Studying German through music

Music as a tool for learning German

Music is not only a great way to have fun, but also a wonderful tool for learning foreign languages. By listening to songs in German, you can immerse yourself in the language, improve your pronunciation, and learn new words and grammatical structures.

With music, learning becomes more enjoyable. Songs reflect the realities of life and are ideal for conveying cultural knowledge. Learning vocabulary through songs is both fun and effective!



Here are some ways you can use songs to expand your vocabulary:

Active listening.

Play the song and listen carefully to the lyrics. Try to understand the meaning of words and phrases, even if it takes multiple listens.

Writing down new words.

Write down new words and phrases from the song. Find their translations and remember their meanings. For example, you can create a vocabulary list with translations in the Quizlet app in the form of flashcards.

Example of using songs for vocabulary and grammar learning.

Learning vocabulary through songs

Vocabulary on the topic of "Friendship and Adventures"

Song: "An Tagen wie diesen" – Die Toten Hosen

"An Tagen wie diesen" (On days like these) is a popular song by the German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen, released on March 23, 2012. It became one of the band's iconic songs and brought them wide recognition. The song is perfect for learning vocabulary related to friendship and adventures. It is filled with words and expressions that describe shared moments, emotions experienced together, and unforgettable adventures.

Useful words from the song.

You can also learn grammatical structures through songs!

Learning grammar through songs

Let’s look at an example of using different verb tenses in the song "99 Luftballons" – Nena

"99 Luftballons" (99 Red Balloons) is an iconic song by the German singer Nena, released in 1983. It became an international hit and one of the most recognizable pieces of German pop music. The song tells the story of 99 balloons that are accidentally released into the sky and are mistaken for a military threat. This leads to an escalation of events and the beginning of a conflict.

Examples of verb tense usage in the song.

• Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
  Translation: Do you have some time for me?
  Explanation: This is an interrogative sentence. "Hast" is the present tense form of the verb "haben" (to have), Präsens.
  
  
• Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich.
  Translation: Then I will sing a song for you.
  Explanation: This is an affirmative sentence. "Singe" is the present tense form of the verb "singen" (to sing), Präsens.
  
  
• Jeder war ein großer Krieger.
  Translation: Everyone was a great warrior.
  Explanation: "War" is the past tense form of the verb "sein" (to be), Präteritum.
  
  
• Dabei schoss man am Horizont.
  Translation: At that time, they were shooting on the horizon.
  Explanation: "Schoss" is the past tense form of the verb "schießen" (to shoot), Präteritum.
  
  
• Mann, wer hätte das gedacht.
  Translation: Man, who would have thought that.
  Explanation: "Hätte gedacht" is the subjunctive form of the verb "denken" (to think), Konjunktiv II, Vergangenheit.
  
  
• Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft.
  Translation: The neighbors didn’t get it.
  Explanation: "Haben gerafft" is the present perfect form of the verb "raffen" (to understand), Perfekt.

A student book based on songs

For those who want to delve deeper into the intricacies of grammar and vocabulary through German songs, the book with CD  "Schon mal gehört? Musik für Deutschlerner!" is a perfect choice.

So, learning German through music is not only an engaging but also an effective way to deepen your knowledge. Songs help immerse you in the culture, expand your vocabulary, and learn new grammatical structures. With music, the learning process becomes fun and dynamic.

If you want to start or continue learning German, choose German courses with experienced teachers from our online school Skype-Language.com.

Learn German and immerse yourself in all its nuances, including through music!