How can you remember a song from your childhood to this day? Why does your teacher use songs to teach you English? It seems there is a scientific reason for this.

Researchers are now studying the relationship(关系) between music and remembering a foreign language.

“Singing could be a new way of learning a foreign language. The brain(大脑) likes to remember things when they are used in a catchy and meaningful way. For example, kids can learn difficult words quickly when they are put in a song.” said Dr. Karen. The findings may help those who have trouble learning foreign languages. On his blog, Dr. Ludke writes, “A listen-and-repeat singing way can support foreign language learning and opens the door for future research in this area.”

Many language teachers know the importance of using music and singing. Hua Zhuying, a teacher at a Chinese language school in the USA uses songs to teach Chinese. She says, “I use music all the time to teach children Chinese. For little kids usually we use the music. Not only does it work, but it is fun for kids.”

“Sometimes I think if I learn English that way when I was young, maybe I could speak much better English than now.” Hua Zhuying adds.

Our brain likes music, especially for remembering. So if you are still having trouble learning a language, why not try singing it out?

As a language learner, you are not alone. About 1.2 billion people are learning a foreign language. 【小题1】 We talked to hundreds of successful language learners. They shared with us some of their habits.

One key to long-term success is working towards the goal (目标) all the time. Most successful language learners make sure they spend a few minutes practicing every day. 【小题2】 In the long run, they show much slower progress than those who practice daily.

The second habit of successful language learners is that they don’t study too much and too long at a time. 【小题3】 And then after a break, they continue. Over a longer time, they make progress.

【小题4】 But it has been proved that one slowly forgets what he or she has learned over time. Let’s be honest: Do you still remember all the English words and expressions you learned last year? Successful language learners go over the old material. Review turns your short-term memory into a long- term memory.

Are you having a hard time improving your English? Then you may try to develop these three habits. 【小题5】 Learning a second language well is a long process-it should take time!

Let children learn to judge (判断) their own work. A child doesn't learn to talk by being corrected all the time. If he is corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the differences between the language he uses and the language others use. Little by little, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people's.

In the same way, children learn to do all the other things without being taught-to walk, run, climb or ride a bicycle. They compare their performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes and correct them himself. We do it all for him. We thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the teacher. Let him work out with the help of other children if he wants it.

If it is a matter in math or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such daily work? Our job should be to help the children when they tell us that he can't find the way to get the right answer. Let the children learn what all educated persons must learn, how to measure (估量) their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know.

Let them get on with this job in their ways. School teachers can offer help if they ask for it. Some parents and teachers are worried that the children might fail to learn something that they will need to get in the world. Don't worry! If it is important, they will go out into the world and learn it.