The English Writing and Communication Centre (EWCC) of the English Language Centre (ELC) successfully hosted the third event in its English Music Listening Series, the Taylor Swift Listening Session, on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, from 18:00 to 19:30. The event welcomed a total of 57 students, who gathered to engage with English learning through popular music in an interactive, student-centered environment. Designed for college-age English as a Second Language (ESL) learners, the session aimed to enhance listening comprehension, vocabulary development, and oral communication skills through authentic English input and collaborative activities.

[Students practicing English conversation while sharing Taylor Swift memorabilia.]

During the session, participants took part in a variety of Taylor Swift–themed educational activities, including lyric paraphrasing games, vocabulary matching, and analysis of figurative language and literary devices found in song lyrics. These activities encouraged students to move beyond passive listening to active interpretation of meaning, tone, and emotion in authentic, familiar English texts. Through guided discussions and group problem-solving tasks, students practiced expressing opinions, negotiating meaning, and explaining ideas clearly in English. Icebreaker activities, small-group conversations, and brief impromptu speaking tasks further supported the development of students’ oral communication confidence in a low-pressure and engaging setting.

In addition to the structured learning activities, students enjoyed a relaxed social atmosphere that fostered meaningful peer interaction. Participants sang along to classic Taylor Swift songs, created English friendship bracelets, and took photos at themed photo booths. These engaging elements complemented the educational goals of the event by encouraging spontaneous English use, building camaraderie, and strengthening students’ sense of belonging within the university’s English-learning community. Many students exchanged contact information and continued conversations beyond the event, demonstrating the social and communicative impact of the session.

[Students made impromptu speeches about how Taylor Swift’s music has impacted their lives and why they enjoy English music communities.]

Feedback collected through an end-of-event survey indicated that students found the activities both challenging and enjoyable. Participants reported that the combination of music, games, and discussion helped them better understand English lyrics, expand their vocabulary, and feel more confident speaking English with peers. Many students expressed appreciation for the interactive format and requested that EWCC host more music-based and pop culture–inspired English learning events in the future. The positive responses highlight the effectiveness of integrating authentic, culturally relevant materials into English language learning.

The success of the Taylor Swift Listening Session underscores EWCC’s commitment to creating innovative, inclusive, and engaging opportunities for students to develop their English skills. The Centre continues to encourage students to further strengthen their language abilities by participating in one-on-one English consultations, speaking practice events, workshops, and other EWCC programs. We are deeply grateful for the students’ enthusiastic participation, positive energy, and willingness to challenge themselves throughout the session, and we look forward to supporting their continued English learning journey through future events and initiatives.

[Participants played a Lyric Matching Game where they practiced English speaking, paraphrasing Taylor Swift lyrics into their words.]

[Students engaged with interactive activities, sharing their favorite songs and albums while training all four language learning skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.]