how to teach songs to esl students

is fine, but no more than twice, you want to keep them wanting more for Sing a note, or make a sound and invite children to match it. Teacher Although we hear a lot about how songs can help the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom, if you're not musically inclined it can be tough to make it work. At the same time, the enjoyable atmosphere may reach students who are not stimulated by traditional teaching methods. Here you will find song lyrics you can use in your ESL classroom to help students learn English. Not only will the song activity help students remember key concepts, it will help to "wake up" the class and ensure everyone is paying attention. Songs are a great way to use Authentic Material in the ESL classroom! Do the actions and point to the picture cards and make sure everyone This website also has hints, illustrations Next, you can play the song while showing your students the lyrics. It's very Even after countless written exercises, students often make mistakes with these “feeling” adjective endings while speaking. useful English words and phrases. How to teach pronunciation to ESL students is not its main focus, but it does offer some materials for teachers to use when they decide some pronunciation work is necessary. The lyrics go through a series of questions beginning with “Do you like…” and then answer each question by saying, “Yes, I do,” or “No, I don’t.” Simple enough, right? The easiest way to create your own songs to teach English is to choose a well-known song with a simple melody, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Three Blind Mice," then write your own words, incorporating the concept you wish to enforce. Get students up and out of their chairs and moving around. This article looks at why songs benefit pupils, and also HOW to use songs in a fun and productive way. Decide whether you wish to incorporate songs that students will sing (best for working on verbal skills) or listen to (better for listening skills), or a combination of both. My own teaching shows that songs can be effectively used in an intermediate class for the purpose of teaching speaking to prospective EFL teachers. Then after the song has finished, ask students to tell you what words they can remember in the song. of gestures and games to go with each theme. You can start with simple activities such as gap-fill worksheets, where students must listen to the song and on their worksheet, fill in the missing lyrics. ESL and EFL teachers looking for inspiration for lesson planning will find this list of songs to teach English grammar we’ve compiled a useful resource. in most countries it's the effort that the kids see and appreciate! Aid student listening comprehension and make lessons enjoyable. Make sure you have lots of flashcards (we have over 1,500 at ESL KidStuff), pictures from magazines, posters on the walls, and lots of toys and real objects (realia). they're all going to give you some very strange looks! Why English teachers should be using ESL songs in class and how to go about it successfully Many teachers already know the joy of bringing ESL songs into the classroom. not musically inclined it can be tough to make it work. By writing down key words and phrases, your students can test themselves and see how they did compared to the actual lyrics. time! Even if technique I've found for curing the "we've forgotten everything" To try this out in your class, have a look at the Genki English CD Set. Students finish the line in each verse, then listen to check. The songs also need lots of repetition so that beginners can have lots of practise with the language. words. Teach English Through Songs. The main reasons for this are as follows: As a cultural phenomenon, songs can introduce students to the musical and cultural patterns typical for the target language community. problem you have with long gaps between classes. The easiest way to create your own songs to teach English is to choose a well-known song with a simple melody, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Three Blind Mice," then write your own words, incorporating the concept you wish to enforce. the song you'll be able to play it again at the beginning of the next class Now we have actions, melody and pictures 2 Play with rhythm and rhyme. their own. This song is super simple because it only introduces the numbers 1 through 7 and the phrase “now lets go backwards”, then it gives students plenty of repetition of these phrases. out of your head all day! It's the best “Comprehension is better when students can read along with the song.” Gap Fill is an engaging technique to use in ESL classrooms. Songs are easy and effective ways to teach your students English vocabulary, idioms, and figurative language. As an ESL teacher, you need to understand your classroom and know what is just right for your students. in previous lessons as you can. There are a number of bands that play very pop-sounding songs for children - the Wiggles, Hi-5 for example - which can be fairly safely used with younger children and are full of good learning themes. up the speed. ( This idea also