By:

TAHIRA JAHAN

PGD.ELT

USING SONGS IN TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

DISCUSSION TOPICS

Why Teach Songs ?

How to Choose & Exploit Songs?

“We should not teach great books; we should teach a love of learning”

B.F Skinner

WHY TEACH SONGS

It is an authentic activity to use songs in

teaching and learning process.

Songs are a source of motivation.

Repetition in songs enhances understanding.

Rhythm helps to understand stress and intonation.

Songs help in learning new vocabulary.

Songs can be employed as a group activity and as an activity to practice alone.

HOW TO SELECT AND EXPLOIT SONGS

1. FOR REININFORCING

GRAMMAR POINTS

Example: I catch the bus to work Sometimes I go by car I rarely ride the bike Because it is just too far I get to work at 8:30 I have lunch from 1:00 till 2:00 I may leave work at 6:00 There’s always a lot to do

Structural Consolidation

The focused structure should already be taught and practiced in the class.

Pre teach new vocabulary Reiterate Sing in the chorus

The ways to exploit such a song

Vocabulary according to the Level The Target Lexical Items should Recur

2.For Teaching New Vocabulary

Example:

It’s Raining Repetition Realia Acting

It’s raining, it’s pouring

The old man is snoring

He went to bed and heBumped his head

And he couldn’t get up

in the morning.

Showing the Pictures of the Target Vocabulary

Raining

Snoring Bumped

3. Intertexuality

Song lyrics can corroborate literary works like poems (in syllabus).

Songs can be referred if there is coherence between the lyrics of poem and of the song.

Exploiting a Song for Intertextuality

Identifying the words that link the two lyrics

Ode on Grecian Urn My Heart will Go on

Ah, happy, happy boughs! Love can touch us one

That cannot shed time

Your leaves, no ever can and last for a life time

Bid the spring adieu in my life will always

Forever piping songs go on

Forever new we’ll stay forever this

Forever warm and still way; you are safe in my

To be enjoyed heart and my heart

Thou canst leave thy will go on

song

4. Listening Comprehension

Things to keep in mind while selecting

A song for this purpose:

Clarity of pronunciation

Low density of instrumentation

How to Use a Song for Listening Comprehension

Listening for Gist

1.Questions could be asked

Example:

After hearing this song which bird is singing? what time is it when the bird sits on window

sill?

Listening for precise wording

Gap filling

sing ____ from the ___ tree. sing for ____ You sit upon my_________ Each morning when it is ____ and still.

Listening for Specific Information

True/False activity

Each evening when it’s calm T/F You sit upon my arm T/F Sing sparrow from the woodland

tree T/F

5. Using songs in Phonology

Songs have a very marked rhythm so we can improve and correct

stress by reciting them

6. Introducing students with the cultural background of the people whose language they

are being taught.

7. Discussion works