You may be thinking “Learning language through music? Isn't music is a language all it's own?” I guarantee you that the benefits of adding music to your language learning adventure can be tremendous!
Here are 3 benefits of learning language through music:
1. Music Trains the Ear
When you hear the words pronounced in songs, your ear is learning to distinguish those sounds and your brain is learning to categorize the sounds into recognizable words which it puts together with meanings you have heard. It all works together for better fluency.
“What happens when you hear something in a song is that you are opening yourself up to the greater global picture of the language. Then when you learn what the words mean by using a dictionary or reading the translation of the lyrics or just guessing from the context, you are putting the puzzle of the language together.” – Susanna Zaraysky
2. Music Helps You Remember
It has been scientifically proven that music activates more neurological connections and activities within the brain than spoken language does. Therefore, if information has been put to a tune, you are more likely to remember it than if you read it or heard it spoken. In our own experience, we often remember words from songs that we might not have otherwise been able to express easily in our second language.
3. Music Can Teach
Just as in literature, music can teach us distinct things about the character and culture of the second language. The words can teach us character (or lack therof), the instruments used can teach us culture and expression and so much more!
Tomorrow's post will share HOW TO use music to learn language.
But in the meantime, here are a couple of our favorite Christian children's song cds. They are not “rocky” but have a very conservative style, some solo children singing and some children's choirs singing.
- Alabanzas 1, 2, and 3 by Patch the Pirate found at Lemonhass or Majesty Music
- Canten Niños por el Mundo at Lemonhass
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