IDIOM OF THE WEEK!!!

MUSIC AND THE BRAIN

This is a nice web page with different songs and activities!!!

                          ( If you want to print the activities, you have to log in)

 

                 http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/songs

Music in the ESL Classroom

Benefits of using Music in the Classroom

Have you ever heard of anyone who doesn't like music? Some people may not like art, dancing, reading, or movies, but almost everyone likes one kind of music or another. Most people like many different kinds of music. Studies have shown that 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

"Music stabilizes mental, physical and emotional rhythms to attain a state of deep concentration and focus in which large amounts of content information can be processed and learned." Chris Brewer, Music and Learning.

Techniques for Using Music with L2 Learners

There are a variety of different ways to use music in the classroom. Some teachers prefer to use background music and others use music lyrics as the basis of a lesson. Music can be used to:

• 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
• teach listening for details and gist

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.