2. 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?
3. 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)
4. 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
5. What positive contributions to language
learning can songs make?
Socio – emotional
growth
Physical
development
Cognitive training
Cultural literacy
Language
Learning
7. 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
9. Why are songs so suitable?
Pop songs help learning a
second language:
• Contain common,
short words
• Language is
conversational • Lyrics are often sung at
• Time and place are a slower rate than
spoken words.
usually imprecise
• There is repetition of
words and grammar
• Motivate learners to
learn
Murphy (1992)
10. 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.
11. “
Music stabilizes
mental, physical and
emotional rhythms to
attain a state of deep
concentration and
focus in which large
amounts of content
information can be
processed and
learned."
Chris Brewer, Music and
Learning
12. Techniques for Using Music with
L2 Learners
Introduce a new theme or Teach pronunciation and
topic intonation
(Christmas/colours/feelings) Teach songs and rhymes
Break the ice in a class about difficult grammar
where students don't know and spelling rules that
each other or are having need to be memorized
difficulty communicating Teach reading
Change the mood comprehension
Teach and build Inspire a class discussion
vocabulary and idioms Teach listening for details
Review material and gist
(background music
improves memory)
13. 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:
14. 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.
15. Highlight it
• Get students to circle, underline or highlight
specific words or word categories.
16. 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.
17. Lip 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.
18. 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.
19. 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"?
20. Gap it
• You can prepare a
gapped version of
the lyrics and let
students complete
them before
listening and then
check afterwards.
21. Draw it
• Get students to draw or collage the song
and compare the visualizations in class
22. 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!
23. 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!
24. ADDING ACTION TO IT
Choose interactive
songs whenever
possible.
Adding actions
enhances language
acquisition and
memory.
25. 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.
27. 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
