Using songs in the classroom has several advantages: it helps develop language and pronunciation skills, provides natural and enjoyable repetition, and motivates and engages students. Songs build confidence as students can learn "chunks" of language. They also help develop cognitive, cultural, and social skills. When selecting songs, teachers should consider their students' level, age, classroom space, and when and how the songs will be used. Popular activities include singing, listening games, writing activities, and adapting songs for topics. Many online resources offer song suggestions.

1. Using songs in the classroom

2. Advantages
• Help to develop language & pronunciation
• Natural and enjoyable repetition
• Can use to develop all skills
• Motivating and fun
• All children can participate
• Build confidence – children can learn ‘chunks’
• Help to develop cognitive skills (eg memory)
• Good tool for teacher – managing the class and adding
variety and pace; cross-curricular topics; short, fixed time
• Develop cultural understanding
• A social shared experience

3. Think about…
• Level of your students – Is language
appropriate? Adapt language?
• Age of your students
• Space in the classroom – can students do the
song at their desk? Do they need to move?
• When to use songs: A warmer? To move from
one activity to another? Introduce new
language? Revise language? Channel energy?
To get everyone’s attention? Change mood?

4. How? Activities and tips
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/tips/using-
songs-classroom
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-
kids/using-traditional-songs
• http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/language-
assistant/primary-tips/using-songs

5. Favourite and new activities
• Children suggesting/changing lyrics eg animals, parts of the
body (eg Pinocchio)
• Listening for words and raising hand when hearing them
(eg I can sing a rainbow)
• Performing actions (eg Incy Wincy Spider)
• Writing activities: write a new verse (eg Head, Shoulders,
Knees and Toes); order sentences
• Singing songs quickly/slowly
• Missing out words
• Karaoke
• Singing competitions
• Making song books

6. Finding songs
• Topic internet searches (eg parts of the body:
http://pinterest.com/simplesongs/teach-parts-
of-the-body/
• Song websites:
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/son
gs
• http://www.supersimplelearning.com/songs/
• BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/early
learning/nurserysongs/A-E/big_ship_sails

7. More songs!
• Alice the Camel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpoqrvTL
c8M
• Five little speckled frogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPmtaH
mL4g
• Five little monkeys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9mI3K8
UiI

8. Adapting songs
• Make simpler for lower language levels
• Change to fit with a particular topic (eg 10
little aeroplanes can become 10 little
elephants…)
• http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/s
ongs/ten-little-aeroplanes
• Blog!
http://sonjaenglish.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/t
en-little-aeroplanes.html

9. One song – many uses!
• Alice the camel
• Make a song book – students make a page for
the camel with eg 5 humps, 4 humps…
• Introducing topic of the desert
• Writing – amazing facts about camels
• Where do camels live? Using maps…
• Learning about animals adapting to different
habitats (eg the desert)

10. Pop songs for older children
• Here is a presentation from IATEFL conference
about exploiting pop songs:
http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2010/sessions/
2010-04-10/useful-exploitation-pop-songs-
classroom
• A fantastic songs resource with free
worksheets and lesson ideas (need to register
but free – note for older learners):
http://www.tuneintoenglish.com/?p=833

11. Your favourite pop songs
• Some examples of songs used for upper primary to teach about culture,
vocabulary and music styles. Mariachu thinks about: whether the songs have a
moral lesson, lyrics that can apply to their own lives…
• Country: "The Human Race“ by Randy Travis
• R&B: "Video" by India Arie
• Reggae: ”Turn your Light down Low" by Bob Marley & Lauryn Hill
• POP: "We are the World" by USA for Africa
• Soul: "Ain´t no Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
• Soul: "You Gotta Be" by Patty Austin
• R&B: "Recipe for Love" by Harry Connick Jr.
• Country: " Country Roads" by J. Denver
• POP: " Yellow Submarine" by Beatles
• http://www.tuneintoenglish.com/yellowsubmarine.pdf
• POP: " You´ve Got a Friend" by James Taylor

12. Articles and books
• The Primary English Teacher’s Guide by
Brewster, Ellis, Girard (Penguin English, 2002):
Chapter 12