USING MUSIC...

In relation to Language Learning, the use of music and songs offers two major advantages: Music is both highly memorable (1) and highly motivating (2). As a consequence, It would be unwise to ignore this flexible and attractive resource. Without any doubt, it has a lot of potential. So, ...

                           Let us take advantage of it!!

Using music in our English Language Classrooms, no matter the level of proficiency in such a language of our students, have a number of obvious advantages. Let me name just a few of them, to illustrate and contextualize this new blog. It is worthwhile pointing out that by means of songs, we can simply:

-          Raise our students’ interest, when teaching foreign languages

-          Increase their motivation

-          Break the routine

-          Provide a real language in a real context

-          Assign meaningful /communicative tasks easily

-          Use them as a springboard to deal with all the language skills

-          Integrate English Language Teaching/Learning and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

-          And, in short, take the English Language out of the Classroom. (Consequently, We pay attention not only to “formal” learning, but also to both “non-formal” and “informal” learning.)

But, as we all know, just listening to and singing songs will not make students able to communicate in another language and will not teach them how to use the target language appropriately.              

In order to bridge the gap, we should keep in mind the twofold major goal of this blog:

• To provide a repertoire of songs (selected by the students and the teacher), taking into account the language used and the thematic content in them, and
• To show how to use songs and music as enhancers, reinforces, or as centre-pieces for communicating in the classroom.

FOR TEACHERS:

Why ?

Have a look at some reasons for using music in the classroom:

“Integrating Music into the Classroom”

“… because in songs language is presented in a stimulating and engaging manner.”

How?

Have a look at some ideas about how to use songs:

“Music In the classroom” (part 1)

(For some more ideas, check parts 2, 3 & 4.)

FOR STUDENTS:

Using music in our English classrooms is just …

A wonderful way to expose our students to different English accents in an attractive – and funny, sometimes- way.

“Voice Recognition Elevator”

                                                 (a situation comedy by Connell & Florence)

To have a laugh:  

Go to the website of the Burnistoun boys, Iain Connell and Robert Florence (www.connellandflorence.com)