How Can We Learn English Through Songs?
If you think about it for a moment, we all listen to music in English (sometimes even more than Hebrew), so why not take advantage of it? Do you know that feeling when you work hard to study for exams and remember the material, while at the same time you remember dozens or hundreds of English songs by heart? Thanks to the universal love of music and the ease with which songs enter our memory, music has become an excellent tool for teaching English to children.
When learning English through songs, we actually take the child’s favorite genre or singers and use them to strengthen their English. In other words, the child listens to their favorite music and, with the help of translating the words, deciphering the sentences and their structure, and understanding the cultural context, they improve their language skills.
Learning English through songs increases children’s motivation to learn, provides them with a personalized learning experience, and makes the learning experience optimal, high-quality and enjoyable.
English Songs for Learning Present Progressive
In English, we use the present progressive (Present Progressive) when we want to indicate an action that is happening in the present and is expected to continue into the future. It can be an action that happens over time or a single action that happens frequently. Present progressive is one of the first tenses that students learn.
To illustrate the power of music, here are some English songs for learning that can help teach present progressive:
“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
This is a very famous song by British singer Adele, about a woman who was betrayed by her lover. In the song, she expresses her pain and anger as she addresses her ex-partner in the belief that they could have had a good relationship.
Examples of present progressive in the song:
“It’s bringing me out the dark”“Rolling in the deep”
“Wrecking Ball” – Miley Cyrus
The meaning of the term “Wrecking Ball” is a wrecking ball, a kind of large metal mechanical equipment used to destroy buildings. In this song by American singer Miley Cyrus, the Wrecking Ball is used as a metaphor. The song is about a girl who is suffering after her relationship ended. The wrecking ball here is a symbol of the lover who has figuratively ruined her life.
Examples of present progressive in the song:
“Running for my life”“You’re not coming down”
“Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
The song is a popular and well-known duet by singer and actress Lady Gaga and actor Bradley Cooper. The song talks about dissatisfaction with the present and a longing for a life full of meaning.
Examples of present progressive in the song:
“Is there something else you’re searching for?”“I’m falling”
When learning English using popular songs like these, you can delve into the sentence structures and understand why the present progressive is used each time. This way, children absorb the meaning of the songs they love, feel a deeper connection to the song, and also learn English at the same time.
All the English Learning Songs for Kids in One Platform – SingIt
These three songs are just a small example of the ability of popular songs to bring children to learn English in a different, more innovative way. You can experience this innovative learning in the SingIt app. The SingIt platform allows Israelis from elementary school to retirement to learn English through the songs they love the most. The app is already helping over 100,000 users improve their English in a new and refreshing learning experience.
Learn English with Adele, Miley Cyrus or Lady Gaga? Don’t miss out on the opportunity.
Lucía Herrera
English Learning Coach
Lucía Herrera is an English Learning Coach focused on practical vocabulary, study routines, and confidence-building lessons for learners of all ages.
