Today, learning a new language is one of the best goals to invest your energy, time, and money in. With the entire world becoming one global marketplace and people becoming more connected than ever, you should consider boarding the language train as soon as possible. And, if you think that language learning needs to be done the traditional classroom way- you’re wrong. There are tons of other creative and fun ways to learn a foreign language.
Visiting electronic dance music festivals is one, perhaps unexpected, but effective way to improve your language skills. Below, we’ll explain how the two are connected and how electronic dance music fans can mix education and pleasure. Let’s dig in!
Language Exposure
The first rule of learning a new language is that you have to find ways to be exposed to it. Numbers show that the global electronic music sector was up 71% in 2022, meaning it keeps getting bigger, and more and more people are coming to visit. Music festivals are thus a great place to find this exposure and perhaps even learn about a language you’ve never heard before.
Here’s how:
- there are people from all over the globe visit these festivals
- the artists and performers are also from different countries
- these festivals are thrown all over the globe, so you can visit one in any given country
All of this exposes you to a ton of new languages and gives you a chance to develop an interest in one. You’ll be able to hear people talk and sing in these languages and maybe find something appealing in what you hear. This means that electronic dance music festivals are great places for discovering languages and finding the one you want to learn.
Networking
If you already know which language you wish to learn, electronic dance music festivals are great for practicing your skills, no matter what level you’re at. The networking opportunities are countless since most people come to have fun and are thus laid back, sociable, and open for conversation.
You can find people in camps surrounding the festival, by volunteering or working as a crew member there, or simply by commencing a conversation with the people you like.
The important thing is that you use the language actively, not minding potential mistakes or being afraid of speaking it in front of others. The overall easygoing atmosphere of the festival will make the people super cool about speaking with you.
Digital Socialization
True fans of electronic dance music festivals often connect in the online world through social media, forums, chat rooms, and other similar platforms in which they converse. Joining one such platform in the language you’re learning would give you a chance to practice your reading and writing skills. If you’re not fully comfortable with how you write, free essay writing samples can help you improve your skills.
It often happens that you get to know some members of these communities better, so you end up getting together at one of the festivals you both choose.
Nurturing these friendships can provide a permanent opportunity for actively using the language and polishing it constantly.
Artists Exploration
Language learning is also possible through the research and exploration of artists performing at electronic dance music festivals. It’s a great source of inspiration and motivation, especially for true electronic dance music fans.
There’s so much you can do and achieve by exploring electronic dance music artists that would benefit your foreign language skills. Here are just some of the best ideas on how to turn this process into something fun and educational:
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Explore the Lineup
Explore the lineup of different festivals and choose the website to be in your target language. For instance, Tomorrowland offers its website in English, French, and Dutch.
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Find Artists
Find artists who come from the countries you’re targeting and start reading about their life, history, performances, awards, and more. Find sources in the target language, including podcasts, videos, articles, and more. Use official translation services if you need help understanding them fully.
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Follow Them on Social Media
If you follow an artist on social media, you’ll have your daily dose of multilingual content. Most European artists will post both in English and their native language to make sure they’re staying connected with all their target audiences.
Plus, you can read the comments of the locals to find even more sources of language practice. Not to mention you can leave a comment in the language you’re learning, as well.
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Learn the Lyrics
Finally, by listening to the songs of the given artists, you’ll get further exposure to their native language. You could try learning the lyrics and translating them for yourself so that you know what the songs are about. It’s a great source of fun practicing.
Final Thoughts
Electronic dance music festivals may not be the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of language learning. But, when you give it a little thinking, you soon realize that there’s so much potential hidden in there and that it could truly give you a push in the right direction when it comes to the language learning process.
Hopefully, our guide on the ways electronic dance music festivals can help you learn a foreign language inspires you to give it a try. Choose a language that you like and look for opportunities to practice it and improve every day.
Author’s Bio
Diane Sherron is a language teacher and a blogger. She writes about the importance and benefits of speaking two or more languages and the creative ways you can learn a new language. Her goal is to inspire as many people as possible to become bilingual or multilingual.
