Wondering whether learning English with songs really works? It can help you pick up new words, but a small study found the gains were modest. Choose familiar songs, read the lyrics and replay them.
If you are asking how do people learn a second language, songs are a small part of the bigger picture.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Study type | Case study presented as a conference proceeding paper |
| Participants | Fifteen ESL learners |
| Test used | Vocabulary Knowledge Scale (VKS), same items in pre-test and post-test |
| Main result | Significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores |
| Main limiting factor | Learners could not always grasp the singers’ pronunciation |
| Publication year | 2018 |
These figures come from a university library catalog record of the study. Details can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What does the research on songs and vocabulary say?
The study behind this article asked a simple question: do incidental vocabulary gains happen when learners listen to English songs? Incidental means picking up words without sitting down to memorise them. The researchers tested fifteen ESL learners before and after they listened to selected songs.
The team used the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale, with the same vocabulary items in the pre-test and the post-test. They ran a paired sample t-test in SPSS and also held interviews with the learners. The paper was presented at a 2018 language conference in Kuala Lumpur.
The headline result is encouraging. The authors report a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores, so the songs did seem to move some word knowledge forward.
Why learning English with songs can help with new words
The researchers began from a known gap. Incidental learning was first studied mostly through reading, and they note that some research showed a low retention rate of word meanings from reading. They also say the method may at times be limited for low level English learners.
Songs were brought in to overcome those limits. Here is what that suggests for you in practical terms:
- Songs give you words in a natural phrase, not in a bare list.
- A chorus repeats, so the same words come back without extra effort.
- Music is something many learners already enjoy, which makes regular listening easier to keep up.
These are sensible reasons to try songs, not findings from the study. The paper itself says only that it offers insight into the pedagogical potential of songs as part of learning English.
Why the gains were not bigger
The same authors are frank that the increase in vocabulary knowledge was not pervasive. Learners showed a low increase at each level of the VKS. The main reason was the inability to grasp the word pronunciation of the singers.
They also list other factors that held learners back:
- A low rate of listening skill
- Unfamiliarity with English songs
- Lack of exposure to the English language
- The least number of word repetitions
- Lack of interest and different preferences among students
Read that list as a warning and a to-do list at once. If you cannot hear the words, do not know the song or never hear a word twice, a song will teach you very little.
How to get more from a song
Each obstacle in the study points to a fix you can try yourself. The steps below turn the findings into a routine. They are suggestions drawn from the study’s limits, not tested results.
- Pick a song you already like, even in your own language, so interest is not a problem.
- Read the lyrics while you listen, so unclear pronunciation does not block the meaning.
- Replay the song several times, because the study named too little repetition as a weakness.
- Choose a few words that repeat or seem useful and write them down with a short example line.
- Review those words later using spaced repetition for vocabulary, so they do not fade after a day.
Singing along helps too, because it makes you slow down and notice how words sound. If a song moves too fast, find a slower one rather than giving up on music altogether.
Songs are one tool, not the whole plan
Listening to music builds exposure, and the study lists a lack of exposure as one reason gains stayed small. Songs are short, though, and the vocabulary in them can be unusual. They work best beside other input.
Video is a natural partner, since you can see faces, subtitles and context. If that appeals, read about how to learn english with videos and mix both into your week.
How to judge the evidence
Be careful not to overstate what this study shows. It involved only fifteen learners, and the catalog record lists it as a non-peer-reviewed proceeding paper. It is a useful sign, not proof that songs beat other methods.
Frequently asked questions
Can songs alone teach me English?
Show answer
No study in the source supports that. The authors describe songs as a part of learning English, so use them alongside reading, listening and speaking practice.
Which songs should I choose?
Show answer
Start with songs you already know and enjoy. The study named unfamiliarity with English songs and lack of interest as factors that limited learning.
What if I cannot understand the singer?
Show answer
You are not alone. Learners in the study struggled most with the singers’ pronunciation, so read the lyrics as you listen and replay difficult lines.
Is this study strong enough to rely on?
Show answer
Treat it as an early signal. It used a small group, and the catalog record lists it as non-peer-reviewed, so check the source before you rely on any figure.
