Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description.

The Magic of Music. The very first sounds we hear from the womb, when we are only about 20 weeks old, are the sounds of our mother’s body and the constant beat of her heart, the rhythm of life. At around 25 weeks we can hear the reverberation of our mother’s voice and other noises coming from the outside world. Even before we are born we are listening to the symphony of life.

In all corners of the world, who hasn’t experienced the magic release of dopamine (one of the feel good chemicals in our brain) as we lose ourselves in music. Pleasing melodies, changes in musical direction, rhythms and lyrics all speak to us on an emotional level, consoling us in times of difficulty, energising us, or stimulating our creativity and imagination. 

Music can give us ‘goosebumps’, also known as ‘chills’ or ‘frisson’. Those shivers down your spine as your body and mind are thrown into an ecstatic state of joy. The health benefits of listening to your favourite music are countless: from high tempo beats for physical exercise, to slow soft meandering tones for relaxation. And how many of you also use songs to learn English?

I’ve been helping Italians with their English for more than 15 years and when I meet new students there are nearly always two important things missing: 1. a lack of real listening and 2. a lack of real practice out loud. Fortunately, English learners have a huge archive of pop songs from the past and present to help them to improve.

As an English language coach one of my mottoes is ‘stop studying and start practising’, but singing is even more fun and there are many great benefits to the karaoke method. The lyrics in pop songs, from The Beatles to Harry Styles are colloquial, which means when you listen and sing along you are using genuine spoken English, full of contractions and common idiomatic phrases. And those repetitive melodies that won’t leave your head keep you practising long after you’ve stopped listening. To take this learning method to the max, make sure that you sing out loud and pay close attention to forming the exact same vocal sounds. The last step is to take your favourite phrases from the song and adapt and use them in your own life.

For 20 years I’ve been hosting and producing a radio programme called “The English Lesson” which you can listen to on radiobelluno.it. I simply play a popular song from the past or present and translate it into Italian. It works for both people who are simply curious about the meaning of the song and for those who are learning English.

So whether you’re an Elvis impersonator under the shower, a Beyonce Knowles in the bath or a Rolling Stone in your car, tune in, pump up the volume and sing along with your favourite artists. And remember, incorporate your favourite phrases into your daily speaking practice! Ciao for now!

A full transcript of this podcast can be found in the description.You can find out more about me on my website - speakwithnick.it