TEACHING ENGLISH USING SONGS

(FOR YOUNG LEARNERS)

BY: MIFTAH ISKANDAR

Since English has become an international language, most of people learn English. The
importance of English as an International language has made people learn English as early as possible. In
Indonesia, English is taught starting in Junior High School. Even some Elementary Schools made English
as local content. This is supported by the fact that the optimum age for children to learn a foreign
language is when they are still in very young age. This phenomenon has made teaching English for young
learners become increasingly famous. The definition of young learners is children between the ages of
five years old to twelve years old (Rixon, 1999). Moreover, the definition of young learners is mainly
based on the years spent in the primary or elementary stages of formal education.

One of the big problems in teaching English for young learners is maintaining learners’ interest
throughout classroom lessons. Consequently, most of English teachers often have to be very creative in
choosing the teaching and learning techniques, especially in teaching English for young learners. In
teaching young learners is not like teaching adults. Since children like to play and have fun, the teaching
and learning process should be suited with the nature of children themselves.

One of the forms of fun activities for children is through music. What makes music such a great
teaching tools is its universal appeal, connecting all cultures and language. This makes it one of the best
and most motivating resources in the classroom, and songs are the common form of music that children
know. Songs are great for many reasons. When the songs are introduced; the first skill that children
learn is listening skill. Instead of doing usual listening comprehension out of the course of the books,
listening to the song have more variety. The children may focus on activities which will practice the skills
of listening. The activities include detailed listening comprehension, listening for summarizing or writing,
listening to isolated vocabulary and listening for word order (Grifee, 1992). The melodies help the words
stick into children’s head. The rhythm of the songs helps the children speak in natural flow. Griffe
(1993) also states that the children practice saying the words in the same way they sing the songs. The
children can repeat the words in rhythmic word groups. After singing a song, they would attempt to
sing it. Moreover, since the words in refrain are repeated several times, they are easily memorized.

Choosing the suitable song for young learners should be concern with the speed of the song.
Suwartono (2010) suggests listening to slow song because it is easier to understand. It is reasonable for
choosing slow song for young learners because slow song will easy to listen and easy to imitated by
children.

Here are some steps in teaching and learning English by songs:

1. Listen to the song without lyric.

2. Ask some questions about the title.
3. Listen to the song, this time with lyric (could be repeated twice)
4. Focus on grammar or verb tense.
5. Focus on vocabulary, idioms and expressions
6. Built in some actions and activities, for example, when the song is “I brush my teeth”, than
children can do the action while listening to the song.

Through songs, the children can enhance their language skills, especially listening. The activity is not only
leading them to the fun activity, but also the skills’ development in learning English.
Refferences.

Dixxie, D. (2011). Teaching Engliah using Songs (for young learners).

http://duniadixie.blogspot.com/2011/12/teaching-english-using-songs-for-young.html

Grifee, Dale T. (1992). Songs in action. UK: Prentice Hall

Richelson, M. (2010). Teaching young learners with songs.

http://www.teachingvillage.org/2010/03/24/teaching-young-learners-with-songs/

Rixon, Shelagh. (1999). Young learners of English: some research perspective. London Longman

Suwartono, T. (2010). Fun ways in Learning English. Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto