About
Popglot is a blog about learning languages through songs. I’m Jason Comely, and I’m sharing a method I’ve been using to teach myself Polish, one song at a time. It’s called “Popglot,” and while it’s dirt simple to learn, it can also get nerdy if you want it to. Instead of studying flashcards and grammar books, you focus on developing Core Song Competence with a single song in your target language by combining sensory modalities until it sticks. Then rinse and repeat. By the end, you’re speaking the language, bit by bit.
Here’s how it works with me learning Polish songs as an example. The blog goes into much more detail.
Step 1: Pick a Song
The first step is finding a song. It doesn’t have to be amazing, it just needs to be something you can handle and that you’d play on repeat. For me, learning Polish, I chose “Bóg” by T.Love. It’s a simple song with a message I agree with. You can easily find songs on Spotify or YouTube. Just search “Polish hits” or whatever language you’re learning.
Step 2: Get Lyrics and Translations
Next, you need the words. I found “Bóg”‘s lyrics on Google along with the English translation. Easy peasy. Sites like Musixmatch work well too; the goal is to link the sounds to their meaning. For Polish, with its tricky sounds and consonant clusters, seeing the words written out is essential.
Step 3: Earn Points to Learn
This is the engine of the Popglot Method. You interact with the song in three ways (a.k.a. three different sensory modalities), and can earn points:
- Listen (0 points): Since listening is often passive, it doesn’t earn a point, but it also doesn’t count against your point total either.
- Read Lyrics (1 point): When you read the lyrics, that’s a point earned. I’d study “Bóg”‘s lyrics on my tablet during lunch break.
- Sing or Speak (1 point): Singing or speaking the song without listening to the music or reading the lyrics. I sung “Bóg” in the shower.
Each of these is a sensory modality. Combining modalities earns more points per play: listen and sing (2 points), or do all three (3 points). I typically aim for around 100 points per song to achieve Core Song Competence, but I adjust this target based on the song’s difficulty. For simpler songs, I might set a lower target, such as 50 points, while for more challenging ones, I often exceed 100 points to fully master them. Once I reach my target, I put the song into Maintenance Mode and move on to the next one. The 100-point benchmark is a good goal for most songs, but feel free to adapt it to your needs.
I keep count using a note-taking app, though there are many other tracking tools available if you prefer alternatives.
Step 4: Achieve Core Song Competence
At 100 points, you’ve probably got it down pat. You can sing along to the song, understand most of it, and maybe even use a line in real life. For example, after 100 points with “Bóg,” I could sing the chorus and introduction/interlude flawlessly and knew it was about wanting a closer relationship with God. I even incorporated some of the wording into my prayers. That’s what I call Core Song Competence: the song becomes truly yours, and the language starts feeling real rather than academic.
Step 5: Move On to the Next Song
Once you’ve nailed one song, pick another to master. After “Bóg,” I moved on to “Ludzie pragną piękna” by Formacja Nieżywych Schabuff, a happy-sounding track with lots of helpful repetition. Each new song adds to your vocabulary and builds confidence. I’m maintaining a playlist of my mastered Polish tunes. These songs hold special significance for me and serve as tangible proof that I’m making progress.
Why It Works
Songs are sticky, just think of any old hit you still know by heart. The melody hooks the words into your brain. Using your ears, voice, and eyes together locks the learning in even deeper. Plus, the 100-point marker makes learning a song quantifiable and concrete. Every listen and read or shaky sing-along counts as progress. It fits into your life too: on a busy day, just listen; during a free afternoon, hunker down and go for much more.
For me, Polish fluency changed from intimidating to doable, one song at a time.
What I’m Trying to Accomplish Here
This blog is my way of documenting my progress in Polish while demonstrating how Popglot can work for any language. I’ll post about the songs I’m tackling and tell you how I accumulated the points. If you’re learning a language, I invite you to try this approach with me. Pick a song, earn your points in whatever configuration works best for you, and let’s build fluency together, one chorus at a time.