SONGS: FOOD OF LOVE OR MEAL FOR LANGUAGE?

Abstract

Songs cover a wide range and are prevalent in the kindergarten and primary years. However, their use decreases in secondary schools, due to constraints of time and the preoccupation to complete the syllabus. Sourcing for the right materials is another deterrent. Songs are a bountiful resource of learning in classrooms, since they address various elements. The primary use is to reinforce the language skill of listening, whereby songs can be utilized in listening tests. Besides that, language items, such as grammar, phonology and vocabulary improve due to the repetitive, rhyming patterns inherent in songs. Songs increase learners’ motivation and impart universal values, transcending the barriers of race, religion, creed or colour. With contextualization, a lot of fun can be injected into learning. Learners with Musical Intelligence can also accrue a lot of benefits. Listening to the radio is determined as the most frequently employed out-of-class learning strategy. The exposure to songs in class encourages students to extend learning beyond the classroom in a fun way. Through the paradox of work and play, student-teacher rapport and the overall class dynamics improve tremendously, provided the lesson is well prepared and focused.