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Songs in the Classroom:
A Useful ToolKathiuska Murcia Cortes
FUNLAM2012
Songs are part of daily life…
Who doesn’t enjoy music at home, while travelling or studying, or even at work?
Language teachers can use songs to open or close their lessons, to illustrate topics, present new vocabulary or recycle known language. But how do songs actually benefit your students?
A useful tool
There is strong practical evidence supporting the use of music in the English language classroom; there is also a growing body of research confirming that songs are a useful tool in language acquisition. In fact musical and language processing occur in the same area of the brain. (Medina, 1993)
Studies have shown that music...
• Improves concentration• Improves memory• Brings a sense of community to a group• Motivates learning• Relaxes people who are overwhelmed or stressed• Makes learning fun
What positive contributions to language learning can songs make?
Socio – emotional growth
Physical development
Cognitive training Cultural literacy Language
Learning
Types of songs…
Types of songs
There are many types of songs which can be used in the classroom, ranging from nursery rhymes to contemporary pop music.
There is also a lot of music written specifically for English language teaching
‘Real’ music that the children hear and play every day can be extremely motivating in the classroom, too.
WATCH OUT ! the lyrics may not always be suitable
WHICH LEARNER
LIKES SONGS?
Aural / Musical Intelligent Learners
Physical Learning Style Learners
Spacial Intelligent Learner
Verbal Learning Style Learner
Why are songs so suitable?Pop songs help learning a
second language:
• Contain common, short words
• Language is conversational
Murphy (1992)
• Lyrics are often sung at a slower rate than spoken words.
• There is repetition of words and grammar
• Motivate learners to learn
Using songs in the English Classroom
• “Music is the universal language of mankind” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Have you ever heard of anyone who doesn't like music? Some people may not like art, dancing, reading, or movies, but almost everyone likes
one kind of music or another. Most people like many different kinds of
music.
“
Music stabilizes Music stabilizes mental, physical and mental, physical and emotional rhythms to emotional rhythms to attain a state of deep attain a state of deep concentration and concentration and focus in which large focus in which large amounts of content amounts of content information can be information can be processed and processed and learned."learned." Chris Brewer, Music and Learning
Techniques for Using Music with L2 Learners
Introduce a new theme or topic
(Christmas/colours/feelings) Change the mood Teach and build
vocabulary and idioms Review material
(background music improves memory)
Teach pronunciation and intonation
Teach songs and rhymes about difficult grammar and spelling rules that need to be memorized
Inspire a class discussion Teach listening for details
and gist
PRACTICAL TIPS AND TASKS FOR USING SONGS
If you can commit to using music once a week, you may soon see the benefits, and realize that you want to do it more often and in a variety of ways. Here are some activities for you to try:
Focus it
• Find a picture that relates to the subject of the song and have students make guesses about it.
Highlight it
• or Get students to circle, underline or highlight specific words.
Stop it
• Students must shout STOP any time they hear one of the new words.
• You could also stop the song before a word you want them to guess.
Lip sync itLip sync it
Have students lip sync the song before a team of judges in a Class Idol show. This allows them to become familiar with the words, rhythm, stress and intonation before actually singing the words out loud.
Strip it• Cut the song into strips and give each student one strip
to memorize. Students then organize themselves in the right order, and then listen and check.
When I see your face there's not a thing… that I would change… …Cause you're amazing Just the way you are… …And when you smile the whole world stops… …and stares for a while …Cause girl you're amazing Just the way you are.
Question it
• What is the best explanation for this: "I love you just the way you are when not being just the way
you are"?
Gap it
• You can prepare a gapped version of the lyrics and let students complete them before listening and then check afterwards.
Draw itDraw it
• Get students to draw the song and compare the visualizations in class
Tips for Using Music Effectively
The possibilities are endless. Music and songs are fun, and most
people enjoy them.
Can’t get it outta my head!
Expose students to a certain song many days in a row. Within a few days, students will not be able to get the song out of their head!
ADDING ACTION TO IT
Choose interactive songs whenever possible.
POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE
Turning the music off is a great way to signal to a large class that it is time to begin.
… and most importantly ..
ENJOY IT!!!
References and Cibergraphy
• Lems, Kirsten, Using Music in the Adult ESL Classroom, ERIC Digest, 2001.
• Medina, Suzanne L, The Effect of Music on Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition, ‘National Network for Early Language Learning’, Vol 6-3, 1993.
• Murphy, T (1992), The discourse op pop songs, TESOL Quarterly 26”(4), 770-774.
• http://www.englishclub.com/teaching-tips/music-classroom.htm
• http://www.eslbase.com/articles/songs