About Using Music to Teach English

Sep 08, 2011 0 comments Recommend (0)

There are several reasons music is a good tool for teaching English, whether to first-time students of the language or to children developing their English language skills. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, "Music is the universal language of mankind." It is this characteristic that makes music effective in breaking down language barriers and helping students express their feelings in words.

Universal Language
Songs of all sorts can be used to teach the English language because music is universal. No matter where the student is from or what his background is, there will be something in the music with which he can identify. Songs provide many real-life themes and situations that can be used to spark discussions among students. Music is easy to find and easy to use, with countless activities and assignments that can be pulled from a single song.

Concepts
There are several language concepts students can learn through music, including vocabulary, conversation and grammar. By choosing songs that come from a variety of regions and eras, teachers can introduce their students to many idioms and vocabularies that are integral to understanding the English

language. Many songs are written in a colloquial style, helping students to become more familiar with conversational English words and phrases. Because of the nature of song lyrics, standard grammar and sentence construction are often sacrificed for "singability." This can lead to many creative activities comparing poetry with prose.

Benefits
Music in and of itself -- especially certain types of more classical or traditional music -- has been proven to enhance knowledge retention and improve learning. These benefits, combined with language lessons from the lyrics, make any song a useful teaching tool. In addition, music is naturally relaxing and enjoyable. Instead of sitting through a stressful class, students are able to express themselves and learn something without even trying.

Classroom Activities
There are many different classroom activities where songs are used to teach English. One such activity is a listening/dictation exercise. Have the students listen quietly to a song and write down the words as they hear them. Play the song two or three times, and let them see how many more words they catch with each repetition. Another activity for more advanced students utilizes songs without lyrics. Play a piece and allow the students to draw or paint a picture that describes how the music makes them feel. Then have them explain their pictures in their own words.

Homework Assignments
One writing exercise requires having the students listen to a quality recording of a longer classical piece and write a short piece of narration or fiction that follows the moods of the piece. They can assign characters or settings to certain recurring themes in the music. Another challenging but effective exercise uses a song with lyrics. Have students study the song and write an extra stanza, following the author's rhyme scheme and staying consistent with the theme of the song.

Image Credits

Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks

References

ESL Through Music Why You Should Use Songs to Teach ESL Using Songs to Teach English Listening Comprehension Teaching English With Song

By Faith Alessio
http://connected.waldenu.edu/curriculum-resources/teaching-methods/item/831-about-using-musicto-teach-english