WHAT DO PEOPLE USUALLY DO WITH SONGS OR THE TOPIC

OF SONGS IN EVERYDAY LIFE?

•Listen
•Sing, hum, whistle, tap, and snap fingers
•Sing without listening to any recording
•Talk about the music, lyrics, the singer/group, video clips
•Use songs as “background furnishing” and to make a social
environment, form a feeling of community, dance, make friends
and lovers
•Read about the production, performance, audiences of music
•Use music in dreams
•To become the personal soundtrack of our lives
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 WHY SONGS IN THE CLASSROOM?
They are enjoyable for both students and the teacher.
 They can provide practice in pronunciation, stress,
rhythm and intonation.
 To study/focus on certain grammar areas.
 To teach new vocabulary and/or structures.
To expose ss to colloquial and/or idiomatic expressions.
To give ss a different insight into the target language
culture.
 To improve general listening skills

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Disadvantages
• Indiscipline
• Lack / failure of equipment
• Some students might dislike singing
• Songs not suitable for age group / level
• Singing along of filling in blanks: boring
• Noise may disturb other classes
• Slang or incorrect language

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 CONSIDERATIONS IN CHOOSING SONGS
Vocabulary and structures that your students will need
to know.
 What language level the song is suitable for.
 The popularity of the song.
 Be sure you don’t disturb other classes.
 Don’t play the song just because you want to “kill”
time.
 Have always a task with the song.
 Try variety of activities.

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 Pointers of success when using a song

•Have a task, no passive listening

•Simple and repetitive melody
•Melody should be catchy
•It should be clear, if teacher can’t understand it, neither will the ss
•Choose songs according to ss’ likes and interests, even if the teacher is
not very fond of them.
•Use good equipment
•Do not use a song in cold blood, use a build up or a warm up first
•Vocabulary load should not be too difficult
•Colloquial language or slang is acceptable as long as it is universal or
valid.
•Never use offensive songs
•Have a follow up activity
•Do not force your ss to sing if they are reluctant, if they sing, teacher
should sing too
•Teacher should be enthusiastic
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ADVANTAGES WHEN USING THE STUDENTS’ CHOICE

Allowing them to choose gives them some

responsibility, involves them in the lessons more.
By looking at music and song critically, we can help
them to develop the means to sort out the good
from the bad.
For the teacher, it can be a good learning
experience in which the ss actually teach their songs
and music.
Handling material in this way equalizes the
encounter between ss and teachers, creating mutual
respect.
It reduces the teacher-time and work spent
searching for materials which may no have as much
appeal as those which ss themselves contribute.
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