Imagine learning a language not just through textbooks and grammar exercises but through the emotional power of music.
Have you ever fallen in love with a song and listened to it on repeat? I know I have, many, many times. Some of those songs were not in my mother tongue, Spanish; many were in English, and some were in French. But all of them had something in common: I memorised the lyrics and sang along every time. Some of the songs were sad, and I’d cry babbling over the most emotive lines, while others would move me to dance.
The other thing all those songs had in common was that they moved me. They evoked an emotion: happy, sad, energising, etc. It doesn’t matter what emotion they evoke, but the fact that they have triggered an emotion is what is important here. This emotional connection is what makes learning through music such a powerful and engaging experience.
This reminds me of an article about Why music from our teens stays with us forever that I read recently. The article talks about the ‘reminiscence bump’ phenomenon. In simpler terms, this is the tendency for older adults to have increased or enhanced recollection for events that occurred during their adolescence and early adulthood (primarily between 10 to 30 years old). The reminiscence bump happens for everything – life events, favourite books, movies, actors and music, but evidence suggests music features most highly because musical memories are stored in a ‘safe’ area of the brain, which is more resilient and protected against age-related conditions. According to Prof Catherine Loveday, a cognitive neuropsychologist at the University of Westminster, ‘Music is one of the most fundamental ways that we can express emotions’.
There is a connection between music and memory. Prof Loveday explained that “listening to our favourite music has a fundamental effect on the brain; there’s a surge of activity in the reward pathways that increases the levels of dopamine and oxytocin in our brains – the same pathways that are triggered when we do anything pleasurable such as eating, drinking or dancing”.
Emotions are so important for learning, see? Oxitocin not only makes us feel good but also plays a crucial role in other cognitive processes, including learning and memory. There’s a scientific basis for this. Emotion is the glue that makes the information stick. As the renowned Portuguese neuroscientist Antonio Damasio once stated, “There is no learning without emotion.” This is why, as language learners, we should seek learning materials that generate emotions. I’m a big advocate for using poetry, but short movies or songs work marvellously well, too.
Once the emotional response has been activated through the music, rhythm, and/or lyrics, it’s time to be strategic about the choice of songs. You have to pay attention to the new vocabulary and grammar structures that appear in the lyrics. You can do this on your own with the company of the internet or a grammar book, or you can resort to educational platforms, like Lingopie. Lingopie, a platform I’ve personally used and found helpful, offers a comprehensive list of songs sorted by genre and language level, and it highlights the vocabulary and grammar points for you, so you can focus on learning and practicing while singing and shimmying.
Embarking on a journey to learn Spanish can be an absolute thrill! Whether you’re captivated by the infectious beats of reggaeton (check out this reggaeton Spanish music list) or the catchy tunes of Spanish pop, there’s a vibrant world of music waiting for you to explore. Start by creating a playlist of your favorite Spanish songs or the best ones for your level (get inspired by this Spanish music for beginners list), such as ‘Despacito’ by Luis Fonsi or ‘La Bicicleta’ by Carlos Vives and Shakira, and watch as you effortlessly absorb new vocabulary and phrases. It’s time to turn your language learning journey into a lively party!
Struggling with the Subjunctive? Check out the “Canciones para trabajar el subjuntivo” playlist on Spotify, for example. Check out the ‘Canciones para trabajar el subjuntivo’ playlist on Spotify, for example. This playlist is specifically designed to help you practice the Subjunctive mood in Spanish, a challenging aspect of the language. Here’s a practical tip: Use this playlist as a springboard to create your own ‘Spanish Grammar Playlists’ and sing your way to Spanish fluency! It’s a fun and effective way to internalize complex grammar rules.
Pro Tip:
Once you’ve delved into the song, learned all the words, and explored the grammar structures, it’s time to have some fun. Sing along to your heart’s content until you’ve memorized the lyrics. Then, create a playlist with all these songs and let them accompany you on your daily walks or gym sessions. Here’s the best part-you don’t need to do anything else. Just enjoy the music and let your brain do the rest. You’ll be amazed at how effortlessly that vocabulary sticks with you, without the need for constant revision. This is the kind of smart practice that leads to success in learning Spanish or any language. It’s when you work with your brain, bring emotions, and have fun.
This is the kind of smart practice that leads to success in learning Spanish or any language. It’s when you work with your brain, bring emotions, and have fun. Remember, music is not just a form of entertainment, but a powerful tool for language acquisition. Learning through music not only makes the process more enjoyable but also enhances your memory retention and emotional connection to the language, making it easier to recall and use in real-life situations.
Discaimer: This is a paid article, but I have used Lingopie and really like their service as a support for learning a language.
