I’ve spent most of my life learning languages, from growing up in Germany surrounded by English to studying Spanish since secondary school and, most recently, studying Portuguese in Brazil. Throughout my journey, one constant that has connected me to different languages has been music. Music has allowed me to connect with cultures around the world and aided me in the process of reaching fluency in three languages. This aligns with the idea of comprehensible input, pioneered by a famous linguist, Stephen Krashen. Comprehensible input involves prioritising listening or reading in a language in a low-anxiety environment in order to reach fluency. Language acquisition, he argues, differentiates itself from language learning by being a more unconscious process enabled by exposure to the language (in my case, through exposing myself to media). While the theory has a lot more intricacies to it, I will be discussing how I have used Spotify in my language acquisition journey, and how you can, from anywhere in the world, begin to immerse yourself in a new linguistic realm through music.

“Through music, you can really discover how a language feels, a valuable resource that does not exist between the pages of grammar textbooks”

Singing lyrics is a form of active recall (a study technique involving retrieving information from your memory without prompts); memorising lyrics and repeating them helps you learn vocabulary, how words are pronounced, and, unconsciously, grammatical structures. It’s an enjoyable and natural way to familiarise yourself with the rhythm, sounds and, on a more abstract level, the emotive side of a language. Through music, you can really discover how a language feels, a valuable resource that does not exist between the pages of grammar textbooks. Nowadays, there are countless language learning apps on the market, but Spotify has been the most important app in my journey.

Spotify has been instrumental in allowing me to undergo natural language immersion. Learning a new language completely opens you up to a new world with different ways of perceiving everything, new people to connect with, and musical sounds that may be really different from what you are accustomed to listening to. Here are some of the app’s best features for language learning:

Top 50

Spotify’s Top 50 playlist is a window into what people in different countries are listening to right now. By exploring the top charts in countries of your target language, you can immerse yourself in the music that native speakers currently have on repeat. I listened to the Top 50: Colombia playlist religiously before moving to the country, and I learned about important artists as well as countless songs to sing at events.

“Music curation and language acquisition can go hand in hand”

Lyrics

One of Spotify’s best updates for language learners is the ability to follow along with lyrics. As you read song lyrics while listening, your reading speed will improve in a natural way, along with your pronunciation. I can barely speak French, but I’ve been told my accent is quite good, which I can only attribute to my love for Francophone Afrobeats and Trap music. In my opinion, rap is one of the best genres for improving fluency and speed in a new language; the fast-paced lyrics and innovative wordplay push you to dissect the intricacies of your target language.

Spotify’s Language Setting

By switching the app’s language in the settings to your target language, you can gain passive exposure to vocabulary around music, genres, and more. Words like ‘queue,’ ‘save,’ and ‘search’ will quickly become part of your everyday lexicon. You can even try writing your playlist titles or captions in your target language to practice your writing skills.

Playlist Curation

Music curation and language acquisition can go hand in hand. Making a playlist of songs with similar themes or topics can help you learn the vocabulary around specific subjects. For Spanish, reggaeton music will teach you all the words associated with nightlife and dancing you would need, but more spiritual genres like cumbia could teach you about nature, tradition, and festivities, while salsa will teach you all about how to express heartbreak, romance, and the occurrences of everyday life.

Artist Biography

A new language is a new galaxy, and its dialects are its planets; through music, I have familiarised myself with local terminology from many different countries. By checking an artist’s biography, you can find out where they are from and, often, the cultures that shaped their sound. You can also search for playlists curated for or from specific cities or regions, and practice understanding and singing in different accents.

Music is an invaluable tool in familiarising yourself with new languages and cultures, allowing you to integrate a new language into your everyday life in a way that does not feel interruptive or difficult. Language acquisition can be a natural, stress-free, and fun process.