Purposes of Using Songs and Poetry in Malaysian ESL Classroom

Daniel Koh Izzatty Izhar Tee Shu Min

 Songs and poems play an important role in the development of young children learning a second language. A testament to this is the frequency with which songs and poems are used in English language classroom all over the world. Songs and poems can help learners improve their listening skills and pronunciation, and how they can apply correct moral values in daily life.

Purposes
Intra and inter personal development Linguistic development Aesthetic development Cultural considerations Language learning potentials Moral values

Moral Values
Nowadays , character building was given more emphasis in schools and at home. Qualities like honesty, filial piety, kindness, courage and others were instilled in students from young through short poems, nursery rhythm and some songs. In analyzing the qualities of the characters in the stories and poems, students also develop their moral values and emotions as well.

 Poems and songs will contain lots of moral values to help childrens development in the social aspect. Children love to move around actively and attract to interesting things. Songs and poems will definitely become the most suitable tools to teach the children about moral values indirectly.

 Moral values can be taught in an indirectly way by using poems and songs. Persona and poet will express their feelings by using different kinds of values in their songs and poems which can reinforce the childrens moral development since small.

 These personal traits , properly nurtured, help in a child 's effective and social development and will shape him into an integrated and well balanced individual. Teachers must influence the children with correct moral values by using the songs and poems which are more interesting.

Examples of Moral Values

Family Friendships Love Bravery Honesty Loyalty Respect

Moral Values in Different Genres

Ballad-love, respect, family Epic poem-bravery, loyalty Narrative poem-friendship, trustworthy Dramatic poem-peaceful attributes, acceptance Lullabies-love, family Folk songs-respect, unity, tolerance.

How to use Songs and Poetry in Teaching Moral Values

Children love activities and new things. Children will prefer more towards an interesting classroom which full of music and lyrics. Teachers can involve the children or young learners by using correct poems and songs which contain moral values.

Activities
Sing aloud Dramatise the poem or song Role play Dialogue Jazz chant Reader theatre

Sample of Poem
Strange Meeting by Wilfred Olsen -It is an epic poem which describes about a war. -This poem full of values of bravery, courage and adventure -The persona had been in a terrible war and he respects his enemies as well during the war.

Strange Meeting by Wilfred Olsen

It seemed that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined. Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned, Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred. Then ,as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition in fixed eyes, Lifting distressful hands, as if to bless. And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall, By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell. With a thousand pains that vision's face was grained; Yet no blood reached there from the upper ground, And no guns thumped, or down the flues made moan. 'Strange friend,' I said, 'here is no cause to mourn.' 'None,' said that other, 'save the undone years, The hopelessness. Whatever hope is yours, Was my life also; I went hunting wild After the wildest beauty in the world, Which lies not calm in eyes, or braided hair, But mocks the steady running of the hour, And if it grieves, grieves richlier than here. For by my glee might many men have laughed, And of my weeping something had been left, Which must die now. I mean the truth untold, The pity of war, the pity war distilled. Now men will go content with what we spoiled, Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled. They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress. None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress. Courage was mine, and I had mystery, Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery: To miss the march of this retreating world Into vain citadels that are not walled. Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels, I would go up and wash them from sweet wells, Even with truths that lie too deep for taint. I would have poured my spirit without stint But not through wounds; not on the cess of war. Foreheads of men have bled where no wounds were. I am the enemy you killed, my friend. I knew you in this dark: for so you frowned Yesterday through me as you jabbed and killed. I parried; but my hands were loath and cold. Let us sleep now...'

 Courage was mine, and I had mystery, Wisdom was mine, and I had mastery: To miss the march of this retreating world Into vain citadels that are not walled. Then, when much blood had clogged their chariot-wheels.

 The stanza above had shown how the persona fights for the war. Values of bravery and courage had been showed in the poem to let the readers know how the persona overcomes his challenges by his own bravery and courage. Young learners will be able to be influenced by the feelings and values of bravery and apply it during their daily life.

Samples of Song
Seasons in the sun by Westlife It is a blue pops song which expressed the feeling towards the family and friends around the persona It had expressed the importance of the family and friendship as well.

Goodbye to you my trusted friend We've known each other since we were nine or ten Together we've climbed hills and trees Learned of love and ABC's Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

 Goodbye Papa please pray for me I was the black sheep of the family You tried to teach me right from wrong Too much wine and too much song Wonder how I got along

 From the two stanzas above, we can see that the bond of family and friends in the life of the persona. Young learners can able to observe the values of the persona from the lyrics of the songs and practice them in life. They will able to interact with families and friends nicely by applying the values of family and friendship.