Why learn English through music?
To make faster progress with your English, you should connect it with your hobbies and interests. This will give you more quality time with the language. If you love music, then why not try learning English through your favorite songs? This is a great way of improving your understanding and fluency. It can also be a welcomed break from your textbook studies.
How to use music to practice my English?
Practice with song lyrics
The easiest way to learn English with music is to listen to and then analyze song lyrics. Most popular songs will have lyric videos on YouTube, so you can read the words as you listen. You can also download song texts, print them and translate any new vocabulary. Singing along and trying to work out what the words mean will also help you improve.
Sing along with karaoke
Karaoke is a great way to get yourself singing along to English songs – even if you can’t play music at all. Try to find a karaoke bar near you and see what English songs they have so that you can sing the words in a fun, judgment-free environment.
Can I use any song to learn?
Everyone has a different taste in music. However, when using songs to learn English, you may want to choose some unfamiliar tracks in other genres. This can help you to learn new words and expressions. If the song has interesting lyrics, then it can be of use in practicing the language. Below are some examples of useful songs that have been divided by level:
English songs for lower levels
The Cure – “Friday I’m in Love”
The lyrics to this ‘90s classic are perfect for remembering the days of the week in English. The song also talks about all sorts of emotions and the words English people use to describe them. For example, ‘blue’ is used to mean ‘sad’.
The Beatles – “Let It Be”
The Fab Four hold a special place in British music history and their brilliant songs use words from all corners of the English language. This famous song sees The Beatles at their simplest and most beautiful.
Adele – “Hello”
Slow and conversational, Adele’s Hello features everyday phrases like “how are you?” and “I hope that you’re well”. This English pop song is your chance to have a normal conversation with Adele. It is bound to stay in your head, making sure you remember all of the essential phrases it includes.
English songs for advanced learners
If your English is strong and you want to use more challenging music to test yourself, try listening to the words in faster genres such as hip-hop. Here are some examples of English songs you can use:
Stormzy – “Big for Your Boots”
Stormzy’s rise to the top of the British music scene has been incredible. In just over a year he went from freestyling in a park with his friends to being on top of the charts! He is now seen as one of the best UK rappers. So turn him up loud and let ‘Big Mike’ lead you through some real English slang!
Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone”
Bob Dylan’s lyrics are often complex and tell stories. This song is an angry attack on privilege, in which a naive person from a rich family has to face the difficult realities of being poor on the street.
Alexander Rodríguez.