Learn English by Singing!

Overview

This week's blog post is again about another tool for autonomous language learning, for I am continuously receiving questions from friends and students about how they can improve their language on their own without having to go to language classes. They always expect me to recommend websites and applications which teach them the language through explicit instruction, yet my answer is always that they need to find ways to use the language to accomplish tasks that they enjoy doing without receiving explicit instruction of language structures. In this post, I will be exploring how one's second/foreign language can be enhanced by using an application for karaoke singing. 

Personally, I do enjoy singing despite not having the "talent" which will enable me to sing in concerts or participate in singing competitions; therefore, the best place for me to sing is karaoke parties. I also use a mobile application called Sing Karaoke by Smule to sing and to share my songs online with a community of karaoke singers. However, this particular mobile application can also be used for developing second/foreign language on various levels.

How can Sing Karaoke by Smule develop autonomous language learning?

First of all, language learning is best achieved when learners use the language in activities they enjoy doing. Learners can opt for singing their favourite artists' songs, and the lyrics will be displayed on the screen as the song goes on. In this way, the students encounter many familiar words in new contexts and get introduced to several new words that they can either guess from the context or will need to check in a dictionary. Therefore, the songs function as excellent contexts for introducing the students to new vocabulary and learning the spelling, pronunciation and usage of the vocabulary in context. Learners also get the chance to speak language at natural speed since the music is what controls when and how the words are said.

In addition, this application enhances learners' motivation through making singing a form of social interaction. Users of the application have the option of joining someone for a duet, and each participant can sing part of the song. In this way, the learners will be motivated to sing the song with the partner as well as to listen to it afterwards to evaluate their performance and that of the other participant. Moreover, some famous singers have accounts on this application, and they invite users to sing their songs along with them. For instance, here is an example of a duet that can be done for free with Ed Sheeran: (What can be more motivating than learning the language to sing a duet with Ed Sheeran!! 😜)

Users of this application can also be involved in real authentic communicative interactions where they are able to share comments and to read other people's comments on the songs that are shared with other users. In this way, users get involved in authentic language use where language production is the means of communication rather than the purpose of the interaction.

As a language teacher, I can encourage the students to practice their language through using this application by choosing to teach a particular song and then inviting them to sing it with me on an individual basis. In this way, the students' level of anxiety will not be high because they are unlikely to feel embarrassed to share their songs when the teacher is doing the activity with them. The students' understanding of the songs and the words in it will be maximised because their songs will be used for teaching in the classroom as well.

Any concerns?

despite the great advantages of learning language from songs, one might also argue that the language that is used in real-life communication is not always similar to the language of songs for two reasons. Firstly, some words might be pronounced differently in songs in order to suit the rhyme and the rhythm of the song. Secondly, some songs include poetic language that is full of similes, metaphors, personifications, etc., and this is not how daily language exactly sounds like.
In addition, Sing Karaoke by Smule does not offer all of its features for free. Users are allowed to sing an unlimited number of duets with other users, yet if they want to share a song to invite people to sing with them, they will need a premium account. Therefore, when I decide to invite the students to sing a song with me, only I will need to have a subscription while they can join me for free. However, the features which help the students to develop their language, i.e. learning vocabulary, speaking, listening and interactive skills, are offered for free.

All in all, in addition to being a very popular fun activity, singing karaoke songs on Sing Karaoke by Smule can develop the students' language through introducing them to new vocabulary, teaching them pronunciation and allowing them to interact with other users through singing and posting comments and feedback.