Bertliz’s Earworms Language Tool Works

Berlitz’s Earworms Musical Brain Trainer: A language tool that promises a “revolutionary new learning technique” that’s “effortless and enjoyable”? Sign me up.

You see, I’m not very good at learning languages. Despite living in places where English was secondary (Taiwan, China and Montreal) for a combined six years, I can only communicate in the world’s most popular language. Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience.

Well forget all that, says Berlitz. Through the power of music, its Earworms language tool will teach you over 200 essential words and phrases in almost any language you choose, including French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian. Each disc has a number of songs that are chock full of language building blocks. Because music is inherently catchy, these phrases will ‘worm’ your way into your brain without any effort. Instead of ‘Don’t Stop Believing‘ you’ll have Je voudrais stuck in your head.

I had the Italian vol 1. disc. Its ten songs have titles like ‘I Would Like’ and ‘Do You Speak English?’. The catchyness of them is debatable: they often seem like your standard audio language tutorial but with a lite musical accompaniment. Certainly they won’t be burning up the pop charts anytime soon.

But they’re incredibly effective. I found after listening to the CD several times, often just before bed or while at the gym, that I knew most of its language. It was especially effective if I combined it with the Earworms’ Memory Hooks, available on its website. For example, Mi chiamo Micky Armo. Now I can safely order un cappuccino per favore where ever I go.

See the Earworms website.