Songs in the Classroom:

A Useful ToolKathiuska Murcia Cortes

FUNLAM

2012

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 themes and topics, to add variety or a change of pace, 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• Helps people absorb material

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

• Time and place are usually imprecise

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) Break the ice in a class

where students don't know each other or are having difficulty communicating

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

Teach reading comprehension

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

• Have them think about the title of the song, in groups of pairs. Find a picture that relates to the subject of the

song and have students make guesses about it.

Highlight it

• Get students to circle, underline or highlight specific words or word categories.

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 or detail.

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, speak the song 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 or collage 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. Make songs a regular feature in your lessons!

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.

Adding actions enhances language acquisition and memory.

POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE

Have soft or upbeat music playing before class to encourage a 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

• http://www.eslbase.com/articles/pop-songs