Taylor Swift’s New Song “Shake It Off” And What It Means for ESL Students

I love Taylor Swift’s new song “Shake It Off”, especially when I think about ESL. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to dance, sing, and move on from the negative things that hold you down.

I hear from so many of you that you are intimidated and scared to speak English because you’re afraid of looking stupid or making mistakes. Shake it off! What does that mean? Well, imagine that a family of spiders landed on you. What would you do? You would shake and move your body until they were off of you! The same can be true of negative words people say to you. When someone says something mean or hateful, you can feel like it is “on” you. That’s when it’s time to “shake it off”, or get rid of it. Don’t hold onto those negative things people say or think about you.

Don’t be afraid of what people think about you when you speak “imperfect” English. Be brave! Be bold! Keep making mistakes and having fun with it, because you will win the end.

Ready for some more inspiration? Try this as an English lesson: listen to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”, and get inspired to stop caring what people think.

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off” Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I stay up too late, got nothing in my brain
That’s what people say, that’s what people say
I go on too many dates, but I can’t make them stay
At least that’s what people say, that’s what people say

[Pre-Chorus]
But I keep cruising, can’t stop, won’t stop moving
It’s like I got this music in my body and it’s gonna be alright

[Chorus]
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

[Verse 2]
I’ll never miss a beat, I’m lightning on my feet
And that’s what they don’t see, that’s what they don’t see
I’m dancing on my own, I’ll make the moves up as I go
And that’s what they don’t know, that’s what they don’t know

[Pre-Chorus] + [Chorus]

[Refrain] (x4)
I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I shake it off, I shake it off

[Interlude]
Hey, hey, hey, just think while you’ve been getting down and out about the liars and dirty, dirty cheats in the world you could have been getting down to this beat

[Bridge]
My ex-man bought his new girlfriend
She’s like “oh my God”, but I’m just gonna shake it
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won’t you come on over, baby, we can shake, shake, shake

[Chorus]

Comment below to shake off your fears of writing online. How do you shake off negative things in your life?