Teaching with Songs

Songs

I believe that students learn effectively when they get emotionally involved that is why teaching English using Songs as strategy for speaking and writing has positive and meaningful results, such as:  use of authentic materials, idioms, connected speech, new vocabulary, grammar and cultural aspects. The purpose of using songs is also make the students to become creative as well as learning to analyze and discuss lyrics of renowned bands that portrayed real world situations, for example, the U2 Band among others.

Songs provide motivating power to help students practice and understand writing concepts and teacher can also focus on new idioms and expressions and going through the meanings deeply, illustrating on the board with other examples, if necessary. Song can be used to create a context for students to write or compose; they can have some fun at re-writing the last paragraph of the lyrics with the same rhythm of the song by using synonyms, grammar, word order and other words to rhyme.

Campbell (2008), says that music helps not only the development of the “intellectual potential of language, but also the emotional potential of getting along with others, moving, creating, interacting with grace and sensitivity, expressing emotion and relieving stress”, supported on that, songs enable students the opportunity to interact naturally therefore they feel more comfortable to speak more about the song and even expand their speaking about many other subjects related to the song.

Songs certainly can help students to improve their language learning in and out of the classroom, they can acquire vocabulary, grammar, practice pronunciation and spelling by using some Apps to write lyrics or listen to their favorite songs or bands. For most of my students listening to music and singing the songs is enjoyable, so they are relaxed and confident to practice, singing by heart without looking at the lyrics, after this point they would be able to embrace new vocabulary and soon they will be including it in their everyday speech, learning independently and effectively.