Learning English doesn’t have to be boring or require hours in front of a grammar book. In fact, one of the most effective (and entertaining) ways to improve your listening skills, expand your vocabulary, and practice pronunciation is through music. Listening to songs in English allows you to get familiar with everyday expressions, different accents, and real grammatical structures as they are used in daily life. Also, the rhythm and repetition help phrases stick in your memory naturally.
Today at FunTalk, we present to you five songs to learn English. Each one has an accessible rhythm, clear pronunciation, and useful vocabulary for different levels. You can listen to them, read the lyrics while they play, and even try to sing along. You’ll see how you progress almost without noticing!
1. “Someone Like You” – Adele
This emotional ballad is perfect for those at intermediate levels who want to work on listening comprehension. Adele’s pronunciation is clear, slow, and her diction is excellent, which makes it much easier to identify words. Also, the song is full of past tense verb structures, ideal for practicing this tense. It also contains emotional expressions like “never mind” or “nothing compares”, useful in personal conversations.
Tip: Read the lyrics first and underline the past tense verbs. Then, try to write other sentences using those same verbs.
2. “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
With a positive and simple message, this English song is ideal for beginners. Bruno Mars uses colloquial language, short sentences, and everyday vocabulary. Expressions like “you can count on me” or “I’ll be there” are perfect for learning how to talk about friendship, commitment, and support among people.
Tip: Listen to the song and write down the repeated phrases. Then, try to use them in your daily life with different examples, like “you can count on him/her”.
3. “Fix You” – Coldplay
This song, besides being emotionally powerful, has a slow rhythm that allows you to follow the lyrics easily. It is useful for those who already have a base and want to refine their understanding of more complex structures, such as conditionals or the use of will to talk about the future. It’s also excellent for expanding vocabulary related to emotions and human relationships.
Tip: After listening several times, try to summarize what you think the song wants to convey. This will help you practice both comprehension and writing in English.
4. “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
With a relaxed and cheerful style, this song is ideal for those looking to learn informal English and common phrases used in daily conversation. It has a humorous touch and uses typical spoken English contractions like “I’m”, “gonna” (instead of going to), or “d’you” (instead of do you). These structures are fundamental if you want to better understand native speakers.
Tip: Try to identify all contractions and informal expressions. Then translate them and compare with their formal versions.
5. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
An infallible classic that, besides being easy to understand, is full of positive phrases and useful vocabulary. The grammatical structure is simple, ideal for beginners. The repetition of phrases like “let it be” helps internalize expressions and verb forms naturally.
Tip: Pay attention to the use of the verb let, which often confuses many students. Try making your own sentences using this construction, such as “let him go” or “let me try”.
How to Get the Most Out of Songs
Listening to songs in English is not just background music. If you really want to learn, here are some tips that can help you:
- Listen carefully: The first time, just listen. Then, play the song again while reading the lyrics at the same time.
- Repeat out loud: Try singing or reciting some parts to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
- Translate and learn: Translating the lyrics to Spanish can help you better understand their meaning and fix the vocabulary.
- Make your personal playlist: Choose songs you like and repeat them often. The more you enjoy the process, the more effective your learning will be.
Improving your English doesn’t have to be a heavy task. With just a few minutes a day and a good selection of songs, you can progress in a fun and effective way. The five songs we present are just a starting point: explore, create your own list, and make music your best ally for learning. Let’s sing and learn!