Learn English slang with pop songs
6,000 English language learners in 12 different countries took part in the study by global learning company, Pearson.
According to the study, Harry Potter took top spot for useful EFL resources, with other popular sources of English language inspiration coming from the pop artists, Justin Timberlake, One Direction, Madonna and Adele.
In fact pop songs can be a useful way of learning slang phrases and English idioms, although songs are sometimes best for more advanced learners as English pronunciation can be affected by changing vocal shifts.
This new research coincides with a general concern about the decline in the use of traditional textbooks for learning English.
More and more learners are making use of popular culture to learn their pronunciation and grammar. Harry Potter can a number of magical, invented words which are fun for English learners but could also cause some confusion!
Other students are turning to language learning apps, translation tools and games to learn languages.
Pop songs and films are also highly popular ways of learning the language, although some academics worry about grammatical errors and inconsistencies in pop lyrics.
The Beatles – image source
English for travel
The research had many other interesting findings and asked the important question relevant to all English language learners: why learn English?
56% of the respondents said their motivation for studying English was to enable easier international travel and 50% were learning English to help with their careers.
It isn’t only modern culture that inspires English language learners. 42% of those surveyed thought Shakespeare displays the best mastery of the English language.
When asked about individual words and phrases, ‘love’ was the respondents’ favourite word, while ‘thank you’ was voted the most useful.
Share your thoughts
Which words and phrases do you think are most useful for a student just starting to learn a new language?
Do you prefer popular culture like Harry Potter and the Beatles or traditional textbooks for learning English?
Which pop songs or films do you think are best for learning English?