IWTYAL 005: How can I use vocab from songs in conversation?

Today's episode features a question from Kevin: “How can I take vocabulary from songs and use it in my conversations?”

In this episode:

• The benefits of learning languages through songs
• How to re-articulate language from songs in everyday conversation
• How natural is language from songs?
• How songs work in different languages
• Songs as a tool for “discovering” language

Strategies for learning songs:

1. Identify key words and phrases from the song that I want to be able to use. Then put them in a flashcard app.
2. Keep a list of the words I want to be able to use and keep it next to me during a language exchange/lesson
3. Use the vocabulary for writing. For example, write a monologue/mini-speech, then memorise it.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• FluentU – Language learning with video
• My review of FluentU
• Let It Go (ありのままで):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvj3-MZO9Tw

• Olly singing in Portuguese:

• Olly singing in Cantonese:

Flashcard apps mentioned:

• Memrise
• Anki
• Flashcards Deluxe

Other websites:

• Lang-8 – corrections from native speakers
• Rhinospike – audio recordings from native speakers

Today's featured resource

• FluentU.com – language learning with video

Do you have a question?

Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I'll do my best to feature it on the show!

Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Win a copy of my course!

To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I'm giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply head over to iTunes, search for the “StoryLearning Podcast” in the store, and leave me an honest review and rating for the show!

After episode 10 of the podcast, I'll choose 3 lucky winners from around the world!

Thanks for listening

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast!

If you've got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below!

If you'd like to help me out, then I'd love it if you could…

• Share the episode using the social media buttons around you
• Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes.

iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there!

Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated, and I read every single one. 🙂

See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.