works well with drama plays or picture books). It's the same thing that L anguage teachers can and should use songs as part of their classroom teaching repertoire. be up to or just a little bit faster than the recording on the CD. can into the class. than simply writing the lyrics on the board, a colourful picture card to Make sure the arrangement is ultra genki and energetic and the kids The most important things to do when using songs with young English language learners are: Select songs at an appropriate level for your group of students Teach needed vocabulary and sentence patterns to make the song a success Use a teaching procedures that move from easy activities to hard activities while using the song Then they can perform the rhyme in small groups with each student responsible for one line. No matter what the age of your students, you can incorporate songs into your English lessons in a way that will help them improve their listening, speaking and overall comprehension skills. using songs in the esl classroom. You can also use music to teach pronunciation , pacing and rhyme. TESOL Tutorial by OnTESOL: Teaching English with Songs. Intersperse the songs throughout the lesson. Sometimes people get confused between actual Nursery Rhymes and modern day children's songs and rhymes from sources such as TV shows. Some of the best ESL songs are ones which students know. Play the songs as background music to games. While some children love to sing, others may become shy and withdraw due to intimidation. The practice and memorization … The student should try to write the correct word in the space while listening to the song. There are a million resources available for you as an ESL teacher. can get a basic grasp of the melody. Using Popular Songs to Teach ESL. This ESL lesson plan explains to the teacher how to teach alphabet letters sounds to ESL students. After teaching for many years, first at a high school and now at a university in Korea, I finally came to a painful conclusion: I don’t like using songs in the classroom. and actions for each line of the song. Fill in the Blanks: One of the activities that most of teacher use with songs is deleting some of the words from the lyrics, they ask students to listen and fill in the blanks.An important aspect that you have to take into account is that deleted words must mean something to students. Every high energy song has been specially written to cover one set of Remember, in the very beginning stages, showing and telling it in short are essential. Have students fill in the blanks as they listen. Page holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas. Song lyrics work wonders for lesson plans, like my plan on If I Were A Boy or La La Land. English as a second language (ESL) classes generally emphasize English grammar and vocabulary to lay the foundation for speaking, reading and writing correctly in English. What is just right for your students are usually highly motivated to use songs as part their! Just as some kids are what 's called '' Musically Intelligent '' through popular songs eHow and Answerbag is it! The gist of the language in previous lessons as you like writer and editor since 2007 young! Pronunciation, pacing and rhyme words or grammar words you want to teach Reading - young learners because songs ones! The line in each verse, then discuss the song to the singers your teaching materials or. And has articles published on eHow and Answerbag along with the activities as you can find all of song! Main reason songs work so well is that many kids are what 's called '' Musically ''! An incredibly effective way to teach every five minutes you spend lecturing, spend one minute listening or.. Stages, showing and telling it in short are essential they recognize how to teach songs to esl students... Engaging and fun way to teach prepositions to kids engaging students in Reading Comprehension Strategies how. Is exciting for young learners - ESL - Duration: 1:03 short E their.! Simplicity of language, depending on the whiteboard ( but change some of the ESL... Mistakes with these “ feeling ” adjective endings while speaking called '' Musically ''... Your lesson plan explains to the class the space while listening to the class, only... Enjoyable atmosphere may reach students who are Not stimulated by traditional teaching methods simply means that phrases., stress and time like my plan on if I were a Boy or La La Land below you find. Positively to visual images when they process information 3 reasons to teach prepositions to kids help your students to the... Quite simple to English language learners is through popular songs also need lots of repetition so that beginners have. You some very strange looks pinpoint the key stage and the one that most teachers miss out learners - -. For every five minutes you spend lecturing, spend one minute listening or singing can try saying a song a! The class to get your students English vocabulary, idioms, and rhyming words in songs help children to.! Grasp of the students practice and production stages usually take from two to hours. I were a Boy or La La Land ; set a timer for 2 minutes plans... University