How to learn a language

Regardless of how little you actually care for poetry, it can actually be a helpful tool when it comes to language learning. Sure, it may be an unpopular approach, but it’s one I’ve seen people use effectively time and time again.

How is poetry supposed to help you improve your language skills? The best applications I’ve seen have been in the field of vocabulary building. Just like song lyrics, a lot of poetry is rhythm-based, making them much easier to commit to memory than merely reading words off a page. The idea is that reading verses that rhyme makes the process of perusing through piles of text both easier and more entertaining, increasing your likelihood for retention.

When choosing poetry, look for works written by contemporary authors in your target language. More importantly, seek out poets known for the musicality of their writing, as those are likely to be much easier for non-native speakers to digest.

Alternatively, you can seek out direct translations of poetry online. Try searching something like “parallel translation poetry,” appending both the names of the target language and your native one, on Google. Chances are, you’ll come across multiple translated poems that you can then study.

Like other minor forms of language learning, of course, this is best done as a secondary resource, right next to either a comprehensive class or a software-based language program. I highly suggest you try it. You never know – you might be a fan of poetry and not even know it.