USING MUSIC IN CLASS

As we know, using music in order to teach our students is really effective. Not just because it’s fun and everybody loves listening to music, but also because they are interested on discovering what are the lyrics of the song they have been listening many times on the radio, mp3 players, and cell phones and so on. You can use music to teach them vocabulary, tenses like Present simple, present continuous, past tense, present perfect and etc. Here I have found benefits, techniques, activities and tips you should know to use music in class.

Benefits of using Music

*improves concentration

*improves memory

*brings a sense of community to a group

*motivates learning

*relaxes people who are overwhelmed or stressed

*makes learning fun

*helps people absorb material

Techniques for Using Music with Learners

*introduce a new theme or topic (Christmas/colours/feelings)

*break the ice in a class where students don't know each other or are having difficulty communicating

*change the mood (liven things up or calm things down)

*teach and build vocabulary and idioms

*review material (background music improves memory)

*teach pronunciation and intonation

*teach songs and rhymes about difficult grammar and spelling rules that need to be memorized ("i before e", irregular verbs, phrasal verbs)

*teach reading comprehension

*inspire a class discussion

Suggested Activities

*Use background music such as classical, Celtic music or natural sounds to *inspire creativity

*Teach your national anthem

*Teach a song that uses slang expressions ("I heard it through the Grape Vine")

*Teach a song that uses a new tense you have introduced

*Add variety to your reading comprehension lesson. Students can read lyrics      and search for main idea, theme, details.

*Teach Christmas vocabulary through traditional carols

*Write or choose a classroom theme song

*Create (or use already prepared lessons) cloze exercises using popular song lyrics

*Create variations to familiar songs by making them personal for your class members or your lesson

*Have "lyp sync" contests. Allow students to choose their own songs. A little competition goes a long way in the classroom. Have groups explain the lyrics of their song before or after they perform.

Tips for Using Music Effectively

*When teaching students a song, it is a good idea to introduce an instrumental version first (If an instrumental version is not available, play the song softly in the background while they are working on something or hum the melody before introducing the lyrics). If students become familiar with the sound of the music first, they will be more likely to understand the words.

*Make a vocabulary list ahead of time. Go over the words once before you introduce the song.

*Expose students to a certain song many days in a row. Within a few days, students will not be able to get the song out of their head!

*Choose interactive songs whenever possible. Adding actions enhances language acquisition and memory.

*Have soft or upbeat music playing before class to encourage a positive atmosphere. Turning the music off is a great way to signal to a large class that it is time to begin.

FOR  EXAMPLE:

A song called LEMON TREE sung by the fools  garden is a good song to teach present continious to our  students.

STAGE	PROCEDURE	TASKS	INTERACTION	AIMS	TIME
1	·         I’m going to start the activity by asking what kind of music does students like. ·         Talk about the music I like and present, the fool’s garden band.	·         To think what kind of music do they like and answer. ·         Know a little about the band.	T   à Ss	·         Students will get involved with the topic about the kind of music they like to listen.	5 minutes
2	·         Ask students what do they think are going to do. ·         Give students the correct instructions about the activity. ·         Play the song twice. ·         Complete the blanks.	·         Listen to the instructions, ·         Listen  and complete the blanks	T   àSs	·         Learners will develop their listening skill by listening for specific details. ·         Recognize present continuous.	9            minutes
3	·         Form pairs and check their answers. ·         Ask students to go to the board and complete the sequence. ·         Check if the answers are correct.	·         To check with a partner their answers. ·         To complete the activity on the board.	Ss àSs	·         Students will be able to complete the song and compare their answers with a partner.	8 minutes

Fool's Garden - Lemon tree

Fool's Garden - Lemon tree

I’m (1) ______ here in the boring room

It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon

I’m (2) ______ my time

I got nothing to do

I’m (3) ______ around

I’m (4) ______for you

But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I'm (5) _____ around in my car

I'm driving too fast

I'm driving too far

I'd like to change my point of view

I feel so lonely

I’m (6) _____ for you

But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky

And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree

I'm (7) _____ my head up and down

I'm turning turning turning turning turning around

And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I’m (8) _____ here

I miss the power

I'd like to go out (9) ______a shower

But there's a heavy cloud inside my head

I feel so tired

Put myself into bed

While nothing ever happens and I wonder

Isolation is not good for me

Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree

I’m (10) _____ around in the desert of joy

Baby anyhow I'll get another toy

And everything will happen and you wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me about the blue blue sky

And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I'm (11) _____ my head up and down

I'm turning turning turning turning turning around

And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree

And I wonder, wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky

And all that I can see, and all that I can see, and all that I can see

Is just a yellow lemon-tree

Fool's Garden - Lemon tree (completed)

I’m (1) sitting here in the boring room

It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon

I’m (2) wasting my time

I got nothing to do

I’m (3) hanging around

I’m (4) waiting for you

But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I'm (5) driving around in my car

I'm driving too fast

I'm driving too far

I'd like to change my point of view

I feel so lonely

I’m (6) waiting for you

But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky

And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree

I'm (7) turning my head up and down

I'm turning turning turning turning turning around

And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I’m (8) sitting here

I miss the power

I'd like to go out (9) taking a shower

But there's a heavy cloud inside my head

I feel so tired

Put myself into bed

While nothing ever happens and I wonder

Isolation is not good for me

Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree

I’m (10) stepping around in the desert of joy

Baby anyhow I'll get another toy

And everything will happen and you wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me about the blue blue sky

And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I'm (11) turning my head up and down

I'm turning turning turning turning turning around

And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree

And I wonder, wonder

I wonder how

I wonder why

Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky

And all that I can see, and all that I can see, and all that I can see

Is just a yellow lemon-tree





 REFLECTION  :

In my opinion, teaching English with songs is really useful to teach grammar, vocabulary and more to our students and also it’s important if we want to keep our students involved with the language with new creative activities in order to not bore them with the typical activities a teacher does in class.