教員コラムBlog

  1. home
  2. 教員コラム / Blog
  3. 詳細 / Detail

The Joy of Singing Songs in English

2021.07.19
  • Shoichi Maruta
  • Hobbies_LeisureActivities|LearningTechniques|LanguageLearning
  • Intermediate
  • 2021

In my previous two blogs, I suggested two supplemental ways of stimulating your English learning; one is familiarizing yourself with the Ritsumeikan Charter in English, the other is collecting good English quotes, both of which are rarely taught in regular English classes. In this third blog, I would like to suggest still another unconventional way of supporting your learning, that is, singing songs in English.

 

Some people may say singing is rather entertainment, not studying, and so you cannot develop your language skills through singing. Well, that is true if you are not serious about linguistic training for essential skills such as grammar and vocabulary. Therefore, my suggestion for singing is rather supplemental and should not replace conventional learning methods taught in regular classes.

 

The reason for recommending singing English songs is very simple: it’s fun! As you have experienced, language learning requires a series of routine work that is sometimes boring and even painful. Quite a lot of patience and discipline are needed to continue fundamental training of, for example, memorizing tons of words and phrases, reading difficult passages with many technical terms, or listening to long conversations or lectures. Singing in English, on the other hand, does not require such patience or discipline. You can simply pick up a song you like and start getting yourself in your rhythm. In this way, you can practice listening and pronunciation, as well as reduce stress with karaoke effects.

 

Of course you must first understand the lyrics accurately and memorize them fully, but it’s not as difficult as you may think. Songs are much shorter than the passages in English textbooks. The same part of the lyrics are often repeated (refrains) so your memory can be strengthened easily. Even when you encounter unfamiliar expressions, looking it up in the dictionary would not be as painful simply because you have chosen a song you like in the first place. Your favorite rhythm and love for the song (and the singer) will assist you to even enjoy discovering new meanings and usages.

 

Here is an interesting example of lyrics in one of the popular songs, “Honesty” by Billy Joel: ♪ I can always find someone to say they sympathize, if I wear my heart out on my sleeve…♪ The expression “wear my heart out on my sleeve” is probably unfamiliar to most of you. It is an idiomatic expression meaning “speaking of your feelings and emotions honestly”. If you encountered this expression in your homework reading material, you would most likely leave it, and expression would go unnoticed, or feel bothered to look it up in the dictionary. However, if you really like this song, you will be intrigued by the uniqueness of this expression and find pleasure in checking it by yourself. Singing this song repeatedly, then, will lead to this expression settling into your memory. The same goes for unfamiliar grammatical usages too. In this way, your learning will be assisted by singing English songs with lots of fun!

 

♪ Honesty ♪ by Billy Joel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0juw2ovFEOg

 

 


 

 

 

Photo Credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

 

 


 

Blog Quiz

 

 

Question 1. Why does the author recommend singing?


a) you can learn new grammar

b) it is fun

c) you will be famous


Question 2. What is one reason why it is easy to learn/remember the lyrics of a song?


a) the words are sometimes repeated in refrains (or choruses)

b) there are a lot of new vocabulary

c) you must learn all the new grammar first


Question 3. What does "wear my heart out on my sleeve" mean?


a) you fall in love easily

b) you have high blood pressure

c) you say your feelings honestly

 

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

 

 

 

 






 

 

 

 




 

 

Quiz Answers

 

1. b

2. a

3. c 


 

戻る / go back

Related posts