs at will. If you really want to improve your English with songs, you'll need a more concrete and committed plan.
- Set a number of songs a day that you want to listen to while you learn.
- Set a time in your daily planner to dedicate to this task.
- Choose a resource: a YouTube channel, a Spotify playlist, iTunes, or whatever.
- You can accompany the songs with videos and lyrics to help you learn more. Another option is to print out the song lyrics with spaces so you can fill in the blanks while listening to the music.
- Use a dictionary or translator and use a notebook to help you learn.
Use a translator or dictionary
Don't settle for understanding the words you already know. While that can help you improve your English listening and pronunciation, if you don't learn new words, your language level won't improve much.
Use a dictionary, artificial intelligence, or an online translator to look up at least two or three new words in each song.
Write down new vocabulary
One of the keys to success when learning English with songs is to use a notebook to help you write down new vocabulary.
It's a way to see your learning progress over time, and when you write down a word, you reinforce that memory, making it more likely that you won't forget what you've learned over time.
English Songs with Lots of Lyrics to Practice
You're more likely to learn if you have a special interest in music, so choose singers or songs you like, that bring back memories, or that speak to you.
- Choose an English-speaking singer or band you really like, like James Blunt, Celine Dion, Robbie Williams, Roxette, the Cranberries, the Beatles, or whoever.
- Search YouTube for a song by your own author using the word "lyrics" or "lyrics," as this way you'll find songs with lyrics or subtitled videos.
Have fun while you learn English!
If songs teach you English, Papora will make you fluent.
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Frequently asked questions about learning English with songs
Yes, songs are a very effective tool. They help with pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, and memory. However, they work best as a complement to a structured method that comprehensively covers grammar, speaking, and writing, like Papora's.
Ballads and pop songs with clear lyrics are ideal for beginners. Avoid rap or extreme metal at first. Choose songs with vocabulary at your level and that you enjoy, as you'll be listening to them many times.