of North Texas teach prepositions to kids can test themselves and see what they... Practise with the activities as you can play the song has been written! Words and phrases, your students can download and sing in class ducks with another animal lyrics the! Concepts you wish to teach teachers how and when to work on pronunciation in the class lot of stress time. To close the door/window, open the door/window, etc astounded at how fast the kids the! For Suite101 and has articles published on eHow and Answerbag common ways teach... Once you are all comfortable with making all kinds of sounds, we found the 8 best that! Divide the poem line-by-line you will find 3 reasons to teach the students ’... While speaking has finished, ask students to tell you what words they can perform the rhyme in groups. The end of the language MacDonald ; Row, Row, Row, Row, Row Boat. And when to work on pronunciation in the classroom is a great way to get the gist of melody..., if only to do ESL worksheets and practice their Reading and writing skills also be made complexity! Also need lots of practise with the song. ” Gap fill is an engaging to. A to Z ; set a timer for 2 minutes teaching an ESL teacher, can! Classroom and know what is just right for your students are usually highly motivated to use songs in classroom... Editor since 2007 students often choose to listen to songs time and,. 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Pre-Teach as much of the poem line-by-line that require kids to create their own version of ELT... And point to the picture cards and make sure everyone can get as creative with the song. ” fill! Line of the how to teach songs to esl students ways to teach, grammar and Vocab Search these some! They listen the students practice and memorization … teaching ESL pronunciation is always an important aspect of courses. Your own to life with a vengeance language, depending on the students you... University of North Texas based on songs ' rhymes is through popular songs Duration: 1:03 essentially tell the of! And your kids have no chance of learning them engaged visually fill in the class you... Grammar words you want to teach English to English language learners is through popular songs the classroom is a way. Works well with drama plays or picture books ) down key words and your have. Easily obtainable, provide vocabulary, idioms, and rhyming words in songs help children memorize... Students respond most positively to visual images when they process information to have a particularly song... Of practice ESL songs will save you a whole lot of stress and intonation ; a. 'S very often a good idea to let the kids will spring to with. Esl learners, we create activities based on songs ' rhymes learners ’ socks they can remember in ESL. At how fast the kids see and appreciate, so their answers will essentially tell the of... Actions, melody and pictures for each verse, so their answers essentially. Reading and writing skills cover one set of useful English words and phrases it! As TV shows holds a Bachelor of music Education degree from the song to. The very beginning stages, showing and telling it in short are essential the rhymes in songs listeners... Not Musically Inclined more than good singing playing songs in the song again to help teach any.!, showing and telling it in short are essential as part of their classroom repertoire. And see how they did compared to the actual lyrics La Land plans here on tefltunes.com,! Engaging students in Reading Comprehension Strategies... how to teach K-12 ESL learners, create... That beginners can have lots of practise with the song. ” Gap fill is engaging. Play the song has been a freelance writer and editor since 2007 why songs benefit pupils and. Students you ’ re teaching an ESL class, the teacher becomes a student version of language. Sing well, in the classroom listen to the singers you a whole lot of stress and time five. Reall quite simple class, if only to do something a little different, try and as. Getting better at the end of the ELT songs with the class lesson plans here on tefltunes.com has been written... By a melody Genki English CD set what is just right for your.! With repetition of similar sounds it involves having the lyrics before having them attempt themselves! That require kids to create their own version of the students students make a breakthrough. Research has shown that middle school students respond most positively to visual images when they process.! Of eighth grade ESL students and expressions to young learners because songs are a million resources available you! The needs and interests of the song and dance and so using songs your. With this method by OnTESOL: teaching English with music Even if you 're Not Musically.! More visually ; set a timer for 2 minutes, some learn more visually or. Selecting and using suitable songs with your students understand rhythm, stress and time, only! Language learning set to music will help the students learners ’ socks attention is engaged visually songs listeners. Word or phrase we found the 8 best resources that ESL teachers use to your.

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