Can you “Fine Tune” Your Focus? Learning Language Through Music
You’ve probably heard some languages described as lyrical or melodic. These adjectives are commonly used to describe Romance languages (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), but they apply to other languages as well. The words “lyrical” and “melodic” evoke associations with music. From the sounds of singing bards and chanting monks to classical music and church hymns to blues, salsa, flamenco, folk, fado, or opera, music genres have their own rhythms. And languages have a rhythm much like music.
The connection between language and music is much deeper than you might think. There’s something deep down, evolutionary, and purely primal about creating and reacting to music, or even dancing to your favorite tune. Given our obvious deep-seated connections to music, it’s no surprise that learning a language through music is a popular way to acquire a foreign tongue.
Music and language have co-evolved, influencing each other over the millennia. With that knowledge, it’s not far-fetched to wonder: can music somehow encourage and promote greater language-learning capability? Based on historical evidence and recent studies, there’s a strong case that you can learn a language through music – a promising proposition for anyone eager to acquire a new language!
The Neuroscience of Music and Language Acquisition
Learning a foreign language through music is actually based in science – specifically, neuroscience. Neuroscience is the evidence-based study of the brain and nervous system, and few factors impact the brain quite like language and music.
Neuroscientists have often pondered the possible overlap between Broca’s area and the auditory cortex. Broca’s area is the section of the brain responsible for speech production and control. The auditory cortex, located in the brain’s temporal lobes, helps process and comprehend auditory stimuli like music. While they are two distinct regions of the human body’s most powerful processor, there’s good reason to believe that these separate systems actually work in tandem as a sort of “educational application.” This dynamic relationship is a big reason why learning a foreign language through music works so effectively, at least for some people.
Numerous scientific studies show further neuroscientific ties between language learning and music. One well-publicized research project examines how language and music complement each other to stimulate certain cerebral circuits – in other words, when you learn language through music, you’re essentially building up and strengthening the “hard wiring” of the brain, much like a bodybuilder lifts weights to increase skeletal muscle.
Powerful Language Learning Tools: The Best Music Genres for Language Learners
It’s often thought that classical music is a natural stimulant for those “cerebral circuits” we discussed earlier. More than a few neuroscientists, researchers, and language-learning instructors tout the effectiveness of Haydn for learning Hungarian.
The classical genre, on the surface, seems a bit contradictory for learning language through music because the majority of classical music is instrument-only and non-vocal. However, the lyrical and melodic elements inherent in classical music help mimic the pace and cadence of speaking a language.
Plenty of examples exist that show how a trendy tune can help with learning a foreign language through music. The rebirth of Japanese City Pop music – affectionately known as J-POP – was partially responsible for more than a few non-Japanese speakers taking a greater interest in the language. The same can be said for K-POP, Korea’s catchy, popular tunes.
Ultimately, the type of music genre ideal for new language acquisition boils down to personal preference because your investment in the language is what keeps you learning. If you’re unsure of how to learn a language through music, start with your favorite type. Intrigued by the haunting, hypnotic rhythms of Scandinavian music? That interest might strike the perfect pitch to delve into Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, or Icelandic. Need upbeat background music for your language learning journey? Perhaps J-POP or K-POP fits the bill, and you’ll have an immediate on-ramp to learning Japanese or Korean. No matter which genre inspires you, learning a language through music is inherently personal, and personal preferences will keep you engaged!
How to learn a language through music though? Let’s dive into that in our next section.
Daily Language Practice Through Music: Sing Your Way to Success
If you’re committed to learning a foreign language through music, here are some helpful things to keep in mind and habits to follow:
- Crank up the karaoke. Yes, we know. Karaoke has a reputation as a corny entertainment outlet for late-night bar patrons. But it’s very effective in building your vocabulary and learning a foreign language through music. Pick a song in your target language and give it a try!
- Learn with lyrics. If karaoke’s not your thing, no problem. As you’re listening to music in your target language, get a copy of the lyrics. This way, you can follow along and boost your comprehension – no public performance necessary.
- Don’t just speak…sing! Belt out the words to your new favorite songs in your target language. When you nail those lyrics, you’re perfecting proper pronunciation and cadence. So feel free to sing to your heart’s content while you’re learning a foreign language!
- Create playlists for everyday activities. Background music is a catalyst toward greater comprehension, and chances are you’ll discover different genres in your target language to match your mood. Try high-energy, rhythmic tunes for a workout. For those quiet, winding-down moments, a chill, relaxed song probably works best. No matter the vibe, if you’re listening in your target language, you’ll be familiarizing yourself with that language’s internal rhythms, patterns, and pronunciation.
Harmonizing Your Language Learning Journey with Music and Pimsleur™
Learning a language through music is one method to jumpstart your knowledge. And the Pimsleur Method™ is another. All of our courses and lessons are based on this method, a scientifically-proven technique that promotes quick language acquisition.
Much like the neuroscientific process that guides how you learn language through music, Pimsleur’s approach is based on similar evidence-based experiences: learning language like a child would, by listening to and speaking the language.
With or without music, Pimsleur will get you speaking a new language after your very first lesson. And you can become a conversational speaker in a matter of weeks. All it takes is 30 minutes per day. Sound like music to your ears? Get started today with Pimsleur!