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Songs in the Classroom

Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:20 am
by Bann_Me
So educators of the profit fodder.

what do you think??

I remember when I was a kid I absolutely hated singing songs.

I would deliberatly make up my own words to piss off the teacher.

But these asian kids seem to love singing.. Even though i do not do songs in the classroom.

only if they happen naturally...

I belive that most songs are useless.... Some teachers think and parents think that just beause the kid can repeat some words like some Parrot monkey they know what they are singing about.

But the reality is they do not know anything. they are just talking machine monkeys....................

So what do guys think????

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:15 am
by Barry3000
Oh joy! Oh bliss! I agree wholeheartedly with you... I feel that it is a waste of time and effort to teach songs unless the child has a full grasp of every word they are saying... I Never teach and will never teach songs, bu the reasnthey do is as you say the school wants to see the parents to see their kids mouthing english words.

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:09 pm
by Aussie_Graham
Barry3000 wrote:Oh joy! Oh bliss! I agree wholeheartedly with you... I feel that it is a waste of time and effort to teach songs unless the child has a full grasp of every word they are saying...
Two years ago in a Senior Middle School, the students were always "at me" to let them sing some English songs. I relented and found out a few songs they liked and printed the words. I had the music on a Karaoke program on my lap top and took it to the classroom, and handed out the pages.

They were all very excited ... then I "dropped the bomb-shell" that they would not get to sing a word until they pulled the song apart line by line and told me what it meant. Next lesson we spent going over the pronunciation of all the words they had trouble with. Finally on the third lesson I started the music and let them sing. I often did the same with other classes, as well as in my next position in a University Conversation class.

The song they loved the most was "Yesterday Once More" by Karen and Richard Carpenter.

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:21 pm
by Barry3000
please pass me the bucket whilst I VOMIT! one of the crappiest songs of all time.

what I do in my English class is to teach them how to SPEAK... teaching kids to sings songs is the easiest gig in the world. As for teaching University students the same, well, what kind of teacher are you? shoudn't they be learning proper English? How about teaching them The wheels on the bus go round and round if they are Engineering students or London bridge is falling down if architecture students? bet you laugh all the way to the bank don't you?

Songs are welcome when you have a purpose

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:57 am
by MariaL
It all depends on the level of your students. For primary/nursery school pupils, to whom English is a second language, songs and rhymes are a very good tool to help them learn the new sounds and words.
Of course they just start like parrots as they repeat the words they hear, but don't we all do it? When we start talking we also repeat what our parents say. Thank God we have that will to communicate.

As for my adults and trainees, I prefer Jazz or Classical Music with no words at all.

When you want a grammar structure to be memorized songs may help you. Why don't you choose Coldplay, for instance? Diana Krall?
You can also choose Pink's "Family Portrait" when it comes to discussing family and social issues.

They only sing if they like. They can listen for the pleasure of doing so but, you might as well pick up songs for a purpose. :wink:

Further Reading: http://www.etprofessional.com/articles/songs.pdf

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:05 am
by Barry3000
or how about REM "sidewinder sleeps tonight" or the spice gilrs "Wannabe" or maybe even some of the old Bob Dylan songs it'll help their listening skills and pronunciation too.

Music... not just songs

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:10 am
by MariaL
Just how important has music been in your life?

How was is used in your own classes as a student?

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:25 am
by moonchild7903
I disagree that songs are useless. While the students might not understand the words of the song and end up parroting you, it will help them get used to the sounds of the language you're teaching. Longer notes will also train them to enunciate and be aware of the shape of the mouth as they articulate the words. I say songs serve as good pronunciation practice. Songs are invaluable for second language learning because repeated lyrics may help you target vocabulary as well. For more advanced students, songs may serve as literature and you can help them develop their pragmatic competence by teaching them an idiomatic expression or two. I can't stress the point too strongly... songs are good!

Second, Asians love to sing! Singing to Asians is like Dancing to the Latinos and Spanish. In the second language classroom, it's important to lower a students' affective filters and there's no better way to do that for Asians than to use up a few minutes of classtime to learn how to sing an English song.

Of course, all that said, whether or not you choose to use songs in class depends on your comfort level as the teacher. If you don't see the value in it, then don't use it because your attitude towards the activities you use will affect your quality.

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 6:20 am
by Barry3000
than to use up a few minutes of classtime to learn how to sing an English song.

Here we are, the real truth of the matter... use up is another way of saying "waste some time" when they could be learning something uselful and helpful in their life unless they plan to become a bar or nightclub singer.


like th guy earlier who said it wasn't until the third lesson they got to sing it with the music... so they had three wasted lessons then in my book.

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:10 am
by moonchild7903
Lowering a students' affective filters and increasing ego permeability hardly constitutes a "waste of time."

Anyway, I did say earlier that a teacher should use whatever they're comfortable with inside their own classroom. If songs don't work for you, then don't use songs. But don't be too quick judge other teachers as people who waste time simply because they have a different approach.

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:19 am
by Barry3000
My point is whats the point? teach them usable english or just sing a song? ok teach then my heart will go on or yesterday once more, how much will that help them if they A) want to have conversation with a foreigner or be go to an English speaking country... yes? no? or am I taking English teaching too seriously?

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:21 am
by Barry3000
I notice the originator of this argument is suspiciously silent...

Further Reading

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 4:21 pm
by MariaL
I am sure this will help you decide on the use of songs in the classroom:
http://www.etprofessional.com/articles/songs.pdf

If your students' strengths are related to their musical intelligence why deprive them of music?

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2005 3:24 pm
by Hardhat
Sing Songs? Yes, YES and YES.

Do just a small bit of research into the profession (teaching) and you'll run into a little thing called Accelerated Learning Techniques, or the Motzart effect, or the 8 Intelligences (music is one) etc.

Music is a great icebreaker, the students love it - I'm talking mature adults with important jobs and kids alike - they love to learn Jingle Bells, etc. Sure they don't learn how to speak English, that's not the point. The point is that they focus, have fun, and are put into a mood to really learn! Sing a silly song - even the Carpenters - and the get to the business of language.

Learning a language is tough - a little fun goes a long way to make it not only easier, but more effecient. Don't just be a teacher, be a professional!

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:54 am
by Superhal
I have no problems with it, but I have no problems without it either. Imho, it's something a teacher can do to break up the monotony of the daily grind, but it's not something you should depend on in the long run.