Published in the ETAI Forum, Summer 2009
If they don't like English something's wrong
And you don't have to sing to use a song!
This article is based on the following observations –
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Songs are an excellent way to reinforce vocabulary and grammar.
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Songs are more interesting and easier to remember than text.
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Not all English teachers sing – fewer play musical instruments.
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As children get older they don't always want to sing in class.
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Children and teenagers usually enjoy listening to music even if they don't like singing.
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Israeli teenagers listen to a lot of music in English.
So how can a musically challenged English teacher use music to enrich English lessons?
Start out by presenting the song the way you would present text –
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Write the title on the board, review some words and/or discuss the theme of the song.
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Play the song for the class.
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Ask the pupils which words they recognize.
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If you want to concentrate on reading comprehension, hand out the lyrics. Another option is to hand out the lyric sheet with words missing and have them fill in the blanks.
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Play the song again.
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Discuss the song – what did they understand, what is the song about, etc.
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Write some questions on the board.
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Play the song once more, asking the pupils to listen for answers to the questions.
There is no need to actually teach the song, but after playing it a few times you will find pupils singing along with the chorus. Once they are familiar with the lyrics, it's time to divide into pairs or small groups and be creative. Ask each group to present the song in pantomime, stage a "video clip" (actual filming isn't necessary) or even choreograph a dance. You can play the song in the background while they're working. This way they will hear it a few more times without getting bored. If the song tells a story, they can put on a short play. Another option is to play a game like charades using words or phrases from the song.
How should you choose songs, and where can you find them? It makes sense to use songs that are connected to what you're teaching. The connection can be subject matter, or specific sentence structures or vocabulary. Look through your own or your children's music library, or search the internet. If you're feeling lucky, go into a site such as Lyrics on Demand -
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/ and search for the vocabulary or chunk that you're teaching, you may just find a song you know. Asking pupils to bring in songs promises more interest, but obviously you should review the lyrics carefully before using them in class. Songs that have been translated to or from Hebrew have an advantage, but try to discourage pupils from singing along in Hebrew. For younger or weaker students be sure to keep the lyrics simple. There are cds available written specifically for the EFL classroom, including my own series, English is Fun.
Remember, creativity is the key, and pupils have plenty.
