MUSIC AND SOAPOPS: MY SECRET TO MASTERING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Discover how I accelerated my foreign language learning journey using music and soap operas, turning unexpected methods into valuable tools. In 1996, at the age of 41, I began learning Spanish for professional reasons, making formal classes a luxury I couldn't afford. Instead, I turned to a combination of music, soap operas, and dictionaries — all simple yet effective techniques that led to fluency in less than two years.

My Experience and Process

That same year, I stumbled upon a Mexican rock group called MANA (which means 'manna' in Spanish). Their music was not only enjoyable but came with lyrics that were included with the audio cassette or CD — without the distraction of YouTube back then. This serendipitous discovery inspired my learning method, which I refined to suit my needs.

Steps to Fluency

Step 1: Learning with Lyrics

Listen to the music while reading the lyrics to songs. Today, we can find complete versions on YouTube, but if you prefer CDs, ensure they have lyrics. If not, use lyrics websites or YouTube. Do not worry if you don't understand all the words at this stage; the focus is on phonics (how words sound).

Step 2: Lyrics Transcription

Shut off the music and write out the lyrics on a college-ruled piece of paper, leaving one space between each line. Fill in the empty lines with the English translations using online dictionaries. This practice helps to transition from English to Spanish as your primary language.

Step 3: Understanding the Lyrics

Listen to the song again, but this time try to understand the meaning of the words. This step helps in comprehending the language in different contexts.

Step 4: Sing and Copy the Accent

Sing the song along with the music to practice pronunciation and accent. You'll soon start remembering lyrics word-for-word, understanding their meanings, and naturally incorporating correct conjugations.

Step 5: Move to New Albums

After completing one album, move on to another. You'll notice the same key phrases and constructions appearing in new songs, reinforcing previously learned material.

Step 6: Vocabulary Growth

As you progress through the albums, your vocabulary will grow rapidly. Try out other groups like Enrique Iglesias, Lucero, Patricia Manterola, Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Fey, Ricky Martin, Sentidos Opuestos, Ricardo Arjona, Ricardo Montaner, Chayanne, and others.

Proficiency through Television

After building a decent vocabulary, I turned to soap operas for further improvement. These cheesy but effective stories provide clear dialogue and professional actors' enunciated lines. I found it helpful to record and watch scenes with Spanish subtitles as a means to measure my progress.

Step 7: Watching Telefrewias

Watch Spanish soap operas and children's shows to enhance understanding and vocabulary. Use a children's Spanish-Only dictionary to look up unfamiliar words. Watching dubbed movies or TV shows can also be beneficial but might not always match the script accurately.

Step 8: Practicing Speaking

Speak in Spanish with anyone and everyone, and don't be afraid of your mistakes. Most Spanish speakers are gracious, understanding, and willing to help you. Remember, they're learning a more difficult language — English.

Step 9: Solidifying the Vocabulary

Continue reading books, newspapers, magazines, and other materials to solidify your vocabulary and improve written skills. French novelist Honoré de Balzac once said, 'Read widely and read often,' and this applies to any language learner.

Conclusion

By combining these simple yet effective methods, I was able to learn Spanish rapidly, achieving fluency in less than two years. Music and television are powerful tools that can be adapted to any language learning journey. Give them a try and see how they work for you!

Related Topics

Language Learning Techniques Spanish Education Resources Language Acceleration Strategies