This document discusses using songs to teach English as a second language. It explains that songs are an authentic activity that motivate learning through repetition and rhythm. Songs help students learn vocabulary and grammar structures. The document provides examples of exploiting songs to reinforce grammar, teach new vocabulary, make intertextual connections between lyrics and literature, and develop listening comprehension and phonology. Teachers can choose songs based on vocabulary level and clarity of pronunciation, then use activities like questions, gap filling, and true/false to engage different listening skills.

1. USING SONGS IN
TEACHING ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE
By:
TAHIRA JAHAN
PGD.ELT

2. DISCUSSION TOPICS
Why Teach

Songs ?
How to Choose & Exploit Songs?

3. “We should not teach great
books; we should teach a love
of learning”
B.F Skinner

4. WHY TEACH SONGS
It
is an authentic activity to use songs in
teaching and learning process.

Songs are a source of motivation.

Repetition in songs enhances understanding.

5.  Rhythm
helps to understand stress and
intonation.

Songs help in learning new vocabulary.
 Songs
can be employed as a group activity and as an
activity to practice alone.

6. HOW TO SELECT AND
EXPLOIT SONGS

7. 1. FOR
REININFORCING
GRAMMAR POINTS

8. Structural Consolidation
Example:
I catch the bus to work
Sometimes I go by car
I rarely ride the bike
Because it is just too far
I get to work at 8:30
I have lunch from 1:00 till
2:00
I may leave work at 6:00
There’s always a lot to do

10. 2.For Teaching
New Vocabulary
Vocabulary according to
the Level
 The Target Lexical Items
should Recur

11. Example:
It’s Raining



Repetition
Realia
Acting
It’s raining, it’s pouring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn’t get up
in the morning.

12. Showing the Pictures of the Target Vocabulary
Raining
Snoring
Bumped

13. 3. Intertexuality
Song lyrics can corroborate literary works like
poems (in syllabus).
Songs can be referred if there is coherence
between the lyrics of poem and of the song.

14. Exploiting a Song for Intertextuality
Identifying the words that link the two
lyrics

15. Ode on Grecian Urn
My Heart will Go on
Ah, happy, happy boughs!
That cannot shed
Your leaves, no ever can
Bid the spring adieu
Forever piping songs
Forever new
Forever warm and still
To be enjoyed
Thou canst leave thy
song
Love can touch us one
time
and last for a life time
in my life will always
go on
we’ll stay forever this
way; you are safe in my
heart and my heart
will go on

16. 4. Listening Comprehension
Things to keep in mind while selecting
A song for this purpose:

Clarity of pronunciation

Low density of instrumentation

17. How to Use a Song for Listening
Comprehension
 Listening
for Gist
1.Questions could be asked
Example:
After hearing this song
 which bird is singing?
 what time is it when the bird sits on window
sill?

18. Listening for precise wording
Gap filling

sing ____ from the ___ tree.
 sing for ____
 You sit upon my_________
 Each morning when it is ____ and still.

19. Listening for Specific Information
True/False activity
Each evening when it’s calm
T/F
 You sit upon my arm
T/F
 Sing sparrow from the woodland
tree
T/F


20. 5. Using songs in Phonology
Songs have a very marked rhythm
so we can improve and correct
stress by reciting them