How to Learn a Language by Listening to Music
We’ve all learned songs to help us remember things such as the names of the 50 states or the alphabet. But can music help us to learn a language? It sure can!
Music can be a fun way to learn a new language, just like listening to podcasts, reading books, or watching T.V. shows. Here are some useful tips to consider when learning a language by listening to music.
Start Easy
You don’t need to listen to incredibly complex songs when starting. Start slow and steady and listen to music with a simple vocabulary. Listening to bilingual music is also a good way to start. This way you’ll know some of the lyrics already and understand the rest of it by looking for context clues.
Lyrics are Vital
Written lyrics will help you learn a language a lot quicker and easier, just as watching a foreign-language movie with subtitles. You can find the written lyrics of the song you’re listening to by searching the name online. Pull them up on your screen so that you can read along with the lyrics while listening to the song. This method will help improve your vocabulary and pronunciation.
Sing-Along
If you love to sing, then learning a language through music will be a lot easier. A study found out that singing while listening to music can help learn a language. After you’ve listened to the song and read the lyrics multiple times, try to sing along while looking at the lyrics. Once you’ve done that a couple of times, try singing it without looking at the lyrics.
Divide the Song
Don’t try to learn a foreign language song all at once, you’ll feel overwhelmed. Instead, break it down into chunks. Try to remember the chorus first, as it is repeated multiple times in the song. Take as much time as you require to master the first part. Pause and rewind consistently if you don’t understand anything. Don’t move to the next part until you feel that you’ve memorized the first one.
Find Music Videos
This method is particularly useful for complex songs. If you find a song that you like and it is difficult, try to search if it has a music video. By watching the videos, you can understand the phrases and words you’re trying to learn by putting them into context. Furthermore, it also helps with pronunciation as you’ll see how natives are saying each word.
Listening to music can be a fun way to learn a language quickly. However, if you need an expert to guide you through your Hebrew learning journey then contact us at Ulpan-Or.
Our intensive courses consist of video dialogues, audio lessons, and vocabulary-building exercises where you can learn Hebrew online with Israeli teachers. Contact us today for more information. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting your Hebrew journey or need some polishing up on your established linguistic skills, our Hebrew digital courses are created to suit every individual.