The Benefits of Learning Spanish Through Music
Learning a new language at a young age is ideal! Young children are capable of absorbing information quickly, and teachers have many ways to effectively teach their students a new language. But what about using music as a teaching method? Incorporating music into your middle school Spanish curriculum is a great way to keep students interested in the language. There are many benefits of learning Spanish through music that will help students improve their knowledge of this language in a fun way!
From Memorizing Lyrics to Understanding the Meaning
The first time you hear a song, you begin to learn the lyrics until you have them memorized. Once you have the words down, you begin to discover the meaning. The same goes for songs in a different language.
When teachers play their students Spanish songs, they listen to the melody and then slowly memorize the lyrics. After, the teacher will teach the definitions and pronunciations of the words. By the end of the class, the students know a new Spanish song and understand the lyrics.
Now, when the student thinks of a vocabulary word, they’ll think of the song and be able to apply what they’ve learned to more conversational-style Spanish.
Music Is a Mental Reset
Listening to Spanish music is a fresh way to keep students intrigued; this activity can allow you to practice everything from vocabulary lessons to pronunciation in an exciting way. In addition, allowing students to simply enjoy a song will provide a much-needed mental break. Of course, it wouldn’t be a class without teaching. Playing the song several times and reading the written lyrics will help students visualize as well as hear the words from the song. This method becomes a stimulating way for students to learn outside of their typical routine.
Spanish Versus Spanish Versions of Songs
With music, the possibilities are endless. There are many types of Spanish music teachers can play for their students. Playing authentic Spanish music is a great teaching method for learning vocabulary and pronunciation as well as teaching about the culture.
Teachers can also use the Spanish lyric versions of popular English songs. This common teaching strategy allows students to easily understand the song’s meaning and implement that knowledge through the Spanish lyrics. It gives them a great foundation of knowledge before going into learning more about the true definition of the words from the song.
When you incorporate both authentic Spanish music and familiar songs originally sung in English, students will get the best of both worlds. The new words they’ve learned will be easier to comprehend because they have a strong source of reference through the music.
This list is just the beginning of some of the benefits of learning Spanish through music. Even after your students stop taking Spanish classes, they will remember the songs they learned from their teachers—they will remember the music’s impact.