One of the things that that I did when I was first learning Japanese was to sing at Karaoke. I still enjoy the challenge and if you like music, why not combine that with your love for learning English! Singing karaoke can be a fun and effective way for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners to improve their language skills.
In this post, I’m going to share with you some of the benefits of singing for improving your English. And if you’re shy about singing in front of others, you don’t even need to leave the house. Just head over to YouTube and type the name of the song, followed by the word karaoke and you’re in!
Improve your Reading Skills
Karaoke has the lyrics on the screen, so you need to be able to read at the same speed as the lyrics go by. Singing at karaoke can help you learn to read English faster.
Improve your Grammar and Vocabulary
When you read, you are seeing grammar and vocabulary in context. Now, it is true that song lyrics are poetry and sometimes the grammar is not standard or even “textbook” style, but reading the lyrics will certainly open your eyes to good sentences. As well, songs often feature a wide range of vocabulary, from common words to more advanced terms, phrases, idioms. Singing along with the lyrics helps you learn new words and expand your vocabulary.
Learn Sentence Rhythm and Stress
You may not realize this, but quite often the musical phrase of a sentence in a song comes from the way that the sentence would be spoken in a conversation. “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.” The way the Beatles sang that is close to how we would speak it.
Improve Pronunciation
Singing karaoke allows you to practice your pronunciation by singing along with native speakers. This helps you to learn the rhythms and sounds of English and improve your accent. It also helps out with linking, also known as liaison. In everyday spoken English, quite often the end of one word links with the beginning of the next word. This is also exactly what happens with song lyrics when you sing. The first sentence from the classic old song, “Put your head on my shoulder” is a good example of this. He sings, Puh-tyour-heh-don my shoulder. You can get deeper into this by checking out Singing and Communicating in English, which really dives into the pronunciation and diction aspects of singing in English.
Build Confidence
Singing karaoke can also boost your confidence in your language abilities. As you become more comfortable singing in English, you may find yourself more willing to speak and communicate in other situations.
Overall, singing karaoke can be a fun and engaging way for ESL learners to improve their English skills. So grab a microphone and start singing!