Using music and songs for teaching English

Teaching through music can play a really important part in the language classroom. It can change the atmosphere in the classroom within seconds.

Songs sung in English are listened to around the world and students can often feel real progress in their level of English when they can begin to sing along to the chorus or even just to be able to separate what at first seemed to be a constant stream of words!. Using music in general or focusing on particular songs are two useful choices which can be very rewarding.

Before the beginning of the class it may be worthwile to do a music survey

or questionnaire to find out what the students enjoy listening to. As much as

possible try to use music they will like. One can find that the students’

motivation levels are the determining factor in whether or not a song will work

with them. If the students really like the song and the artist they become

determined to understand. If the teacher chooses the task carefully even

lower levels will be able to get something out of working with tricky songs

where the language is way above their level of English.

Using music in the classroom doesn’t always mean listening to a song and using

the lyrics in some way. Music can be used in the classroom in a multitude of

ways. Using songs provide a valuable source of authentic language and there

are hundreds of ways to exploit them in the classroom. The internet has made

it very easy to find the lyrics of songs. A search on google with the name of

the band, the song title and the word ‘lyrics’ will bring up a selection of sites

you can use. Once you have copied and pasted the lyrics into a word document

it is quick and easy to make an effective worksheet.


See Class Activity.