Lyrical Linguistics: Exploring World Languages Through Popular Music
Sample languages by listening to music from all over the world, use songs as an introduction to understanding linguistics, and maybe find the world language you want to study!
No'a L. bat Miri
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(29)
What's included
1 live meeting
30 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Want to learn a new language, but not sure which one is really right for you? Interested in languages, in general? Love listening to new and unique music? You're in luck! Join me as we learn about languages through the medium of song, the same way I studied over a dozen languages, myself. Languages covered during this class might include Russian, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Irish Gaelic, Latin, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Hebrew, Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, German, Mongolian, Swahili, and more! (We will not repeat a language more than once every fifteen weeks.) Music will come from a diversity of popular genres, but I try to focus on songs featuring good enunciation and grammar. ***If there is a particular language or language family your learner is interested in exploring, please message me and I will probably be able to accommodate!*** April 18th meeting (please register your learner by April 16th) - German! Each week I will post 1-3 songs in the same language to the classroom portal (Sunday or Monday), along with lyrics (Monday or Tuesday), transliteration (when appropriate, Monday or Tuesday) and translation (Tuesday or Wednesday). I will also post a recorded lecture in which I discuss linguistic concepts and features of the language that we can identify from the song(s) in question (Wednesday). ***Students will be expected to review these materials on their own.*** Learners will be welcomed to engage in a moderated discussion. The live meeting is optional and will serve as a time for students to ask questions about the language of the week, discuss the songs more, practice pronouncing some words, and get clarity on linguistic concepts that they don't quite understand.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
I try to avoid overtly religious music and songs that go beyond light, sweet romance on the surface level, but what's acceptable varies wildly over different cultures, and ideas about how to relay emotions are also quite different. Because this course is fundamentally about understanding language, explaining idiom and metaphor might cross into territory that makes some students uncomfortable. Because romantic love and religious ideas are the dominant subjects for music around the world, I recommend only enrolling learners who can approach these topics objectively and with some maturity. (A little immaturity is okay... calling one's beloved "little cabbage" is pretty funny.)
Supply List
Each week, students will get a recorded lecture that breaks down the different linguistic features of the language of the weekly song(s), plus a written counterpart.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined December, 2018
4.7
29reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Having lived, worked, studied, and traveled in over two dozen countries, it'd be a shame if I only listened to music in English! People always asks why I studied eight (8!) languages in school and even more on my own. True, I did spend a certain amount of time considering the idea of becoming a linguistic specialist in national service. But the fact is I've always been in love with language... all language. Coming from a home where well over a dozen languages can be heard over the course of a week, learning a new language has never felt like a challenge to me. This has left me toying around in the machinery of many languages, and identifying ways to learn them more quickly and thoroughly, and to constantly increase competence. Music is one of those obvious "secrets."Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
30 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
1-18 learners per class
