Utilizing Music and Songs to Promote Student Engagement in ESL Classrooms

What is music?

The art of combining sounds in a time sequence according to the laws of harmony, melody and rhythm, or of producing them with musical instruments.

Importance of including music in the learning process

The importance of using music and songs in language teaching can be further illustrated by the close relationship between music and language, Gardner (2011)

Techniques for Using Music with L2 Learners

Introduce a new theme or topic

Teach and build vocabulary and idioms

Teach pronunciation and intonation

Teach reading comprehension

Inspire a class discussion

Integrating Music and Songs in ELT

Selecting Music and Songs

Purpose of the Song

The Age and Proficiency Level of the Students

Language Content and Quality of the Song

Musical Preferences of the Students and the Teacher

Classroom Opportunities

Three Stages of a Song

Pre-listening stage

▪ Warm-up questions
▪ Presentation of key
vocabulary, phrases or
grammar structures

While-listening stage

▪ Ordering words,
▪ Listening for detail
▪ Listening for gist
▪ Matching

Post-listening stage

▪ Singing/chanting
▪ Discuss the message of the
song
▪ Write a summary of the
story told in the song
▪ Read an article related to
the topic of the song

Creative Music Activities

Some student-centered music activities that can stimulate students’ creativity, while also developing their language skills

Free-write/free-draw to the music

Writing alternative verses of lyrics

Planning (and filming) a music video

Preparing a lyric video

Presenting on a musician or music genre

Benefits of including music in ESL classrooms

• Language skills
• Improve test results
• Self-esteem
• Listening skills
• Mathematical skills
• It makes the brain works harder
• Relieve the stress
• Change moods

Music apps in the classroom

Google play music

iTunes

Shazam.

Discovr

LyricsTraining