Turn on the music to teach English grammer

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, May 22, 2007

Want to teach grammar to students? Well, how about turning on the music! Want to introduce a new English word in the class? Just pick up a chart buster top of the pops and play it in the class.
These are the tricks of the trade being taught by English language training expert Jennifer R Crandall to over 80 school, college and universities teachers from all over the state. The two day workshop organised by American Library aims at helping teachers to make teaching English enjoyable.
Music can be used in a classroom to enhance listening skills, promote critical thinking and encourage discussion. “Using music as a teaching tool generates interest among the students and they do not forget their lessons in a hurry,” said Crandall. “This technique can be applied to all level of learners, right from the kindergarten to the university,” she added.
According to Crandall, teachers can use English songs in the class to introduce and explain new words. Taking a step further, the students can be asked to explain the meaning of the lyrics. “This can be done by asking students to frame questions on the lyrics and also prepare multiple choice answers. In this way, the student never tends to forget what he has learnt. Teachers can also understand who are the weak students without an exam,” she added.
Music can be used to teach the students grammar and while introducing or wrapping up a chapter in class. Say if a teacher is teaching adjectives, she can leave a blank on every seven or ten words and ask the students to fill them up. And in that way she can introduce or wrap up the topic in class,” Crandall added.
Music can also talk about burning topics like alienation of the youth. “If we are trying to discuss youth alienation, I would introduce a song named ‘Superman’ by the Canadian group 5 4 Fighting. I would ask the students what Superman means to them. The song talks about alienation and by discussing it we encourage the students to discuss their links with society. By discussing problems with their peers, students can get relief,” Crandall said.
But finding the right song to teach the subject can be difficult. “It needs a thorough research by a teacher to pinpoint the right song. It can be popular or unknown, but the lyrics should help them to explain whatever she is teaching,” Crandall said. “There are many websites which helps the teachers to hunt for songs with ‘right lyrics’, which the teachers can log on to,” Crandall added. The teachers can also pick up songs from the weekly list of top ten English songs given on the Internet and newspapers.
(mou.hindstanimes@yahoo.com)