I absolutely love music and I know I am not alone!
Music is an integral part of all of our lives and it forms a universal, cross-cultural connection.
From the day a baby is born we start singing to them. This soothing, safe sound becomes part of everyone’s being. That is why music is such a valuable resource in learning an additional language.
Music immediately creates a safe space, it grabs your attention and awakens your curiosity.
The genres and themes of songs are endless and therefore the vocabulary used in songs is broad and endless. The tune of a song gives an indication of the mood of the song, which assists a learner in establishing the theme or mood that the words represent. This forms a framework to work from.
Vocabulary and learning are strengthened by repetition, the chorus of a song adheres to this principle. The chorus is normally the first part of a song that gets stuck in your head; by repeating this you automatically start correcting your pronunciation and it creates the need to understand the words you are singing.
The biggest win in using music in language learning is the fact that it is fun! Students want to engage, it keeps their attention, it allows interactive engagement, and it stimulates growth.
Start singing and have fun!