If you're anything like the author, you likely recall some of the foreign language classes you attended in school.
Sure, you might not remember how to order coffee, locate the nearest bank, or initiate a conversation that doesn't revolve around weekend plans. But chances are, a few melodies linger in your memory. Perhaps "Frère Jacques" evokes nostalgia for learning French—or perhaps it triggers a sense of dread.
Regardless of the language you studied, there's a good chance that music played a role in your lessons. As it happens, there's a rationale behind incorporating music into the foreign language classroom: it can enhance vocabulary retention, writing fluency, listening comprehension, phonetic accuracy, and other linguistic skills.
So, dust off your sheet music and prepare to take notes: we're about to explore the intersection of TEFL and music.
Nursery rhymes
It's widely understood that nursery rhymes offer significant benefits for young learners. From an early age, we're introduced to these rhymes in our native languages, aiding in vocabulary acquisition, and syllable recognition, and fostering an appreciation for melody.
However, the utility of nursery rhymes isn't limited to children alone. They serve as valuable tools for language learning at any age. While phrases like "and on that farm, he had a cow" might not be relevant to adult learners in a typical classroom setting, the underlying principle holds.
Incorporating a musical element into language instruction can greatly enhance punctuation, pronunciation, and other fundamental language skills. Whether teaching 5-year-olds or 55-year-olds, learners of all ages can benefit from the simplicity and memorability of phrases conveyed through song.
Pop music
Utilizing currently popular songs serves various purposes. Firstly, it fosters a connection with students, demonstrating an awareness of cultural relevance to them.
Moreover, delving into the lyrics of today's chart-toppers offers insight into their meaning. Teaching these lyrics in class (ensuring suitability for the age group) can enhance appreciation for the songs being studied while providing English learners with context to understand artists like Taylor Swift.
Furthermore, akin to nursery rhymes, analyzing pop music can yield significant educational benefits. Many lyrics reflect common conversational phrases or idioms, aiding language comprehension. Integrating culturally resonant material with language study can yield positive outcomes, much like how a football enthusiast might absorb foreign phrases from listening to international commentary.
Does the song have to be current? Not necessarily. Whether it's the Beatles or Wu-Tang Clan's "Protect Ya Neck," the choice depends on relevance and appropriateness. Trusting common sense in selecting material is crucial.
Using your songs
If you're picturing Jack Black from "School of Rock" belting out math lessons with his Gibson SG, you're not too far off.
Using your tunes or crafting catchy jingles to convey linguistic concepts is a pretty solid idea. The more memorable, the better—just as long as it imparts some valuable knowledge, you're on the right track.
Granted, not everyone is musically inclined. But with the abundance of music software out there, anyone can string together some chords and whip up a fun little tune about English language quirks. So, why not give it a shot?
Encouraging students to write lyrics
Now, this concept might seem a bit out there, but bear with me.
Think back to your early English classes in primary or elementary school. Remember when you were asked to write a poem or a short story? Well, how different is it really from crafting song lyrics? Choose a song that your students are likely familiar with and challenge them to get creative.
Granted, this might be daunting for some students, especially those who are more anxious. But fear not, we're not suggesting a classroom karaoke session. Instead, consider making it a homework assignment or an in-class activity.
Most popular songs follow a similar structure: verses, a bridge, and a chorus. So, why not select a simple song template (apologies to any Grateful Dead or Tool fans out there) and encourage students to use their vocabulary to compose some lyrics?
This exercise can be particularly beneficial for learning sentence flow and discovering rhyming words in a foreign language. In the long run, it can greatly aid in vocabulary retention. Instead of struggling to recall a word or phrase, a student might just remember it from the lyrics they penned.
At worst, you've got your students attempting to write verses in another language. And really, that can't be all that bad.
Playing music in the classroom
If none of the previous choices seem suitable or enticing enough, there's a fallback option: incorporating music into the classroom.
Background music can be quite beneficial, enhancing classroom performance. A study conducted in 2022 at California State University explored the impact of background music on classroom performance. The findings revealed that when students were surveyed about whether music aided their productivity, every single one responded affirmatively, stating that it either always or sometimes helped. Music in the classroom can positively influence attention and, in some instances, aid in maintaining focus and reducing disruptive behavior.
Moreover, music can work on a subconscious level. Playing English-language music in the classroom while students are engaged in tasks can expose them to phrases and words they may not encounter elsewhere.
The selection of music doesn't necessarily need to be meticulously chosen. Instead, you can introduce certain artists, themes, and phrases while students are concentrating on other assignments.
Let's be honest—it's also an excellent excuse to enjoy the music you like while working! However, ensure that the music chosen is age-appropriate and offers some educational value beyond mere enjoyment.
We're not suggesting that every teacher needs to distinguish between their minor and major scales, their pentatonic and chromatic scales, or their Mozart and Mariah Carey. However, for those TEFL teachers with a musical inclination, there's cause for celebration: merging music with language teaching brings numerous benefits!
Whether it's encouraging students to craft lyrics or simply incorporating background music into lessons, music serves as a powerful tool for conveying language concepts, including puns, metaphors, general wordplay, and sentence structure.
So, whether you're skilled at playing the triangle or simply have insights to share about song lyrics, consider integrating music into your TEFL classes!
