Using songs & rhythm in the language classroom

Using songs & rhythm in the language classroom

Rhythm, repetition, melody and songs can all aid memory and help to remember new words. Using this technique can be real fun especially for young learners. Most songs are TPR songs – we demonstrate the meaning with gesture. Children memorise what the song means by repeating it many times.
Chants – kind of mini rhyme; chants make children repeat vocabulary and improve pronunciation; can be used as reinforcement of vocabulary which was introduced.
If children are literate the teacher can give them the lyrics first – read & repeat.
If children are illiterate – children listen to the song and do the gesture ”copying” the teacher.
When children know the words of the song we can do many variations, for example omit some words and show only gesture while singing the song, or invent which words could be shown using gesture.

TPR songs:
- have repetitive language,
- are educational,
- are adapted to the level of children.
By older children we can use listening exercises: gap-filling, error correction (listening for specific information).

Advantages of using songs:
- motivating,
- enjoyable way of learning; it isn’t boring,
- real language,
- practicing pronunciation,
- reinforcement of already known vocabulary,
- children are involved – sing, show gesture,
- sometimes it could be a basis for grammar learning,
- usually real material based,
- close to natural environment language acquisition,
- different classroom organization & grouping.